Mark Emerson News

Pop quiz, Dear Readers. What is the world’s longest running musical? No, it’s not “Phantom”, that’s the longest running Broadway musical. But if we include Off-Broadway we get the longest run of 42 years and 17,162 performances with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s “The Fantasticks”. And while the current production at Village Theatre dragged a bit at times, this enduring classic still has some fun to offer.

Author Ken Ludwig has certainly had a prolific career filled with some wonderful gems, “Crazy for You”, “Lend Me a Tenor”, and “Moon Over Buffalo” to name just a few. So, Village Theatre’s new production of his 2017 work, “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” sounds like a rollicking good time. Unfortunately, this new retelling of a classic adventure meanders about awkwardly not knowing what it wants to be. And that’s just one of the two big problems of a production that just laid there hoping the audience would find something funny in it.

Village Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the first show of their 2023–2024 season, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood. 

A deliciously thrilling story of revenge and retribution, The 5th Avenue Theatre is elated to bring Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to the stage in Seattle April 21 - May 14, 2023. Get a first look at the cast in rehearsal!

A deliciously thrilling story of revenge and retribution, The 5th Avenue Theatre is elated to bring Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to the stage in Seattle April 21 - May 14, 2023.

I am aware, Dear Readers, that for some the ABBA jukebox musical “Mamma Mia” is not for them. Maybe they aren’t fans of ABBA or maybe they just don’t like fun but whatever the case, I can unabashedly state that I am NOT one of them.  

Mint Theater Company announced that the Silver Lining Streaming Series, the on-demand streaming of the three-camera archival recordings (filmed in HD!), will conclude on June 27th with two of Mint’s most acclaimed hits:  A Picture of Autumn by N.C Hunter, directed by Gus Kaikkonen and The Fatal Weakness by George Kelly, directed by Jesse Marchese.

Mint Theater Company will conclude the highly popular Silver Lining Streaming Series with the on-demand streaming of the three-camera archival recording (filmed in HD!) of The Fatal Weakness by George Kelly, beginning Monday May 17th, and continuing through June 27th.

Mint Theater Company will continue the highly popular Silver Lining Streaming Series with the on-demand streaming of the two-camera archival recording (filmed in HD!) of A Picture of Autumn by N.C Hunter, directed by Gus Kaikkonen beginning Monday April 19th, and continuing through June 13th.

Mint Theater Company Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the line-up for Mint’s popular Streaming Series for 2021, featuring HD recordings of past productions: Days To Come by Lillian Hellman, directed by J.R. Sullivan (will begin airing January 4th and continue through February 21st); plus much more!

Everyone loves a good Romantic Comedy, and when people find a good one, they latch onto it. Such a RomCom was the 1937 play a?oeParfumeriea?? by Miklos Laszlo. Now, if you're not familiar with that one maybe you're more familiar with some of the films that were based on it. There was the 1940 James Stewart-Margaret Sullavan film a?oeThe Shop Around the Cornera??, or how about the 1949 Judy Garland-Van Johnson musical version a?oeIn the Good Old Summertimea??. No? Well I'm sure you remember the 1998 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan feature a?oeYou've Got Maila??. And beyond those, the play also spawned one of the most underrated and underappreciated shows in American Musical Theatre, a?oeShe Loves Mea?? by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with a book by Joe Masteroff, currently playing at Village Theatre. a?oeShe Loves Mea?? has been revived on Broadway since it's 1963 beginnings twice, plus a concert version in 1977, but still there are too many people who don't know the glory of this show. Well, Dear Readers, let's try and change that.

Called a?oethe most romantic of all Broadway musicalsa?? by The Wall Street Journal, Village Theatre is delighted to bring She Loves Me to the stage beginning this January. The charming musical, which inspired the hit film You've Got Mail, has been revered by critics and audiences alike since it first debuted on Broadway in 1963 a?' going on to be nominated for over 50 awards including the Tony, Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. She Loves Me will run at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah January 16 a?' February 23, 2020 before moving to the Everett Performing Arts Center February 28 a?' March 22, 2020. 

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for its highly anticipated return to the Fox Cities at Fox Cities P.A.C. next month. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

Come to the 'masquerade' as Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera plays at the Blaisdell Concert Hall Aug. 7 through Sept. 1. This marks the first time Phantom has toured through Hawaii in nearly 25 years.

Take in 'the music of the night' as The Phantom of the Opera plays at Segerstrom Center for the Arts July 10-21.

Emma Grimsley will assume the role of 'Christine Daae' beginning August 7 when the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, currently on tour in North America, starts performances in Honolulu, HI for the first time in almost 25 years.

Derrick Davis will return to the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as the man behind the mask, 'The Phantom,' beginning June 6 in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through the final national tour engagement in Toronto, Ontario at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for its highly anticipated return to Dallas, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals and Broadway Across America at The Music Hall at Fair Park December 19 through January 6.

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for its highly anticipated return to Seattle's Paramount Theatre from August 8 - 19. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.  To purchase tickets, visit STGPresents.org, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-982-2787 or in person at The Paramount Theatre Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm). Tickets start at $35.

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for its highly anticipated return to Seattle's Paramount Theatre from August 8 - 19. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.  To purchase tickets, visit STGPresents.org, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-982-2787 or in person at The Paramount Theatre Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm). Tickets start at $35.