Marya Sea Kaminski News

As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the University of Washington School of Drama is collaborating or co-producing with regional theatres that have grown out of the School or been significantly impacted by the School's alumni. Our second co-production of the season is a workshop production of Taylor Mac's THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH, in partnership with Washington Ensemble Theatre.

As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the University of Washington School of Drama is collaborating or co-producing with regional theatres that have grown out of the School or been significantly impacted by the School's alumni. Our second co-production of the season is a workshop production of Taylor Mac's THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH, in partnership with Washington Ensemble Theatre.

The Public Theater announced today that after three years of successful programming and community engagement, PUBLIC WORKS will grow on both a local and national level. Three new community partners join PUBLIC WORKS 2016, which will include Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education (Bronx), Military Resilience Project (all boroughs), and Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (Brooklyn), who join Public Works partners Brownsville Recreation Center (Brooklyn), DreamYard Project (Bronx), and The Fortune Society (Queens), in addition to alumni partners Domestic Workers United (all boroughs, including Staten Island) and Children's Aid Society (Manhattan), as additional community partner organizations.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, is pleased to announce the recipients of the inaugural Audience (R)Evolution Travel Grants.

Seattle Repertory Theatre's Board of Trustees announced today that Braden Abraham has been appointed as the official artistic head of Seattle Repertory Theatre, effective immediately.

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, an American classic, directed by Acting Artistic Director Braden Abraham. The production runs September 25 - October 18, in the Bagley Wright Theatre. Tickets are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206-443-2222 as well as online at www.seattlerep.org.

If you remember, Dear Readers, three weeks ago I said that Intiman's production of Part 1 of Tony Kushner's masterpiece, "Angels in America" still resonated through Kushner's script but the show felt under done and lacked focus. But I hoped it would settle into itself over time. I also hoped that the settling in to the characters would affect the power of the second part, "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika". Alas, it did not. While it's still, again, Kushner's beautiful script, the show lacks the heart, punch and commitment to the piece to make it truly great. And while you may think that now this one needs to settle in, I think it stems from a larger issue.

20 Years ago a bright eyed theater nerd (as opposed to the bitter, jaded wretch I am today) was over the moon that the Intiman Theatre was able to get the rights to do one of the most exciting and talked about plays of the day, "Angels in America, Part 1: Millennium Approaches" so close on the heels of it's wowing Broadway and winning the Tony and Pulitzer. That fresh faced 25 year old was blown away by the artistry, language and sheer incredible storytelling prowess of author Tony Kushner and that amazing production solidified my love for this work. But can anything compare to your first time? Well the bloom may be a little off the rose and my cynical sensibilities of today may have missed some of the focus and wow factor of that original production in this current one being presented by Intiman Theatre, but the play still shows itself to be a masterwork and still deserves attention.

As the cornerstone of its annual theatre festival, Intiman Theatre presents Angels in America, Tony Kushner's epic masterpiece about finding hope in the face of crisis. One of the great plays of the 20th century, this two-play blockbuster explores gay culture, race, inequality, and the future of America through the lens of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

Seattle Repertory Theatre announced today the appointment of Marya Sea Kaminski as Associate Artistic Director, effective Sept.16, 2014. Kaminski, who most recently taught acting at Cornish College of the Arts, has appeared as an actor and solo performer throughout Seattle and beyond, including roles at the Rep in My Name is Rachel Corrie (2007) and Clybourne Park (2012).

As the cornerstone of its annual theatre festival, Intiman Theatre presents Angels in America, Tony Kushner's epic masterpiece about finding hope in the face of crisis. One of the great plays of the 20th century, this two-play blockbuster explores gay culture, race, inequality, and the future of America through the lens of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

Because I couldn't be limited to just five, here are the top SIX theatrical endeavors happening this summer in Seattle that have me a little giddy.

Seattle Repertory Theatre's Board of Trustees announced today Braden Abraham's appointment as Acting Artistic Director, effective immediately. Abraham formerly served as Associate Artistic Director and has been on the artistic staff of Seattle Rep since 2003. The appointment, extending through June 30, 2016, comes on the heels of the death of Artistic Director Jerry Manning, who passed away suddenly in April.

The New York based company, The One-Minute Play Festival (Dominic D'Andrea, Producing Artistic Director) and the Central Heating Lab at ACT- A Contemporary Theatre create a dynamic partnership to bring The One-Minute Play Festival (#1MPF) to Seattle for the first time.

Holy Crap! That's really the most emphatic sentiment I can use to describe the internal battles I had when trying to pick my top picks for this past year. There were so many amazing performances and achievements that to pick just one was almost an impossibility (and as you'll see, WAS an impossibility for one category). But the battle is over and it's my distinct pleasure to announce my picks for the 2013 Broadway World Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks, if you prefer).

In spring 2014, the Downtown Urban Theater Festival (DUTF) will return for a much-anticipated 12th annual season and from 140 submissions, DUTF has narrowed it down to 29 finalists. The decisions were extremely difficult due to the amazing plays received from gifted emerging writers who hail from across the U.S. and internationally from Canada, Egypt, Iran, Israel, United Kingdom, Rio de Janeiro and Romania.

It's a fine line between a biting familial dramedy and diving head first into the realm of back biting reality TV. One lends itself to insightful views on the nature of parent/child dynamics and the other has an overweight little girl spewing forth "Oh no she di'in't" like a circus act to make the viewers feel better and superior about themselves. Luckily Jon Robin Baitz searing play "Other Desert Cities", currently playing at ACT, falls into the category of the former. Yes, the family can get pretty vicious at times but you can also see the heart and compassion through the barbs bringing out the power of the piece.

An acclaimed director of exciting contemporary work will take the reins of a new play by Samuel D. Hunter, as part of the 32nd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival.

Conservative parents and their Liberal children square off in Jon Robin Baitz's thrilling drama, Other Desert Cities.

An acclaimed director of exciting contemporary work will take the reins of a new play by Samuel D. Hunter, as part of the 32nd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival.