Review: ELF at The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Shelley Dean - Dec 12, 2025
The movie Elf is one of those films that sticks with you throughout your life; you remember the spaghetti, the syrup, and the unrivaled holiday cheer from the unique story. It’s only natural that a story full of this much nostalgia takes on a new life that honors its legacy. Enter Elf: The Musical. All of the magic of the original movie is packed into a stage show with dancing Santas, larger-than-life Christmas trees, and onstage skating that makes you want to join the fun. Seattle has been gifted its very own production this holiday season at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Elf: The Musical, directed and choreographed by Denis Jones, is now running downtown.
Village Theatre Reveals Full Casting for 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 2, 2025
Village Theatre has announced full casting for its 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place August 8–10, 2025, at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah, Washington. The beloved summer tradition celebrates new work and local artistry, with all staged readings featuring performers from the vibrant Seattle theater community.
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL at Village Theatre
by Jay Irwin - Nov 16, 2024
Dear Readers, if you know my reviews then you know how picky I can be, especially with shows I love. One such show is certainly “Legally Blonde: The Musical”, currently playing at Village Theatre. I managed to see the original cast down in San Francisco and it’s always held a special place in my heart. Plus, I just think it’s an outstanding show. So, while I think the current Village production has oodles going for it in regards to talent and general all-around fun, there were just a few tiny things that kept it from blowing me away, the big one being that ineffable spark. But we’ll get to that.
Village Theatre Presents LEGALLY BLONDE
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 10, 2024
Legally Blonde The Musical – the fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the beloved movie — brings an entertaining, upbeat story of self-discovery, transformation and empowerment to Village Theatre in Issaquah from November 12 to December 22, 2024, and in Everett from January 4 to 26, 2025.
Review: SISTER ACT at Taproot Theatre
by Jay Irwin - Jul 14, 2024
Dear Readers, the musical version of the hit 1992, Whoopi Goldberg comedy “Sister Act” has never been one of my favorites. On paper it should work with an Alan Menken score and fabulous source material were it not for those lackluster Glenn Slater lyrics. He writes passable songs but nothing that truly grabs you. But it’s a big, flashy musical with nuns rocking out so it isn’t all bad. But I must emphasize “big”, which is why the choice to put this up on Taproot Theatre’s quite cozy space baffled me. However, director Bretteney Beverly managed it. Sure, there were some downfalls, but overall, she managed it.
VIDEO: Watch 'A Change in Me' From BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 2, 2022
5th Avenue Theatre is presenting Disney's Beauty and the Beast through February 6, 2022. Disney's Beauty and the Beast is The 5th's first fully-mounted musical created for an in-person audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and is the first production in its spectacular 2021/21 Season.
VIDEO: Watch 'Gaston' From 5th Avenue Theater's BEAUTY & THE BEAST
by Alan Henry - Jan 31, 2022
Get a first look at 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, playing January 12 to February 6, 2022. Disney's Beauty and the Beast is The 5th's first fully-mounted musical created for an in-person audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and is the first production in its spectacular 2021/21 Season.
VIDEO: First Look At 5th Avenue Theater's BEAUTY & THE BEAST
by Alan Henry - Jan 26, 2022
Get a first look at 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, playing January 12 to February 6, 2022. Disney's Beauty and the Beast is The 5th's first fully-mounted musical created for an in-person audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and is the first production in its spectacular 2021/21 Season.
Cast Announced For The 5th Avenue Theatre's New Production Of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 9, 2021
The 5th Avenue Theatre announced today the cast for its new production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, playing January 12 to February 6, 2022. Disney's Beauty and the Beast is The 5th's first fully-mounted musical created for an in-person audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and is the first production in its spectacular 2021/21 Season.
Casting Announced For Village Theatre's FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 7, 2019
With The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place this upcoming weekend, Village Theatre is excited to announce the casting for XY, an uplifting musical about identity and coming to terms with your past; Cold Turkey, a wild and funny satire; Modern, an inspiring tale about a group of Amish teenagers; Eastbound, an poignant story about Chinese brothers in search of a home they've never known; and Cowboy Bob, an adventurous rock musical about a bank-robbing woman. The Festival will take place in Issaquah August 9-11, 2019 and provides an essential platform for writers to develop new works. Past Festival shows include Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning shows such as Next to Normal and Million Dollar Quartet, as well as Broadway and Off-Broadway hits: It Shoulda Been You, Desperate Measures, Lizzie, and many more.
Full Cast Announced For The 5th Avenue Theatre's New Production Of WEST SIDE STORY
by A.A. Cristi - May 9, 2019
The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced the full cast for West Side Story, the sweeping musical version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in the turbulent streets of New York City, where a star-crossed love blossoms between rival gangs. William Branner (National Tour: Bat Out Of Hell, Off-Broadway: Kragtar: An American Monster Musical) joins the cast to star as Tony, replacing the previously announced CJ Eldred.
Victoria Clark And More Set For Village Theatre's 18th Annual Festival Of New Musicals
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 3, 2018
With one week left until The 18th Annual Festival of New Musicals, Village Theatre is excited to announce this summer's casting and creative teams! Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza) will direct Hansel & Gretl & Heidi & Gu?nter, a hilarious family adventure of what happens after Hansel and Gretl escape. Village Theatre's new artistic director Jerry Dixon (If/Then, Once on this Island) will direct the kick-off show Elysium: An American Fable, the moving story of a family dying under the weight of their own secrets; and associate artistic director Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland) will direct The Passage, a coming-of-age mystery about a boy battling a monster holding his father captive. Joining them will be music directors Jason Hart (American Psycho), Rona Siddiqui (Bella: An American Tall Tale), R.J. Tancioco (Here Lies Love), and resident music director Tim Symons (Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion), among others.
Writers of URINETOWN to Workshop New Zombie Musical ZM at Village Theatre
by Julie Musbach - May 14, 2018
Village Theatre is excited to present ZM, a new Broadway-style musical comedy with music & lyrics by Mark Hollmann and book & lyrics by Greg Kotis - the creators of the Tony Award-winning show, Urinetown. ZM will run at Village Theatre's First Stage Theatre in Issaquah from June 1-10, 2018.
Adam Gwon And Sarah Hammond's New Musical String Receives World Premiere
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 22, 2018
Village Theatre is excited to announce the World Premiere of String, a brand-new story with a mythological twist by award-winners Sarah Hammond (book), and Adam Gwon (music & lyrics), and direction by Brandon Ivie. A fun and fresh fable about fate, love, and the imperfections that make us human, String is an original story about three sisters - goddesses known as the Fates - who are responsible for spinning, measuring, and snipping the String of Life. After falling out of favor with Zeus, they find themselves banished to a modern skyscraper in the mortal world. But when the eldest sister falls in love, the very fabric of the universe begins to unravel. "We are thrilled to have such a sophisticated show premiering on our stage," said Ivie. "This show is very intimate, but also deals with understanding our place in the universe and what it means to be human. It's a show about Gods, but they deal with the same things we do - sisterhood, love, loss. We know our audiences are going to connect with these characters on a deep emotional level."
BWW Review: DeLouRue's Exuberant Extravaganza HOMO FOR THE HOLIDAYS A Must See at Oddfellows
by Amelia Reynolds - Dec 13, 2017
It's the most wonderful time to be queer, sings BenDeLaCreme, drag queen of both local and international fame (you may remember her from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 and now Drag Race All Stars 3! ). Silly as that parody lyric may be, for many, seeing Homo for the Holidays makes this season truly the most wonderful time of the year. Celebrating its tenth year, DeLouRue's Homo for the Holidays is back and better than ever.
Cast and Creative Announced for The Festival of New Musicals at Village Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 4, 2017
With one week left until The 17th Annual Festival of New Musicals, Village Theatre is excited to announce the casting for Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat, an electronic pop musical about one of the world's greatest inventors; Hart Island, a look at social justice and the people society has forgotten; Afterwords, a tale of art and love; Howl's Moving Castle, based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones; and ZM, a hilarious romp through a zombie-filled future by the Tony Award-winning authors of Urinetown. Taking place in Issaquah on August 11-13, 2017, The Festival of New Musicals provides an essential platform for writers to incorporate a key component of live theatre - the audience. Each new musical will be rehearsed during the week, then present to the audience in staged reading format, performed in full using scripts.