Amy Thone News

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

It's been a helluva year for theater in the Seattle area. From the triumphant return of the Intiman with their summer festival to the hugely popular run of "Spring Awakening" from Balagan Theatre Seattle audiences were treated with some amazing shows and performances this past year. And so, allow me to shine the spotlight on some of my favorite outstanding moments from the past year with my 2012 BWW Seattle Critic's Choice Awards.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) has announced that Darragh Kennan will assume the full position of Artistic Director for the company. He will continue to share leadership duties with Managing Director, Jamie Herlich. Former Co-Artistic Director, Hans Altwies, remains an active company member and now serves as Secretary on their Board of Directors. While he has stepped down as co-Artistic Director, a post which he has had since the company's inception in 2008, he is still very much a part of the company and will continue to be present in everything related to NCTC in the coming years.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

A Shakespearean tale of one of the most famous couples in all of history performed by some of the best actors in town and directed by one of Seattle's best directors. You'd think it'd be a slam dunk success wouldn't you? Well, you'd be right. And even with a few moments that missed the mark for me and a show that could still use a little tightening, this almost three and a half hour production of "Antony and Cleopatra" from Seattle Shakespeare Company grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

The impetus to cast a largely male Shakespearean show such as "Titus Andronicus" (or any show for that matter) with an all female cast can come in a number of guises. A juxtaposition of male cruelty coming from the mouths of women or the opportunity for the ladies to take on these meaty roles normally slated for men, to name just a few. Well, the former, if that was an intent in Upstart Crow's production, was kind of lost on me as about 10 minutes into the show the novelty of women playing the parts wore off and these talented actresses disappeared into their male roles. This fact only strengthens the latter reasoning as the women brought the pain and betrayal just as well (if not better) than any men.

upstart crow collective presents an all-female production of Shakespeare's bloodiest tragedy, Titus Andronicus tonight, September 6th to October 7th, 2012 at the Lee Center for the Arts on Capitol Hill. From the same team that brought you the popular and critically-acclaimed all-female King John in 2006, their newest production brings together some of Seattle's most respected female classical actors, who rarely get to meet each other onstage within Shakespeare's work.

upstart crow collective presents an all-female production of Shakespeare's bloodiest tragedy, Titus Andronicus, September 6th to October 7th, 2012 at the Lee Center for the Arts on Capitol Hill. From the same team that brought you the popular and critically-acclaimed all-female King John in 2006, their newest production brings together some of Seattle's most respected female classical actors, who rarely get to meet each other onstage within Shakespeare's work.

I don't mean to be cruel, dear readers, but I'm about to tell you about one of the most gloriously simple and quietly profound shows that you'll probably not get to see. "Holy Days" by Sally Nemeth from New Century Theatre Company stars some of the finest performers in the Seattle area at the top of their game in a play that's silent grace will stay with you long after it's over. Currently playing at Raisbeck Performance Hall, it unfortunately is only up for this weekend and if their ticketing website is any indication those shows are already close to sold out.

I don't mean to be cruel, dear readers, but I'm about to tell you about one of the most gloriously simple and quietly profound shows that you'll probably not get to see. "Holy Days" by Sally Nemeth from New Century Theatre Company stars some of the finest performers in the Seattle area at the top of their game in a play that's silent grace will stay with you long after it's over. Currently playing at Raisbeck Performance Hall, it unfortunately is only up for this weekend and if their ticketing website is any indication those shows are already close to sold out.

Seattle Shakespeare Company's new Artistic Director George Mount announced the company's programming plans for 2012-2013 that includes an indoor revival of a popular Wooden O production and the return of some favorite artists both on and offstage.

There are many words I can use to describe Seattle Shakespeare Company's current production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". But the one word that kept popping up so many times while watching it was "HOT!" This production is just plain hot as director Sheila Daniels has put together a fearless production that puts in all the love, lust and sex you could ask for while also throwing in a bit of a twist and still keeping Shakespeare's ethereal comedy true to itself and fun as hell.

There are many words I can use to describe Seattle Shakespeare Company's current production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". But the one word that kept popping up so many times while watching it was "HOT!" This production is just plain hot as director Sheila Daniels has put together a fearless production that puts in all the love, lust and sex you could ask for while also throwing in a bit of a twist and still keeping Shakespeare's ethereal comedy true to itself and fun as hell.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Intiman Playhouse with the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Sheila Daniels, who staged the company's award-winning production of Electra, returns to play with the dark shadows and golden glow of Shakespeare most popular play.