They just don't make good door slammer farces like they used to. Perhaps we've lost the sensibilities to come up with new ideas that make these tales of mistaken identity, concealed trysts and ridiculous characters funny. But luckily we still have old chestnuts like "Boeing Boeing", currently playing at the Seattle Rep, and people like director Allison Narver who understand what it takes to bring these tales to life and make them gut-bustingly funny.
The 5th Avenue Theatre presents its new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater, now playing through March 10. Check out the video below of 'Lida Rose.'
Seattle Theater Writers, a critics' circle of local theater writers and reviewers, today announces the 2012 slate of nominees of the second annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for its glorious new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater. The 5th's exuberant staging features a cast of 29 adults and 16 children, not to mention a full 20-piece orchestra, bringing this musical masterpiece to booming brassy life with the full force and excitement of a parade. Seattle native and seasoned Broadway pro Noah Racey returns home to star as Professor Harold Hill alongside Laura Griffith as Marian (the librarian) Paroo singing such celebrated songs as "Til There Was You," "Seventy Six Trombones," and "Ya Got Trouble." This all-star cast also features a host of Seattle's finest actors, including Anne Allgood, Jeff Steitzer, Laura Kenny, Richard Gray, Darragh Kennan, Joshua Feinsilber, and many others.
On the chance that you only read the first few sentences of my review of "Ramayana", currently playing at ACT, let me just say this right at the start. Go see this show! Hire the babysitter, arrive early (to catch the awesome Indian bazaar in the lobby), and prepare yourself for one of the most glorious and magical evenings I've had in the theater for quite awhile as ACT Theatre presents an exquisite and epic tale that mesmerizes from beginning to end.
No tricks, no flash, no exploding video walls or gaudy production numbers. Just an ensemble of some of Seattle's most gifted actors brilliantly savoring the meaty dialogue of Harold Pinter. That's how ACT started off their Pinter Festival last night with their productions of "The Dumb Waiter" and "Celebration". Just outstanding storytelling and plain great theater.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents a full-scale theatrical celebration of the works of modern master and Nobel Prize Laureate Harold Pinter. Famous for his biting humor and a favorite of professionals, scholars, and people who like their humor on the darker side, ACT looks to introduce the city of Seattle to many of Pinter's lesser known and rarely produced works in its Pinter Festival, running today, July 20 - August 26, 2012.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announces a full-scale theatrical celebration of the works of modern master and Nobel Prize Laureate Harold Pinter. Famous for his biting humor and a favorite of professionals, scholars, and people who like their humor on the darker side, ACT looks to introduce the city of Seattle to many of Pinter's lesser known and rarely produced works in its Pinter Festival, running July 20 - August 26, 2012.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's Mainstage switches from the farcical marriage comedy of Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch to the dark and haunting humor of Harold Pinter. The Hansberry Project also brings to the stage Seattle's second Multicultural Playwrights Festival. The Seagull Project presents their first in a series of Russian readings with The Great Soul of Russia, and in The Construction Zone, ACT will feature Steven Dietz and his new play, A Year Without Summer.
Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Wilson Mainstage Season concludes with Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical Company, which begins performances tonight, May 9 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through June 10.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre presented Titanic: The Concert, April 13-15. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert was a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors sang with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic came to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincided exactly with the ship's historic journey and tragic end. Go behind the scenes of the concert below!
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre presented Titanic: The Concert, April 13-15. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert was a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors sang with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic came to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincided exactly with the ship's historic journey and tragic end. Check out photos from the evening below!
Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Wilson Mainstage Season concludes with Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical Company, which begins performances on May 9 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through June 10.
Seattle's ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announces that the casting and directors for the summer of 2012 Pinter Festival have been finalized. Performances begin in July when eleven actors perform a double-bill of The Dumb Waiter and Celebration, then adding Old Times and No Man's Land to the schedule in August. Distinguished British director Penny Cherns will direct No Man's Land and nationally renowned actors Peter Crook and Frank Corrado appear in multiple productions alongside such Seattle favorites as Anne Allgood, Julie Briskman, Darragh Kennan, Charles Leggett, and more.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting Titanic: The Concert. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert is a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors will sing with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic will come to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincide exactly with the ship's historic journey and tragic end.
What do you do with a dated overdone musical that every High School on earth has done in order to make it fresh for a professional run? Well, you could pair up with a local dance theater to punch up those outrageous dance sequences to give the audience something new. That's exactly what the 5th Avenue Theatre did when they teamed up with Spectrum Dance Theater in order to try and polish up their production of "Oklahoma". The problem is that it punched up a bit too much and made it feel a bit too new. Luckily the leads of the show still knew how to tell the story and that's what made the show enjoyable.
What do you do with a dated overdone musical that every High School on earth has done in order to make it fresh for a professional run? Well, you could pair up with a local dance theater to punch up those outrageous dance sequences to give the audience something new. That's exactly what the 5th Avenue Theatre did when they teamed up with Spectrum Dance Theater in order to try and polish up their production of "Oklahoma". The problem is that it punched up a bit too much and made it feel a bit too new. Luckily the leads of the show still knew how to tell the story and that's what made the show enjoyable.
The Seattle theater scene has presented us with some amazing shows this last season and I felt it necessary to recognize some of the incredible talent and shows I was fortunate enough to see. And as you can see, in a few categories, I couldn't even settle on just one winner. So, without further ado, I present the 2011 BWW Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)!
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