Billie Wildrick News

DAS BARBECÜ IN CONCERT has extended for 2 shows on August 19th and 22nd.

UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) has announced initial casting for its new Off-Broadway production of the 1950 musical revue Bless You All! with sketches by Emmy Award winner Arnold Auerbach ("The Phil Silvers Show," Call Me Mister) and a score by acclaimed songwriter Harold Rome (Fanny, Destry Rides Again). Directed by UMC artistic director Ben West (The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad), the limited three-week engagement will run Sep 19 - Oct 5 at The Connelly Theatre (220 East 4th Street), officially opening Sep 22.

Wagner's 'Ring' is back in town at Seattle Opera. Some say for the last time (at least as it is now) as Speight Jenkins is stepping down from the organization. So it's only fitting that the abridged twangy retelling the cycle, 'Das Barbecu' make it's way back again. But unlike the productions in the past (like the most recent at ACT) this one is a bit trimmed down into a concert version (music in hand). But not to worry as the three night only run is still filled with hilarity and heart as the performers shine like some magic gold.

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. The weekend I get to spend three days listening to exciting new works as presented by some of the best performers Seattle has to offer. And this year Village Theatre did not disappoint as they invited members, performers, staff and press to partake of their Village Originals 13th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Some good, some maybe not so, some needing a little more work than others but all showing a deep love for the art and presented by some of the best voices in town. Now, I can't review them as they're still works in progress but I can tell you about the shows presented over the weekend and let you know about the one show that while still in development is still running one more weekend and can have tickets purchased to by non-members (that would be you, Dear Readers).

DAS BARBECÜ IN CONCERT is set for tonight, August 12, and contining on the 13th and 14th this week. Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 7:30pm at West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th Street, Seattle, WA 98122. Tickets: $20 - available in advance online HERE. Unclaimed tickets sold to waitlist 5 minutes before curtain.

Originally commissioned by Seattle Opera to accompany their internationally renowned production of Wagner's RING CYCLE, DAS BARBECÜ is a two-hour retelling of Wagner's 'Ring' cycle, specifically the fourth opera, Gotterdammerung, that sets Brunnhilde, Siegfried, Wotan and the gang in the middle of Texas and the 'Valhalla' Ranch. With music by Seattle composer Scott Warrender and book and lyrics by Jim Luigs,BARBECÜ is a witty Texas fable with five actors playing more than 30 outrageous characters at breakneck speed. Songs run the gamut from Broadway to Texas swing, from jazz to twangy country and western. Mismatched lovers who meet on the day of their shotgun double wedding, three generations of feuding families and a magic ring of power make for a fast and furious love letter to Wagner's great epic.

I hope you will indulge me, Dear Reader, as I will not be reviewing the current production of "The Pirates of Penzance" at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Instead let's call this what it is, a thank you letter to the remarkable cast and crew at the 5th Avenue for infusing a musical theater classic with such heart, fun, humor, talent and beauty that even a diehard fan of the show found himself leaving the theater with a huge grin on his face and a renewed love for the piece. (I'm referring to myself, of course.)

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates with its next edition of At This Performance… to be held tonight, April 7th at The Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street at 7 PM.

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates with its next edition of At This Performance… to be held on Sunday, April 7th at The Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street at 7 PM.

Pamela Bob (Silence! The Musical), Billie Wildrick (Scandalous) and Stuart Zagnit (Newsies, The Wild Party) have joined the cast of UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC)'s developmental reading of the 1958 backstage comedy SAY, DARLING.

MTWorks is pleased to announce UNDERWORLD VI: Broadway Understudies & MTWorkers will be held tonight, December 10th at 7pm at The Triad NYC (158 West 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam). Nick Cearley (All Shook Up, And Then I Wrote a Song About It) from the duo The Skivvies returns to host, joined by Katrina Yaukey (War Horse, Billy Elliot: The Musical, Company, Cabaret).

The new Broadway musical Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson will play its final performance at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) today, December 9 at 3 p.m.

Kathie Lee Gifford discussed the closing of her new Broadway musical SCANDALOUS on the Today show on NBC. 'So many of the brand new shows this fall really, really have struggled and are posting closings,' she lamented. 'Hurricane Sandy was just devastating to everyone in the tri-state area but Broadway was badly hit.' Check out more of Gifford's comments below.

The new Broadway musical SCANDALOUS: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson will play its final performance at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) on Sunday, December 9 at 3 p.m.

MTWorks is pleased to announce UNDERWORLD VI: Broadway Understudies & MTWorkers will be held Monday, December 10th at 7pm at The Triad NYC (158 West 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam). Nick Cearley (All Shook Up, And Then I Wrote a Song About It) from the duo The Skivvies returns to host, joined by Katrina Yaukey (War Horse, Billy Elliot: The Musical, Company, Cabaret).

Featuring book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, Scandalous opened at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre earlier this month on November 15. According to the New York Times, show creator Kathie Lee Gifford, and lead producers Dick and Betsy DeVos are working hard to prevent an early closing.

Please allow me to introduce you to the fantastic team that helps you hear us each night here at SCANDALOUS. Designed and led by Ken Travis, the SCANDALOUS Sound Guys are Lucas Indelicato and Charles Grieco. They are responsible for the day to day operation of the sound board and all the mics for the cast and orchestra.

What a wonderful night we had on Thursday, when SCANDALOUS opened on Broadway. There is nothing more magical than when all the hard work comes together and all the creative forces collide in one place!

On November 15, the company of Scandalous celebrated their opening night with the Gypsy Robe ritual with the company's recipient Carlos L. Encinias. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you full photo coverage below!

Featuring book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, Scandalousbegan performances at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre on October 13, 2012 and opened last night, Thursday, November 15. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of SCANDALOUS' opening night - hear what the stars had to say below!