Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle just announced the nomination slate of the fourth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards,theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.
Oh my! It's been a hell of a year for the Seattle Theatre scene and I can say we've been quite fortunate to see the incredible shows we have. So many amazing shows in fact that picking just a few stand outs (let alone a "best") is a near impossibility. But I have searched the deep dark recesses of my memory to find the shows and performances that really stood out and stuck with me beyond the evening and throughout the year. And so, without further ado, I'm thrilled to present the BWW 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks). Let the awesomeness flow!
he 5th Avenue Theatre has announced an exhilarating replacement for the Broadway-bound Something Rotten! in its 2014/15 season: Jasper in Deadland, a high-octane new musical with a book by Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster and music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver. Issaquah native and friend of The 5th Brandon Ivie will direct.
When the musical adaptation of "A Christmas Story" first came to the 5th Avenue Theatre back in 2010 for the pre-Broadway Premiere I was dubious at best. And my fears turned out to be well founded as the musical felt scattered and lacked the emotional core that the original story and movie had. Luckily for all of us when the show went on to New York it was retooled to trim out all the fat and now that it's back has had its heart restored with direction by Brandon Ivie. So what once felt like a desperate attempt to turn a holiday classic into a cash cow now feels like a delightful homage to the original and a simpler time.
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present THE SONGS OF F. MICHAEL HAYNIE featuring Andy Mientus (Les Miserables, "SMASH"), Alex Brightman (Matilda, Big Fish), Jason Gotay (Bring It On, "Peter Pan LIVE!"), and more on Friday, January 23rd at 11:30pm.
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will welcome five original programming producers: Scott Coulter, Shoshana Feinstein, Brandon Ivie, Benjamin Rauhala, and T. Oliver Reid. In their new capacity, the five producers have been commissioned to create a variety of shows including musicals in concert, songwriter celebrations, reunion concerts, and more.
The 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT), kicked off with THE 46TH MINUTE, a concert hosted by Lindsay Mendez and featuring performances by Heidi Blickenstaff, Doreen Montalvo, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, and more. Musical presentations started October 23 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) and included Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton. The Festival concluded on October 24, 2014. Scroll down for photos!
Rehearsals begin today for A Christmas Story, The Musical - the sensational hit Seattle can't stop talking about. After premiering at The 5th Avenue Theatre in 2010, A Christmas Story, The Musical spent two wildly successful holiday seasons in New York City and spurred a national tour.
The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced casting for the additional concerts and events surrounding their 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Today, October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The 2014 Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.
Today we are in the studio with Alexander Sage Oyen and special guest Caissie Levy from Broadway's Les Miserables! You can see Alex perform live at 54 Below on November 15th!
The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced casting for the additional concerts and events surrounding their 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. On October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The 2014 Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) just announced initial casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced additional concerts and events for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. On October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
Award-winning musical theater writer Alexander Sage Oyen brings two completely different sets of his original songs, stripped down to their barest bones, to Don't Tell Mama for what promise to be his most personal concerts to date. Audiences can expect to hear Oyen and a small group of special guests perform his best-loved songs as well as world premieres. Don't Tell Mama's associate director of programming, Max Friedman, will direct both evenings.
It's a musical theater nerd's paradise and as a nerd one of my favorite times of the year. Village Theatre has once again brought together an incredible weekend of new works for workshop readings and one full production. Five shows put up for one performance as readings with music stands and scripts in hand and then one larger production put up for two weekends. And while the weekend may be over (and only for members anyway) there's still time to see the larger production and I've got some wonderful photos for you all. But let's start with the production you can still see and then we'll move onto the workshops.
Oyen Sings Oyen: An Intimate Evening With Alexander Sage Oyen is set for Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues on Monday, August 25th and Thursday, August 28th at 7:30pm. Directed by Max Friedman. On August 25th only, Ariana DeBose (Pippin, Motown) and Caissie Levy (Les Miserables, Ghost) will join Oyen on stage. Special guests for the August 28th performance to be announced.
Over one jam packed weekend, today, August 8 -10, six new musicals will be brought to life with help from more than 100 artists and one dozen directors and authors from across the country.
This week's features composer is Alexander Sage Oyen. Newsies' Ben Fankhauser and Wicked's Michael McCorry Rose performed this song from his new musical 'Outlaws' at our concert at 54 Below.
Over one jam packed weekend, August 8 -10, six new musicals will be brought to life with help from more than 100 artists and one dozen directors and authors from across the country.
Videos
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
