BWW Spotlight: Village Theatre's 18th Annual Festival of New Musicals
by Jay Irwin
- Aug 21, 2018
Several years ago, I remember watching the Tony Awards and seeing Broadway power couple Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker presenting the award for Best Score and getting all giddy and nerdy over it because "NEW SONGS!" Well that's how I feel every summer at Village Theatre's Festival of New Musicals. I get to see what's out there up and coming and maybe get to walk away seeing a new gem. And this year was no exception with a couple of shows blowing me away. Now, of course, these are workshops and staged readings of shows, so we cannot really review them, but I can at least tell you what they offered us.
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.
RIDE THE CYCLONE, A Co-Production Between The 5th Avenue Theatre And ACT Opens This Week
by A.A. Cristi
- Mar 20, 2018
Ride the Cylcone, this season's dark and hilarious co-production between The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT - A Contemporary Theatre, is now in preview performances and has its official opening night this Thursday, March 22 at ACT - A Contemporary Theatre. The award-winning director and choreographer Rachel Rockwell has continued to refine and explore the world of Ride the Cyclone with its writers Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, returning to direct after working on its two previous U.S. productions in Chicago and Off Broadway. This co-production, which is the eighth collaboration between The 5th and ACT, will showcase new developments to the script and score. At least one third of the script has been newly created for this production, which is in addition to countless small but crucial tweaks and refinements. These new developments have continued to define and shape the world that the Saint Cassian High School Chamber Choir inhabits onstage.
The 5th Avenue Theatre's Third Annual NEXTFEST: A FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS Launches This Weekend
by A.A. Cristi
- Feb 22, 2018
The 5th Avenue Theatre is a vibrant hive of musical theater activity as the projects of NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals have started rehearsals this week. A three-week musical theater intensive development cycle, NextFest has played a role in the creation of musicals ranging from Persuasion by Harold Taw and Chris Jeffries (Taproot Theatre, 2017) to Come From Away by Irene Carl Sankoff and David Hein (Broadway). Nationally recognized for its contribution to the contemporary musical theater cannon, The 5th Avenue Theatre is a celebrated incubator for new musicals. Each year, the nationally renowned theater company connects writers at all stages of development with some of the region's most brilliant performers, giving life to the words on the page and allowing book writers, composers and lyricists to see their work in action. This year's various works are brought to life by Alexandria Henderson, Justin Huertas, Matthew Kacergis, Shaunyce Omar, Brandon O'Neill, Timothy Piggee, Hannah Schuerman, Billie Wildrick and many more.
BWW Review: Taproot's Sweet PERSUASION Brims with Potential
by Jay Irwin
- Jul 15, 2017
There are certain things that spring to mind when thinking of a Jane Austen story. Blistering on again, off again romances. Sweeping emotions. And of course, Colin Firth emerging from a lake. Well the new musical adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion", currently playing at Taproot Theatre, may not have Colin Firth but the romances and emotions are there in spades.
BWW Review: A PROPER PLACE at Village Shipwrecks Itself
by Jay Irwin
- Mar 24, 2017
There's the old adage in any kind of entertainment that if you have a strong finish, the audience can forgive some pitfalls that may have come before. Unfortunately the new work currently playing at Village Theatre has many of those pitfalls (and some good moments too) but they're followed by one of the most egregiously bad, anti-climactic and lackluster endings I think I've ever seen.
BWW Review: Showtunes' LEAP OF FAITH Spotlights Good Voices in a Not So Good Show
by Jay Irwin
- Dec 5, 2016
Just a few days ago I reviewed a show that, if you remember, I felt had one major downfall; that the newer songs bringing it from the film version to the stage version had lyrics written by Glenn Slater. Now, just a few blocks from that other production, Showtunes puts up a concert of another film to stage adaptation with all of the lyrics written by Glenn Slater and music from Alan Menken. And while there were certainly some wonderful voices in the concert it just proves one thing that Showtunes needs to pay attention to, not all shows need a revival.
Original Broadway Cast Member Louis Hobson to Star in Showtunes Theatre Company's LEAP OF FAITH
by BWW
News Desk
- Dec 3, 2016
Showtunes Theatre Company has announced their highly anticipaeted holiday concert musical LEAP OF FAITH. The talented cast of local musical theatre professionals will 'rise up' gospel-style for two performances at Benaroya Hall on December 3 at 8pm and December 4 at 2pm. Louis Hobson, who performed in the original Broadway cast, will star as Jonas. Matt Giles directs with Nathan Young working as the music director.
Original Broadway Cast Member Louis Hobson to Star in Showtunes Theatre Company's LEAP OF FAITH
by BWW News Desk
- Nov 21, 2016
Showtunes Theatre Company has announced their highly anticipaeted holiday concert musical LEAP OF FAITH. The talented cast of local musical theatre professionals will 'rise up' gospel-style for two performances at Benaroya Hall on December 3 at 8pm and December 4 at 2pm. Louis Hobson, who performed in the original Broadway cast, will star as Jonas. Matt Giles directs with Nathan Young working as the music director.
BWW Review: Sweet BIG FISH at Taproot Lacks Power
by Jay Irwin
- Jul 11, 2016
Back in 2013 Andrew Lippa sent his latest work off to Broadway. "Big Fish", based on the movie of the same name, was sure to be a big hit. But for some reason this sweet little tuner failed to catch fire and closed in just under 4 months. Sadly with such a tepid reception no tour of the show was ever planned so the only way anyone would see this lovely show would be a regional production. Fortunately we currently have one of those for "Big Fish" at Taproot Theatre. Unfortunately, while there's plenty of talent in the show, one of the leads wasn't quite up to the task vocally and for a big, ballad laden musical that can be deadly.
BWW Review: BUZZER at ACT Feels Overly Self Important
by Jay Irwin
- Feb 6, 2016
It's one thing when a play is meaningful and important, something most plays strive for. It's another thing when a play tries to be meaningful and important. And it's yet another thing when a play insists that it's meaningful and important. Unfortunately Tracey Scott Wilson's play 'Buzzer', currently playing at ACT, falls squarely into that second camp and teeters to fall into the third.
BUZZER Hosts Community Forums- Race and Gentrifcation
by Sally Henry Fuller
- Jan 27, 2016
The producers and artists behind Tracey Scott Wilson's new play BUZZER (premiering in the ACTLab Feb. 5th) are hosting three community forums to go indepth and have expansive conversations about issues raised in the play.
Nominees for Seattle's 5th Annual 2015 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards Are Announced!
by Christina Mancuso
- Jan 13, 2016
Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle is pleased to present the nomination slate of the fifth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.
New Drama BUZZER Coming to ACT in February
by Tyler Peterson
- Dec 10, 2015
AJ Epstein Presents, in collaboration with ACTLab, announce the West coast premiere of Tracey Scott Wilson's Buzzer coming to ACT in February. Directed by Anita Montgomery, Buzzer is a story about class, money, race, love, and fear set in a rapidly changing urban environment.
COME FROM AWAY, with Jenn Colella, Chad Kimball and More, Opens Tonight at Seattle Rep
by BWW News Desk
- Nov 18, 2015
World-premiere musical COME FROM AWAY comes to Seattle Rep now through December 13 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, COME FROM AWAY is the first musical to be on the main stage of the Rep in over 15 years. It opens tonight, November 18, 2015. Featuring book, music and lyrics by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), the production is directed by La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.
Seattle Rep Announces Casting for COME FROM AWAY; Tickets Now on Sale
by Tyler Peterson
- Oct 28, 2015
World-premiere musical Come From Away comes to Seattle Rep November 13- December 13 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, Come From Away is the first musical to be on the main stage of the Rep in over 15 years. Featuring book, music and lyrics by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), the production is directed by La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Tickets are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206-443-2222 as well as online at www.seattlerep.org.
BWW Review: Risky and Innovative AMERICAN IDIOT at ArtsWest Pays Off
by Jay Irwin
- Sep 14, 2015
ArtsWest has taken on a huge risk by putting up the Green Day musical 'American Idiot' on their intimate stage. Not only by trying to fit this large spectacle in their space but also literally reconfiguring their floor plan and utilizing multiple areas within their theater to create an immersive experience in addition to the regular observational one. With so much going on, a cast of 31 and a full band this could have been a full on train wreck. But director Eric Ankrim and his crew have taken this super risky venture and spun it into pure gold.
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