Chelsea LeValley News

Theater Schmeater is proud to announce a co-production of a new workshop with celebrated author and composer Scott Warrender of his new musical Peanutty Goodness, directed by Billie Wildrick and with Warrender himself musically directing and playing the performances.

Theater Schmeater is proud to announce a co-production of a new workshop with celebrated author and composer Scott Warrender of his new musical Peanutty Goodness, directed by Billie Wildrick and with Warrender himself musically directing and playing the performances.

ArtsWest has announced an extension of Angry Housewives, the longest-running musical in Seattle theater history. Premiering in 1983, Angry Housewives went on to play for nearly seven years in Pioneer Square Theatre spaces, burning its songs and cut-loose attitude into Seattle's history. With an Off-Broadway stint in 1986, the production has had a healthy run in regional theatre, including most major cities in America.

It's been quite some time since everyone's favorite Mom-laden punk band has graced a Seattle stage, but those "Angry Housewives" are back at ArtsWest. And while appearing to need a little more rehearsal and settling in time and still with a script that feels a bit hackneyed at times, the show with its ridiculous and infectious personalities still makes for a very fun night. Set the way back machine to the mid 80's as we find four suburban women looking to break free from their hum drum lives. Bev (Heather Hawkins) is newly widowed and broke. Carol (Ann Cornelius) is divorced, almost just as broke and desperate for love. Jetta (Chelsea LeValley) is a new Mom with an uptight and controlling husband (Mark Tyler Miller). And Wendi (Janet McWilliams) is a bit of a dreamer who's just looking for her next big thing. So when Bev's money problems become too much, the four band together to do the only thing they can do to make some money, enter a contest for the best punk rock band at a local club, of course. The show with book by A.M. Collins and music and lyrics by Chad Henry has a few script problems. The dialog can get a bit cliche and the story is about as predictable as a sit-com. And the production itself looked to need a bit more rehearsal time as its musical numbers were killer but its scene work and transitions were rocky at best. But I'm sure that will settle in time. But beyond all its problems the show is still fun and it's clear to see why it continued to run for so long back in the 80's and 90's. The ensemble is terrific and obviously having a blast up there. The four male counterparts to the ladies are superb. Miller is delightfully out of touch and chauvinistic. So much so that I felt the audience turning on him at one point but he managed to get them back during his song of redemption. Jeff Orton as Wendi's sailboat obsessed boyfriend and Brian Lange as the club owner Lewd Fingers each nailed their characters and their duet reminiscing on their past love was a real crowd pleaser. And Trent Moury as Bev's teenage son and his lamenting doo wop number about his too cool Mom practically stopped the show. But it's the ladies who completely kill in the show with their hilarious Mom-centric punk style. Especially LeValley's amazing lead vocals and dimwitted character and Cornelius' sultry ode to her lacking love life. Sure, the show wasn't rock solid the night I saw it but I have faith it'll get better with time and it still managed to be a sublimely silly rockin' good time. And so with my three letter rating system I'm giving "Angry housewives" a YAY on credit (which I'm sure they will live up to with all that potential). So go "eat your f***ing Cornflakes" and get out to catch the Angry Housewives before we lose them for another decade. "Angry Housewives" performs at ArtsWest through May 24th. For tickets or information contact the ArtsWest box office at 206-938-0339 or visit them online at www.artswest.org.

ArtsWest has announced the return of the longest running production in Seattle theatre history, as four angry housewives take the stage tonight, April 23rd.

ArtsWest has announced the return of the longest running production in Seattle theatre history, as four angry housewives take the stage on April 23rd. Premiering in 1983, this musical went on to play for nearly seven years in Pioneer Square Theatre spaces, burning it's songs and cut-loose attitude into Seattle's history. With an Off-Broadway stint in 1986, the production has had a healthy run in regional theatre, including most major cities in America.

Under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry, The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a fresh and exciting new take on the tempestuous romance, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel. In its fourth major collaboration with Spectrum Dance Theater, The 5th is thrilled to welcome Tony Award-nominated choreographer Donald Byrd to the creative table, and a host of Seattle's theatrical royalty to its stage.

This exciting new staging will star the radiant Laura Griffith as Julie and 5th Avenue favorite Brandon O'Neill as Billy in his first Seattle production following his Broadway debut in Disney's Aladdin. The cast also includes local luminaries Anne Allgood, Eric Ankrim, Allen Fitzpatrick, Sean G. Griffin, Cynthia Jones, and Billie Wildrick, and marks The 5th Avenue debut of rising talent Joshua Downs.

Seattle / Mainstreet Festival of New Musicals will take over Fremont's West of Lenin Theatre, presenting three brand new musicals, three late-night trivia cabarets, an evening of pitch sessions for fresh, up-and-coming musicals; and a final concert featuring all-Seattle talent performing pieces written by all-Seattle composers!

One of the things I love about William Finn's shows is that he draws such rich and flawed characters which makes them all the more real and relatable. This is extremely true in his most popular work, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", currently playing at Seattle Musical Theatre, where the kids of the Bee, as well as the adults, work through their own idiosyncrasies. But the lovely thing about the show is that since the subjects are children, they don't deny their flaws but embrace them as a part of themselves and use them to their advantage. And the cast and crew of the SMT production recognize that and never poke fun of the characters but embrace and love them as well and that's what makes this show an absolute joy.

Seattle Theater Writers, a critics' circle of local theater writers and reviewers, today announces the 2013 slate of nominees of the third annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.

It's not the happiest or most easily accessible of shows, which is probably why it's not often done. But those that know it and can allow the score to wash over them know "Floyd Collins" is an absolutely beautiful score with a somewhat hopeful yet heart aching story. And the folks over at STAGEright have once again taken their outside-the-box look at things and taken this piece on; a daunting task to stay the least. And while at times some of the power of the piece and performers was a bit lacking, they still manage some stunning moments in a solid production of an under sung gem.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) cautiously welcomes back the horrible Herdman Family for another assault on our seasonal sensibilities in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, running December 7th to 24th, 2012 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) cautiously welcomes back the horrible Herdman Family for another assault on our seasonal sensibilities in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, running tonight, December 7th to 24th, 2012 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) cautiously welcomes back the horrible Herdman Family for another assault on our seasonal sensibilities in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, running December 7th to 24th, 2012 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.