Eric Ankrim News

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musicalcomedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Dateis directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). BroadwayWorld brings you clips of the cast in action below!

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) is proud to announce that Bryce Ryness, Eric Ankrim, Kevin Kern and Sydney Shepherd will join stars Zachary Levi ('Chuck,' Tangled,Thor: The Dark World) and Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's LongacreTheatre (220 West 48th Street).

On April 1st, 'Miles Of Time' from the musical TRAILS was featured on New Day Northwest Seattle. Kirsten DeLohr Helland, who plays the lead role of Amy in Village Theatre's new musical TRAILS, performed, accompanied on piano by Music Director R.J. Tancioco. The two then joined host Margaret Larson to talk about the musical, which runs through April 21 at Village Theatre in Issaquah and April 26 - May 19 at Village Theatre in Everett. Click below to watch the segment!

A new musical about two old friends hiking the Appalachian Trail doesn't sound like a dead lock winner does it? I mean, how much can we sing about hiking? And while it does take a bit to really hook into you and at times isn't so sure of its footing, the new musical 'Trails' currently playing at Village Theatre manages to walk off with your heart through some very fine performances.

Village Theatre's commitment to nurturing new musicals continues with the world premiere of TRAILS, opening tonight, March 14, 2013 at the Issaquah theatre. This musical expedition had its first reading in 2011 as part of Village Theatre's Festival of New Musicals; now, Village Theatre is preparing for a full scale production. The three TRAILS creators, Christy Hall (book), Jordan Mann (lyrics), Jeff Thomson (music), are all in town to work with local director Eric Ankrim and the talented NW-based cast and crew.

Village Theatre's commitment to nurturing new musicals continues with the world premiere of TRAILS, opening March 14, 2013 at the Issaquah theatre. This musical expedition had its first reading in 2011 as part of Village Theatre's Festival of New Musicals; now, Village Theatre is preparing for a full scale production. The three TRAILS creators, Christy Hall (book), Jordan Mann (lyrics), Jeff Thomson (music), are all in town to work with local director Eric Ankrim and the talented NW-based cast and crew.

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle is pleased to present the winners' slate of the second annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.

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.

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Seattle in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

It's been a helluva year for theater in the Seattle area. From the triumphant return of the Intiman with their summer festival to the hugely popular run of "Spring Awakening" from Balagan Theatre Seattle audiences were treated with some amazing shows and performances this past year. And so, allow me to shine the spotlight on some of my favorite outstanding moments from the past year with my 2012 BWW Seattle Critic's Choice Awards.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Tony Award-winning producers Junkyard Dog Productions and Hal Luftig announced today that they will present a reading of the new musical FIRST DATE today, December 14, 2012. With a book by Austin Winsberg, music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and direction by Bill Berry, the reading of FIRST DATE will feature Eric Ankrim, Sara Chase, Alli Mauzey, Brandon O'Neill, Brad Oscar, Nicole Parker and Andre Ward.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

I'll admit I was one of the first to roll their eyes in disdain when I heard they made a musical of the Will Ferrell movie "Elf", back in 2010. "Oh Good," I thought, "another overly sweet yet bland movie adaptation designed to get families in the theater and sell merchandise (in this case, elf hats)." And so even more eye rolling occurred when the 5th Avenue Theatre announced they would be putting up a production of it this year. And while the show may be most of those things I mentioned (especially the elf hats) what it isn't is bland. More importantly what the production at the 5th Avenue manages is a super engaging and absolutely adorable evening of elfish fun.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Voting is now underway for the Seattle Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

There's a certain amount of pressure when a theater company becomes the first in the area to produce a big name show locally. Yes, it's a coup to be the first to get the rights (and Balagan seems to be cornering the market on that this season) but they also need to do the show justice or else, why bother? This is why what Balagan is pulling off with their current production of "Avenue Q" is all the more spectacular. Not only have they put up one of the new hot shows but they've done it in a way that rivals any tour of the show and created an outstandingly fun time that will leave you grinning all the way home.