Frank Corrado News

The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting a brand new addition to holiday theater offerings with the new adaptation of the classic 1983 film, "A Christmas Story: The Musical". And while half the show harkened fond memories of the film and left me with a wonderful sense of hope for this new piece of musical theater, the other half fell into old familiar musical traps and left me wanting as it shot its eye out. In case you haven't seen the movie that is shown incessantly over the holiday season (sometimes for 24 hour periods nonstop) here's a brief rundown. We follow the quest of young Ralphie Parker as he plots and schemes to convince his parents (and Santa) to get him the best Christmas present in the world, a Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. The problem is he keeps running into obstacles of his Mother, his teacher and even Santa as they warn him away from the gift with the familiar, "You'll shoot your eye out." But Ralphie is tenacious and will have his prize. Meanwhile we also get to know the rest of the Parkers and their neighbors as we dive into the world of story originator Jean Shepherd. Complete with bullies, major awards and triple dog dares, the story harkens back to a simpler time when the biggest thing kids had to worry about was what Santa was bringing them. The show itself is a charmer with book by Joseph Robinette who manages to keep the feel of the original material intact and still hits all the points and jokes that have become so familiar. The problem I ran into was with the songs. As I said, half of the show worked great. Act One was filled with wonderful tuners that captured the tone perfectly. And composers/lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul seemed to show that someone understands the structure of musical theater. The songs were either perfect for moving the story along or emphasizing through song what a character couldn't do any other way. And the songs "Ralphie to the Rescue" and "A Major Award" were both complete show stoppers and crucial to the story. Then we hit Act Two and suddenly it was like a completely different writing team as the songs ceased being essential as every single moment in the play got one right up to the end. So many superfluous numbers that could have been forsaken for just telling the story weighed down the second half until it finally ended with a whimper of exhaustion. The cast however is superb and has the perfect style for the period. Clarke Hallum plays the scheming Ralphie and even though he was a bit presentational at times, his voice is right up there with any of the adults on stage. Anne Allgood is endearingly lovely as Ralphie's Mother and her moment in Act Two where she covers for Ralphie had me in tears. Frank Corrado is spot on as the narrator Jean Shepherd as he weaves this wonderful tale for us in the guise of a radio drama. And special kudos to John Bolton as Ralphie's "Old Man" who practically steals the show with is antics and especially with his overly zealous "Major Award" number. With a gorgeous set from Walt Spangler and costumes that look like they were transported right from the movie by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, this show could have been the new theatrical holiday standard by which all of the "Elf"s, and "Grinch"s would be judged. I only wish the writers had realized what they were doing so right in the first half and could have kept it up in the second. "A Christmas Story: The Musical" plays at the 5th Avenue Theatre through December 30th. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue Box Office at 206-625-1900 or toll free at 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849) or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org. Photo Credit: Chris Bennion

Based on the stories of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and adapted from the hilarious 1983 family holiday film, A Christmas Story: The Musical! follows young Ralphie Parker, as he schemes his way towards the holiday gift of his dreams -- a Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. With its sparkling original score by Broadway's hottest young composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, its wicked wit, and its heart of pure gold, A Christmas Story: The Musical! plays through December 30, 2010, and is a yuletide delight for the whole family.

We are pleased to announce the cast for A Christmas Story: The Musical!, the 5th Avenue Theatre's upcoming holiday production. The roster features an impressive array of Seattle area talent, as well as three actors from New York.

A Contemporary Theatre concludes 2010 with the continuing run of Martin McDonagh's outrageous farce The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and welcomes the 35th Anniversary of ACT's holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. Alongside Mainstage thrills, the Central Heating Lab at ACT is cooking up some mighty fine entertainment, featuring music and film from Jose Bold, short films from RAWSTOCK, as well as the return of Short Stories Live at Town Hall and the conclusions of the 2010 SOIL at ACT window displays and InterACTions 2010: Mindscapes. And it wouldn't be the holiday season without a special shopping opportunity: StageCraft will host an end of year Holiday Gift Bazaar, featuring one-of-a-kind art, jewelry and pottery from local theatre artists. It's all here at ACT!

Julie Briskman continues in the moving portrayal of Ann Landers, The Lady With All the Answers, while Martin McDonagh's highly anticipated, blood-drenched farce The Lieutenant of Inishmore takes to the stage next door.

We are pleased to announce the cast for A Christmas Story: The Musical!, the 5th Avenue Theatre's upcoming holiday production. The roster features an impressive array of Seattle area talent, as well as three actors from New York.

The William & Eva Fox Foundation and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, are pleased to announce the five recipients for the fifth round of the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships.

Julie Briskman continues in the moving portrayal of Ann Landers, The Lady With All the Answers, while Martin McDonagh's highly anticipated, blood-drenched farce The Lieutenant of Inishmore takes to the stage next door.

September is loaded with a variety of plays, readings, presentations and parties, starting with David Rambo's portrait of renowned advice columnist Ann Landers in The Lady With All the Answers. Also answering the big questions is ACT's new lecture series, InterACTions with 'The Physiology of Imagination and the Aesthetics of Stability' with historian Mott Greene. The popular Pinter Fortnightly series and Short Stories Live return, along with Seattle Dance Project's 2010-2011 season opener, Project Orpheus, based on the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. September also marks the return of ACT Out! Gala & Benefit, a fun filled night featuring the talents if UMO Ensemble, 'Awesome' and The Love Markets.

The Pinter Fortnightly series returns to ACT as a part of its Central Heating Lab line-up of events this season, beginning March 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Started in 2009 as an early highlight of the Central Heating Lab at ACT, Pinter Fortnightly features a number of Seattle's best actors, all of whom donate their time and talent on Monday evenings-typically the actor's "day off"-to present readings of works by the late Nobel laureate playwright Harold Pinter.

Shadow and Light Theatre Company, will be performing Harold Pinter's A Kind of Alaska and Ashes to Ashes at the Bullitt Cabaret at ACT Theatre in Seattle. Performances are from Jan. 22 to Feb. 7 (preview performance Jan. 21).

A Contemporary Theatre packs theatre, music ,and dance into a short month with Central Heating Lab events, including the conclusion of Two by Pinter from Shadow & Light Theatre Company and Project 3 from Seattle Dance Project, a musical revue of 80s movies and music in The Soft Rock Kid, and the debut of a new play from David Wiener at the ACT New Play Award.

14/48: The World's Quickest Theatre Festival January 8-16, 2010 Tickets: $20 or $40 All-Fest Pass or included with ACT Basic Membership *Town Hall and ACT: Short Stories Live at Town Hall

Stories on Stage begins its 9th successful season with Nobody Likes a Smartass, in collaboration with Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

Due to the enthusiastic response from both the actors and audiences, The Central Heating Lab at ACT is extending its free play examination series Pinter Fortnightly through June 15, 2009. The updated schedule is for the following Mondays at 7:00 p.m.

Due to the enthusiastic response from both the actors and audiences, The Central Heating Lab at ACT is extending its free play examination series Pinter Fortnightly through June 15, 2009. The updated schedule is for the following Mondays at 7:00 p.m.

Question: Ever wonder what this city's most prolific and respected working actors and directors do on their night off? Answer: they go back to the theatre and read more plays! Actors like Frank Corrado and Suzanne Bouchard relish for the opportunity to speak the words of surprisingly seldom produced playwrights like Harold Pinter. A number of Seattle's actors and directors have banded together to create their own form of Pinter-esque pleasure with Pinter Fortnightly. Every other Monday night (fortnightly) at 7:00 p.m., with a little help from ACT's Central Heating Lab, the general public can now participate in three free play readings with the 'best of the best':

The Seattle Rep's production of Conor McPherson's Tony Nominated play, 'The Seafarer' only goes to show that the Rep is up there with the best of them and can produce the goods.

Conor McPherson's recent Broadway hit The Seafarer comes to Seattle Repertory Theatre February 26-March 28, 2009. Set in a forgotten corner of Northern Dublin, the play centers on four old friends as they gather to face the holidays the only way they know how-with a bottle of whiskey and a deck of cards. But when a mysterious stranger arrives and wants a piece of the action, the men find themselves playing a game with devilishly high stakes. Steeped in Irish myth, the play is both darkly funny and surprisingly uplifting.

Conor McPherson's recent Broadway hit The Seafarer comes to Seattle Repertory Theatre February 26-March 28, 2009. Set in a forgotten corner of Northern Dublin, the play centers on four old friends as they gather to face the holidays the only way they know how-with a bottle of whiskey and a deck of cards. But when a mysterious stranger arrives and wants a piece of the action, the men find themselves playing a game with devilishly high stakes. Steeped in Irish myth, the play is both darkly funny and surprisingly uplifting.