Frederick Hagreen News

Only the incredible Stephen Sondheim could make a musical about Presidential assassins and make it work. It's a dark subject that you think wouldn't be sung about. But Sondheim shows off his storytelling prowess by creating a sort of club or group therapy aspect to the group of killers as they attempt to tie all their works together with the act of their most famous member. And while the cast of the current joint production from the 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT certainly has the talent to pull off this demanding show, they don't always feel cohesive or in the same club but hopefully as they settle in that will come.

The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT- A Contemporary Theatre are kicking off the presidential election with a bang, presenting the landmark musical ASSASSINS with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Wiedman. The production will run February 27-May 8, 2016.

Monday, March 7th 7:30 p.m.   The first leading gent of our Monday March Cabaret series is none other than the hilarious and multifaceted Matt Owen. 

The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT- A Contemporary Theatre are kicking off the presidential election with a bang, presenting the landmark musical ASSASSINS with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Wiedman. The production begins today, February 27 and will run through May 8, 2016.

ArtsWest is pleased to announce the return of After Hours with Mathew Wright, now in its third iteration after this past December's Holiday Edition. Hosted by Artistic Director Mathew Wright, these one-night only events feature five of Seattle's (and Broadway's) brightest stars: Matt Owen (3/7), Frederick Hagreen (3/14), Eric Ankrim (3/21), and Justin Huertas and Kirsten DeLohr Helland (3/28). These performers were at the vanguard of musical theatre in Seattle in 2015, key creative and artistic talent behind smash-hits like Lizard Boy and Come From Away (Seattle Rep), Green Day's American Idiot(ArtsWest), and The Sound of Music (5th Avenue Theatre), just to name a few. Backed by Mathew Wright on piano, these are the performers that are making theatre history, and they are up-close-and-personal in these exclusive and intimate encounters.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: The Songs of Tor & Lisa, ft. Brandon Victor Dixon, and more; New Musicals at 54: Fallout by Kyle Jarrow and Nick Blaemire; Kyle Dean Massey at 54 Below; Jasper In Deadland CD Release Concert; and Broadway Couples Sing I Do! I Do! For Valentine's Day.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Behold: the enemy of the theatre, the millennial. They leech, they binge-drink, and despite having no idea what it is they want, they will do anything to find out. Brace yourself for a no-hope critique of millennial culture in 'Really Really' at ArtsWest.

Broadway-bound new musical, Come From Away, presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre, wins four Gypsys, tying with another new musical, Lizard Boy, also produced by Seattle Repertory Theatreand also with four Gypsys, a company that has been known for years as a powerhouse dramatic straight-play playhouse! 

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.

Really Really is a contemporary drama that pushes truth's edges and embraces the harsh reality of today's youth. At an elite university, when the party of the year results in the regret of a lifetime, one person will stop at nothing to salvage a future that is suddenly slipping away. In this quick-witted and gripping comic tragedy about today's millennials, it's everyone for themself.

Dear Readers, I hope you've all fared well over the holidays and had a good time with your families. It's been a tumultuous year with lots of great theater for us to take in. And so I'm pleased to share with you some of the best things I saw this past year and the ones that I felt worthy of getting my Critic's Choice Awards for 2015. So settle in and allow me to expound on all the amazing I saw over the year. The envelope please.

The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT- A Contemporary Theatre are kicking off the presidential election with a bang, presenting the landmark musical ASSASSINS with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Wiedman. The production will run February 27-May 8, 2016.

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.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sensational new musical Jasper in Deadland under the direction of the giftedBrandon Ivie. Starring as Jasper and his guide to the Underworld, Gretchen are The Book of Mormon's Matt Doyleand New York-based actress and musician Sydney Shepherd. Joining them on this mystical journey are Andi Alhadeff, Kyle Bernbach, Jared Michael Brown, Kyle Robert Carter, Taryn Darr, Sarah Rose Davis, Frederick Hagreen, Louis Hobson,Diana Huey, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Caety Sagoian andEvan Woltz. Check out a sneak peek below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sensational new musical Jasper in Deadland under the direction of the gifted Brandon Ivie. Starring as Jasper and his guide to the Underworld, Gretchen are The Book of Mormon's Matt Doyleand New York-based actress and musician Sydney Shepherd. Joining them on this mystical journey are Andi Alhadeff, Kyle Bernbach, Jared Michael Brown, Kyle Robert Carter, Taryn Darr, Sarah Rose Davis, Frederick Hagreen, Louis Hobson,Diana Huey, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Caety Sagoian andEvan Woltz.

A fiercely talented cast of Broadway and Seattle stars start rehearsal this week for The 5th Avenue Theatre's sensational new musical Jasper in Deadland under the direction of the gifted Brandon Ivie. Starring as Jasper and his guide to the Underworld, Gretchen are The Book of Mormon's Matt Doyle and New York-based actress and musician Sydney Shepherd. Joining them on this mystical journey are Andi Alhadeff, Kyle Bernbach, Jared Michael Brown, Kyle Robert Carter, Taryn Darr, Sarah Rose Davis, Frederick Hagreen, Louis Hobson, Diana Huey, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Caety Sagoian and Evan Woltz.

If you're going to go after a quirky, off kilter show such as "Urinetown", you need to go for the over-stylized melodrama aspect of it or don't even bother. Well Balagan Theatre has never been one to shy away from that "go big or go home" mentality and their current co-production with Seattle Musical Theatre is no exception. But as over the top as it is, it just doesn't quite reach the heights of satire in some places to really push the show into the realm of sardonic gold.

The heads of Balagan Theatre heard that Seattle Musical Theatre (SMT) also had Urinetown in their season and reached out to the heads of SMT to create a partnership that would be more beneficial for both theaters and for the theatre community. With this in mind, Balagan is shifting their scheduled Urinetown production from September to August, to allow for a Co-Production with Seattle Musical Theatre. Balagan is thrilled to add SMT to their season co-producers. This joint production of Urinetown will take place at SMT's theater at Magnuson Park.

The heads of Balagan Theatre heard that Seattle Musical Theatre (SMT) also had Urinetown in their season and reached out to the heads of SMT to create a partnership that would be more beneficial for both theaters and for the theatre community. With this in mind, Balagan is shifting their scheduled Urinetown production from September to August, to allow for a Co-Production with Seattle Musical Theatre. Balagan is thrilled to add SMT to their season co-producers. This joint production of Urinetown will take place at SMT's theater at Magnuson Park.