Hans Altwies News

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a singing and dancing spectacular not to be missed: Lionel Bart's beloved classic, Oliver!, the holiday treat that will have audiences saying 'Please sir, I want some more.' The iconic musical returns to the celebrated 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 20 years, and will feature stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and a massive local cast of 66 (including 36 youngsters), singing and dancing their way through the streets and alleys of Victorian London. Based on the classicCharles Dickens novel, Oliver! is filled with memorable tunes including 'Who Will Buy?', 'I'd Do Anything,' and 'As Long As He Needs Me.' Oliver! features direction by David Armstrong and will starDavid Pichette as Fagin, Grayson Smith as the Artful Dodger, Hans Altwies as Bill Sikes, andMerideth Kaye Clark as Nancy. Oliver Twist will be played by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber at alternating performances.

This winter The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a singing and dancing spectacular not to be missed: Lionel Bart's beloved classic, Oliver!, the holiday treat that will have audiences saying "Please sir, I want some more." The iconic musical returns to the celebrated 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 20 years, and will feature stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and a massive local cast of 66 (including 36 youngsters), singing and dancing their way through the streets and alleys of Victorian London. Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is filled with memorable tunes including "Who Will Buy?", "I'd Do Anything," and "As Long As He Needs Me." Oliver! features direction by David Armstrong and will starDavid Pichette as Fagin, Grayson Smith as the Artful Dodger, Hans Altwies as Bill Sikes, and Merideth Kaye Clark as Nancy. Oliver Twist will be played by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber at alternating performances.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

As with any David Mamet play, "American Buffalo" currently on stage at the Seattle Rep has a few stock elements. Clever banter, high stakes and more F-Bombs than you can shake a stick at. Yes, if you're put off by harsh language then stop reading now and plan on seeing something else. But if you can handle the occasional (or quite frequent) colorful phrase then this production may be just up your alley with its stunning performances and edge of your seat intensity.

New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) has announced that Darragh Kennan will assume the full position of Artistic Director for the company. He will continue to share leadership duties with Managing Director, Jamie Herlich. Former Co-Artistic Director, Hans Altwies, remains an active company member and now serves as Secretary on their Board of Directors. While he has stepped down as co-Artistic Director, a post which he has had since the company's inception in 2008, he is still very much a part of the company and will continue to be present in everything related to NCTC in the coming years.

A Shakespearean tale of one of the most famous couples in all of history performed by some of the best actors in town and directed by one of Seattle's best directors. You'd think it'd be a slam dunk success wouldn't you? Well, you'd be right. And even with a few moments that missed the mark for me and a show that could still use a little tightening, this almost three and a half hour production of "Antony and Cleopatra" from Seattle Shakespeare Company grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre presents Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Damn Yankees- the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including 'Two Lost Souls' and the sultry favorite, 'Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.' The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones. Check out 'Six Months Out of Every Year' below!

"You gotta have heart!" That's the central conceit of any production of "Damn Yankees". Without that heart they might as well be singing about golf. Well luckily the current production at the 5th Avenue Theatre in conjunction with the Paper Mill Playhouse has heart to spare combined with a killer cast and visually spectacular set.

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre presents Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Damn Yankees- the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including 'Two Lost Souls' and the sultry favorite, 'Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.' The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) have announced their mainstage season productions are now on sale to the general public for individual ticket purchases. The first two major productions of the season are First Date, a new musical co-produced with The 5th Avenue Theatre, followed by The Pitmen Painters, a regional premiere of the acclaimed London and Broadway play.

5th Avenue held its Spotlight Night for Damn Yankees on March 20. The evening took audiences behind the scenes of the new production of the musical comedy classic Damn Yankees. Featuring musical performances by some of Seattle's best singers and the cast of Damn Yankees, the event explored the stories that inspired the hit musical, including the legend of Faust. The night also took audiences through the careers of Damn Yankees book writer George Abbott and songwriters Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Watch Allen Fitzpatrick and the cast of Damn Yankees sing 'Heart' at Spotlight Night in the video below!

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

I don't mean to be cruel, dear readers, but I'm about to tell you about one of the most gloriously simple and quietly profound shows that you'll probably not get to see. "Holy Days" by Sally Nemeth from New Century Theatre Company stars some of the finest performers in the Seattle area at the top of their game in a play that's silent grace will stay with you long after it's over. Currently playing at Raisbeck Performance Hall, it unfortunately is only up for this weekend and if their ticketing website is any indication those shows are already close to sold out.