Jeff Steitzer News

ESP comes around the curve and into summer's final stretch with Pinero's 1887 horse-racing farce, Dandy Dick! With two impetuous daughters both on the brink of matrimony,the Very Reverend Augustin Jedd is in need of a bit of dowry enhancement... So, even though he's a staunch disapprover of the racing game, when his sometime-do-well sisterGeorgiana Tidd, the 'daisy of the turf,' shows up with a supposedly sure thing -the horse of the play's title - the Very Reverend gets very interested, and he and his whole household go delightfully and British-ly bonkers!

Into the sunny heat of August, ESP introduces the cool breeze of witty comedy - the terrific play Biography, by S. N. Behrman. This 1932 Broadway hit concerns the return to the United States of the Tennessee expatriate Marion Froude, who has been leading a highly artistic lifestyle in between-the-wars Europe. A portrait painter, Marion has hobnobbed with the rich and royal and renowned, and has had passionate romantic affairs - always going her own way, sometimes to her cost.

Mile Square Theatre (MST), Hudson County's premiere professional theatre company, presents a one-of-a-kind production of Yasmina Reza`s Tony-winning comedy 'Art.'

Mile Square Theatre (MST), Hudson County's premiere professional theatre company, presents a one-of-a-kind production of Yasmina Reza`s Tony-winning comedy 'Art.'

Let me start out, Dear Readers, by saying there is no way for me to not be biased about this show. I have loved it since I saw the original preview at the 5th way back when (twice) and all productions since then have never failed to make me happy. Hell, I've even done the show before (hence the bias). So please take that into account as I talk about the current concert version of "Hairspray" being presented at the 5th Avenue in conjunction with the Seattle Men's Chorus. While the talent and fun energy was definitely up there on the 5th Avenue stage, some keys roles seemed to be missing that spark of camp that is so crucial for the show.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced complete casting for Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hairspray's 2002 Broadway debut, this unique concert event will play for six very special performances of glorious and irreverent John Waters-inspired wackiness (Friday-Sunday, June 20-23). In 2002, Hairspray was The 5th Avenue Theatre's first world premiere musical to head for Broadway where it won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical and launched The 5th's unprecedented track record for sending new works to New York. Now the smash hit musical comes home, as audiences have never seen it before.

A few days ago I posted a review for another comedy in town where I commented on the fact that they just don't write farces like they used to. And last night the current production at ACT, "Assisted Living" only served to support that statement. That's assuming this World Premiere play from local playwright Katie Forgette was even trying to be a farce. The show, aside from containing a very thin plot and some highly cliche jokes, suffers from an identity crisis as it's not sure what kind of show it wants to be; farce, political commentary, nostalgia piece, etc. But the show does manage some decent moments largely due to the superb cast not to mention borrowing scenes from good plays.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents its new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater, now playing through March 10. Check out the video below of 'Lida Rose.'

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre single tickets go on sale to the public for all 2013 Mainstage shows February 12, 2013. ACT is offering 50 percent off of adult price tickets for all Mainstage preview shows throughout the season for one-day only February 12. ACT also shares a glimpse of the casting for the first half of the upcoming Mainstage season.

ACT has announced some of the casting for the first half of the upcoming Mainstage season. ACT's own Artistic Director Kurt Beattie gets back on the boards alongside Jeff Steitzer, Marianne Owen, Julie Briskman, and Laura Kenny in Assisted Living. In Other Desert Cities the critically acclaimed Marya Sea Kaminski makes her ACT debut going head to head with television actress Pamela Reed (Parks and Recreation, Kindergarten Cop) who is a UW Drama alumni and Washington resident. Many other notable local actors will be returning to ACT or making their debut including Jessica Skerritt, Matt Owen, Lori Larsen, Suzy Hunt, Aaron Blakely, and Kirsten Potter to name a few. See the current listing of committed artistic and production talent below.

To think that a murder mystery that's been around for 60 years such as “The Mousetrap', currently playing at Village Theatre, could still be fresh. I mean, everyone knows who the killer is by now, right? Nope. I for one couldn't remember and from the gasps in the audience many others couldn't either. But then that's part of the enduring quality of this Agatha Christie classic, it still keeps you guessing. And the Village production is so full of fun, rich characters and, of course, red herrings that it amounts to a thoroughly enjoyable night out.

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.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for its glorious new production of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a loving valentine to musical theater. The 5th's exuberant staging features a cast of 29 adults and 16 children, not to mention a full 20-piece orchestra, bringing this musical masterpiece to booming brassy life with the full force and excitement of a parade. Seattle native and seasoned Broadway pro Noah Racey returns home to star as Professor Harold Hill alongside Laura Griffith as Marian (the librarian) Paroo singing such celebrated songs as "Til There Was You," "Seventy Six Trombones," and "Ya Got Trouble." This all-star cast also features a host of Seattle's finest actors, including Anne Allgood, Jeff Steitzer, Laura Kenny, Richard Gray, Darragh Kennan, Joshua Feinsilber, and many others.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents its 37th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. This year, A Christmas Carol is directed by John Langs, who was recently named ACT's new Associate Artistic Director. Stage veterans and Seattle favorites R. Hamilton Wright (Recent winner of The Gregory Falls Award, for lifetime achievement; returns for his 4th run as Scrooge) and Jeff Steitzer (has performed Scrooge thrice at ACT; Broadway credits: Inherit The Wind; Mary Poppins; also, Voice of God Multiplayer Announcer for all HALO video games) alternating in the role Ebenezer Scrooge. In 2012, Charles Dickens is celebrated for his 200th year.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, and Managing Director, Tristan Wilson, continues its 2012 season with Philip King's farce, See How They Run, now through August 26, 2012, on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield). Directed by Jeff Steitzer, See How They Run opens today, August 12 at 5pm. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, and Managing Director, Tristan Wilson, continues its 2012 season with Philip King's farce, See How They Run, from tonight, August 9 through August 26 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield). Directed by Jeff Steitzer, See How They Run opens Sunday, August 12 at 5pm.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, and Managing Director, Tristan Wilson, continues its 2012 season with Philip King's farce, See How They Run, from August 9 through 26 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield). Directed by Jeff Steitzer, See How They Run opens Sunday, August 12 at 5pm.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, and Managing Director, TriStan Wilson, presents Arthur Miller's landmark American drama ALL MY SONS, now playing through August 4 at the BSC Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield). Opening night was Sunday, July 22, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big night below!