On the heels of its critically acclaimed world premier new musical ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME by Valerie Vigoda, Brendan Millburn and Tony winner Joe DiPietro and directed by Obie Winner Lisa Peterson, Seattle's Balagan Theatre Company announces its 2014/15 season. Balagan's upcoming season reflects the past, present, and future of the new American musical and continues its mission in bringing exciting cutting edge theatre to a new generation of theatre goers.
There's a plot device that has annoyed me since I was a kid. Sitcoms use it a lot. It's where the main character keeps lying and/or making obviously poor decisions which keeps digging them deeper and deeper into a hole until you just want to scream at them, "Just tell the truth and do the right thing already!" In sitcoms it all gets resolved in a fun way in 22 minutes and everyone learns a valuable lesson. But when this plot device is combined with the nation's current economic woes as is the case with Laura Marks' play "Bethany", currently playing at ACT, that frustration with the characters never seems to end leading to a bleak evening which left me asking, "why?" Is this a journey we need to take or is it simply frustration for frustration's sake and shining a spotlight on the plight of some to make others without the plight feel better about their lives?
From squatting in a foreclosed home, to lying to the government, to taking desperate measures to make one last sale at work, Bethany takes on the economic crisis from the eyes of a middle class mom fighting to get her life back on track. This Helen Merrill Award-winning play tells the story of a young woman whose daughter has been taken away by State services when she loses her home. If she can just make one more sale before the car dealership closes for good, she might be able to salvage a life that's rapidly spiraling out of control.
American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 35th Season, June 7 to November 9, 2014, a diverse lineup spanning from Shakespeare to Mamet and helmed by recently appointed Artistic Director Brenda DeVita-the company's first new artistic director in over 20 years. DeVita's season includes the first David Mamet production of the company's history, American Buffalo, and her staging of Joan Didion's memoir The Year of Magical Thinking in APT's intimate 200-seat Touchstone Theatre, alongside such classics as Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet in APT's flagship 1148-seat outdoor amphitheater Up the Hill.
Seattle Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director George Mount announced the company's programming plans for 2014-2015 that include expanding to five plays for its indoor season, the return of directors Jon Kretzu and John Langs, and the mainstage directing debuts of Desdemona Chiang and Makaela Pollock.
If ever there were a play to illuminate the theater's power to relate human truth, this could be An Iliad. If ever there were an actor to relate Homer's ancient story through poetry, this surely could be James DeVita. Place this pair in The Milwaukee Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse where An Iliad opened this past weekend, and in 60 years of The Rep's illustrious legacy, almost 42 which has been seen by this ticket holder every season, this stunning production ranks of as one of the top ten.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its 2013/14 60th Anniversary Season with a production of An Iliad, a modern adaptation of Homer's classic. Described as 'pure theater: shocking, glorious, primal, and deeply satisfying,' by Time Out New York, An Iliad features Wisconsin-based actor James DeVita and cellist Alicia Storin, a native of Mequon, Wisconsin. Written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare, An Iliad will be directed by John Langs, who returns to The Rep after directing I Am My Own Wife during the 2010/11 Season.
Alley Theatre presents the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its 2013/14 60th Anniversary Season with a production of An Iliad, a modern adaptation of Homer's classic. Described as 'pure theater: shocking, glorious, primal, and deeply satisfying,' by Time Out New York, An Iliad features Wisconsin-based actor James DeVita and cellist Alicia Storin, a native of Mequon, Wisconsin. Written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare, An Iliad will be directed by John Langs, who returns to The Rep after directing I Am My Own Wife during the 2010/11 Season.
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.
A Contemporary Theatre single tickets go on sale to the public for all 2014 Mainstage shows February 12, 2014. ACT is offering 50% off of adult price tickets for previews of Bethany one-week only February 12-18.
Holiday theatrical traditions are alive and well at ACT but the two shows playing couldn't be more different from each other. First off with their 38th annual production, ACT presents the classic “A Christmas Carol” with all the polish and flash that you've come to expect. And then with their 13th installment, Peggy Platt and Lisa Koch (AKA Dos Fallopia) present their irreverent sketch comedy show “Ham for the Holidays: Close Encounters of the Pork Rind”. I managed to see both in one night (it's possible but it's tight) and I went from sobbing to belly laughs that amounted to a lovely evening of holiday treats.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents its 38th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. This year, A Christmas Carol is directed by John Langs with Artistic Director Kurt Beattie returning to play Ebenezer Scrooge, in alternating performances with first timer Peter Crook making his first appearance in the role. Also new to the cast, G. Valmont Thomas, who's performance in 'Master Harold and the Boys,' just earned him the 2013 Gregory Award for Outstanding Actor. Mr. Thomas recently returned to Seattle after a long stint at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and will take on the charismatic role of Spirit 2 (Ghost of Christmas Present).
The Honorable Lance A. Ito, Honorable Lance A. Ito, Curtis Silver of United Negro College Fund, Daniel Mayeda, Co-Chair of Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, Dr. Jorge Huerta, UC-San Diego Professor of Theatre Emeritus California, and Twelve Angry Men cast member Jason George, Chair of the National Diversity Advisory Committee for SAG/AFTRA lead the list of community members discussing the play as part of the new Talkback Tuesdays series at The Pasadena Playhouse. Ito, Mayeda, Huerta and George will join six other esteemed panel members for these post-performance discussions tonight, November 12 and November 19 and 26. The Pasadena Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps, who is the director of Twelve Angry Men will participate in all three Talkback Tuesday events.
The Honorable Lance A. Ito, Honorable Lance A. Ito, Curtis Silver of United Negro College Fund, Daniel Mayeda, Co-Chair of Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, Dr. Jorge Huerta, UC-San Diego Professor of Theatre Emeritus California, and Twelve Angry Men cast member Jason George, Chair of the National Diversity Advisory Committee for SAG/AFTRA lead the list of community members discussing the play as part of the new Talkback Tuesdays series at The Pasadena Playhouse. Ito, Mayeda, Huerta and George will join six other esteemed panel members for these post-performance discussions on November 12, 19 and 26. The Pasadena Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps, who is the director of Twelve Angry Men will participate in all three Talkback Tuesday events.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents its 38th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. This year, A Christmas Carol is directed by John Langs with Artistic Director Kurt Beattie returning to play Ebenezer Scrooge, in alternating performances with first timer Peter Crook making his first appearance in the role. Also new to the cast, G. Valmont Thomas, who's performance in "Master Harold and the Boys," just earned him the 2013 Gregory Award for Outstanding Actor. Mr. Thomas recently returned to Seattle after a long stint at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and will take on the charismatic role of Spirit 2 (Ghost of Christmas Present).
We don't live in Grover's Corners anymore and a lot has changed in the century since that time. So it stands to reason that a slice of life play like 'Middletown', currently playing at ACT would be a darker and grittier ride than its 'Our Town' predecessor. And while at times it seems like just a series of platitudes on how to live your life, what makes this production what it is are the stirring and heartfelt performances from the ensemble cast.
ACT Theatre has announced the Seattle premiere of Will Eno's whimsical and poetic comedy drama, Middletown. In his contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town, Will Eno (2012 PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award) digs acutely into American life, bringing the deeply human journeys of neighbor and stranger together in an 'Everytown USA.' Eno's critically acclaimed new play explores how the imponderable mysteries of the universe reveal themselves through the apparently everyday lives and relationships of ordinary people in an ordinary place.
ACT Theatre has announced the Seattle premiere of Will Eno's whimsical and poetic comedy drama, Middletown. In his contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town, Will Eno (2012 PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award) digs acutely into American life, bringing the deeply human journeys of neighbor and stranger together in an 'Everytown USA.' Eno's critically acclaimed new play explores how the imponderable mysteries of the universe reveal themselves through the apparently everyday lives and relationships of ordinary people in an ordinary place.
ACT Theatre is thrilled to announce the Seattle premiere of Will Eno's whimsical and poetic comedy drama, Middletown, beginning August 30. In his contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town, Will Eno (2012 PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award) digs acutely into American life, bringing the deeply human journeys of neighbor and stranger together in an "Everytown USA." Eno's critically acclaimed new play explores how the imponderable mysteries of the universe reveal themselves through the apparently everyday lives and relationships of ordinary people in an ordinary place.
