Karen Lund News

Everyone loves a good Romantic Comedy, and when people find a good one, they latch onto it. Such a RomCom was the 1937 play a?oeParfumeriea?? by Miklos Laszlo. Now, if you're not familiar with that one maybe you're more familiar with some of the films that were based on it. There was the 1940 James Stewart-Margaret Sullavan film a?oeThe Shop Around the Cornera??, or how about the 1949 Judy Garland-Van Johnson musical version a?oeIn the Good Old Summertimea??. No? Well I'm sure you remember the 1998 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan feature a?oeYou've Got Maila??. And beyond those, the play also spawned one of the most underrated and underappreciated shows in American Musical Theatre, a?oeShe Loves Mea?? by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with a book by Joe Masteroff, currently playing at Village Theatre. a?oeShe Loves Mea?? has been revived on Broadway since it's 1963 beginnings twice, plus a concert version in 1977, but still there are too many people who don't know the glory of this show. Well, Dear Readers, let's try and change that.

There's just one final week to submit votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

We're heading into the final week of voting for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

Called a?oethe most romantic of all Broadway musicalsa?? by The Wall Street Journal, Village Theatre is delighted to bring She Loves Me to the stage beginning this January. The charming musical, which inspired the hit film You've Got Mail, has been revered by critics and audiences alike since it first debuted on Broadway in 1963 a?' going on to be nominated for over 50 awards including the Tony, Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. She Loves Me will run at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah January 16 a?' February 23, 2020 before moving to the Everett Performing Arts Center February 28 a?' March 22, 2020. 

There's just a few weeks left to make your voice heard and submit your votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

Taproot Theatre breathes some fresh air into the holiday season with their production of THE BISHOP'S WIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. While other theater leans on the old standards, Taproot is rolling the dice and presents a new adaptation of a lesser-known work. Their gamble is already paying off with smiles, cheer, and holiday spirit. THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a perfect blend of nostalgia and freshness.

Edie Brickell and Steve Martin's 'Bight Star', currently playing at Taproot Theatre, has a lovely and heartbreaking story, but is a musical that suffers from two things. First, it can never quite come to terms with which era it's in, and second (and most importantly) it's a musical that doesn't have very good songs.

Dear Readers, as I'm sure you're aware, we are blessed with an abundance of riches here in Seattle with the local talent who grace our stages, if you know where to look. Well, currently the treasure map leads right over to Taproot Theatre and X marks the spot on the Isaac Studio Theatre where they are producing "Always… Patsy Cline" starring two gems, Cayman Ilika and Kate Jaeger who will rock you, crack you up, and maybe even bring a tear to your eye with their absolute brilliance.

Cayman Ilika (5th Avenue Theatre's Kiss Me, Kate; Annie) and Kate Jaeger (Taproot Theatre's Persuasion, Village Theatre's Beta Series ZM) star as Patsy Cline and Louise Seger, respectively, in Always... Patsy Cline. This musical tribute features over 25 songs, including hits like 'Walkin' After Midnight,' 'I Fall to Pieces' and 'Crazy.' Taproot Theatre's Associate Artistic Director, Karen Lund (Taproot Theatre's Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley), directs this big-hearted tale of love and loss.

Taproot Theatre's production of MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY offers a holiday diversion of wit, charm, and heart. Mary Bennet, the middle sister, steps from the shadows to take command of her own story. With a gathering of family and a visit from a distant cousin, the recipe is ripe for misunderstandings between people who manage to talk so much and say so little. Taproot Theatre has provided a show that should be on everyone's holiday wish list.

The 5th Avenue Theatre proudly announces that four writing teams representing womxn, gender non-conforming and non-binary voices have been selected to receive a First Draft Commission (a commission that will support writers solely through the development of the first draft of their script) following the inaugural First Draft: Raise Your Voice Story Summit. The commissioned teams will have one year to complete a first draft of their script with the support of The 5th Avenue Theatre. At the end of the cycle, The 5th will produce a one-week reading with a final presentation in New York City, giving the commissioned teams the opportunity to showcase their work to national industry leaders.

Lady Windermere's Fan at Taproot Theatre is a tapestry of tightly woven threads in which all are needed to tell the story. This show, an Oscar Wilde classic, is often produced in such a way that the humor overshadows the heart. Co-directors, Karen Lund and Marianne Savell, have instead chosen to explore the genuine fears and dilemmas that women of society faced in the late nineteenth century. With little power and few choices, these women struggled to uphold the ideals imposed by their society. Lady Windermere reminds us how easily a single decision can forever change the trajectory of a life. When authenticity is the cornerstone of a show, especially one with as strong a script as this, there is no need for a circus of distractions.

A Civil War Christmas is a nice escape for folks that are getting a bit of a toothache from the glittery, schmaltzy, and sentimental Christmas plays foisted upon us this time of year. Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel (for How I Learned to Drive ), A Civil War Christmas is historical fiction circa 1864, a birds-eye view of Civil War-torn America. Infused with hymnals, Union and Confederate songs, and Christmas carols, this musical time capsule bursts at the seams with a myriad of storylines. From slave to president, from Confederate to Union, for better or for worse, Vogel made sure to not miss anybody in this theatric nativity.

Theatre Puget Sound is thrilled to announce the selection of Ariel Bradler as its new executive director.  The selection was made after a regional search and selection process, which included interviews with, and public presentations for panels comprised of both TPS Board and staff representatives, as well as stakeholders from Seattle Center, TPS Membership, and experts from other arts and business disciplines.

Theatre Puget Sound's staff is in the midst of a multi-faceted disagreement with their Board of Directors, which has resulted in a request for the resignation of the entire Board.

Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) is entering a period of leadership transition. Longtime Executive Director Karen Lane, who has been with the organization almost from its founding, is no longer with TPS as of November 30, 2016.

Taproot Theatre Company's Acting Studio is offering six classes for students, adults and seniors that begin in February. Elementary and high school students will build detailed characters and learn to work as an ensemble as they rehearse for a final performance in TTC's Isaac Studio Theatre. Adults will study the fundamentals of acting and make bold character decisions as they learn to play off other actors. Seniors can choose between a class that will dive into scene studies and character work or an improv class geared towards those with Early Stage Memory Loss. These classes are taught by Seattle area theatre professionals Karen Lund, Pam Nolte, Rob Martin, Nikki Visel, Lorrie Fargo and Rick Hornor. Registration forms and class descriptions are available online at taproottheatre.org or by contacting the Acting Studio at 206.529.3668 or studio@taproottheatre.org.

Taproot Theatre presents Le Club Noel, an original Christmas play by Seattle playwrights and performers Candace and Sam Vance. Step into a 1930's Parisian Cabaret and fall under the spell of Le Club Noel, where the band is hot and the songs sung by a beautiful chanteuse. Together they create music to awaken love in the coldest of hearts. With money scarce, and WWII on the horizon, this close-knit band of musicians reminds us that Christmas has always been a time for miracles. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Le Club Noel which opens on November 29 and runs through December 28 with low-price previews on November 22 and 23 and a pay-what-you-can performance on November 27. Early bird pricing is available for performances on December 4 and 5.

Due to popular demand, Illyria at Taproot Theatre is extending through August 17, giving people an additional week to catch the show that critics and audiences are raving about.