It's been a crazy year, Dear Readers. Lots of ups, lots of downs, and LOTS of emotions. And I'm not just talking about on stage. But let's not dwell on the bad things that may have happened in the world and focus on some of the amazing things Seattle theater companies gave us this past year, and let me tell you there were quite a few. So many in fact that in some categories I simply had to call out more than the usual Honorable Mentions as some performances just needed to be noted. You'll see what I mean especially when you get to the female categories as the ladies were certainly bringing it this year.
But let's get started shall we? Out of the myriad shows I saw this year in Seattle, here are the shows and performances that truly stood out to me.
18th & Union is pleased to announce a lineup of artistic visitations that are guaranteed to temper the icky sweetness of holiday kitsch. Three productions will run in rotating rep throughout December: The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris; The Slipknot, by TJ Dawe; and Emmett Montgomery's Sugar Plum Gary.
Seattle Public Theater is excited to announce changes in its leadership to help build on its record-setting 2015-2016 year of artistic and educational success.
Euripides' tragic title character in 'Medea' is one of those parts that actresses give their eye teeth (or even sacrifice their children) to play. She's a strong and committed woman with a wildly emotional arc. So with a role such as this where it's really all up to the lead, for the rest of the production I find it best to follow the rule of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Unfortunately director Kelly Kitchens and the folks at Seattle Shakespeare Company had other ideas with their current production as it was so laden down with their storytelling gimmicks that the story and the stunning lead performance became diluted.
When your love story is built on danger, it can only end badly. Seattle Shakespeare Company will present Medea by Euripides at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. Kelly Kitchens directs this searing Greek tragedy featuring choreography by Donald Byrd October 18-November 13, 2016.
Hang with me here, Dear Readers, as there are only a few things I can tell you about Seattle Public Theater's current production of 'On Clover Road' lest I give away any surprises. In fact when I arrived to the theater the management asked me not to open the press packet they gave me to keep the secrets from me before I saw it. But I'll do my best. Let's see, I can say that the show is a one act with a run time of about 75 minutes. I can say this blistering thriller is written by the amazing Steven Dietz, author of 'Lonely Planet', 'Becky's New Car', 'Yankee Tavern' and 'Bloomsday' to name just a few. And most importantly I can say that you do not want to miss this one because if you do you'll be missing an incredibly thrilling ride with some of the finest performances I've seen all year.
When your love story is built on danger, it can only end badly. Seattle Shakespeare Company will present Medea by Euripides at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. Kelly Kitchens directs this searing Greek tragedy featuring choreography by Donald Byrd October 18-November 13, 2016.
A desperate mother will do anything to get her daughter back. In an abandoned motel on a desolate American road, she meets a man with whom she believes is her only hope at reunion... but nothing is as it seems and what happens next will shock voyeurs to their core. ON CLOVER ROAD - a gritty new play by critically acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz - has its Pacific Northwest premiere with Seattle Public Theater beginning on September 23rd through October 16th at the Bathhouse in Green Lake.
A desperate mother will do anything to get her daughter back. In an abandoned motel on a desolate American road, she meets a man with whom she believes is her only hope at reunion... but nothing is as it seems and what happens next will shock voyeurs to their core. ON CLOVER ROAD - a gritty new play by critically acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz - has its Pacific Northwest premiere with Seattle Public Theater beginning on September 23rd through October 16th at the Bathhouse in Green Lake.
On August 9th at 7:00pm, Forward Flux Productions will present a reading of Sarah Saltwick's new play, “Tender Rough Rough Tender” at the XV Flux Salon gathering in Seattle.
Seattle Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director George Mount announced plans for the company's 2016-2017 season that includes a world premiere adaptation, pairings of plays exploring love and jealousy, and everyone's favorite fairy-filled fantasy. The plays included in the season are The Winter's Tale, Medea, the two-part epic Bring Down the House, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The company previously announced its selection for the free Wooden O summer park shows: Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost. In the spring of 2017 Seattle Shakespeare Company will tour The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet to schools and venues across the state.
A Contemporary Theatre announces the spring shows that will occur during the debut season of Artistic Director John Langs. Highlights include the haunting and hilarious musical Assassins, the sixth co-production with The 5th Avenue Theatre, is now running through May 8. ACT celebrates eight talented writers in the 2016 Young Playwrights Festival Mar 10-12 and the world premiere of Worse Than Tigers opens Mar 24. April brings the heartbreaking, hilarious, sort-of-adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull with Aaron Posner's Stupid f**king Bird.
Seattle Public Theater (SPT) is proud to present The Other Place, Sharr White's delicate and poignant drama characterized by plot twists and revealing discoveries, directed by Kelly Kitchens at the historic Green Lake Bathhouse Theater from March 25 to April 17, 2016. Tickets are $34 for adults, $32 for seniors, $17 for youth under 25, and $5 for youth under 12. Tickets are available by calling the SPT Box Office at206-524-1300 or visitingwww.seattlepublictheater.org.
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.
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.
ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announces the winter shows that will close out its 50th year and carry over into the debut season of Artistic Director John Langs. In December, ACT presents the 40th Anniversary Production of A Christmas Carol and the merry Ham for the Holidays: Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham? by Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt. Also in December, ACT celebrates the achievements of all the playwrights in the 2015 Young Playwrights Program and presents As You Like It, directed by ACT's Kenan Directing Fellow Wiley Basho Gorn.
