Libby Barnard News

Following the success of their critically acclaimed production ofJesus Hopped the A Train (2012 Gregory Award and Gypsy Lee Rose Award winners), Seattle theatre company Azeotrope is excited to bring two powerful shows in repertory: Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp and 25 Saints by Joshua Rollins, directed by Artistic Associate Desdemona Chiang. Both shows open Saturday, October 26, and play through November 24; produced in association with Central Heating Lab at A Contemporary Theatre.

The conclusion of the "Team of Heroes" Trilogy, "Team of Heroes: No More Heroes" currently playing at Annex Theatre has swooped in to save us all, but it could use some saving of its own. Yes, all of your favorite damaged superheroes and super villains are there as well as little gimmicks and tricks to make the audience squeal, but unfortunately the show slowly plods along with no direction or purpose and ultimately fizzles.

After five years and three productions the action packed Super Hero saga that is Team of Heroes comes to a dark and satisfying conclusion in Team of Heroes: No More Heroes.

After five years and three productions the action packed Super Hero saga that is Team of Heroes comes to a dark and satisfying conclusion in Team of Heroes: No More Heroes.

It's been a helluva year for theater in the Seattle area. From the triumphant return of the Intiman with their summer festival to the hugely popular run of "Spring Awakening" from Balagan Theatre Seattle audiences were treated with some amazing shows and performances this past year. And so, allow me to shine the spotlight on some of my favorite outstanding moments from the past year with my 2012 BWW Seattle Critic's Choice Awards.

I have to say I love it when a playwright takes a genre and turns it on its head. Even more so when they have an amazing gift for words and storytelling as is very evident in Stephanie Timm's "Sweet Nothing, a (grim) fairytale" currently having its Northwest premiere at Annex Theatre from Macha Monkey Productions. With the sweetness of a fairly tale combined with the stark coldness of reality, Timm manages a haunting sensuality wrapped up in a thoroughly engaging story of lost innocence.

Macha Monkey will present the northwest premiere of Stephanie Timm's Sweet Nothing, a (grim) fairytale at Annex Theatre's space beginning this month.

Macha Monkey will present the northwest premiere of Stephanie Timm's Sweet Nothing, a (grim) fairytale at Annex Theatre's space in June 2012.

Theater Schmeater, in association with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's Central Heating Lab, is pleased to celebrate our 20th anniversary season with the return of our popular presentation of The Twilight Zone: Live! opening on Friday April 6 in A Contemporary Theatre's Bullitt Cabaret space.

It's not easy coming up with a new twist on a beloved classic especially a beloved children's classic such as E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web", but that's just what writer and director Brendan Mack and the folks at STAGEright have done with their current production of "Web". And while I felt the play could do with some editing and the production lacked a bit of focus at times, ultimately the show comes across as a fascinating reimagining and expansion of a tale of unconditional love.

I guess it's just human nature to wonder what became of our beloved childhood icons when they grow up. Owe it to some sense of fictional closure if you must. And such is the subject of Balagan Theatre's season opener "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead" by Bert V. Royal and directed by M. Elizabeth Eller as we look at the Peanuts gang as they are allowed to progress beyond their childlike state into angst ridden young adulthood. Unfortunately the current production tends to focus on the angst and not so much on the adulthood.

I guess it's just human nature to wonder what became of our beloved childhood icons when they grow up. Owe it to some sense of fictional closure if you must. And such is the subject of Balagan Theatre's season opener "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead" by Bert V. Royal and directed by M. Elizabeth Eller as we look at the Peanuts gang as they are allowed to progress beyond their childlike state into angst ridden young adulthood. Unfortunately the current production tends to focus on the angst and not so much on the adulthood.

Greenstage presented Seattle's Outdoor Theater Festival in Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park over the weekend of July 10th and 11th to kick off the many Summer park shows around the Puget Sound area. The festival encompassed 11 shows from eight different companies and while they mostly followed a Shakespearean bent there were also a few decidedly non-Shakespearean shows but all good fun for all ages and it's all FREE.