Returning home for its first local Seattle production, the Tony Award-winning rock musical Next to Normal will be co-produced in February 2013 by award-winning companies Balagan Theatre and Contemporary Classics. Starring in the pivotal leading role will be one of Seattle's most regarded actors, Marya Sea Kaminski, in her first musical.
One of the biggest pitfalls of casting "Romeo and Juliet" is that you need to find younger actors (the lovers are supposed to be 14 years old) who can handle these characters and this play without devolving them into petulant teens. And this was the major issue I had with the current production at the Intiman as neither of the two eponymous lovers seemed to connect with each other or the flowery speeches and therefore didn't connect with the audience. Luckily many of the other members of the cast turned in some stellar performances making the more interesting play, "Romeo and Juliet's Family and Friends".
Take a few particularly vile individuals, throw them into a house with some innocuous and naive others and have them all spurred on by a bored manipulative new bride and what do you have? No, this is not the latest reality series on FOX but it had about the same impact and appeal as one. No, it's Henrik Ibson's "Hedda Gabler" currently playing at Intiman as part of their Summer Theatre Festival. And while there were some interesting moments on the whole it amounted to a one-note melange of duplicity that had about as much intrigue as an episode of "Jersey Shore".
Crass, over the top and offensive. Filled with bad taste, outrageous costumes and more dick jokes than you can shake … well … a dick at. If anyone asked me to describe Intiman's current production, I'd have to go with that. But did I like it? Despite a few missteps and an Act One that needs some tightening, I laughed my ass off. But then, I occasionally like crass, over the top and offensive in my theater.
Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.
Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.
Sometimes I don't think we in Seattle know how culturally lucky we are. We have amazing theaters that give us new and exciting works sometimes even as tryouts on their way to Broadway. But now the Seattle Rep has pulled off a new one as we are getting Bruce Norris' thrilling new work "Clybourne Park" here even though it just opened on Broadway last week. And if that weren't enough for us to thank our lucky stars, add into that the all around stunning production of this new work with its sublime cast and we may come to realize just how much the theater Gods are smiling down upon us.
Intiman Theatre has met its pledge goal of $1 million., and as a result the Intiman Board of Trustees has voted to reopen Intiman and move forward with production of the 2012 Intiman Theatre Festival.
It's that time of year again. Time to make your voices heard for your favorite shows and performances from the 2011 Seattle Theater Season. Last year's inaugural Seattle awards were so much fun that we just had to bring them back.
It's that time of year again. Time to make your voices heard for your favorite shows and performances from the 2011 Seattle Theater Season. Last year's inaugural Seattle awards were so much fun that we just had to bring them back.
ACT -A Contemporary Theatre announces its 2012 Mainstage play season-including three World Premieres and two Northwest Premieres - along with a house filled with new presentations from The Central Heating Lab at ACT, The Young Playwrights Program, and The Hansberry Project at ACT, several of which will take place in the new 49-seat Eulalie Scandiuzzi Space located just a few steps away from the Bullitt Cabaret.
Ten new projects from national and Seattle playwrights will be in development this spring through Seattle Repertory Theatre's New Play Program, the theatre announced today. Projects in the works include plays by Robert Schenkkan (By the Waters of Babylon, The Kentucky Cycle), Cheryl West (Holiday Heart, Play On, Rejoice!), Kathleen Tolan (Memory House), Stephanie Timm (On the Nature of Dust), and Seattle actors R. Hamilton Wright and David Pichette.
The votes are in, the ballots tallied and the people have spoken. Yes, the 2010 BroadwayWorld Seattle Theater awards results are in and my oh my was it a nail biter. There was some fierce competition out there but the voters have spoken. But since the results were so close, we're going to put in not only the winners but also the 1st and 2nd runners up as well. And I'm also going to throw in my own Critic's Choice for the hell of it. So without further ado, the envelopes please...
The recipients of the 2010 GREGORY AWARDS were announced at the 2010 Gregory Awards Ceremony at ACT on Monday, October 25, 2010.
The nominees for the 2010 GREGORY AWARDS have been announced, and tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Gregory Awards Ceremony at ACT on Monday, October 25, 2010.
Seattle Shakespeare Company is presenting the bloody Greek tragedy "Electra" by Sophocles and adapted by Frank McGuinness. And let me tell you the tragedy here is most certainly not the quality of the production.
Seattle Shakespeare Company is presenting the bloody Greek tragedy "Electra" by Sophocles and adapted by Frank McGuinness. And let me tell you the tragedy here is most certainly not the quality of the production.
Does the judicial system delay the primal need for catharsis that humans crave? Is 'eye for an eye' revenge ever justified? Does justice truly lead to peace?
ELECTRA By Sophocles, adapted by Frank McGuinness |Directed by Sheila Daniels at Center House Theatre at Seattle Center, Center House Lower Level
A riveting drama of a daughter's sworn vengeance. The Greek wellspring for all revenge stories.
