Melanie Taylor News

We asked our readers to share their theatre memories for #WorldTheatreDay and they did not disappoint! Thanks for celebrating with us!

Seattle Theater Writers Seattle's theater reviewers circle announces the Winners of Excellence in Seattle theatrical productions. Spanning dozens of theater companies and productions, from large and prominent to small and humble, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor the excellence found across the area.

Seattle's critics' circle announces nominees for the 2020 Gypsy Rose Lee awards celebrating excellence in Seattle theatrical productions.

Following a record number of nominations and votes, winners have been announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix!! The nominees were set, audiences voted, and now we get to recognize local theatres and performers for their outstanding achievement!

Oh my! What a year! We've seen bad-ass gospel singers, lost Jewish plays, mythical towns of excretion and even an octopus wrestler or two. No, those aren't allusions to the crazy theater going on in Washington D.C. but the crazy wonderful theater going on right here in the Seattle area. It was tough coming up with just one winner (or even just a few Honorable Mentions) but I managed to do it a?? for the most part. Plus, some shows that more of you should have seen. (Yes, that's me nagging you all, Dear Readers, to check out more of the smaller or obscure theaters around here.) But what it all comes down to is, we're blessed here in the Northwest with an over-abundance of theatrical riches and I'm so fortunate to be able to share some of my favorites of the year with you with the BWW 2019 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks). So, let's get started, shall we?

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!

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!

It's December! Voting is now underway for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatres and performers are recognized. Check out the first set of stats below.

Voting is NOW OPEN and the first votes are in for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The nominees are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatres and performers are recognized!

Los Angeles musical producer Clifford Bell announced today that he and entertainer Kiki Ebsen were staging 'Giving Thanks: A Benefit for Autism Works Now,' a musical brunch at Feinstein's at Vitello's in Studio City to benefit the nonprofit Autism Works Now, funded by researcher Joanne Lara. Says Bell, 'I produce a lot of Live Entertainment - maybe three or four shows every month and I have for many decades now.'

Laura Michelle Kelly and Clifton Davis lead the cast of Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Bringing together four of Southern California's powerhouse singers, a?oeSongs in the Key of Shea?? will celebrate a sisterhood through song.

On Thursday, April 11th, Los Angeles Ballet celebrated its 13th Annual Gala held at the Beverly Hilton. Equipped with a Red Carpet and VIP Guest List, the evening was a delight and successful fundraiser.

Since the joint production between the 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT of "Urinetown" was announced I heard far too often from people that they wouldn't want to see that. A stupid musical about pee? "I don't care for shows that are all bathroom humor," I would hear. And I'd have to defend this wonderful show explaining that it's a super funny, well written show, yes with peeing as the basic setting, but that it was so much more as it pokes fun at government corruption and is an homage to famous musicals who came before. I guess Little Sally from "Urinetown" was right that nothing can kill a show faster than bad subject matter or a bad title. But then her stating that is why this self-referential, meta show works so well. It knows it's ridiculous and it embraces it. And the same could be said for this wonderful production that went for every bad joke with brilliant comic timing and then some.

Seattle's critics' circle announces Nominees of Excellence in Seattle theatrical productions. Spanning dozens of theater companies and productions, from large and prominent to small and humble, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor the excellence found in the myriad of professional theater productions that we reviewers attend in a year.

A few years ago, Dear Readers, Seattle audiences were treated to the tour of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin's lovely musical version of Roald Dahl's "Matilda". A clever little tuner that managed to go beyond simply adding songs to a beloved book and find the heart of the story. Unfortunately, the complaint I heard most often back then from people who saw it was that they couldn't understand the lyrics owing to a bad sound mix in the theater and a bevy of child actors putting on quite thick British accents. So, if you didn't know the lyrics then maybe you didn't get to know them. Well, Village Theatre has picked up this tale of these revolting children (not a judgment of the kids, it's one of the songs) and while the lyrics are much clearer in the more intimate setting and the talent from the kids and adults alike is top notch (with some excellent diction) the show at times feels like it's striving to find it's rhythm and barely finds its magic.

Village Theatre is elated to bring Roald Dahl's magical misfit Matilda to the stage in the hit musical that swept up five Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, and was named TIME's #1 Show of the Year in 2013. The production features an incredible cast of 15 local youth who have been training for their roles in music, acting, and CrossFit since June. They will be joined by some of the Puget Sound's best performers.

Master guitarist, producer, composer, musical director and arranger Terry Wollman has just released a new single, “No Problem,” already #1 most added onBillboard Smooth Jazz chart, SmoothJazz.com and Radio Wave Internet Airplay. The song, which he wrote, arranged and produced, features enviable musicians including Mindi Abair on alto sax, Greg Manning on keyboards, Hussain Jiffry on bass and John 'JR' Robinson on drums. “I absolutely love playing electric guitar. When I had the opportunity to go into the studio with these wonderful musicians, I knew this song was the perfect choice for a live recording session,” said Terry. He recorded the song, which he calls a “burning electric blues shuffle,” using his AC Plus, SP Compressor, EP Booster and Xotic Wah.