Michael Brun News

You know how those 'Saturday Night Live' skits are where it's a fantastic premise and really funny to start out but then they have no idea how to end it so it drones on and on. Well the current off-kilter holiday production out at ArtsWest is like that. Filled with gut busting laughs and wonderful musical numbers in Act One but then turns into something very different in Act Two and keeps going on and on and ends about four different times.

This holiday season join ArtsWest and Judy Garland as they welcome you into their home for the Seattle Premiere of Judy's Scary Little Christmas.

Following the great success of the 'Connecting Creativity' project in 2013, the Break-Away Project is delighted to announce the creation of 'Connecting Musicality'.

This holiday season join ArtsWest and Judy Garland as they welcome you into their home for the Seattle Premiere of Judy's Scary Little Christmas.

Following the great success of the 'Connecting Creativity' project in 2013, the Break-Away Project is delighted to announce the creation of 'Connecting Musicality'.

If you're going to turn a highly personal story into a play then make sure that you have something fresh to say about the subject matter or at least that the elements of the play are relatable to the audience. Unfortunately, Arouet's world premiere of Doug DeVita's "The Fierce Urgency of Now" had neither of those things. It's a valiant attempt at conveying the emotional ups and downs of business but ultimately lacked the tools to bring me into the play.

One of the most exciting and promising new musicals to come out of New York in the last few years for me has to be 'Dogfight'. This adaptation of the little known film from up and coming composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and writer Peter Duchan showed off that musical theater still has quite a vibrant heartbeat. So when I heard that ArtsWest was mounting this recent Lucille Lortel Award winner I was quite excited. And while there are a few muddled choices in the current production, the show elicits tons of heart and some truly touching moments especially from Seattle newbie Devon Busswood, but we'll get to more on her in a minute.

Theatre francais de Toronto will present Les Zinspires 3D, a universe filled with untamed emotions, existential angst, BFFs, and (anti)social media. Five short stories, all written by teens from across Southern Ontario, brought to life by Theatre francais de Toronto, reworked by professional writers and performed by professional actors. An exceptional, provocative journey for the wildly creative teenager in all of us! For the first time this year, there will be three performances for the general public: October 24 & 29 and November 1, with English surtitles October 24 and 29. There will also be school matinees from October 23 to 31.

ArtsWest opens their 2014-2015 season with the Seattle Premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop.

Tom Waits tunes and Teller magic create a haunting and ethereal mood for THE TEMPEST at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., but despite its brilliant execution, this inventive and entertaining adaptation doesn't quite deliver the perfect storm.

I must apologize, Dear Readers, for getting this one to you so late. But alas when the Mothership beckons I must go. Unfortunately it meant me coming late to the party that is Arouet's production of David Ives' 'Don Juan in Chicago' which leaves you only two more chances to see this hilarious production, which I urge you to do. Some beautiful direction and a killer ensemble make this bit of Ives' deliciousness even more fun.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; present the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posnerand Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music byTom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. Scroll down for a first look at the production!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director, presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts has now added a third and final week of performances for the world premiere of THE TEMPEST, which will now play April 6-27, with special preview performances April 1-4. The opening night celebration will take place on Saturday, April 5. Produced in association with the American Reparatory Theater (A.R.T.), THE TEMPEST is adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. THE TEMPEST will perform at The Smith Center's Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park in a 500-seat climate-controlled tent. Tickets start at $35 for regular performances and $25 for preview performances. Tickets for the opening night celebration are $150 and include an exclusive post-show reception. All tickets are on sale now at The Smith Center box office, online at www.TheSmithCenter.com or by phone at (702) 749-2000.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; announced today the company for the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

Collecting 40 of today's biggest tracks in electronic dance music, Armada Music proudly presents its brand new compilation: Dance Essentials 2014!

Today, the Visual Effects Society, the industry's professional honoray society , announced the nominees for the 12th Annual VES Awards, recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials? and video games.