Mike Dooly News

Seattle Shakespeare Company presents ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, directed by Vanessa Miller, opening this Friday, May 6, 2016 and closing May 22, 2016 at the Cornish Playhouse (201 Mercer Street, WA 98109). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) is proud to present Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic comedy Talley's Folly, directed by SPT Artistic Director Shana Bestock, running at SPT from tonight, May 15 to May 31, 2015. Talley's Folly is the final production of SPT's 2014-15 mainstage season of plays. 

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) is proud to present Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic comedy Talley's Folly, directed by SPT Artistic Director Shana Bestock, running at SPT from May 15 to May 31, 2015. Talley's Folly is the final production of SPT's 2014-15 mainstage season of plays. 

Charlotte Jones' "Humble Boy", currently playing at Seattle Public Theater, may not rock your world or alter your perceptions on life or anything like that but this sweet family dramedy has plenty of charm and humor. True it's a bit long winded at times but with such engaging performances and interesting characters, you can get over that and still walk away with a contented little sigh.

Oh my! It's been a hell of a year for the Seattle Theatre scene and I can say we've been quite fortunate to see the incredible shows we have. So many amazing shows in fact that picking just a few stand outs (let alone a "best") is a near impossibility. But I have searched the deep dark recesses of my memory to find the shows and performances that really stood out and stuck with me beyond the evening and throughout the year. And so, without further ado, I'm thrilled to present the BWW 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks). Let the awesomeness flow!

How many times have we all seen "Twelfth Night"? It is one of Shakespeare's most accessible and arguably one of his best plays and therefore one of his most often trotted out pieces. Even Seattle Shakespeare Company admits this current production is the fifth time they've done it in their 24 year history. So I'll admit to a less than enthusiastic attitude when I was off to see it. I mean, what can they do with "Twelfth Night" really? Well, apparently, they can fill it with a stupendous cast, direct it with a kind of 1920's yet otherworldly vibe, liven up all the comedy and flourish it with some hauntingly melancholy original music and turn it into a feast for the senses making this war horse once again a glittering show pony.

Shipwrecked romantics get washed ashore in Seattle Shakespeare Company's sparkling comedy Twelfth Night directed by Jon Kretzu at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. Performances are October 21-November 16, 2014 (Previews October 21-23, Opening Night Friday October 24). Performance times: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM with selected Saturdays at 2PM and selected Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM

Shipwrecked romantics get washed ashore in Seattle Shakespeare Company's sparkling comedy Twelfth Night directed by Jon Kretzu at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center. Performances are today, October 21-November 16, 2014 (Previews October 21-23, Opening Night Friday October 24). Performance times: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM with selected Saturdays at 2PM and selected Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM

Shipwrecked romantics get washed ashore in Seattle Shakespeare Company's sparkling comedy Twelfth Night directed by Jon Kretzu at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.? Performances are October 21-November 16, 2014 (Previews October 21-23, Opening Night Friday October 24). Performance times: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM with selected Saturdays at 2PM and selected Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) at the Bathhouse on Green Lake is proud to present Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, directed by SPT Artistic Associate, Kelly Kitchens (SPT's The Understudy, The Santaland Diaries, and Book-It Repertory Theatre's She's Come Undone). Arcadia previews May 15th, and opens May 16th to June 8th, 2014.

I've never particularly been a fan of Shakespeare's histories. To me they amount to a lot of political posturing. But even with all the posturing they usually amount to a story with high stakes for all involved. Unfortunately the pacing and some performances from Seattle Shakespeare Company's current production of "Richard II" are so middle of the road and one note that the show lacked those high stakes and amounted to just so much of that posturing.

Seattle Theater Writers, a critics' circle of local theater writers and reviewers, today announces the 2013 slate of nominees of the third annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.

With recent airings on PBS via the BBC's 'Hollow Crown' series and a screening of the RSC production with David Tenant, the Puget Sound region has seen a mini-renaissance of Shakespeare's Richard II. Seattle Shakespeare Company starts the New Year with its own production of Richard II directed by Rosa Joshi. Artistic Director George Mount will play the title role in a cast that features 16 actors.

With recent airings on PBS via the BBC's "Hollow Crown" series and a screening of the RSC production with David Tenant, the Puget Sound region has seen a mini-renaissance of Shakespeare's Richard II. Seattle Shakespeare Company starts the New Year with its own production of Richard II directed by Rosa Joshi. Artistic Director George Mount will play the title role in a cast that features 16 actors.

For a show that is all about words and how to express them correctly, it sometimes feels that Julia Cho's "The Language Archive" could have done a little better expressing them efficiently. Occasionally the show tends to drone on and could have ended a few times. Fortunately the cast in Seattle Public Theater's production is so engaging that those droning moments dissipate quickly and what's left is an intriguingly sweet love story.

SPT will present the Seattle Premiere of 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Winner Julia Cho's The Language Archive running May 17-June 9, 2013 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.

Sometimes Shakespeare is all about murder and revenge and history and import and sometimes it's just a goofy romp through the ins and outs of the heart. And "Love's Labour's Lost" from the Seattle Shakespeare Company currently playing at the Center Theatre is definitely part of the latter group. Probably the biggest example of Shakespeare at his most frivolous, the production definitely had its shining moments but tended to betray its own story near the end and whether that's the script or the direction, it left me a little wanting.

Seattle Shakespeare's LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST by William Shakespeare runs at Seattle Center's Center Theatre, opening March 15 and playing through April 7, 2013, directed by Jon Kretzu. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Theresa Rebeck has made a name for herself with her rich and engaging characters on stage and most recently with her look into the underbelly of theater with her hit TV show, "Smash". And along those lines her play "The Understudy" currently playing at Seattle Public Theater manages a fun and illuminating look into show business as well. And while the play doesn't always have the most original concepts out there, this production manages some finely layered performances from its ensemble cast.

SPT will present The Understudy, a biting comic examination of the entertainment industry, by Peabody Award Winner and creator and producer of NBC's Smash, Theresa Rebeck, running January 25-February 17, 2013 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.