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?
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. Melissa Etheridge, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, The Marcus King Band, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and John Cowan will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Taking centre stage in a?oeDark Side to the Moona??, the tribute to Pink Floyd is multi-instrumentalist, adult contemporary singer, songwriter, recording artist and producer, Mel Botes, whose brilliance as a guitarist had no limits in a?oeCrazy Diamonda??, sweeping music lovers off their feet. Based on the success of the Crazy Diamond show, which was first launched in 2008, and on public demand a?" Mel Botes, who first hit the spotlight with his rock opera, a?oeDavid's Confessiona??, successfully launched the second chapter in his series of Pink Floyd Tribute shows at the Atterbury Theatre in October 2013 to a SOLD OUT audience!
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open – a drama directed by Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers about a friendship between two Indigenous women from different social backgrounds – has won the Toronto Film Critics Association's 2019 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award along with its $100,000 purse.
On two cold January nights, The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts lobby smelled like a delicious pie shop, and the main stage was alive with a story about complicated love, motherhood, and finding the courage to make significant changes.
Raise a glass and get ready to take one last ride to The Ranch. With Iron River Ranch now in a competitor's hands and more trouble on the horizon, Colt, Beau and the rest of the Bennetts must band together as they face an uncertain future. The series stars Ashton Kutcher, Elisha Cuthbert and Sam Elliott. Created by Don Reo and Jim Patterson, The Ranch was the first comedy series produced by Netflix. Executive produced by Reo, Patterson, Kutcher, Jeff Lowell, Max Searle and Matt Ross. Part 8 consists of 10 episodes.
Reuben and the Dark announce spring tour dates with Mondo Cozmo to follow their headlining tour through North America, in support of their latest album, un | love, available now on Arts & Crafts. Earlier this week, the band's song 'Hold Your Head High' was featured on the new CBS legal dramedy All Rise.
Casting for Disney's The Lion King has been announced for the long-awaited return engagement in Milwaukee. The Lion King will leap onto the Marcus Center stage on February 5 for a four-week engagement through March 1 as part of the Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series.
HBO Sports and Bill Simmons' Ringer Films have partnered with Triple Threat TV to debut the documentary film WOMEN OF TROY, an illuminating tale of the historic and transcendent USC women's basketball team of the 1980s, it was announced today by Peter Nelson, executive vice president, HBO Sports.
ESPN Films' next 30 for 30 documentary, “Vick,” directed by one of the most decorated documentarians today, Stanley Nelson, will premiere on ESPN with part 1 on Thursday, January 30, at 9 p.m. ET and part 2 one week later on Thursday, February 6, at 9 p.m. ET. The film provides a comprehensive look back at each chapter of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick's saga: the incredible rise, shocking fall, and polarizing return.
The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), a groundbreaking residency program and incubator for New York City choreographers and dance companies at 13 City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, announces its Winter/Spring 2020 performance calendar.
Invictus Theatre Company has announced the cast and production team for the second production of its first full season - the seminal American drama, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, by Lorraine Hansberry.
Jon Robertson, dean of Lynn University Conservatory of Music and Philharmonia guest conductor, today invited fans of classical music to 19 presentations during the first two months of 2020, including the annual New Music Festival.
Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O'Reilly, Producing Director) has announced the cast & creative team for Lady G: Plays and Whisperings of Lady Gregory. Lady G is written by Lady Augusta Gregory with additional material by Ciarán O'Reilly (Dublin Carol), with direction by O'Reilly. Previews begin in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre on February 12, 2020, with opening night set for February 19, 2020, for a limited engagement through March 22, 2020.
Casting has been confirmed for the English language World Premiere of La Cage aux Folles [The Play]. Jean Poiret's seminal classic spawned four blockbuster films and a Tony Award-winning musical. This new translation of the heartfelt farce by theatrical legend Simon Callow will star Michael Matus (Richard III a?" National Theatre and Headlong Theatre Tour, and King Lear a?" The Duke of York's Theatre) in the role of Georges and Paul Hunter (Founder of Told by an Idiot) as Albin. The cast is completed by Sarah Lam, Syrus Lowe, Peter Straker, Mark Cameron, Arthur Hughes, Simon Hepworth, Louise Bangay, Georgina Ambrey and William Nelson. It will be directed by Park Theatre's Artistic Director, Jez Bond, with a national press night on Wednesday 19th February at 7pm.
MerleFest, presented by Window World®, is pleased to announce Trent Wagler (of The Steel Wheels), Darrell Scott, and David Holt as judges for the 28th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (CASC).
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has selected the semifinalists for the 32nd annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias, to be presented in the Wortham Theater Center on Feb. 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets for the performance are available for purchase here. The program will also be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube for all to enjoy, inviting viewers to cast their votes for the Online Viewers' Choice Award.
Purchase College, SUNY is pleased to host the SUNYWide Film Festival (SWFF) April 17 through April 19. Now in its 10th year, the festival is one of the top student film festivals in the Northeast. This is the first year it will be held at Purchase College, which is well known for its acclaimed School of Film and Media Studies.
t Recordings has announced the release of The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection, which spotlights Charlie Parker's groundbreaking bebop sessions for the legendary jazz label, spanning 1944 to 1948. The deluxe, four-LP box set-also available digitally-features newly restored and remastered audio, faithfully reproduced artwork from the original 10-inch albums, plus a booklet containing vintage photos, rare ephemera and new liner notes from GRAMMY® Award-winning journalist and author Neil Tesser. These historic recordings, reissued as the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of Parker's birth, feature such jazz greats as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis, Bud Powell and Max Roach. Set for a February 28th release date, The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection is available for pre-order today (1/8), while the instant grat single, 'Ko-Ko,' can now be streamed or downloaded on all major digital outlets. 'Ko-Ko' was one of Bird's early masterpieces and his first recording as a leader. In 2003, 'Ko-Ko' was added to the National Recording Registry, categorized as a recording that is, 'Culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States.'
![Full Casting Announced For LA CAGE AUX FOLLES [THE PLAY] At Park Theatre](https://cloudimages2.broadwayworld.com/columnpiccloud/200200-c83dd0009642ac060ddb183219443cf6.jpg?format=auto)
