Seattle Rep News

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.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn and directed by Steven Cosson. Armageddon has struck and the grid is down: no TV, no radio, no internet-how will life go on?

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Morton Wolkowitz (Stomp, The Unexpected Man) is set to present the Off-Broadway premiere of MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, by Tom Dudzick, directed by Joe Brancato. Performances begin April 25th at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Opening Night is set for Sunday May 13th.

The producers of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, the smash hit at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport, Chicago), have announced an extension through July 15th in Chicago.

The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing May 18 through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm).

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Several close-in partners and neighbors of Seattle Center are stepping up to support six months of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, Apr 21 - Oct 21, on the grounds of Seattle Center. The contributions total more than $2 million in cash pledges and in-kind donations.

After receiving positives reviews from critics and audiences alike - and selling out every performance of its January run - Balagan Theatre brings the coming-of-age rock musical, Spring Awakening, back to Seattle in April, plus a weekend tour to Mount Vernon in May.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's new production of Theresa Rebeck's WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative. WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST runs on the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage May 11 through June 12, 2012.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION by Mark St. Germain, now in its second successful year in New York, and currently running at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport, Chicago) will host a birthday celebration in honor of the anniversary of Sigmund Freud's 156th birthday on Sunday, May 6. Following both performances that day, audiences will have the opportunity to meet and greet with the cast members and snack on cupcakes. One lucky audience member will be selected to receive a "Freudian Slip" by Cosabella, courtesy of Chicago's G Boutique.

Atlantic Theater Company today announced the world premiere of Fernanda Coppel's new play CHIMICHANGAS AND ZOLOFT featuring Teddy Cañez, Zabryna Guevara, Alfredo Narcisco, Xochitl Romero, and Carmen Zilles, directed by Jaime Castañeda.

In honor and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will hold a special one-night-only gala event on Monday, June 18, featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a star-studded staged reading of ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Daniel Sullivan. For information on tickets for The Public Theater's Anniversary Gala, please call (212) 539-8547 or visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org.

After premiering in a sold out, critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles, I AM A TREE, written and performed by Dulcy Rogers and directed by Allan Miller, arrives in NY, produced by United Pies, Inc, in association with The Elephant Theatre (Los Angeles).

As the 15th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival draws near, South Coast Repertory announces the directors for this years' staged readings. They include Evan Cabnet (Warrior Class), Matt Shakman (You Are Here), Meredith McDonough (I And You), Casey Stangl (The Few) and Anne Kauffman (Smokefall).

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Morton Wolkowitz (Stomp, The Unexpected Man) will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Miracle On South Division Street, by Tom Dudzick, directed by Joe Brancato. Performances begin April 25th at St. Luke's Theatre. Opening Night is set for Sunday May 13th.

Ah, Wilderness!, Eugene O'Neill's depiction of American family life at the turn of the 20th century, will kick off the two-month citywide Eugene O'Neill Festival at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) presents Ethan Lipton's NO PLACE TO GO for a limited engagement at Joe's Pub, closing tonight April 8th. Directed by Leigh Silverman and written by Ethan Lipton with music composed by Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra, NO PLACE TO GO is the first Joe's Pub commission, as part of its New York Voices Series, to become part of The Public Theater's season.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Laughing Stock, written by PTC Artistic Director Charles Morey, March 23 - April 7, 2012.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

After receiving positives reviews from critics and audiences alike - and selling out every performance of its January run - Balagan Theatre brings the coming-of-age rock musical, Spring Awakening, back to Seattle in April, plus a weekend tour to Mount Vernon in May.