ArtsWest Launches New 'AFTER HOURS' Summer Cabaret Series, 7/20

ArtsWest is pleased to announce the launch of After Hours with Mathew Wright, its new summer cabaret series. Hosted by Artistic Director Mathew Wright, these one-night only events feature five of the fiercest leading ladies in Seattle theater, Sarah Rose Davis (7/20), Laura Griffith (8/10), Cayman Ilika (8/3), Jessica Skerritt (7/27), and Katherine Strohmaier (8/17). Each will dish on their lives and careers through provocative, freewheeling interviews and sing everything from Broadway standards to pop songs, backed by Mathew Wright on piano.

The series is designed to showcase the best actors working in Seattle today and give audiences a behind-the-curtain look at, in the words of playwright Tom Stoppard, "the elephant falling out of the cupboard." Think Ellen meets Inside the Actor's Studio with the flair and verve of cabaret.

After Hours with Mathew Wright kicks off with Sarah Rose Davis on July 20. Recently seen as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at Village Theatre and in Jasper in Deadland at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Sarah is currently playing the role of Frenchy in Grease at the 5th. The lovely Jessica Skerritt returns to ArtsWest's stage on July 27. Most recently, Jessica was seen onstage at Village Theatre as Sarah Stone in No Way to Treat a Lady. On August 3, Cayman Ilika dishes with Mathew Wright. Her leading lady roles include Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins at Village Theatre and Patsy in Always... Patsy Cline at Centerstage. Laura Griffith, whose Broadway credits include South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, and Sweet Smell of Success, brings her beautiful soprano voice to the ArtsWest stage on August 10. The series closes August 17 with Katherine Strohmaier. Strohmaier's most recent Seattle appearances were as the title character in the salty new musical, Marina, at Mount Baker Theatre and as Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls at the 5th. Beyond the theatre, she's also a vocalist who appears frequently in concert with acclaimed Gershwin pianist Peter Nero.

After Hours with Mathew Wright runs Mondays, July 20 - August 17, 2015 (press tickets available upon request) at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California Ave SW, Seattle WA 98116). Tickets are $25 each and $75 for a table for two. Subscriptions are $100 for all five performances and $300 for a table for two. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased online at www.artswest.org, by phone at 206.938.0339, or at the box office Thursdays through Saturdays, 1:30-7:30pm.

About the Performers:

Sarah Rose Davis is a Seattle native with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Davis has been seen in numerous productions at the 5th Avenue Theatre and Village Theatre. Davis is currently playing the role of Frenchy in Grease at The 5th. Favorite 5th Avenue Credits include: A Chorus Line (Maggie), Rent, Cinderella, Spamalot, Hairspray, and Jasper in Deadland, among others. Last season Davis starred as Fanny Brice in Village Theatre's production of Funny Girl.

Laura Griffith has starred in many shows in Seattle including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at ACT Theatre, Spamalot (Gregory Award nomination), A Room with a View, The Music Man (Gregory Award nomination), Candide, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, A Little Night Music, and The Rocky Horror Show at the 5th Avenue Theatre. She was in the original Broadway companies of The Light in the Piazza (Helen Hayes Award nomination), Sweet Smell of Success, the Lincoln Center revival of South Pacific, the national tour of Oklahoma!, and the European tour of West Side Story (Maria). Regional credits: Medea, Macbeth, Cinderella, and Animal Crackers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Parade at the Mark Taper Forum, Amadeus at the Geva Theatre Center, The Music Man at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Songs for a New World at Strathmore Hall/ Signature theatre, Les Miserables at the Sacramento Music Circus. She has sung on three original Broadway cast recordings and appeared on television on The David Letterman Show and Live from Lincoln Center, as well as three Tony Awards Broadcasts. Find her online at LauraGriffith.net.

Cayman Ilika was featured in ACT and 5th Avenue's co-production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well... and starred as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins at Village Theatre. Other favorite credits include Show Boat (Julie, Footlight Award) at Village Theatre, Vanities- A New Musical (Kathy) with ACT and the 5th, and Always... Patsy Cline (Patsy) with Centerstage. www.caymanilika.net

Jessica Skerritt's previous ArtsWest credits include tick, tick...BOOM! and Gifts of the Magi. Most recently, Jessica was seen onstage at Village Theatre as Sarah Stone in No Way to Treat a Lady. Favorite local credits include Xanadu (Kira/Clio), The Producers (Ulla), Chasing Nicolette (Gwendolyn), Barefoot in the Park (Corie), and the west coast premiere of Million Dollar Quartet (Dyanne) with Village Theatre; A Christmas Story (Mother) and ELF-The Musical (Deb) with The 5th Avenue Theatre; Grey Gardens (Young Little Edie) and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) with ACT/The 5th Avenue Theatre; An Evening of One Acts with ACT. Regionally, she's performed at Arizona Theatre Company, The Ordway, The Bing Crosby Theatre, and Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre.

Katherine Strohmaier's most recent local appearance was as the title character in the salty new musical, Marina, at Mount Baker Theatre. Seattle credits include 5th Avenue (Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls), Village Theatre (Anisette in The Gypsy King), Showtunes (Liz Imbrie in High Society), and Seattle Children's Theatre. As a vocalist, she has performed with the Seattle Symphony in Pops concerts, sang last year at the Opéra de Rennes in a reimagining of Cole Porter's La Revue des Ambassadeurs, and appears frequently in concert with acclaimed Gershwin pianist Peter Nero. Katherine is also a professor and music director at Cornish College of the Arts.

ArtsWest is a vibrant center for both performing and visual arts located in the West Seattle Junction. This 149-seat theatre provides a unique setting for audiences and artists as stories of human emotion unfold in an intimate space. Winner of the American Theatre Wing's 2012 National Theatre Company Award, ArtsWest has produced such diverse work as Evil Dead The Musical, Little Women, and last fall's critically acclaimed production of The Mountaintop. ArtsWest, through its mission of producing fiercely compelling work that improves the imagination and promotes cultural vibrancy, is committed to delivering work that opens minds and instills the need to do that which is most human - to discuss and share. www.artswest.org