ArtsWest's AFTER HOURS WITH MATTHEW WRIGHT Returns in March

ArtsWest is pleased to announce the return of After Hours with Mathew Wright, now in its third iteration after this past December's Holiday Edition. Hosted by Artistic Director Mathew Wright, these one-night only events feature five of Seattle's (and Broadway's) brightest stars: Matt Owen (3/7), Frederick Hagreen (3/14), Eric Ankrim (3/21), and Justin Huertas and Kirsten DeLohr Helland (3/28). These performers were at the vanguard of musical theatre in Seattle in 2015, key creative and artistic talent behind smash-hits like Lizard Boy and Come From Away (Seattle Rep), Green Day's American Idiot(ArtsWest), and The Sound of Music (5th Avenue Theatre), just to name a few. Backed by Mathew Wright on piano, these are the performers that are making theatre history, and they are up-close-and-personal in these exclusive and intimate encounters.

After Hours with Mathew Wright - Four Gents and a Lady kicks off on March 7th.First up is the hysterical and multifaceted Matt Owen, star of ACT's Jacques Brel, and 5th Avenue Theatre's Elf, Room With a View, Spamalot, Oklahoma, and more!March 14th features our second performer, Frederick Hagreen, who has been all over ArtsWest's stages this season, appearing in Green Day's American Idiot, Really Really, and the Holiday Edition of After Hours. He will next be seen in the ACT/5th Avenue production of Assassins. Eric Ankrim, current star of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying at 5th Avenue Theatre, and director ofGreen Day's American Idiot at ArtsWest, will be performing on March 21st. The final night features Justin Huertas and Kirsten DeLohr Helland, seen performing together as Hanschen and Ilse when not co-starring in hits like Lizard Boy (Seattle Rep) and Green Day's American Idiot (ArtsWest).

About After Hours with Mathew Wright

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 $30 each for general seating and $35 for onstage reserved (which includes a complimentary beverage). Subscriptions are $100 for all four performances for general seating and $120 for onstage reserved. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased online at www.artswest.org, by phone at 206.938.0339, or at the box office Fridays - Saturdays, 1:30-7:30pm, and Sundays 11:00am-3:00pm.

About the Performers

Matt Owen has been performing in professional theater for over 15 years. Locally he was most recently seen in Jacques Brel... at ACT Theatre. At The 5th Avenue Theatre, Matt was most recently seen as Freddy Honeychurch in A Room with a View, Sir Robbin in Spamalot, Buddy in Elf, and Will Parker in Oklahoma. As a writer, Matt's play The Girl in the Park premiered in the New York Fringe Festival to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Owen also created the travel web-series Anywhere But Fargo. Check it out at Facebook.com/AnywhereButFargo.

Frederick Hagreen couldn't be more pleased to ArtsWest after their record-breaking production of American Idiot. First seen for our After Hours cabarets during our holiday edition in December, Frederick was most recently onstage at ArtsWest as Johnson in Really Really. Previous Seattle credits include: Come From Away (Seattle Rep); Jasper in Deadland, Pirates of Penzance (5th Avenue Theatre); Mary Poppins, Les Miserables (Village Theatre). Coming up: Assassins(ACT/5th Avenue Theatre).

Eric Ankrim has worked in many capacities throughout the Seattle theatre community, as well as in Los Angeles, regional theatres, and on Broadway. Born and raised in Tacoma, WA, his local acting credits include: Carousel, Oklahoma!,RENT, Into the Woods, The Rocky Horror Show, Miss Saigon (5th Avenue Theatre); The Time of Your Life, Rejoice! (Seattle Rep); Annie, The Secret Garden,Girl of My Dreams, The Gypsy King (Village Theatre); A Christmas Carol (ACT),Peter Pan (Seattle Children's Theatre). He was recently in Come From Away at Seattle Rep and can currently be seen in How to Succeed in Business... at 5th Avenue.

Kirsten DeLohr Helland is thrilled to be back at ArtsWest! 5th Ave: Sound of Music (Maria), Grease (Rizzo), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Hairspray in Concert(Penny Pingleton), Elf (Jovie), Rent, Titanic in Concert, and Pirates of Penzance. Village Theatre: Les Miserables (Eponine), Trails (Amy) and The Tutor. Seattle Repertory: Lizard Boy (Siren). ArtsWest: Dogfight, American Idiot (Whatsername). Balagan: Spring Awakening (Ilse), Avenue Q (Kate Monster). Film: Laggies(Danielle). #HanschenAndIlse

Justin Huertas returns to ArtsWest after an extended run of his original musicalLizard Boy (World Premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre). ArtsWest: American Idiot. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Grease, Secondhand Lions. Seattle Repertory Theatre: Lizard Boy, Speech & Debate. Village Theatre: In the Heights. Seattle Shakespeare Company: Twelfth Night (Wooden O), Much Ado About Nothing. Justin is the Hanschen half of acoustic-folk duo Hanschen & Ilse (hanschenandilse.com).