Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Picks for Seattle

With the sun out more and more (amidst all the rain, of course) the theatrical choices in the area tend to dwindle a bit. But not to worry, there's still plenty to take in. From Shakespeare to Schwartz, greasers to gay baseball players, classics to camp and Karen Carpenter there's something for everyone. After you spend your day in the sun check out what's happening indoors (or in some cases combine the sun and the shows).

WORLD PREMIERE of TAPHOUSE by Kiki Penoyer from Copious Love Productions at The Ballard Underground - June 5th through June 20th

Taphouse is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov's beloved Three Sisters, set in contemporary Bellingham, WA.

Chronicling a year in the lives of three employees at a favorite old-grey-mare bar that will "serve you whatever you want, so long as it's beer!" In addition to these three women, three soldiers finally returning home after years of service in Iraq, two young artists trying to make opportunities for themselves in a sleepy small town, and two local gentlemen who have never known a life outside of their home, get tangled into each others lives over countless beers.

For more information visit them online at www.copiouslove.org.

THREESOME by Yussef El Guind at ACT - June 5th through June 28th

Leila and Rashid, Egyptian Americans with ties to Cairo, attempt to solve their relationship issues by inviting a relative stranger into their bedroom to engage in a threesome. What begins as a hilariously awkward evening soon becomes an experience fraught with secrets, raising issues of sexism, possession and independence.

For more information visit them online at www.acttheatre.org.

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, KAREN CARPENTER by Dane Whitlock from STAGEright at Richard Hugo House - June 12th through June 27th

Come get your "Ticket to Ride" back to the year 1973 with an unexpected mashup inspired by the classic coming-of-age book "Are You There God? Its me, Margaret" and the music of the Carpenters. A story about innocence in an age before the internet where the only way we were exposed to celebrities was either with rabbit ears on our new color televisions or on the radio mom and dad finally gave us to listen to OUR music in our own rooms!

For more information visit them online at www.seattlestageright.org.

WICKED and PIPPIN at the Paramount Theatre - July 8th through August 2nd and August 16th through August 23rd

Seattle Theatre Group celebrates the works of Stephen Schwartz both old and new with the smash hit Wicked followed by the classic Pippin.

Wicked - July 8th through August 2nd
Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete - and completely satisfying - musical in a long time" (USA Today).

Pippin - August 16th through August 23rd
Broadway's high-flying, death-defying hit musical! Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, PIPPIN will lift you up and leave you smiling. This unforgettable new production is the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival. Hailed as "an eye-popping, jaw-dropping extravaganza" (NY1), it's unlike anything Broadway has ever seen! Come experience PIPPIN, one young man's journey to be extraordinary.

For more information visit them online at www.stgpresents.org.

GREASE by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey at The 5th Avenue Theatre - July 9th through August 2nd

The American sensation, Grease, will send audiences cruisin' through the days of pajama parties, sock hops, and drive-ins with an exuberant cast of Seattle's freshest faces and favorite performers at The 5th Avenue Theater this summer. The closing production of the 2014/15 season, this rollicking tale of the kids from Rydell High was a box office phenomenon on Broadway and London's West End and paired megastars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the hit 1978 film version. Follow the whole gang as they hand-jive their way through their senior year with unforgettable songs like "Beauty School Dropout," "Hopelessly Devoted," "Greased Lightnin," and "You're the One that I Want." This musical favorite will overjoy audiences of any generation.

For more information visit them online at www.5thavenue.org.

INTIMAN THEATRE FESTIVAL - July 10th through September 27th

The 2015 festival is anchored by three productions:

Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams, July 10 - Aug. 2?An audience-immersive, black-box production at the 12th Avenue Arts Mainstage on Capitol Hill, featuring Intiman's first Company-in-Residence The Williams Project;

John Baxter is a Switch Hitter by Ana Brown & Andrew Russell, Aug. 18 - Sept. 27?A comic-drama, modern-day witch hunt inspired by the real-life 2008 Gay Softball World Series in Seattle; directed by Rosa Joshi and presented at The Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center in repertory with:

The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, Sept. 9 - 27?A traditional witch hunt tale (controversial in its time) about the disastrous consequences born from the worst kind of lie - one that isn't true; directed by Sheila Daniels.

For more information visit them online at www.intiman.org.

SEATTLE OUTDOOR THEATER FESTIVAL in Volunteer Park - July 11th and 12th

2015 marks the 15th anniversary of the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival!

SOTF began in 2001 when GreenStage, Theater Schmeater, and Wooden O Productions joined forces to bring a full weekend of live theatre to Volunteer Park in Seattle. Since then the festival has grown to include three stages and host fourteen performances by eight local theater companies. All in two days in one park... AND ALL FREE!

For more information visit them online at www.greenstage.org/sotf.

THE TUMBLEWEED ZEPHYR from Pork Filled Players at 12th Avenue Arts - August 12th through the 29th

This Old West scf-fi adventure returns to the thrilling, steampunk-inspired universe of our 2013 production The Clockwork Professor. Two brothers, Atticus and Kai, climb aboard the Tumbleweed Zephyr, a transcontinental train headed out of New Providence for the wilds of the Western Territories. But what starts as a simple journey by rail soon takes an unexpected turn, with airship bandit raids, twists of fate, wayward sparks of romance, and the lonely call of a train whistle echoing across the clear desert sky. So grab your satchel and dust off your best traveling hat for this epic new summer adventure!

For more information visit them online at www.porkfilled.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.