Tag Archives: northwest

Seattle Public Theater finds meaning in Stoppard’s Beckett-like play

29 Jan

Remember Rosencrantz? From Hamlet? How about Guildenstern? In Shakespeare’s play,

Games of chance sustain Rosencrantz (Alyssa Keene, left) and Guildenstern (Angela Di Marco, right) in Seattle Public Theater's gender-bending production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead."

Games of chance sustain Rosencrantz (Alyssa Keene, left) and Guildenstern (Angela Di Marco, right) in Seattle Public Theater's gender-bending production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." Photo by Paul Bestock.

these childhood friends of the titular character are commissioned to spy on the Prince of Denmark in order to find out what’s ailing him, then escort him by sea to England where he is scheduled to be killed. But then the pirates attack …

- Read review at Crosscut.com.

 

New play by Stranger columnist confronts mortality with Youtube

24 Jan

The Stranger’s “Last Days” columnist, David Schmader,is morbidly

David Schmader is performing his one-man play, A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem at Richard Hugo House. Photo courtesy of Richard Hugo House.

David Schmader is performing his one-man play, A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem at Richard Hugo House. Photo courtesy of Richard Hugo House.

fascinated by “found” comedy: those moments in life where things go so cosmically awry that the only possible response is laughter. In his new solo play, A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem, which opened Jan. 20 at Seattle’s writing haven, Richard Hugo House, Schmader delves into the decade-long period when he attempted to mitigate the emotional damage from his HIV diagnosis by indulging his eclectic and idiosyncratic sense of humor.

- Read review at crosscut.com.

‘Spring Awakening’: A boldly passionate bourgeois critique at Balagan

13 Jan

There are several reasons Balagan Theatre isn’t letting anyone under the age of 14 into

Melchior (Brian Earp) and Wendla (Diana Huey) discover each other in the regional premiere of Spring Awakening at Balagan Theatre. Photo by Pamela M. Campi.

Melchior (Brian Earp) and Wendla (Diana Huey) discover each other in the regional premiere of Spring Awakening at Balagan Theatre. Photo by Pamela M. Campi.

its production of the musical Spring Awakening, which made its regional premiere on Jan. 6. Namely, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, abortion, incest, suicide, and a graphic sex scene enacted in full view of the audience. All this made-for-TV controversy is packed into a two-hour musical based on an 1892 German play, whose characters are barely older than those banned from attending the Seattle performance.

- Read review at crosscut.com.

Seattle’s 5 best bets for the holiday season

2 Dec

When it comes to holiday productions, Seattle is drowning. Katherine Luck separates

Seattle's annual production of Black Nativity returns to the Moore Theatre in December. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Seattle's annual production of Black Nativity returns to the Moore Theatre in December. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Seattle’s annual production of Black Nativity returns to the Moore Theatre in December. Photo by Chris Bennion.

the men from the boys.

Shopping around for holiday entertainment in Seattle can be as trying as a trip to an overcrowded mall. While the abundance of holiday performances from which to choose is certainly appreciated, narrowing the list down to a core group of must-see shows presents a challenge. The following is a selection of the best bets for 2011, from dance to traditional theatrical favorites to musical extravaganzas.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
“The Herdmans were the worst kids in the whole history of the world,” narrator Beth Bradley informs the audience at the outset of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

- Read article at Crosscut.com.

A drama of aging offers insight, pain

1 Dec

After 15 years of making his Master of Social Work degree earn its keep at various

Mark Cherniack's one-man show, "Jalopies," is at Annex Theatre through Dec 10. Photo courtesy of Mark Cherniack.

Mark Cherniack's one-man show, "Jalopies," is at Annex Theatre through Dec 10. Photo courtesy of Mark Cherniack.

retirement facilities, Mark Cherniack appears to have learned a hard lesson: Getting old is painful. His one-man play, Jalopies, presents inspired-by-true-stories from inside a Seattle assisted-living facility. While not altogether devoid of hope, these stories are none too cheery.

- Read review at Crosscut.com.

Theater Schmeater’s latest takes a road trip through holiday pandemonium

25 Nov

Rachel (Alyssa Keene) is a Christmas junkie. She gets high by anticipating Santa,

Rachel (Alyssa Keene) and Tom (Mathew Middleton) await the first improbable plot twist in Reckless. Photo by D. Hastings.

Rachel (Alyssa Keene) and Tom (Mathew Middleton) await the first improbable plot twist in Reckless. Photo by D. Hastings.

experiences uncontrolled euphoria at the sight of falling snow, and nearly swoons at the sound of holiday carols. But this Christmas Eve, her husband, Tom (Mathew Middleton), gives her the worst present ever.

“I took a contract out on your life!” he blurts out. The hitman is on his way, so out the window she goes, fleeing for her life in her robe and slippers, with the parting words, “This is so . . . mean!”

- Read full review at Crosscut.com.

New Seattle theater company Blank Stage Theater’s first foray

22 Nov

Remember your high school math teacher expounding on the elegance of proofs? These often confounding demonstrations of the truth of mathematical statements have driven many a mathematician to distraction, as evidenced by the 358-year struggle to discover a proof for Fermat’s Last Theorem, former holder of the Guinness World Record for “most difficult math problem.” Their elusive, maddening beauty provides the framework for David Auburn’s 2001 opus, Proof.

Catherine (Nathania ten Wolde) struggles with math and madness in Blank Stage Theater's production of Proof. Photo by Mary Kalhor.

Catherine (Nathania ten Wolde) struggles with math and madness in Blank Stage Theater's production of Proof. Photo by Mary Kalhor.

- Read full review at Crosscut.

Mile-high dining and double agents

4 Nov

Cafe Nordo’s latest dinner theatre production blends 1960s air travel, Northwest food, and communist spies. Welcome aboard.

Cafe Nordo International spies Saul Needle (Ray Tagavilla), Svetlana Romanova (Aimee Bruneau) and Lin Biao (Max Davis) are on a mission to Seattle in Cafe Nordo: To Savor Tomorrow.

International spies Saul Needle (Ray Tagavilla), Svetlana Romanova (Aimee Bruneau) and Lin Biao (Max Davis) are on a mission to Seattle in "Cafe Nordo: To Savor Tomorrow." Photo courtesy of Cafe Nordo.

You’re seated aboard Pan Am Flight 892, about to take off from Honolulu bound for Seattle. You’ve just listened to President Kennedy announce the opening of the World’s Fair. It’s 1962. Creating an intimate fantasy world, filled with stunning stewardesses, communist spies, CIA plots, and some of the best cocktail fare in town, Café Nordo launched its fourth dinner theater extravaganza in Fremont’s West of Lenin theater on Oct. 28.

- Read full review at Crosscut.com.

New Mormon play bewilders, but with genuine angst

1 Nov

The Mormon Bird Play is a challenging piece of theater. Six male actors play young

The Mormon Bird Play by Roger Benington makes its world premiere at Washington Ensemble Theatre in Capitol Hill. Photo courtesy of Washington Ensemble Theatre.

The Mormon Bird Play by Roger Benington makes its world premiere at Washington Ensemble Theatre in Capitol Hill. Photo courtesy of Washington Ensemble Theatre.

girls. And birds. And Mormon pioneer women, who might also be birds. Making its world premiere on Oct. 28 at Washington Ensemble Theatre, this play by triple threat Roger Benington (playwright/director/set designer) envisions the environs of Salt Lake Temple as a nest of superstition, secrets, miracles, and black magic.

- Read full review at crosscut.com.

Northwest premiere of Year Zero at Hugo House

25 Sep

SIS Productions, a Seattle group that supports works that involve Asian American

SIS Productions presents the Northwest premiere of "Year Zero" by Michael Golamco, author of "Cowboy Versus Samurai." Photo courtesy of SIS Productions.

women, themes and issues, will present the Northwest premiere of Year Zero by Michael Golamco on Sept. 30.

Directed by Miko Premo, Year Zero tells the story of Vuthy, a quirky 16-year-old who’s “too Cambodian for the black and Latin kids, and not Cambodian enough for the Cambodian kids,” and his older sister, Ra, who is working towards the American dream of a higher education.

Year Zero by Michael Golamco runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 22. at Richard Hugo House, located at 1634 11th Ave. in Seattle. Tickets are $12-$15. For more information, visit www.sis-productions.org.

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