Central Heating Lab Premieres

Black and Tan – A Juke Joint

Hosted By Laura “Piece” Kelley Jahn

After Hours Jazz & Poetry Event at The Bullitt Cabaret May 3, 10, 16, 24

Seattle, WA – April 28, 2008 – The Central Heating Lab at ACT continues its springtime programming with Black and Tan – A Juke Joint, a companion piece to the mainstage production Fathers and Sons. Nationally-acclaimed Seattle poet, hip-hop artist, vocalist and arts educator Laura “Piece” Kelley Jahn (HBO’s Def Poetry Jam) is the evening’s host and curator. Together, with local jazz musicians Joseph Mascorella, Farko Dosumov Mark L. Sampson and Owuar Arunda, the poets will improvise and fuse their spoken word with a series of avant-garde style jazz sets. Featured poets include Tina LaPadula, Matt Gano, Roberto Escalon, Lucien Grant, Angela Dy, and Ragnii Edins. Poets and vocalists are welcome to join in for an open-mic set. Tickets for Black and Tan – A Juke Joint are available at the ACT Ticket Office, 700 Union Street , Downtown Seattle, (206) 292-7676 or online at www.acttheatre.org.

Seattle Repertory Theatre and The Center School Analyze Mother - Daughter Relationship with Boxes

by Andrea Allen Directed by Scott Koh

May 21 and 22, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Seattle, WA - Under the guidance and direction of Seattle Repertory Theatre teaching artists, over 50 high school students from The Center School will present a new play Boxes written by Seattle Rep Education Director Andrea Allen on May 21 and 22 in Seattle Rep's Leo K. Theatre. Over the last four months, the students have learned about costume and set design, set construction, playwriting, and acting in two different TCS classes, and then applied those skills to bring the script to life. Tickets are $5.00 general admission or free with student ID and are on sale now at 206-443-2222. Drama Intensive, now in its seventh year, allow students who are enrolled in the Rehearsal and Performance class build their acting techniques and offer personal responses to Allen, which she then incorporates into the script. Once the script is finished, the acting students audition for roles and begin an intensive rehearsal process, under the direction of Scott Koh and Music Director, Christopher Dewar. At the same time, students in the Design and Production class learn from professionals about set and costume design for theatre while also getting the chance to see and respond to local theatre productions. Under the leadership of Design and Production lead Teaching Artist Jess Smith, Emily Sershon (sets), and Wyn Pottinger-Levy (costumes), the Design and Production students help design and build the technical elements of the show. The Play: This year's Drama Intensive, Boxes, is a modern retelling of the Greek myths of Pandora and Persephone. Allen explores mother-daughter conflict and the themes of loss, regret, and hope through the stories of two modern teenage girls who are finding their way in the midst of the pressure to be perfect, popular, and true to themselves. Once they have released the good, the bad, and the ugly from the box, they are left to pick up the pieces and find the one remaining quality left in the box: hope. The production includes original music by Chris Dewar, performed by a talented cast of student musicians and actors. "I've been interested in the Greeks for a long time - since well before my Latin scholar days in high school," said Allen. "The stories are mythic, of course, but always seen through the lens of humans and their daily struggles and needs. I find that combination fascinating. Early on in the writing process, I started thinking about the story of Pandora. A voice came into my head: ‘This is a story about a box.' And that is still the first line of the play." Info about the Seattle Rep can be found here.

Laughter Explodes out of ACT’s Central Heating Lab

A Four Part Comedy Cornucopia Series May 4, 11, 18, 25

Seattle, WA – April 24, 2008 – The innovative Central Heating Lab initiative, which launched at the beginning of ACT’s 2008 season, is thrilled to announce a four-part comedy series to take place on consecutive Sunday evenings in the month of May in the Bullitt Cabaret space. The Comedy Cornucopia series falls under the “Long Term Project” category of The Central Heating Lab and includes many of Seattle’s funniest standup comedians, short filmmakers, and performance artists. Comedy Cornucopia is one of the countless activities exploding out of ACT that opens doors for artists and inches the organization one step closer to its mission to become a true art center. Justin Freet, a collaborative partner for RAWSTOCK, explains how the Central Heating Lab is crucial to his development as an artist, "In any artistic community, there inevitably manifests a struggle between following your muse and settling into established formulas that feel ‘safe’. The Central Heating Lab provides an eclectic mix of collaborative partners and also allows us as artists to feed the muse; to not just allow, but encourage fringe filmmakers, dancers and actors to get gonzo."

Tickets for the Comedy Cornucopia series are available at the ACT Ticket Office, 700 Union Street , Downtown Seattle, (206) 292-7676 or online at www.acttheatre.org.

Seattle Men’s Chorus & Seattle Women’s Chorus Announce
2008-2009 Season

Debbie Reynolds Performs with Seattle Men’s Chorus in Spring 2009

Two, three, and five show subscription packages to both Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus will go on sale to the public on Monday, April 28, 2008. Supporters enjoy many benefits, and season subscribers are
expected to pounce on the opportunity to lock in extra tickets early to the highly anticipated Men’s Chorus Spring 2009 Concert. As Seattle Men’s Chorus takes one step closer to their big anniversary season, Flying House Productions is thrilled to announce that America’s Sweetheart, Debbie Reynolds, will headline the Seattle Men’s Chorus’s 29^th Season Spring Concert in March 2009. Who better to usher in the Men’s Chorus’s 30^th year of singing (in the rain) than the “unsinkable” Ms. Reynolds.

And with five solid seasons under their belt, Seattle Women’s Chorus has hit their stride; subscriber and single ticket sales numbers have grown steadily each year for the women with plans for some knock out guest artists. More special guest artists and additional local/regional concerts will be announced in the coming months. All performances are under the artistic direction of Dennis Coleman.

All the info can be found at www.flyinghouse.org

Busytown

Seattle Children's Theatre
April 25 - June 15
Tickets online at Seattle Children's Theatre
Despite its presenting view as a show directed towards the younger crowd, The children’s Theatre’s Busytown is a dynamic and humorous production that appeals to people from every age group. This new musical, based on the work of Richard Scarry, not only tickles the imagination of the excited young ones in the audience but elicits laughs and enjoyment from the older crowd, even bringing forth nostalgic feelings from some. The show’s designers and performers employ a variety of stage craft in their pursuit of entertainment, including puppetry, audience interaction, and well built set pieces and props that bring the world to life.

The story follows the wandering mind of Huckle Cat as he wanders about his town figuring out what people do all day and looking for a way to help out and get involved. In the process he comes across many interesting jobs and meets new people. The through line comes from his interactions with Betsy Bear who is in a frenzy planning a birthday party for her grandma. With the help of Huckle Cat and the rest of the folks in Busytown, the birthday is a smashing success.

From remote controlled pickle cars to a life size loaf of rising bread, the show boasted obvious collaboration among the designers leading to a well-constructed show with effective and creative sets (Jennifer Lipton), props and costumes (Catherine Hunt). Numerous times the stage pieces were used as visuals in the telling of a story, whether building a house, baking bread or mailing a letter, and each segment never failed to pull a smile out of a transfixed child or a chuckle from an accompanying parent. The developing imagination is continually given a chance to grow and be amazed.

The talented cast of actors brought many gifts to the show including skilled puppetry. The puppet of Lowly Worm, touched by numerous actors, had the flexibility and personality to be one of the most humorous characters onstage. The humor also stems from a basis in slapstick, which the actors skillfully performed to the audience’s delight. And the performance talent doesn’t end with the actors. Mark Rabe is a constant onstage presence as he brings the musical score to the show, accompanying the fun lyrics and silly interactions.

Bring the family, bring a friend, and come see Busytown as it delights both the young imagination and the adult’s funny bone. Busytown is running April 25 – June 15, 2008.

Reviewed by: Rick Skyler

Weekly Update - 4/26/2008

The Broadway Hour
KSUB Seattle
THE BROADWAY HOUR IS AT A NEW TIME!!!
**Listen in to hear Nigel Andrews, Rick Skyler and Jack Jarden**
WEDNESDAY's from 8-10pm

Open Circle Theater
at Theater Schmeater
ON SALE NOW
Ghost Sonata >April 11 - May 10, 2008
*STARRING NIGEL ANDREWS (aka. Andrew Perez) and LIA MORGAN (aka. Kenna Kettrick)*

Seattle Shakespeare
ON SALE NOW
All's Well That Ends Well >June 5 - 29, 2008

Seattle Children's Theater
ON SALE NOW
According to Cyote >March 14 - May 11, 2008
Busytown >April 25 - June 15, 2008

Intiman Theater
ON SALE NOW
The Diary of Anne Frank >March 26 - May 17, 2008
Namaste Man (Lost and Found in Kathmandu) >June 4 - 22, 2008
A Streetcar Named Desire >July 9 - August 2, 2008
The Little Dog Laughed >August 20 - September 13, 2008
All the King's Men >October 3 - November 8, 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre
ON SALE NOW
The Cure at Troy >April 3 - May 3, 2008
Aurelia's Oratoria >May 7 - 11, 2008

ACT Theater
ON SALE NOW
Fathers and Sons >May 1-25, 2008
A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Review >June 19 - July 13, 2008
Intimate Exchanges >August 21 - September 14, 2008
Eurydice >September 11 - October 5, 2008
Becky's New Car >October 23 - November 16, 2008

Seattle Opera
ON SALE NOW
Il Puritani >May 3 - 17, 2008

Paramount
Tickets and Information
Avenue Q >June 10 - 22, 2008
A Chorus Line >August 5 - 10, 2008
The Phantom of the Opera >September 10 - October 4, 2008
Spring Awakening >October 14 - 19, 2008
The Color Purple >December 16 - 28, 2008

The 5th Avenue Theatre
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Shrek The Musical >August 14 - September 21, 2008 - ON SALE JUNE 13, 2008
The Drowsy Chaperone >October 28 - November 16, 2008
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers >December 3 - 28, 2008
Memphis >January 27 - February 15, 2008, 2009
Hello, Dolly! >March 8 - 29, 2009
Sunday in the Park With George >April 21 - May 10, 2009
Grease >May 12 - 30, 2009

__________________________________________________________

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley
Tickets and Information

Looking for a Great Read?
Brett Dean McGibbon's Different Fish Bookstore

HUGE NEWS FOR REP - ESBJORNSON NOT RENEWING CONTRACT

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced that Artistic Director David Esbjornson has informed the Board of Trustees that he will not renew his current contract, which expires June 30, 2009. Esbjornson joined Seattle Rep in the 2005.

"Though we are genuinely disappointed with David's decision, we understand that a complex series of factors informed his thinking." said Marty Taucher, President of the Board of Trustees. "David is well into developing the 2008-2009 season and will continue working through to its successful completion. David has been a tremendous asset to the Rep and the broader theatre community in Seattle," said Taucher. "The seasons he has produced have provided audiences with an exciting array of theatrical and artistic experiences, in keeping with the finest offerings Seattle Rep has produced. In the coming months, we look forward to engaging in a conversation about the future with the staff, our audience and the Seattle community, before launching a search for a new artistic director."

In a statement made by Esbjornson today he comments, "I have been extremely grateful for the opportunity to work at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and want to thank the Board of Trustees, subscribers, donors and the staff for their support during my tenure. I also want to acknowledge the world-class talent from Seattle and elsewhere who have brought the highest quality work to our stage."

The next season will celebrate Seattle's vibrant artistic community. I look forward to presenting an exciting lineup of plays and continue what promises to be a rich and important dialogue about the future."

Weekly Update - 4/17/2008

The Broadway Hour
KSUB Seattle
THE BROADWAY HOUR IS AT A NEW TIME!!!
**Listen in to hear Nigel Andrews, Rick Skyler and Jack Jarden**
WEDNESDAY's from 8-10pm

Open Circle Theater
at Theater Schmeater
ON SALE NOW
Ghost Sonata >April 11 - May 10, 2008
*STARRING NIGEL ANDREWS (aka. Andrew Perez) and LIA MORGAN (aka. Kenna Kettrick)*

Seattle Shakespeare
ON SALE NOW
All's Well That Ends Well >June 5 - 29, 2008

Seattle Children's Theater
ON SALE NOW
According to Cyote >March 14 - May 11, 2008
Busytown >April 25 - June 15, 2008

Intiman Theater
ON SALE NOW
The Diary of Anne Frank >March 26 - May 17, 2008
Namaste Man (Lost and Found in Kathmandu) >June 4 - 22, 2008
A Streetcar Named Desire >July 9 - August 2, 2008
The Little Dog Laughed >August 20 - September 13, 2008
All the King's Men >October 3 - November 8, 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre
ON SALE NOW
How? How? Why? Why? Why? >March 13 - April 19, 2008
The Cure at Troy >April 3 - May 3, 2008
Aurelia's Oratoria >May 7 - 11, 2008

ACT Theater
ON SALE NOW
Ilkhom Theatre Festival >March 14 - April 13, 2008
Fathers and Sons >May 1-25, 2008
A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Review >June 19 - July 13, 2008
Intimate Exchanges >August 21 - September 14, 2008
Eurydice >September 11 - October 5, 2008
Becky's New Car >October 23 - November 16, 2008

Seattle Opera
ON SALE NOW
Il Puritani >May 3 - 17, 2008

Paramount
Tickets and Information
Avenue Q >June 10 - 22, 2008
A Chorus Line >August 5 - 10, 2008
The Phantom of the Opera >September 10 - October 4, 2008
Spring Awakening >October 14 - 19, 2008
The Color Purple >December 16 - 28, 2008

The 5th Avenue Theatre
Tickets and Information
Cabaret >March 25 - April 13, 2008
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Shrek The Musical >August 14 - September 21, 2008 - ON SALE JUNE 13, 2008
The Drowsy Chaperone >October 28 - November 16, 2008
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers >December 3 - 28, 2008
Memphis >January 27 - February 15, 2008, 2009
Hello, Dolly! >March 8 - 29, 2009
Sunday in the Park With George >April 21 - May 10, 2009
Grease >May 12 - 30, 2009

__________________________________________________________

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley
Tickets and Information

Looking for a Great Read?
Brett Dean McGibbon's Different Fish Bookstore

INTIMAN THEATRE HOSTS PANEL, “NEVER AGAIN, AGAIN: THE DARFUR CRISIS,” ON SATURDAY, MAY 3 AT 4:30 PM

Free event is presented in association with Intiman’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Interim Managing Director Kevin Maifeld, will host “Never Again, Again: The Darfur Crisis,” a free panel discussion on the genocide in Darfur on Saturday, May 3 at 4:30 pm. This event is presented in association with Intiman’s critically acclaimed production of The Diary of Anne Frank, and is part of Intiman’s ongoing commitment to engaging our community in issues relevant both to the work on stage and our contemporary world.

Guests on the panel are Diane Roseman Baer, co-founder of Save Darfur Washington State; Mawut Mayen, one of the “Lost Boys” from Southern Sudan and a founding member of the Southern Sudanese Community of Washington; and Ben Weintraub, a founding member of the University of Washington chapter of STAND, an international student anti-genocide coalition. Each will have the opportunity to speak about their personal story as well as consider how others can take personal action to help end the genocide in Sudan . The panel will be moderated by Leticia Lopez, Intiman’s Director of Education & Community Programs.

Panelist Bios

Diane Roseman Baer is a co-founder and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Save Darfur Washington State (SDWS). SDWS, founded in June 2005, is a grassroots not-for-profit organization committed to raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur and—through education, advocacy and outreach—enhancing community and public policy efforts to end the genocide and crimes against humanity there. Baer, a public health research professional, has been a community activist in the Seattle area for more than 20 years. In addition to her work on Darfur she serves on the Boards of the Pacific Northwest Region Anti-Defamation League and Rodef Tzedek, the Center for the Pursuit of Justice. She is also on the Pacific Northwest Council of the Union for Reform Judaism and a member of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. She currently serves as 1^st Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth Am, a north end Reform Jewish Congregation where she and her family have been members for 30 years.

Mawut Mayen was born in Southern Sudan . When he was three years old, soldiers arrived in his village, shooting people at random; he and his eight-year-old brother were separated from their parents in the jungle. Mayen and his brother walked nearly 1000 miles to Ethiopia , where they lived in a refugee camp. After the forced expulsion of refugees by the government, they made their way to another refugee camp in Kenya . In 2000, he moved to Seattle after being selected to relocate to America through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Economics, and serves on the Board of the Southern Sudanese Community of Washington as the Director of Membership. He recently returned to Africa and was reunited with his brother and their parents.

Ben Weintraub is a senior at the University of Washington and a founding member of the UW chapter of STAND, an international student anti-genocide coalition. STAND (Students Taking Action Now for Darfur) currently has more than 700 chapters worldwide dedicated to ending the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and to creating a permanent anti-genocide political constituency. He has been working with STAND at the University of Washington since 2005, and played a key role in lobbying UW to divest its endowment funds from companies helping to fund the Sudanese government’s military campaign in Darfur . He has also participated in several other STAND projects, including teaching about Darfur and genocide in local middle and high schools. Weintraub, whose grandfather survived the Holocaust, became involved with Darfur activism after learning about the Rwandan genocide as a high school senior in Portland , Oregon .

The panel is free and open to the public. For more information, patrons should visit www.intiman.org.

INTIMAN THEATRE ANNOUNCES COMPLETE FRONT PORCH THEATER SCHEDULE FOR THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

Five dramatic readings will be offered in venues that encourage collaborations between young people and/or interfaith gatherings; all events are free and open to the public

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Interim Managing Director Kevin Maifeld, announces the complete schedule for Front Porch Theater, one of the free community programs being offered in association with Intiman’s critically acclaimed production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Front Porch Theater will give members of the public the opportunity to experience the story of The Diary of Anne Frank through intimate dramatic readings performed in storytelling circles. Roles are assigned through on-the-spot casting to anyone who wishes to participate. Those who do not choose to read are encouraged to attend as members of the audience and to participate in a post-reading community dialogue.

Developed for Intiman’s American Cycle, Front Porch Theater will continue later this season with dramatic readings excerpted from Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, adapted by Adrian Hall, which will be produced at Intiman in the fall.

The Front Porch Theater schedule for The Diary of Anne Frank, curated by Intiman’s Department of Education & Community Programs, includes partnerships with local religious institutions (Temple Beth Am and Mount Zion Baptist Church ), youth groups and schools. The venues were selected to encourage collaborations between young people and interfaith gatherings.

The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, April 27, 10:00am, in partnership with Temple Beth Am

Temple Beth Am Sanctuary, 2632 NE 80th St

Monday, April 28, 7:00pm, in partnership with Hillel UW

Café LeVine at Hillel UW, 4745 17th Ave NE

Thursday, May 1, 6:30pm, in partnership with Mount Zion Baptist Church Youth Ministry

Mount Zion Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 1634 19th Ave

Friday, May 2, 1:00pm, in partnership with Arts Corps & Southwest Interagency Academy

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center , 4408 Delridge Way SW

Wednesday, May 7, 6:00pm, in partnership with Meany Middle School

Meany Middle School, 301 21st Ave E

Each Front Porch Theater event is free and open to the public. For more information, patrons should visit www.intiman.org.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Diary of Anne Frank, dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and directed by Sari Ketter, runs through Saturday, May 17 at the Intiman Playhouse at Seattle Center .

Tickets range in price from $10 to $50, with discounts available for students and groups. Patrons aged 25 and under can purchase tickets to any performance for $10, pending availability. A limited number of $20 rush tickets may be available for purchase 15 minutes before curtain time, pending availability. Tickets are available from www.intiman.org or 206.269.1900. This production is sponsored by the Intiman Theatre Foundation and the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

The Cure at Troy: Humans, Heros, Gods.

Seattle Repertory Theatre
April 3-May 3 2008
Tickets and Information

For the theatre-goer attending Seattle Rep’s last show of the season, “The Cure at Troy” must live up to a whole lot of expectations. Based on the plot and characters of Homer’s “The Iliad,” this show must bring forth something new and fresh to the age-old classic Greek epic. With the drive of a creative director, Tina Landau, and the passion of an engaging cast, something new is certainly presented. Whether you like it or not depends on your ability to stay until the end.

The show opens in utter darkness. Flashlights are the only source of illumination as the crew of the great commander Odysseus searches a remote, desolate Greek island for its sole inhabitant, Philoctetes. The story is unveiled to the audience (through the use of a lot of clunky, homophonic Greek names) that at the beginning of the Trojan War, Odysseus had abandoned his fellow warrior Philoctetes on this island of Lemnos with only one weapon: the bow and arrows of Hercules. With this divine bow, the arrows “never miss and always kill.” Now, in the ninth year of the Trojan War and with no clear victory for the Greeks in sight, Odysseus uses the son of Achilles, Neoptolemus, an honest sailor under his command, as a pawn to steal the bow from Philoctetes. Neoptolemus is instructed to lie to Philoctetes and befriend him in order to gain his trust. The conflict arises, however, when honest Neoptolemus is caught in conflict between obedience to his superior and his conscience.


(L-R) Seth Numrich as Neoptolemus and Boris McGiver as Philoctetes handling the bow of Hercules. Photo copyright Chris Bennion 2008.

The cast is led by Boris McGiver as Philoctetes, clearly the strongest and most engaging actor of the bunch. His character is afflicted by an infected snake bite, inhibiting all use of his left leg. McGiver’s portrayal of this pain is the most intense and moving performance of the show. Seth Numrich’s honest performance does his character justice, but lacks the intensity needed to be seen in the same light as McGiver. Hans Altwies as Odysseus is lackluster. The three remaining cast members comprise the chorus, an essential element in Greek theater. In keeping with this classic tradition, the chorus members bring something certainly surprising to the show: song. The first time the chorus erupts into intense chanting against an '80s hip hop bass sound, the audience member may feel the need to escape through the nearest exit. However, the maturity and beauty of the melodies evolve and the clear voices move the audience to a new dimension.

The technical aspects of the show do not disappoint. The set (Blythe Quinlan) is constructed as a section of the island in which the rocky physical features aptly compliment the action. However, the lighting (Scott Zielinski) is showy and over-dramatic, exaggerating significant moments in the play to the likes of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” or “American Idol.”

“The Cure at Troy” is an interesting show that takes risks and admiringly presents a new view of Greek theater. The plot is steeped with that nice Greek tragic tension, and the acting and set demand the audience’s respect. The music and drastic lighting choices disorient the audience at first, but the themes of honor, betrayal, war, friendship, and truth carry the show, bringing this ancient myth into the hearts of Seattleites today.

Reviewed by Natasha Rae

Weekly Update - 4/11/2008

The Broadway Hour
KSUB Seattle
THE BROADWAY HOUR IS AT A NEW TIME!!!
**Listen in to hear Nigel Andrews, Rick Skyler and Jack Jarden**
WEDNESDAY's from 4-6pm

Open Circle Theater
at Theater Schmeater
ON SALE NOW
Ghost Sonata >April 11 - May 10, 2008
*STARRING NIGEL ANDREWS (aka. Andrew Perez) and LIA MORGAN (aka. Kenna Kettrick)*

Seattle Shakespeare
ON SALE NOW
All's Well That Ends Well >June 5 - 29, 2008

Seattle Children's Theater
ON SALE NOW
According to Cyote >March 14 - May 11, 2008
Busytown >April 25 - June 15, 2008

Intiman Theater
ON SALE NOW
The Diary of Anne Frank >March 26 - May 17, 2008
Namaste Man (Lost and Found in Kathmandu) >June 4 - 22, 2008
A Streetcar Named Desire >July 9 - August 2, 2008
The Little Dog Laughed >August 20 - September 13, 2008
All the King's Men >October 3 - November 8, 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre
ON SALE NOW
How? How? Why? Why? Why? >March 13 - April 19, 2008
The Cure at Troy >April 3 - May 3, 2008
Aurelia's Oratoria >May 7 - 11, 2008

ACT Theater
ON SALE NOW
Ilkhom Theatre Festival >March 14 - April 13, 2008
Fathers and Sons >May 1-25, 2008
A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Review >June 19 - July 13, 2008
Intimate Exchanges >August 21 - September 14, 2008
Eurydice >September 11 - October 5, 2008
Becky's New Car >October 23 - November 16, 2008

Seattle Opera
ON SALE NOW
Il Puritani >May 3 - 17, 2008

Paramount
Tickets and Information
Avenue Q >June 10 - 22, 2008
A Chorus Line >August 5 - 10, 2008
The Phantom of the Opera >September 10 - October 4, 2008
Spring Awakening >October 14 - 19, 2008
The Color Purple >December 16 - 28, 2008

The 5th Avenue Theatre
Tickets and Information
Cabaret >March 25 - April 13, 2008
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Shrek The Musical >August 14 - September 21, 2008 - ON SALE JUNE 13, 2008
The Drowsy Chaperone >October 28 - November 16, 2008
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers >December 3 - 28, 2008
Memphis >January 27 - February 15, 2008, 2009
Hello, Dolly! >March 8 - 29, 2009
Sunday in the Park With George >April 21 - May 10, 2009
Grease >May 12 - 30, 2009

The Little Theater
ON SALE NOW
The Wake >through April 13

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley

Seattle Shakespeare Company and Wooden O Theatre

to create state-wide, year-round resource

for Shakespeare

Programs to include indoor subscription season, free outdoor theatre in the parks, regional touring productions, and education programs

SEATTLE, WA, -- Seattle Shakespeare Company and Wooden O Theatre Productions announce mutual board approval to merger their two organizations. Wooden O will become the outdoor performance arm of Seattle Shakespeare Company retaining its distinct identity of free, outdoor summer performances. Seattle Shakespeare Company’s programs will now include: main stage indoor productions, education programs for students and adults, regional touring productions, and free, outdoor summer performances.

Seattle Shakespeare Company will continue to be led by Artistic Director Stephanie Shine and Managing Director John Bradshaw . Wooden O Founder and Artistic Director George Mount will transition to Director of Outdoor and Touring Performances functioning as Artistic Director for the free, outdoor summer performances for Seattle Shakespeare Company.

“I’m inspired by this endeavor!” says Shine. “Both companies are doing so well and the time is ripe for us to re-imagine how we can create exponential participation and exposure to Shakespeare. It will be great to bring what we do al fresco, and with the unique strengths and assets of both organizations we have a tremendous opportunity to achieve even greater community and statewide impact not previously possible if both companies were operating separately.”

“Audiences will experience the same artistic integrity that they’ve come to expect from both organizations,” says Mount. “In the Puget Sound region, audiences will now have a year-round resource to turn to for quality Shakespeare and classic theatre performances. People throughout Washington will now get to experience professional Shakespeare productions through the company’s expanded touring efforts.”

“Both companies come to this merger in a strong financial position,” says Bradshaw. “Through streamlined administrative efforts and shared resources we are creating a stronger, unified organization that can redirect resources into community programs and performances.” Leaders of the combined organization expect to:

· Expand touring in both the number of performances and geographically in audiences served

· Evolve into a year-round resource for Shakespeare and other classic plays for school districts and others interested in expanding their knowledge of Shakespeare.

· Increase opportunities for artists in terms of lengths of employment contracts and increased pay scale

The merged organization will begin operating as one immediately and will strategically add positions based upon the emerging needs of the company. Since October of 2007 K&L Gates has lent their expertise on a pro bono basis to assist with merger process.

According to Coyote - Seattle Children's Theatre

According to Coyote
Seattle Children’s Theatre
Tickets and Information
March 14 – May 11, 2008

Every culture has stories; how the world was formed, how humans came to be, why the vultures circle their prey before landing. Few, however, continue to tell the stories in the same way that they have for centuries. Few, that is, other than the Native Americans – especially here in the Pacific Northwest. This area is abundantly rich with Native American history and heritage. Even Seattle University has a bust of Chief Seattle on the Broadway side of their campus. So what of the stories? What of this history do we know as a community?

After According to Coyote, a whole lot more. John Kauffman’s play tells the stories of Coyote as seen through the eyes of the Plains and Plateau Indian tribes of the western United States. Coyote is the trickster but simultaneously the hero of these people. Much like Loki in Norse mythology or perhaps more appropriately, Prometheus from the Greek, Coyote gives great gifts to the human race but also finds himself in sticky situations quite frequently and has to trick his way out of them.

Gene Tagaban. Photo by Chris Bennion, 2008.

Kauffman’s writing flows effortlessly, especially through Gene Tagaban. This one-man show could easily become what so many one-man shows become: one-dimensional, flat and long. However, According to Coyote, clocking in at just under an hour, felt like I had just sat down when I left and I never once was away from the edge of my seat. The stories are beautiful and Tagaban presents them marvelously. His physical action is precise and magnificent and his ability to really make each new story a new story brings all of the stories to life.

One of the major factors in the vividness of the show, aside, of course, from Tagaban’s skill, were the costumes, props and lights (Lee Barnette Dombroski and Tim Wratten). The use of light and costume pieces added onto Tagaban throughout the stories create the world on the stage. Slowly, Tagaban is transformed from a man in jeans and a black shirt into Coyote and one can hardly track the transformation.

According to Coyote is a fantastic way to spend an hour of an afternoon with your kids or even alone. Yes, the show is specifically geared to children, but we could all use a little untainted fun in our lives.

Review by Nigel Andrews