A Streetcar Named Desire

At the Intiman
July 9th - August 2nd
Tickets and Information available online or by phone (206) 269 - 1900

Before the show even begins, the audience is transfixed by the beautifully designed set (Thomas Lynch) that appropriately creates the atmosphere for the story about to unfold. The two-story house skeleton construction compliments the action that is already taking place. The lives of the characters and the mood of New Orleans are already taking shape. As the patrons are settling in the seats, a piano tune artfully creeps through the din and peacefully calms the audience as if this silence was part of the script. With such a display completing the pre-show atmosphere, the magic, awe and delight of the Intiman Theater’s A Streetcar Named Desire ignites the stage.

Atmosphere is a vital part of this show’s design as vocalists, pianists and other actors and characters constantly float through the background of the action, not hindering the main interactions but appropriately bringing to life spring, summer and early fall, 1947, New Orleans. The commentary that these vignettes portray skillfully pulls the audience deeper into the lives of the characters, and makes the human truths and realities more apparent. In one scene, the upstairs neighbors react to the action talking place below them, and their subtle fight and tortured resolution adds a strong element to the action already taking place, enhancing the strength behind the message and creating its own powerful truth about the character’s relationships.

Complimented by skilled lighting design (L.B.Morse) and costumes (Frances Kenny), the story was subtly supported from all angles giving the action a strong foundation to build these damaged soul’s lives. Streetcar’s genius comes from the skill of taking an everyday atmosphere of human experience and presenting its reality to the audience. It all takes place in one setting, and the plot points are very basic, but the words and truths about human lives are so entrancing to the human’s point of view. This reality is so well supported by all the design elements in this production that the audience is allowed to fall into these people’s lives and experience their world as true and real.

Photo Credit: Chris Bennion

With a great cast of actors to bring this classic to life, the world of these well-known personalities is created. Notable performances were had by all, and specifically Angela Pierce as Blanche Dubois who instigated a deserved standing ovation at the end of the show. This show is a treasure in itself and its integrity is well supported in this current production. See Tennessee William’s Pulitzer Prize winning Masterpiece come to life in this explosive, lyrical show running July 9 – August 2 at the Intiman.

Reviewed by: Rick Skyler

NEW THEATER - NEW SHOWS!

EIGHT TO ONE
Presented by LERT

LERT, a new group in town, has created three original plays, each about 10 minutes long, that deal with the fallout from the war in Iraq, the psychological effects it is having on soldiers and civilians and what the war is really costing us. The plays will be performed on:

Friday, July 18
Saturday, July 19
Friday, July 25
Saturday, July 16
ALL AT 7PM

It is FREE and open to the public and will be performed in the back parking area of

737 Belmont Place East, Seattle, WA 98102.

To get there from Broadway:
turn down Roy
When the road curves to the right, you'll see a street that is harder to the right - take that - it's Belmont Place (if you stay on the curving road, it will take you down to Lakeview/Eastlake - so if you're looking at Lake Union, you didn't turn in time)

From Lake Union:
go up Belmont Ave
hang a left on Belmont Place just before the road starts to curve to the left.

Please invite everyone you know to this event - your support means a lot to us!

Broadway Powerhouse Jennifer Holliday Performs with

Seattle Men’s Chorus; Opening 2008 Holiday Concert Series

December 7 & 8 at Benaroya Hall; 8:00 PM

Flying House Productions is thrilled to announce that Jennifer Holliday, a self-proclaimed “Broadway Baby,” will perform with Seattle Men’s Chorus for two very special holiday concerts on December 7^th and 8^th at Benaroya Hall. Enjoy Holliday for the Holidays–to witness her vocal power live in concert is truly an unforgettable experience.

Jennifer Holliday’s show-stopping, heart-wrenching performance of the torch ballad “And I’m Telling You, I’m Not Going” in the smash hit Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, made her a household name and introduced her big soulful voice to the world. It also garnered her both a Tony and Grammy Award. She has been crowned a “singer’s singer;” a truly electrifying performer who delivers her songs with deep passion and sincere emotion. Her soulful and throaty style touches hearts and leaves audiences moved with inspiration and spirits soaring. With her commanding voice, Miss Holliday has travelled from Broadway Theatres (Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God, Dreamgirls) to Hollywood Recording Studios to sing with fellow legends (Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson). She has toured the nation (Sing Mahalia Sing, Harlem Suite, Black Nativity) sung with symphonies (Boston Pops Symphony, The National Symphony), and worked on several film and TV productions including several seasons on Ally McBeal as Lisa Knowles, the outspoken, quirky choir director at McBeal’s church

For the 2008 holiday season, the legendary Miss Holliday will join Seattle Men’s Chorus in their festive Holiday Concert, titled Fruitcake. The run includes seven Seattle performances from December 7-22 an additional concert in Everett on December 6^th and in Tacoma on December 13^th. Jennifer Holliday will perform select numbers with the Chorus during the first two Seattle concerts on December 7 and 8 only at 8:00 PM. Tickets are on sale now for subscribers. Individual tickets go on sale November 3^, 2008.

Angels in America

*Are there Angels in America? Absurd Reality Theatre*

*presents a forum to discuss Tony Kushner's *

/*Angels in America: Millennium Approaches*/


*Seattle, WA* – In anticipation of their revival of* */*Angels in
America: Millennium Approaches*/ *(July 24th-August 9th)* Absurd Reality
Theatre will be presenting a forum titled: *“Are There Angels in
America?”* to address the place of the gay community and those living
with AIDS in contemporary American spirituality. The forum will be held
at the *Capitol Hill Library on July 10th, from 5:30-7:30.*

Speakers will include local religious leaders, authors and bloggers, and
activists in the gay community. Refreshments will be served.

Tony Kushner's /Angels in America/ stands as a piece of art that
challenges our nation to interact and discuss homosexuality as it
relates to faith, religion in America, and the AIDS epidemic. The forum
will emphasize the struggles of men and women living with AIDS in our
community, along with those just beginning to understand their own
spiritual and sexual identities.

Absurd Reality Theatre’s commitment to fostering discussion and
community will continue through the run of /Angels in America/ with
events such as post-show talkbacks, Singles Night (August 8th), and
performances by local musicians. *In addition, the night of August 1st
will be a benefit to raise money for the BABES Network.* For a complete
schedule of events please visit our website.

For more information about Absurd Reality Theatre, and for a complete
list of and links to recent news articles, reviews, and past
productions, please see our website: _www.absurdreality.com
<http://www.absurdreality.com/>_.

Weekly Update - 6/30/2008

Greenstage Summer Season
TICKETING AND INFORMATION
Hamlet >July 12 - August 16, 2008
Twelfth Night >July 11 - August 16, 2008

Greenstage Presents: Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival
INFORMATION
July 13 and 14, 2008

Seattle Shakespeare
TICKETING AND INFORMATION
Romeo and Juliet >July 10 - August 3, 2008
A Midsummer Night's Dream >July 12 - August 3, 2008

Intiman Theater
ON SALE NOW
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

ACT Theater
ON SALE NOW
A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Review >June 13 - July 13, 2008
Intimate Exchanges >August 15 - September 14, 2008
Eurydice >September 5 - October 5, 2008
Becky's New Car >October 17 - November 16, 2008

Seattle Opera
ON SALE NOW
Aida >August 2 - 23, 2008
Elektra >October 18 - November 1, 2008
Pearl Fishers >January 10 - 24, 2009
Bluebeard's Castle & Erwartung >February 21 - March 7, 2009
Marriage of Figaro >May 2 - 16, 2009

Paramount
ON SALE NOW
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
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

__________________________________________________________

Seattle Repertory Theatre
UPCOMING INFORMATION

Seattle Children's Theater
UPCOMING INFORMATION

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley
Tickets and Information

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

INTIMAN THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BARTLETT SHER WINS TONY AWARD

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre Artistic Director Bartlett Sher was honored last night with the 2008 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for the current Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific at Lincoln Center Theater.

“Everyone at Intiman is thrilled for Bart and all his colleagues on this magnificent production,” said Intiman Theatre Board President Susan J. Leavitt. “We are his Seattle home, and we take great pride in the work he and his collaborators produce at his New York home, Lincoln Center Theater.”

Earlier this year, Sher extended his contract at Intiman through the end of the next year’s production season. That will be his 10^th season with Intiman, which received the 2006 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre under his leadership. He is currently planning Intiman’s 2009 season and developing projects for future seasons. Sher is also working closely with the Intiman Board to set a course for the future that encompasses both the best opportunities for him and Intiman’s continued growth and stability.

In 2008 and 2009, he will direct two plays by Craig Lucas, both of which premiered at Intiman, in New York : Prayer for My Enemy at Playwrights Horizons and The Singing Forest at The Public Theater.

South Pacific received seven Tony Awards, more than any other production this season, including Revival of a Musical, Actor in a Musical (Paulo Szot), Scenic Design of a Musical (Michael Yeargan), Costume Design of a Musical (Catherine Zuber), Lighting Design of a Musical (Donald Holder) and Sound Design of a Musical (Scott Lehrer).

Intiman is close to completing a national search to identify a successor to former Managing Director Laura Penn , who is now Executive Director of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers in New York . Kevin Maifeld, senior consultant of Arts Consulting Group, former managing director of Seattle Children’s Theatre and founding director of the Master of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership program at Seattle University , is working with Intiman as its Interim Managing Director until a permanent successor is named.

The 5th Avenue Award Goes To…

Local High School Musical Theater Honored in Tony Award-Style Event

Sponsored by Wells Fargo

SEATTLE – Tonight, 2,200 high school students, teachers and parents from across Washington state packed Benaroya Hall for the sixth annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo. The students screamed at the top of their lungs, jumped and cheered as the award recipients were announced in 21 different categories, ranging from Outstanding Overall Musical Production to Outstanding Program Design.

The high school theater nominees were dressed to kill and filled with anticipation for the Tony Award-style celebration of exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 2007-2008 school year. Nominees in select categories presented numbers from their shows and performed song medleys. Teachers and students alike were thrilled to receive recognition for their hard work and dedication, just as accomplished high school athletes have received for decades.

TVW will broadcast The 5th Avenue High School Awards ceremony, in its entirety, on Wednesday, June 11 at 8 p.m. and again Sunday, June 15 at 1 p.m. After June 11, the event may be viewed as streaming video at www.tvw.org.

All's Well That Ends Well - Seattle Shakespeare

Seattle Shakespeare Company
All's Well That Ends Well
Tickets and Information
June 5 - 29, 2008

Seattle Shakespeare Company’s shows are always a joy, but what about when the subject matter, shall we say, sets most common sensibilities a bit on edge? What happens is that we see how skillfully Stephanie Shine directs her shows and how beautifully the actors with Seattle Shakes can pull off an incredibly difficult and problematic show.

All’s Well That Ends Well is a show about a young woman madly in love with a man above her rank who has no interest in her but is forced into a marriage with her. The rest of the show is Helena’s (Sarah Harlett) trials and tribulations attempting to win over Bertram (Connor Toms) and convince him to love not loath her. The problems arise in his betrayals and her never-ending and unconditional love for him. She never questions the reality of the situation long enough to see his very blatant colors. Similarly, he never takes one second to see anyone but himself. His selfishness is his downfall and, the rest you’ll have to see for yourselves.

Connor Toms and Sarah Harlett in All's Well That Ends Well. Photo by Chris Bennion 2008.

With this incredibly sticky plot, Director Stephanie Shine plows ahead as fearless as Helena herself. The timing and substance of each character and motion on stage is beautifully choreographed and conceived. Sarah Harlett as Helena does, as always, an incredible job with her role. Similarly, Connor Toms carries the chauvinistic Bertram with grace and power. Standing out in this show, however, is Paul Morgan Stetler as Parolles, the braggart fop who couldn’t show you the right end of a sword if it were in his side. His performance and transformation from idiot fop to idiot by trade is brilliant to say the least. Similarly, Trista Duval as Countess of Rossillion and Michael Patten as the King of France charge ahead in their work as champions and dominate their roles with true eloquence.

As with most Seattle Shakespeare shows and especially with Shine’s shows, music plays an integral role and reaches new heights in this show with Sean Patrick Taylor’s direction and performance on every instrument that the cast could fit on stage right. Though at times a bit awkward, the music mostly fit very well and flowed very nicely as background and transitions.

As a final note, Kurt Wall’s scenic design goes way beyond expectations. Not to say that the sets at Shakes are not usually good, but this show in particular excels in beauty and practicality.

Overall, it is a problematic script that is handled very tactfully and skillfully by all involved.

Review by Nigel Andrews

All

Namaste Man - Intiman Theatre

Namaste Man
Intiman Theatre
Tickets and Information
May 30 – June 22, 2008

The Tony-award winning Intiman Theater, under the Artistic Directorship of Barlett Sher, has produced several classics in the past few years, both American and European. This theater, however, is also a haven for new works and premieres. The most recent of these is Namaste Man, also directed by Bartlett Sher, and written and performed by Andrew Weems.

Andrew Weems in Namaste Man. Photo by Chris Bennion 2008.

Intiman audiences may be familiar with Weems from recent productions of Three Sisters and Arms and the Man; but in this show, Weems moves away from the classics and into his own childhood. Weems' father, an employee of the US government, took his family all over the world: Weems was born in Korea, and lived in Nepal for several years before highschool. In this piece the focus is on that time in Nepal, both the actual years spent there and the memories and effect it had on him in later years. Weems tells of family and friends and experiences he had in brief stories that intersect with each other. His great talents in these anecdotes are his humor and his specific use of character - he creates different evocative voices for his mother, father, schoolgirl crush, household servant and a myriad of others - all precise and all very entertaining. His tale of his theatrical debut with an amateur acting group in Nepal is made particularly enjoyable and real with his depiction of Peter Cross, the Anglo-Indian director with artistic style galore.

Throughout the ninety minutes, Weems tells stories from Nepal and New York, about being lost and found, about family and leaning his place in the world. Yet although themes sometimes resonate through several anecdotes, there is less of an overarching story, and it is here that Namaste Man falls short of what it could be. Weems storytelling is undeniably entertaining, often humorous and sometimes emotionally affecting; but it is never clear why, exactly, Weems is telling us all of this now, what his overall purpose is, or what our reaction or role - besides being an entertained listener - might be.

Certainly, though, this does not detract from the spectacle that Namaste Man is. Elizabeth Caitlin Ward’s scenic (and costume, but specifically scenic) design is undeniably impressive. The towering tin roof slats, the candles in numbers to make the fire marshal cry himself to sleep creating an ambience little known to Seattle theater audients and the ever-utilitarian boxes, oranges and figurines make the world our own. Similarly, Greg Sullivan’s lighting design sets the world alight and brings it to life.

While it is confusing in retrospect why the show has happened, the stories and the path alone are well-worth the journey.

Review by Lia Morgan and Nigel Andrews