SEATTLE – The work of Seattle ’s “reigning queen of couture” Luly Yang is featured in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of MAME. As the iconic title character, Broadway star Dee Hoty dons 17 glamorous costumes throughout this irresistible musical, the majority designed by 2006 Tony Award-winner Gregg Barnes. The finishing touch comes at the end of act two, when Mame lights up the stage in the $30,000 finale gown of Luly Yang’s “Passage to Shanghai ” collection, a hand-embroidered red duchess silk satin robe with metallic organza sleeves, adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals. One of the largest, most complex designs Luly Yang has ever created, the gown took two months and more than 12 master seamstresses to construct.

Luly Yang is celebrated for her elegant and timeless bridal gowns and evening ensembles for ladies and gentlemen in luxurious silks and the finest fabrics. She has been named “ Seattle ’s Best Dress Designer” five years running by Seattle Bride magazine. Yang was honored as the 2007 Nellie Cashman Woman Business Owner of the Year and recognized as one of Seattle Business Monthly’s Eight People to Watch in ’08.

MAME tells the hilarious story of an eccentric socialite in the Roaring ‘20s who finds her madcap Manhattan lifestyle turned upside down when she is appointed guardian of her orphaned nephew. Auntie Mame takes him on one whirlwind adventure after another, proving that “life is a banquet.” With a rogue’s gallery of memorable characters, MAME has touched the hearts and tickled the funnybones of audiences everywhere. The irresistible score by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles) includes the title song, “If He Walked Into My Life” and “We Need A Little Christmas.”

Tickets to MAME are priced from $20 - $77. Tickets are available over the phone by calling 206-625-1900 (toll free 888-5TH-4TIX), online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle . There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.

Seattle Repertory Theatre Presents: Humanities Forum Community-based Theatre and the Role of the Outsider

Saturday, February 9 at 4:30pm, directly following the 2:00 pm matinee of The Breach

Seattle, WA - Seattle Repertory Theatre presents its continuing series of community discussions, Humanities Forum on Saturday, February 9th at 4:30 p.m. in connection with the performance of The Breach. Panelists will discuss community-based theatre and the role of the outsider. Panelists include David Esbjornson, director of The Breach, Todd Jefferson Moore, actor and playwright and Jack Bentz, Artistic Director of Deus X Machina theatre company and will be moderated by Seattle Rep Education Director, Andrea Allen. Admission is free. The phenomenon of a natural calamity like Hurricane Katrina creates chaos, pain and confusion on a mythic scale. In The Breach, playwrights Filloux, McCraney and Sutton weave together three unique and separate stories from those who survived the storm. In its exploration of the impacts of Katrina, this powerful and surreal play taps the conspiracy theories, loss and nascent hope of this devastated American region. Last fall, The Breach was presented as public readings in theatres and FEMA trailers throughout the South, culminating in a full production at the Southern Rep in New Orleans. The performances prompted public debate on the broader issues of poverty, patriotism and the responsibility we have toward one another, a debate we hope will continue within the Seattle community. About Humanities Forum: These hour-long panel discussions feature Seattle Rep staff, artists and scholars examining issues and themes related to the plays. After you've seen the show, come back and deepen your understanding and express your opinions. On the final Saturday of each Bagley Wright Theatre shows, between the matinee and evening performances.

Weekly Update - 1/25/2008

The Broadway Hour
KSUB Seattle
**Listen in to hear Nigel Andrews, Rick Skyler and Jack Jarden**
Sunday from 10-Noon

Seattle University
Tickets and Information
Dark Play or Stories for Boys >February 21 - March 2, 2008 (mature audiences only)

Seattle Shakespeare
Tickets and Information
Julius Caesar >January 3-27, 2008
Swansong >January 7-23, 2008
The Miser >March 13 - April 6, 2008

Seattle Children's Theater
Tickets and Information
The Neverending Story >through January 27, 2008
Hamlet >January 25 - February 24, 2008
The Hundred Dresses >February 22 - April 6, 2008
According to Cyote >March 14 - May 11, 2008
Busytown >April 25 - June 15, 2008

Intiman Theater
Tickets and Information
The Diary of Anne Frank >March 26 - May 17, 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre
Tickets and Information
The Breech >January 10 - February 9, 2008
By the Waters of Babylon >January 31 - March 2, 2008
The Imaginary Invalid >February 21 - March 22, 2008
How? How? Why? Why? Why? >March 13 - April 19, 2008
The Cure at Troy >April 3 - May 3, 2008

Seattle Opera
Tickets and Information
Pagliacci >January 12 - 26, 2008
Tosca >February 23 - March 9, 2008
Il Puritani >May 3 - 17, 2008

The 5th Avenue Theatre
Tickets and Information
Mame >February 9 - March 2, 2008
Cabaret >March 25 - April 13, 2008

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley
Tickets and Information

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

Evening of Music with Picoso, Orkestar Zirkonium, and Threat of Beauty

Neumos, 925 East Pike Street

Thursday, February 7th

Doors open at 8pm; first band starts at 9:30pm

$10 advance / 21+

Tickets!: http://www.neumos.com/020708.html

Provocative and Daring, Language Rooms by Yussef El Guindi is Selected for ACT’s 2008 New Play Award

Two Staged Readings, March 7-8

2008 New Play Award Reading

Language Rooms by Yussef El Guindi

Directed by Kurt Beattie

March 7-8, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets

FREE!

No reservations required; seating is first come, first served

ACT Theatre

Ticket Office: (206) 292-7676

700 Union Street, Seattle WA 98101

www.acttheatre.org

Seattle, WA – January 23, 2008 – Local playwright Yussef El Guindi has been named ACT’s 2008 New Play Award winner for his new work Language Rooms. ACT will present two staged readings, followed by post-play discussions with the playwright and director, FREE to the public, on March 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. in its Bullitt Cabaret space.

Language Rooms is a play about an Arab-American interrogator at a Guantanamo-like facility whose loyalty comes into question when he is faced with the challenge of interrogating his father.

“A provocative, dark, often funny investigation of the complex inner life of people who must live dangerously for what they think is the greater good, Language Rooms is an exciting and completely unpredictable reflection of the United States’ uneasy relationship with the Middle East,” said ACT’s Artistic Director Kurt Beattie. “The play asks, in a new and utterly fresh way, what it means to be an American citizen, particularly when the questioner is an Arab-American.”

Language Rooms is the third play awarded as a part of the New Play Award program, sponsored by Eulalie M. and Carlo Scandiuzzi. The Scandiuzzi sponsorship provides for an annual national call for submissions playwriting competition, in which the winner receives $2,500 and the opportunity to workshop the play, including the presentation of two public staged readings at ACT. Mitzi’s Abortion by Elizabeth Heffron, produced at ACT as a part of its 2006 mainstage season, was the first New Play Award winner in 2005.

Language Rooms is directed by Kurt Beattie and will feature Khanh Doan (Esther), John Farrage (Nasser), Ray Gonzalez (Ahmed), William Hall, Jr. (Kevin) and a fifth actor to be announced.

Yussef El Guindi’s most recent production was Back of the Throat, winner of the 2004 Northwest Playwright’s Competition held by Theater Schmeater. It won LA Weekly’s Excellence in Playwrighting Award for 2006. It was also nominated for the 2006 American Theater Critics Association’s Steinburg/New Play Award, and was voted Best New Play of 2005 by the Seattle Times. It was first staged by San Francisco’s Thick Description and Golden Thread Productions; then later presented in various theaters around the country including The Flea Theater in New York. Another play of his, Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith, staged by Silk Road Theatre Project, won the After Dark Award for Best New Play in Chicago, 2006. His two-related one-acts, Acts of Desire, were staged by the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. Back of the Throat, and those two related one-acts, now titled, Such a Beautiful Voice is Sayeda’s and Karima’s City, have been published by Dramatists Play Service. Guindi holds a Master of Fine Arts from Carnegie-Mellon University and was playwright-in-residence at Duke University.

Teenspeak - Seattle Repertory Theatre

Teenspeak
Seattle Repertory Theatre

A very warm congratulations to all of the student actors and especially the writers whose works were performed on Tuesday from Woodinville High School. Plays by Alex Honjiyo, Christina Weidner, Rin Romao, Alyssa Powell and Austin Bridges premiered in the Leo K. Theatre with over thirty actors all from Woodinville High. This concludes the Teensspeak program of 2008 after Roosevelt High School's performances last Friday. As always, it's an amazingly fun experience for the audience and a wonderful opportunity for the playwrites and actors. Thank you to Seattle Rep for running this program and all of the student writers and performers for a great night at the theatre.

Nigel Andrews

Teenspeak Playwriting Project - Seattle Rep

Teenspeak Playwriting Project
Seattle Repertory Theater
RSVP for tickets to this FREE EVENT!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 7:30pm

If you’re a reader of The Broadway Hour, then you’re probably a fan of theater. If you’re a fan of theater, then you’d probably love to know more about what goes into the writing process of a play. This is one of the best opportunities for anyone in town to find out the nuts and bolts of what it takes to write a play.

Teenspeak Playwriting Project is a program put together by the Seattle Repertory Theater to give young up-and-coming writers a chance to see an original work of theirs put on stage and shown to the public. Nine writers and around one hundred performers come out from Roosevelt High School and Woodinville High School to have their plays performed in the Leo K. Theater in the Rep. This past Friday was the premier of Death of the All-American Family by Mandi Bossard, Pigeon Platter by Alice Roth, The 17^th Floor by Emma Staake and Flight of the T-Bird Episode #54 Attack of the Glarbons by Arman Mohazzabfar.

The four playwrites did an amazing job with the topics they were given and created four very fun and entertaining shows. Their actors, under the direction of (in order of listed show) Scott Koh, Michaela Murphy, Amber Wolfe and Christopher A Dewar came to the plate in a big way and made these shows a wonderful evening of fun, refreshing and raw theater.

So, if you’re looking to have a fun time at the theater and unwind from pretentious hoity-toity shows, definitely check the website and try to RSVP a couple seats for this Tuesday, the 22 at 7:30pm for Teanspeak Playwriting Project presented by Woodinville High School and the Seattle Repertory Theater.

Weekly Update - 1/19/2008

The Broadway Hour
KSUB Seattle
**Listen in to hear Nigel Andrews, Rick Skyler and Jack Jarden**
Sunday from 10-Noon

Seattle University
Tickets and Information
Dark Play or Stories for Boys >February 21 - March 2, 2008 (mature audiences only)

Seattle Shakespeare
Tickets and Information
Julius Caesar >January 3-27, 2008
Swansong >January 7-23, 2008
The Miser >March 13 - April 6, 2008

Seattle Children's Theater
Tickets and Information
The Neverending Story >through January 27, 2008
Hamlet >January 25 - February 24, 2008
The Hundred Dresses >February 22 - April 6, 2008
According to Cyote >March 14 - May 11, 2008
Busytown >April 25 - June 15, 2008

Intiman Theater
Tickets and Information
The Diary of Anne Frank >March 26 - May 17, 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre
Tickets and Information
The Breech >January 10 - February 9, 2008
Teenspeak >January 22, 2008 (FREE EVENT! CALL TO RSVP!)
By the Waters of Babylon >January 31 - March 2, 2008
The Imaginary Invalid >February 21 - March 22, 2008
How? How? Why? Why? Why? >March 13 - April 19, 2008
The Cure at Troy >April 3 - May 3, 2008

Seattle Opera
Tickets and Information
Pagliacci >January 12 - 26, 2008
Tosca >February 23 - March 9, 2008
Il Puritani >May 3 - 17, 2008

The 5th Avenue Theatre
Tickets and Information
Mame >February 9 - March 2, 2008
Cabaret >March 25 - April 13, 2008

Dimitrou's Jazz Alley
Tickets and Information

SHREK

THE MUSICAL

Exclusive World Premiere at Seattle ’s 5th Avenue Theatre

August 14 - September 21, 2008

Opens on Broadway Fall 2008

SEATTLE – ONCE upon a time in a land not so far, far away a new musical began its journey to Broadway.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. have announced that SHREK THE MUSICAL will play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle , August 14 – September 21, prior to opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2008. Preview performances will begin in early November at a theater to be announced.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

SHREK THE MUSICAL features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize® winner, David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Jeanine Tesori (Olivier Award-winner for Caroline, or Change and three-time Tony Award® nominee), and is directed by Jason Moore, who staged the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, Avenue Q.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is DreamWorks Animation’s first venture in legitimate theater. The production was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation, and Sam Mendes, who has a long-term relationship with DreamWorks. Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke , President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

Other members of the SHREK THE MUSICAL creative team include Tony Award®-winning set and costume designer, Tim Hatley (Monty Python’s Spamalot, Private Lives, among others) and three-time Olivier Award-winning lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone, whose Broadway credits include Monty Python’s Spamalot, Bombay Dreams, The Blue Room and Art.

The choreography is by newcomer Josh Prince, and Tim Weil (Rent) is serving as music director.

Casting and additional members of the creative team will be announced shortly.

“Without a doubt this will be the major event of Seattle ’s theatrical season,” said 5th Avenue Theatre Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, continuing, “What I am most excited about is the first class creative team that has been assembled for this production. These are some of the most talented and exciting artists working in the musical theater today. Once again our audience will have the opportunity to experience the creation of a new Broadway musical.”

“We are delighted that SHREK THE MUSICAL will play in Seattle prior to Broadway,” said Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals. “ Seattle audiences are well known for their enthusiastic support of new work and their discerning taste. This, in addition to the experience and expertise of The 5th Avenue Theatre team, provides us with a fantastic environment for the creation of our show.”

SHREK THE MUSICAL is based on a popular 1990 book by William Steig. The characters of Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, and the other inhabitants of “Far, Far Away” have been featured in three major animated films and a popular television special to date. The first Shrek feature film hit theaters in the summer of 2001, and went on to win the first-ever Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. The 2004 sequel, Shrek 2, remains the third highest grossing movie of all time and highest grossing animated film of all time. The latest chapter of the Shrek story, Shrek the Third, is the 2nd highest grossing film of 2007. Shrek the Halls, the recent ABC television special, was one of the most watched TV programs of 2007.

5th Avenue Theatre season subscriptions go on sale Monday, February 4 and single tickets for SHREK THE MUSICAL go on sale Friday, June 13. For more information about The 5th Avenue Theatre, visit www.5thavenue.org.

www.shrekthemusical.com

"The Breach"

Seattle Repertory Theatre
January 16-February 9, 2008
Box Office
(206) 443-2210

One who has not experienced the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath cannot fully understand the horror and fear so central to Seattle Repertory Theatre's current play, "The Breach." This is not to say that they will find it unaccessible, for they will most certainly gain further insight into the chaos, loss, and confusion left in the disaster's wake. However, despite the heavy and emotional subject matter, the audience leaves with a surprisingly strong sense of hope, once all is said and done.

With such a deep issue, it is important that "The Breach" has a strong foundation to rest upon; namely, its script (Catherine Filloux, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Joe Sutton). In terms of writing authentic dialogue, the playwrights capture and respect the Southern dialect while keeping the script comprehensible to a much larger audience. It's not easy to weave multiple, complex themes throughout three different storylines: a handicapped father trying to cope without his son, an Iraq soldier; a naive, Northern reporter who wishes to understand the racial tension underneath the dark waters; and a stranded, fragmented family waiting for help on a rooftop. Rather than having a distinct sense of the three different writers, the play itself feels as if it were written by a single, focused entity.

The lighting throughout the play was delicately and effectively used. Pastel colors were projected onto a screen upstage, setting the mood for different scenes. Focused, white lighting was also used to direct the audience's attention and provided a stark contrast to the projected colors. The set consisted primarily of a pool underneath the front of the stage. It brought both the actors and the audience in direct contact with this mysterious and unpredictable element. In addition, a waterfall, acting as rain, was constructed from the top center of the proscenium and falls into the pool, providing a transparent wall between the actors and audience.


John Aylward (Mac) and Nike Imoru (Water). Photo Credit: Chris Bennion, 2008

The cast is an eclectic group of Seattle veterans and newbies, all providing emotionally jarring performances. John Aylward, William Hall, Jr., and Crystal Fox particularly capture tension, anger, and vulnerable humanity in such a way that would do real survivors proud. Nike Imoru is certianly interesting as she portrays the character of Water, slippery and malicious, and makes the best out of an arguably unnecessary metaphorical character. The child actor (Michelove Rene Bain) gives the weakest performance, but, as a fourth grader, is understandably at a disadvantage from the rest of her experienced cast. She in no way, however, detracts from the high quality of the acting in general.

While frustrated and frightened emotions dominate the play, humor is not forgotten among the dredges of turmoil. Significant tension is eradicated by subtle jabs against the "powers that be," comments which the audience eats up with delight and relief. This reflects the brilliant paradoxes of the work; that within such a devastating disaster, humanity is not entirely seen at its worst, but seen greatly at its best; that a great truth is able to finally appear through the debris of destruction; and that through a disaster that threatens life itself, human community and love can emerge stronger than ever before.

By: Jack Jarden and Natasha Rae

MAME events!

SPOTLIGHT NIGHT:
January 18, 7:30pm
The 5th Avenue periodically gives the audience an inside look at their spectacular shows and those who create them. David Armstrong will host an exploration of Jerry Herman and Edward Everett Tanner III - the men who created MAME! Also enjoy musical performances by Billie Wildrick, CArol Swarbrick, Timothy McCuen PIggee and Dee Hoty (Three Time Tony Award-Nominee)! And as always, it's free!!


WESTLAKE VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL
Make this Valentine's Day an instant classic by entering to win a Valentine's Package at Westlake center. The winner will receive two tickets to Mame, a $50 dinner certificate to P.F. Chang's China Bistro and a basket of chocolates from Made in Washington for you and your sweetheart.
Simply visit Westlake Center's Fireworks or Made in Washington stores betweeen January 21 - February 3 to win this spectacular prize package!
The winner will be contacted February 4, 2008. See stores for details.

SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE - MAME STYLE
Featuring more than 275 extravagant costumes (designed by Tony-Award winner Gregg Barnes), Mame is the event for every fashionista. Support a great cause in true Mame style and enter to win tickets to the show at two upcoming American Heart Association fashion-themed events:

January 25: Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Macy's and FGI present Project Red Dress. Twelve designer hopefuls each create one red dress to be unveiled at the event. Project Runway finalist Nick Verreos will be a guest judge. Check out this exciting new event to benefit Go Red For Women.

February 1: Friday is National Wear Red Day, so put on something red and join us for the Go Red For Women kickoff celebration at Macy's in Downtown Seattle.