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Caregiver film focuses on family relationships

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Caregiving can be complicated. It is not just a two-way street between care givers and care receivers. Caregiving creates a web of relationships between spouses, children, parents, other relatives, friends and neighbors. Often those relationships move to a new level – sometimes drawing people together and other times moving them farther apart.

Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources is offering another film in our caregiving series. The film “The Descendants” will be shown on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Grand Cinema, located at 606 S. Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma. The film begins at 10:45 a.m. with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. Complimentary popcorn will be provided by Family Resource Home Care. The film is free, but tickets must be reserved online through Brown Paper Tickets or by calling the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 253-798-4600.

“The Descendants” stars George Clooney and focuses on end-of-life issues and the emotional responses that come with major life changes. The film, recommended for caregivers by SeniorAdvisor.com, focuses on family endurance and reminds us of our ability to heal in the face of hardship. The film is rated R for strong language, including sexual references.

“It doesn’t matter how much money a person has or the vast array of possessions,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources manager. “Accidents can happen to anyone, even those in perfect health.  This film shows what happens when a spouse has a boating accident and husband and children become caregivers.”

“The Descendants” explores the strong and realistic emotions that can arise as families confront their past and their future. The film swings between light moments of humor and dark moments of conflict. As the plot unfolds, the emotions are raw, but the family draws together and heals.

Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources offers this film as part of our Family Caregiver Support Program. The program helps unpaid family caregivers with many supports including education, counseling, adaptive equipment, housework and errands services and respite care. The program offers support to families of all incomes. For more information about the program or to reserve your tickets, call the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center at 253-798-4600.

AUDITIONS: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC DECMBER 9TH & DECEMBER 10TH

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Tacoma Little Theatre is holding auditions for its upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s classic, A Little Night Music. The production will be directed by John Munn, musically directed by Deborah Lynn Armstrong, and choreographed by Lexi Barnett.

Auditions will be held Sunday, December 9th and Monday, December 10th at Tacoma Little Theatre. Audition appointments will be set between the times of 6:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday and 7:00pm-10:00pm on Monday. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, December 12th.

Winner of four Tony Awards®, Stephen Sondheim’s glorious musical masterpiece returns to the TLT stage.  In 1900 Sweden, on a magical night that smiles three times, an aging actress, a married virgin, a sex-starved divinity student, and a buffoonish count find themselves hilariously tangled in a web of love affairs.  Delightful, charming and at times heartbreaking, with gorgeous, lush music, including “A Weekend in the Country,” “Liaisons” and the seminal “Send in the Clowns,” A Little Night Music is a coupling (and uncoupling) tour-de-force.

Please prepare a 1-2 minute comedic classical monologue (preferably Oscar Wilde or George Bernard Shaw), and 36-48 bars or verse/chorus of a song (classic broadway or classical).  An accompanist will be provided.  Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition.  All roles are available.

To reserve an audition time, follow this link (http://castingmanager.com/audition/info/P1X8MHbV0sYSkyL), or call our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.

Once cast, A Little Night Music will run from Friday, March 8, 2019 to Sunday, March 31, 2019.

TACOMA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL

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Tacoma Little Theatre continues its 100th Anniversary season and celebrates the holidays with the holiday classic SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL. This musical, with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, is adapted from the 1970 film Scrooge which starred Albert Finney and Sir Alec Guinness, and is directed by Micheal O’Hara, musically directed by Zachary Kellogg, and choreographed by Eric Clausell.

The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. in this wonderful adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  Filled with favorite songs including: Thank You Very Much, I Like Life, and Christmas Children.  This is the show to get you in the holiday spirit.

This production stars Andrew Fry (Scrooge), Jeremy Lynch (Bob Cratchit), Joseph Woodland (Jacob Marley), Kathy Kluska (Ghost of Christmas Past), Chris Serface (Ghost of Christmas Present), Kenya Adams (Mrs. Cratchit), Susan Cates (Mrs. Fezziwig), George McClure (Mr. Fezziwig), Evie Merrill (Tiny Tim), Allie Watkins (Isabel), Tristin Nelson (Young Ebenezer), and Liam Loughridge (Tom Jenkins).  Featured are: Eva Hay, Emily Newland, Kaden Stanford, Olivia Zamira, George Blanchard, Caleb Corpeno, Maddi Deck, Jordan Duncan, Nigel Kelley, Erinne Kellogg, Laura Knight, Elias Jensen, Olivia Montgomery, Tamara Nelson, Alan Plaster, and Thea Ramirez.

SCROOGE!  THE MUSICAL will run Friday, December 7, through Sunday, December 30, 2018.  Friday and Saturday showings are at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.  Special added performances are on Saturday, December 15 & 22 at 2:00pm, Wednesday, December 26 at 7:30pm, and Thursday, December 27 at 7:30pm.  SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL is recommended for all ages.

Tickets are $27.00 (Adults). $25.00 (Seniors 60+/Students/Military), and $22.00 (Children 12 and under). Tickets may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.  Group rates are available for 10 or more, and special FLEX passes for 6 are only $135.00.

There will be a special “Pay What You Can” performance on Thursday, December 20, 2018.  Tickets for that performance will be available beginning Wednesday, December 12, 2018 in person or over the phone.

SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS ALMOST, MAINE

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 Spanaway Lake High School presents the heartwarming story of Almost, Maine, directed by Evan James Hildebrand.

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

Almost, Maine features the talents of: Patrick Halverson, Neleh Vander Velden, Xayvien Ceccarelli, Heidi Garcia-Martinez, Cas DePoister, Ashley Carlton, Kaylee Christensen, Larissa Gaulke, Toby Madakor, Madison Cadwell, Liz Bigley, Mandi Murray, Daphne Alvarado, Sam Rios, Reagan Howell, Alisha Nkwonta, and Cameron Johnson.

Almost, Maine will run Friday, November 9, 2018 until Sunday, November 18, 2018. Friday & Saturday showings are at 7:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. There will also be a special Thursday show on November 15th at 7:00pm. This show is recommended for all ages (there are some relationship themes).

Tickets are $5.00 with ASB and $7.00 for all others. Tickets may be purchased in person at the auditorium.

All performances are held at Spanaway Lake High School, 1305 168th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387

Children’s Film Festival Seattle inspires our kids to manifest their dreams

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The 14th annual Children’s Film Festival Seattle, set to light up the Emerald  City from January 24 to February 9, 2019 will encourage young audiences members to “Be the Dream” as they find inspiration in more than 150 films from 40+ countries. From a gala opening night at SIFF Cinema Egyptian to dozens of screenings of at Northwest Film Forum, the festival aims to provide the best international cinema for young people ages 2 to 14, while promoting the ideals of equity, inclusivity, empathy and global awareness. Hands-on workshops, filmmaker meet-and-greets, and interactive fun in the lobby are all part of the fun of CFFS — the largest and most respected festival of its kind on the West Coast!

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2019 WILL INCLUDE:

  • A sing-a-long screening of the 1979 classic,
    “The Muppet Movie” on opening night.
  • An exciting quintet of feature films including “Liyana” (Swaziland), “Supa Modo” (Kenya) “Chuskit” (India), “One Girl” (United Kingdom, Romania, Finland and Italy) and “Kayak to Klemtu” (Canada) that all celebrate the resilience of strong girls.
  • Other features will include Tito and the Birds (Brazil), Wendy: Best Friends Forever (Germany), “Mr. Moll and the Chocolate Factory” (Switzerland) and “My Giraffe” (The Netherlands)
  • More than a dozen short film programs arranged around thematic content ranging from gentle animation for the festival’s youngest viewers to challenging films exploring global issues for middle schoolers. Programs will include an all Spanish-language program, an Indigenous Showcase presented in collaboration with Seattle’s Longhouse Media, and a program of all Japanese-language shorts presented in association with Tokyo’s KINEKO International Children’s Film Festival.
  • A 10-year anniversary screening of the world’s oldest surviving animated feature film, “The Adventures of Prince Achmed,” made in 1926 by Lotte Reiniger and first presented with a vibrant new score by Seattle musicians Miles & Karina in 2009, at Northwest Film, and an interactive installation in the lobby based on Reiniger’s silhouette animation magic.
  • Opportunities for educators and homeschool groups to book special screenings on weekdays throughout March 1.

ABOUT NORTHWEST FILM FORUM

An independent film and arts nonprofit located in Seattle, Northwest Film Forum incites public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences. Each year the Forum presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performances, and public discussions. A comprehensive visual media organization, the Forum offers educational workshops and artist services for film and media makers at all stages of their development. More information is available at nwfilmforum.org.

Welcome to the 60’s with HAIRSPRAY, JR!

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Tacoma Little Theatre presents


SUMMER CAMP @ TLT is pleased to present their performance of the Broadway favorite, Hairspray Jr,  directed by Melanie Gladstone and Jill Heinecke.  The 1950s are out, and change is in the air! Hairspray JR. is the family-friendly musical piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. 

It’s 1962, and spunky, plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, has one big dream – to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When she finally gets her shot, she’s transformed from social outcast to sudden star. In balancing her newfound power with her desire for justice, Tracy fights to dethrone the reigning Miss Teen Hairspray, Amber von Tussle, and integrate a TV network in the process. With the help of her outsized mom, Edna, and guest DJ, Motormouth Maybelle, the rhythm of Tracy’s new beat just might prove unstoppable.

Hairspray, Jr will run Friday, August 17, 2018 until Sunday, August 19, 2018.  Friday and Saturday showings are at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.  This show is recommended for all ages.

Tickets are $7.00 and may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.

CYRANO DE BURGERSHACK

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Tacoma Little Theatre presents  CYRANO DE BURGERSHACK

Rock and roll songs bring a classic story to life in CYRANO DE BURGERSHACK!    

ClubTLT is pleased to present their summer performance of Cyrano de Burgershack, directed by Jennifer Niehaus-Rivers.
Cyrano is king of the local Burger Shack, but he can’t seem to win the love of his best friend, Roxanne. When Roxanne confesses her crush on the new burger-flipper, Christian, Cyrano decides that playing Cupid is better than sitting out of the game. An updated, modern-day version of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, this rollicking musical features some great hit songs!
Cyrano de Burgershack will run Friday, August 3, 2018 until Sunday, August 5, 2018.  Friday and Saturday showings are at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.  This show is recommended for all ages.

Tickets are $7.00 and may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.

Caregiver film series begins at Tacoma’s Grand Cinema

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In communities all over the world, family members are taking care of relatives who are sick, disabled, or needing assistance in some way. By some estimates, one in four families is engaged in caregiving activities, with eighty percent of that care provided in the home. Currently, approximately 60% of caregivers worldwide are female, but more men and children are stepping into these roles every day.

Just like caring for someone we love, movies can touch our hearts, awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. Movies prompt both laughter and tears, especially if they resemble memories from our lifetimes. Movies about caregiving often stir a special empathy and connection with those who have been through the experience.

To celebrate family caregivers, Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources will host a series of films about caregiving at the Grand Cinema, with free admission for all!

“The film industry has a mixed track record of portraying realistic caregiving experiences,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources. “We have selected a series of films that explore the many dimensions of caregiving including family dynamics, chronic disease progression, and character development. We hope that by showing these films, it will help individuals better understand the complexities and demands of caregiving.”

On Saturday, July 7, the series will kick off with the showing of “Gen Silent,” a documentary film that explores the experiences of LGBTQ seniors needing long-term care and facing difficult health challenges. Their caregiving needs are often intensified by lifetime experiences of rejection, bullying and abuse, lack of family support and increasing financial needs.

The movies will be shown on the first or second Saturday of the month at the Grand Cinema, located at 606 S. Fawcett Ave. in Tacoma. All films will start at 11 a.m. with doors opening at 10:30 a.m.

There will be ten different movie screenings over the next year:

  • August 4 – Theory of Everything
  • September 8 – Happy Tears
  • October 13 – Miss You Already
  • November 10 – Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
  • December 8 – The Descendants
  • March 9 – August: Osage County
  • April 13 – The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
  • May 11 – You’re Not You
  • June 8 – Intelligent Lives

Each film in this series is free and open to the public. There is no reserved seating. Tickets are free but must be obtained in advance online through Brown Paper Tickets, at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3456750. For more information about the films call the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center at 253-798-4600 or (800) 562-0332.

The Williams Project Announces Complete Ensemble Casting For Its Developmental Production Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding Of

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The Williams Project Announces Complete 
Ensemble Casting For Its Developmental Production Of
Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding
 
August 2-4, 2018 at Equinox Studios in Georgetown
 
The William’s Project today announced the full ensemble cast of its explosive, original developmental production of Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding, in a translation by famed American poet Langston Hughes. In this Andalusian tale, a bride’s ex-lover pays her a visit on her wedding day, sparking a sequence of events that will shock the whole town. Blood Wedding will run for one weekend only, August 2-4, 2018 at Equinox Studios in Georgetown, and tickets are on sale now online at TheWililamsProject.org.
Complete casting for Blood Wedding includes Brittain Ashford (Wife and Ensemble), Mia Ellis (Bride and Ensemble), Rebecca Gibel (Death, Servant, and Ensemble), Leicester Landon (Bridegroom and Ensemble), Tangela Large (Mother and Ensemble), Max Rosenak (Neighbor, Father, and Ensemble), David Samuel (Leonardo and Ensemble), and Reggie D. White (Moon, Mother-in-Law, and Ensemble).
“When casting a Williams Project show, I rarely think about who ‘fits’ each role,” Artistic Director Ryan Guzzo Purcell said. “Especially for a developmental process like Blood Wedding, I just want to work with a group of artists with huge hearts and huge talent, who are willing to put themselves on the line and command your attention. The thing these eight actors have in common is that they all go for broke. Lorca and Langston Hughes leave you nowhere to hide. And I’m so excited to watch these actors tackle this story.”

Nominations Are Announced for the 16th Annual 5th Avenue Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theater

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And the Nominees are…

Nominations Are Announced for the 16th Annual
5th Avenue Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theater
June 11, 2018 at The 5th Avenue Theatre
Proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines

 

The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to announce the nominees for the 16th annual 5th Avenue Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theater, the highly anticipated award show proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines.

 

The 5th Avenue Awards allow musical theater students from across Washington State to meet, celebrate and honor the exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 2017/18 school year. This Tony Awards®-style annual ceremony was created by 5th Avenue Theatre Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry in 2003 to offer theater students the kind of support and recognition that accomplished high school athletes have received for decades.

 

Each year, high schools from across Washington State submit their musicals for consideration by The 5th Avenue Awards Committee. A panel of acclaimed theater professionals selected by the committee visits high school productions across the state from urban districts to rural communities as far away as Spokane, Sequim, Clarkston and Vancouver. Evaluators return in May to deliberate the nominations before the live award ceremony on June 11, 2018.

In 16 years, the program has grown in size and scope from 24 productions and 3,100 students to 119 productions at 95 schools this year, with more than 10,000 participating students. This eagerly awaited event features performances from the most talented students in the region. Celebrity guests and business leaders from the Seattle arts community will present awards to recipients throughout the evening. This year, an estimated 2,000 high school students are expected to attend the ceremony, with nominated students and schools performing excerpts from their shows. These talented students will truly get a taste of what it’s like to perform in front of a packed house.

 

For the 2017/18 high school musical theater season, 165 nominations and 169 honorable mentions were given in various categories. The 21 categories include awards for “Outstanding Actor” and “Outstanding Actress” and a variety of creative, design and offstage awards. This year, 29 special honors awards will be given for extraordinary student achievements and schools whose productions create an educational impact beyond the stage. The 5th also continues the tradition of honoring outstanding educators with special recognition. And as in years past, the recipients of the award for “Outstanding Actor” and “Outstanding Actress” will go on to represent Washington State at the national level for the National High School Musical Theater Awards (known as the “Jimmy” Awards) in New York City.

 

The 5th Avenue Awards celebrates the work, talent and commitment that students, parents and faculty devote to their high school’s annual musical productions. Over the years, multiple schools have reported back to The 5th that their involvement in this awards program has significantly helped their individual efforts to secure funding, improve curriculum and increase student participation.

 

The 5th could not maintain and continue a program as extensive as this one without the generous support of Wells Fargo, the long-standing sponsor of The 5th Avenue Awards for the past 14 years. In 2017, Wells Fargo invested $3.6 million in hundreds of nonprofits and schools across Washington. In addition, Washington team members personally donated $808,000 and volunteered 36,000 hours of community service. Wells Fargo has 3,500 team members in Washington who serve customers through a network of 220 banking, mortgage and investment offices, and 246 ATMs, in 80 communities across the state. See how Wells Fargo is caring for our Washington communities.

 

The 5th would also like to thank Alaska Airlines, whose support makes it possible to send the recipients of the “Outstanding Actor” and “Outstanding Actress” awards to New York to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards following the awards ceremony at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

 

“Supporting our youth in our hometown is truly a delight and honor for us to engage in,” said Ann Ardizzone, VP of Supply Chain Management at Alaska Airlines and 5th Avenue Theatre Board Member. “We wish them the very best of luck in New York and know they will do great.”

 

Alaska Airlines, together with its regional partners, flies 40 million customers a year to 118 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, customers can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines recently received the J.D. Power award for customer satisfaction for the 10th consecutive year. In 2017, the airline donated $15 million to nonprofits and community organizations.

For a full list of our nominees, visit The 5th Avenue Theatre blog.

The 5th Avenue Awards Ceremony will be broadcast in its entirety as a live webcast on Facebook. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/5thave/ on June 11 to watch. A pre-show live stream will begin at 6 PM. The live stream of the ceremony will begin at 7 PM.