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The 5th Avenue Theatre Announces Selection Committee for Inaugural Cycle of

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The selection committee for the inaugural session of The 5th Avenue Theatre’s new musical initiative, First Draft: Raise Your Voice, has been announced. This cycle is currently soliciting submissions nation-wide from womxn, gender non-conforming and non-binary folx with a submission deadline of June 15. Comprised of a team of outstanding womxn, the selection committee includes performers, producers, directors, playwrights and thought leaders in the Seattle theater landscape: Desdamona Chiang, Lauren DuPree, Keiko Green, Allison Narver, and Sarah Porkalob, lead by The 5th’s Kelsey Thorgalsen and Bill Berry.  

 

First Draft: Raise Your Voice is designed to introduce and nurture new musical theater writers from traditionally marginalized populations into a national musical theater landscape. Across an 18 month cycle, the program will shepherd writing teams representing an intentionally targeted community from a simple concept on a page through the complete draft of a show and score with an industry reading. The first cycle will solicit submissions from womxn, gender non-conforming and non-binary folx. The teams need only submit short bios and a brief description of the concept for their show. Writers need never have written a musical before, and are encouraged to submit new and original concepts not yet in development. Submissions are open here: www.5thavenue.org/firstdraft 

 

The submissions will be reviewed by The 5th Avenue selection committee who will select 10-15 teams to be invited to The 5th for a week-long Story Summit. All submitters will receive an update on their status by July 1, 2018. During the Summit each team will work with musical theater industry leaders to develop their concept into a “pitch,” inclusive of story outline and two songs. At the end of the Summit, these pitches will be presented to a panel of established theater artists, producers and artistic directors who will select three to five teams they recommend to The 5th for a “First Draft Commission.”

 

The 5th will work with each team over the following year to develop a first draft of a script and score. At the end of the year long process, The 5th Avenue will produce an industry reading of each of the projects in a setting accessible to producers and industry leaders at the local and national level, indicating the completion of the cycle.

 

About the Selection Committee

Desdemona Chiang is a Gregory Award-winning stage director and Co-Founder of Azeotrope (Seattle). Directing credits include Oregon Shakespeare Festival, California Shakespeare Theater, Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT – A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Shotgun Players, Crowded Fire Theatre Company, Azeotrope, Impact Theatre, FringeNYC, Playwrights Foundation, Golden Thread Productions, Washington Ensemble Theatre, Ohio Northern University and University of Washington. She has received awards including: Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Theatre, SDC Sir John Gielgud Directing Fellowship, Drama League Directing Fellowship, TCG Young Leader of Color, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab and Directors Lab West. Gregory Award Recipient for Outstanding Direction. www.desdemona.org/blog/

 

A proud Howard University alum, Lauren Du Pree was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. After receiving a BFA in theatre, she began her professional career on the East Coast working at theaters such as The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre and the historic Ford’s Theatre. Since moving back to Seattle, she’s been seen onstage at The 5th Avenue Theatre (The Pajama Game, Ragtime, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn) and Village Theatre (Dreamgirls, String). She has also been seen on the nationally syndicated PBS show, Biz Kid$. When not onstage, Lauren does film and voiceover work, writes, produces her own content manages a blog, and works as a teaching artist. www.justdupree.com/

 

Keiko Green is a Bainbridge Island-based playwright/performer. She was part of Seattle Rep’s 2015-2017 Writers Group and ACT’s 2016 Core Acting Company. Honors: Outstanding New Play – 2017 Gregory Awards; Honorable Mention – Kilroys List; Finalist – Many Voices and Jerome Fellowships at the Playwrights Center; Semi-Finalist – Bay Area Playwrights Foundation. As an actress, she has worked at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle Rep, ACT – A Contemporary Theatre, and the National Asian American Theatre Co. Keiko is currently in the process of developing the web series Maids. BFA: NYU/Tisch. www.keikogreen.com

 

Allison Narver is an award-winning director whose work has been seen at theaters across the country. Regional productions include Seattle Rep, ACT – A Contemporary Theatre Company, Intiman Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, New Century Theatre and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  In New York, her work has been seen at Ars Nova, the Public Theater, the Cherry Lane Theater, New Dramatists, and the Women’s Project among others. Allison was the Resident Director for The Lion King (Director, Julie Taymor) both in London and on Broadway. Internationally she has developed new work with companies in Palestine and Nairobi.

 

Sara Porkalob is an arts activist, playwright, performer and director. She has been featured on City Arts’ Future List, served as Intiman Theatre’s 2017 Co-Curator, and was one of the first recipients of a Village Theatre Original Writers Residency. Dragon Lady, her first full length work, garnered a Seattle Times Footlight Award and a Broadway World Award for “Best New Play” and in 2019 she will develop and perform her Dragon Cycle at American Repertory Theater. This June, she will produce a concert version of new musical The Lamplighter with collaborators Justin Huertas and Kirsten deLohr Helland. www.saraporkalob.com

 

About The 5th Avenue Theatre

The 5th Avenue Theatre is one of America’s leading musical theater companies. We enrich the community we love with the art form we love—giving the Pacific Northwest a front-row seat to original powerhouse productions that go on to light up marquees and audiences all the way to Broadway. From the page to the stage, we bring passion and epic scale to every musical we create. With big talent. Bigger-than-life productions. And did we mention dazzle? As a nonprofit theatre company and our region’s largest performing arts employer, we spread the joy of great musicals with people of all ages across our region and state. Each year, we reach more than 75,000 young people through our nationally acclaimed education programs. Programs designed to develop new musicals ensure that the next generation of great musicals will be there to tell the stories that captivate tomorrow’s audiences. On the national stage, we are a leading voice for the power of this American art form to lift the human spirit.

Experience the Essence of Chinese Culture at A Glimpse of China on May 19

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Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: A Glimpse of China – Seattle Chinese Culture & Arts Festival, Saturday, May 19 at Seattle Center Armory and Mural. The Festival offers a glimpse into the creativity, traditions and culinary skills of this ancient and artful culture through live music, dance, visual exploration, authentic foods, ethnic items for sale, workshops, demonstrations and hands-on learning for kids and adults.
Opening this year’s festival is a special waist drum performance. The hourglass shaped drum first became popular in the Loess Plateaus of north-central China and was later introduced into folk harvest dances. Chinese Opera performances and two new styles of Chinese food available for purchase are 2018 additions to Glimpse of China.
Other activities include: Chinese dance performances by the Wushu & Tai Chi Academy, painting and calligraphy demonstrations, traditional outfits and accessory displays and Chinese tea tastings.

For more information visit: https://chinaartsandculture.org/event/a-glimpse-of-china-chinese-culture-arts-festival/

Seattle Center Festál brings to light the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, its origins stretch back to when ethnic communities were planting their roots here. For many of them, Seattle Center served as a central place, where they could invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. Some festivals were formed in response to wars or ethnic displacement and others to unite their communities, educate the public and dispel stereotypes. Now at 21 years, Festál producers are seeking to sustain their festivals with compelling programming that appeals to multiple generations.
Seattle Center Festál is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with A Glimpse of China – Seattle Chinese Culture & Arts Festival.
Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on this festival, visit chinaartandculture.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

About Seattle Center Festál

This illuminating series of 23 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, 4Culture. the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

TACOMA LITTLE THEATRE’S ‘OFF THE SHELF’ PRESENTS THE FAWN AND THE BLACK OAK

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Tacoma Little Theatre presents the swashbuckling adventure tale, The Fawn and the Black Oak, written by David Krafchick.  This production will take place on Friday, May 11, 2018, and Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 7:30pm.
The Fawn and the Black Oak is a swashbuckler play filled with hidden secrets, romance, ghosts, villainy, and the clashing of swords.  Based on an event in English history, this story takes inspiration from the great swashbuckler films such as Captain Blood, and The Mark of Zorro.

The story is that of Phillip Scarborough who has returned to reclaim his father’s title from an imposter.  On his journey he is captured by the captain of the guard and taken out to be slain, when a dark figure saves him.  His savior is Simon, The Black Oak, the African Pirate.  In conversation they make a bond, train, and plan to restore Phillip as the Earl of Claremont and avenge Simon’s own experience with Gilbert Hunt, the impostor Earl.  Phillips assumes a disguise and sets out for the castle where he meets Catherine Carrell, ward of the Earl, and destined to marry the Earl.  Unbeknownst to Phillip, Catherine has her own reasons for wanting to see a change at the castle.  Through a collection of characters more of the story is revealed leading to a startling revelation, and an epic sword battle.

This reading features the talents of: Jacob Tice, Cassie Jo Fastabend, Nick Butler, Karen Christensen, Mason Quinn, Cody Wyld Flower, Johnny Neidlinger, and Jill Heinecke.

Tickets for the performances are $10.00 for non TLT Members, and FREE for those who are members. Tickets may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.

 

TLT’s OFF THE SHELF
We know that there is a tremendous amount of wonderful theatre that deserves to be heard but sometimes just doesn’t get an opportunity. With “Off the Shelf”, local directors and actors will be bringing some scripts to life that we hope you will find entertaining, challenging and educational to our stage. We hope that you’ll sit back and enjoy an evening of theatre. You never know, you might see one of these shows on our mainstage in the future.

Seattle Parks and Recreation strengthens commitment to Teen Summer Musical Auditions to 2018 program to be held May 5,6

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Seattle Parks and Recreation strengthens commitment to Teen Summer Musical
Auditions to 2018 program to be held May 5,6

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is proud to continue its unwavering support of the annual Teen Summer Musical (TSM) and looks forward to strengthening this invaluable program in 2018 and for years to come.

Early in 2018, SPR decided that the 2018 musical would include only youth aged 13-18. However, the department is pleased to announce that this year’s production will now include 10 younger children, aged 8-12. To accommodate this change, SPR will add a staff member to the TSM program, which will allow the department to meet its standard supervisory ratio for young children of 1 adult to 10 kids. This will provide enough adult supervision to keep the younger children safe, engaged, interested, and having a good time.

“We remain committed to the Teen Summer Musical, which has become a Seattle summer tradition,” says Christopher Williams, Interim Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation. “We understand there has been some misinformation that the program would be cancelled or that it lacked the support of the department. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Teen Summer Musical is here to stay – and it will be stronger than ever.”

The Teen Summer Musical (TSM) provides opportunities for local youth to build self-confidence, new friendships, and new talents through theater arts. This 9-week long summer program involves dozens of teens of color, and each year, the program features a musical production that celebrates African American culture. After a whole summer of rehearsal and mentorship, TSM performers share their talents and hard work with the community in several spectacular performances.

This year, TSM auditions will occur at Rainier Beach Community Center on May 5 from 12 to 3 p.m. and on May 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. 2018 TSM performances will take place on August 24, 25, and 26. The venue for performances is yet to be determined as SPR continues to search for a high-quality location that suits the needs of the production. We are also exploring sponsorship and partnership opportunities to defer venue cost. For more information on how to participate in the 2018 TSM, contact Keisha Cannon at (206) 233-1508 or Kiesha.Cannon@seattle.gov.

Moving forward, SPR wants to have a conversation with the community about the future of the Teen Summer Musical and looks forward to providing opportunities for public input.

Teatro ZinZanni announces ‘world headquarters’ at former Red Hook brewery

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Teatro ZinZanni—whose mix of cabaret, comedy, cirque and fine dining has drawn sold-out crowds in the Puget Sound region for 20 years—today announced it has secured a 10-year lease, with two 10-year options, at the former Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville, Wash.

The company will mount a new show there for the holiday season in its famed spiegeltent beginning in November, with James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson returning to design the menu.

The new location will for the first time consolidate all of Teatro ZinZanni’s operations in one space, including scene shop, costume shop and administrative offices. The move opens the door to additional opportunities, including an on-site training studio for circus arts and a return of family and education programs. Teatro ZinZanni will also continue the tradition of food and drink at what was the Red Hook pub; an announcement on those plans is expected in coming months.

 

Teatro ZinZanni finishes a six-month engagement at Redmond’s Marymoor Park April 29.

 

“The Eastside embraced us during our recent stay, and we’re thrilled to make an ongoing home there,” said Norm Langill, Teatro ZinZanni’s founder and artistic director. “As we expand, Woodinville will be the production home for everything ZinZanni and be the launch pad for the expansion of our brand. We humbly refer to it as ‘world headquarters.’”

 

Teatro ZinZanni is mapping plans to expand beyond the Pacific Northwest. It has already announced a return to San Francisco in a new home on the Embarcadero, and is currently developing plans for a tent in a third market.

 

“A consolidated home base allows us the flexibility to not only do shows in Woodinville, but also additional places across the region and beyond as opportunities arise,” Langill said.

 

The move to Woodinville puts Teatro ZinZanni at the heart of the Hollywood District of Woodinville Wine Country, home to the Herbfarm, Chateau Ste. Michelle and more than 40 other wineries and tasting rooms.

 

Inquiries about group sales for Teatro ZinZanni’s upcoming show can be made at zinzanni.com.

 

44th Seattle International Film Festival Opening Night Film + Gala to Celebrate ‘The Bookshop’

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Festival Spotlight  –  A Countdown to SIFF 2018

44th Seattle International Film Festival
Opening Night Film + Gala to Celebrate ‘The Bookshop’

SIFF is excited to shine its spotlight on the 44th annual Seattle International Film Festival’s Opening Night film and gala celebrating Isabel Coixet’s The Bookshop on Thursday, May 17, 2018. The 2018 Festival, the longest and most highly attended film festival in North America, runs May 17 through June 10 at venues in Seattle and surrounding cities.

Written and directed by the acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet (Learning to Drive, Elegy) and based on the bestselling novel by Penelope Fitzgerald, the film stars Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns, The Newsroom), Bill Nighy (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Love Actually) and Patricia Clarkson (House of Cards, The Maze Runner). The film played as a Special Gala selection at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival and was the winner of three Goya Awards in Spain, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Bookshop is Coixet’s follow-up to the indie hit Learning to Drive and is set in a seaside village in England where a grieving widow (Mortimer) pursues her lifelong dream of opening a bookshop.  As she introduces the townsfolk to the world’s best literature and stirs a cultural awakening, her efforts are ruthlessly opposed by a powerful local (Clarkson) causing a reclusive resident (Nighy) to join the fight to keep the bookshop open.

“The raw and delicate relationship between tradition and change comes head to head between the two woman characters,” said SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “It’s a gem of a film with incredible performances from the lead actresses, and a celebration of women who persist.”

SIFF’s Opening Night Red Carpet and screening takes place at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center with a celebratory party to follow at Fisher Pavilion.

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala of SIFF 2018 are available online at SIFF.net and in person at SIFF Cinema locations (Film Center, Uptown, Egyptian). Opening Night access ranges from the festive, see-it-all Film + Party Ticket to the exclusive VIP Red Carpet Experience.

The complete Festival lineup will be announced on May 3, 2018. Individual ticket sales begin Wednesday, May 2 with special advance access to SIFF members, and Thursday, May 3 to the general public with the official SIFF 2018 Box Office open. Purchases can be made online or in person.

The 44th annual Seattle International Film Festival Opening Night is presented in part by: Alaska Airlines – the Official Airline of SIFF, Brotherton Cadillac Buick GMC in Renton – the Official Automotive Sponsor of SIFF, Wells Fargo Commercial and Private Banking, and Red Element Studios.

Additional support for Opening Night comes from AV Factory, Hollywood Lights, Music Man, Butler Valet, The Capital Grille, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Rosichelli Design, Triumph Expo & Events, Agave Cocina & Tequilas, Capitol Cider, Dilettante Chocolates, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Krave Jerky & barkTHINS, Pel’Meni Dumpling Tzar, RN74, Savor Catering, Sweet Iron Waffles, Swift and Savory, Big Gin, Chloe Wine Collection, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Sparkle Donkey Tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Trail’s End Whiskey.

About SIFF
Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the longest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 145,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 400 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, repertory, classic, and revival film showings 363 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 10,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: THE BURLESQUE ALICE IN WONDERLAND

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Verlaine & McCann Debut Original, Evening-Length Musical Compositions in 10th Anniversary Production of
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS:
THE BURLESQUE ALICE IN WONDERLAND
April 26-May 6, 2018 at The Triple Door
 
Conceived, Developed, Directed, and Produced by Lily Verlaine & Jasper McCann
Artistic Direction and Choreography by Lily Verlaine
Music Direction, Script, and Lyrics by Jasper McCann
Seattle, WASH. (April 4, 2018) – With great excitement, Verlaine and McCann announce the 10th anniversary production of their original re-imagination of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of nonsense and fantasy, Through The Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland. New this year, Verlaine and McCann debut an evening of original music arrangements that will be performed live on stage for the first time by a jazz/rock ensemble comprised of top Seattle-based musicians. Accompanied by the finest dance talent including Lily Verlaine as Caterpillar, Tori Peil as Cheshire Cat, and Paris Original’s Knave Of Hearts, fresh scenic design by Footlight Award-winner Julia Welch, invigorated costuming by Stephanie Seymour, and Lily Verlaine’s award-winning choreography, Through The Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice In Wonderland will be on stage for an extended two week run at The Triple Door, performing April 26 through May 6, 2018. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Triple Door box office at (206) 838-4333 or visiting their website at thetripledoor.net.
In Verlaine and McCann’s mischievous re-imagination, we follow Alice as she discovers what wonders lie beyond the velvet rope at Wonderland’s most exclusive nightclub, The Looking Glass, and tries to best the evil Queen of Hearts to become the next Queen of Wonderland. This season, dancers from around the region combine traditional jazz and ballet dance into a whirlwind of whimsy and bawdy beauty, set to a stunning new score inspired by hard-bop, psychedelic rock, go-go, and Indian Raga-pop recordings of the mid-60’s. Of the music, McCann said, “Now that we’ve tackled Tchaikovsky, my team (Kate Olson and Michael Owcharuk, who worked with me on composing/arranging the music for Land Of The Sweets) and I felt like anything was possible. When Lily and I conceived of Alice, we wanted it to have a psychedelic 60’s look and feel. We’ve taken inspiration from 60’s rock groups (The Zombies, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Association, The Beatles), pop-jazz composers (Henry Mancini, Lalo Schfrin) and hard-bop jazz (Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan). I’m excited to see the way the live music changes the energy of the production, and to how it inspires the dancers’ performances.
PROGENITORS OF THE “SPECTACLE OF ECDYSIASTIC PAGEANTRY“
Verlaine and McCann are the Seattle-producing pair behind the wildly popular holiday spectacle Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker. They produce large-scale, theatrical burlesque extravaganzas that feature high-quality costuming, original scripts, musical compositions, and professional-caliber dance performance. Each production evolves visually with every passing season. Over the last five years, Verlaine and McCann have engaged heavily with local costumer Stephanie Seymour (formerly of Teatro ZinZanni) to reinvest in their productions visual quality, delighting returning audiences and newcomers alike, while also presenting a brand new scenic design by Julia Welch in 2017 that returns now in 2018.
Verlaine and McCann strive to bring new interpretations of classic themes to dance, theatre, and storytelling, and have put their own unique touch on the Carroll cannon. “We have always strived to eschew representations of ideas that have a monopoly in the cultural conversation,” Verlaine commented. “For Alice, we’ve interpreted Carroll’s classic characters in a way we believe to be fresh, new, and unexpected. And, as new artists take on a character, we let the artists’ strengths inform the character. For instance, Tory Peil’s stoic/manic performance of the Cheshire Cat role differs greatly from prior artists’ performances, and the Tribellas’ (Ivy D’Vine, Juwana Heart) Flamingoes number now showcases their signature fusion belly dancing where before they were sadistic ballerinas. We always try to add some new surprises… who knows what we’ll add this year?”
ABOUT THE BAND
The live Through The Looking Glass orchestra features Kate Olson (Band Leader) – on woodwinds; Michael Owcharuk on piano; Dave Pascal on bass; Cameron Peace on guitar; and Jacques Willison percussion.
ABOUT THE DANCE COMPANY
The complete cast stars Lily Verlaine (Caterpillar, Red Queen); Jasper McCann (White Rabbit); Miss Indigo Blue (The Mad Hatter, Tiger Lily, The Duchess); Babette La Fave (Jabberwocky, Tweedle Dee, Cook); Dreamy Tangerine (Alice #1); Hannah Simmons (Alice #2); Tory Peil (Cheshire Cat, White Queen, MaryAnne); Paris Original (Knave of Hearts, Door Mouse); Trojan Original (March Hare, Caterpillar Cavalier, Cook); Moscato Ecstatique (Queen Of Hearts); Juwana Heart (Tweedle Dum, Flamingo); Ivy D’Vine (Flamingo, Mushroom); Isobella Bloom (Drink Me); Bo Melliger (Eat Me); Tom-Tom The Phenomenon (Paraffin the Chandelier); and from New York City, Lena Foxe(Brass the Chandelier).
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS
WHAT:
Through The Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland
Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann have both gone mad… mad as March Hares, that is! In their 10th annual re-imagination of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of nonsense and fantasy, follow Alice as she discovers what wonders lie beyond the velvet rope at Wonderland’s most exclusive nightclub, The Looking Glass and attempts to best the evil Queen of Hearts to become the next ruler of Wonderland. New this year, Through The Looking Glass features the debut of Jasper McCann’s original musical score performed live by a jazz/rock ensemble. Inspired by hard-bop, psychedelia, go-go, and Indian Raga-pop recordings of the mid-60’s, McCann’s new arrangements set the mood for dance performances that combine classical ballet and jazz with bawdy burlesque beauty.
WHERE:
The Triple Door
WHEN:
April 26 – May 6, 2018
Wednesday/Thursday: 7:30 p.m.
Friday/Saturday: 7:00pm, 10:30pm
Sunday: 5:00pm, 8:00pm
 
TICKETS:
$30-$55
Box Office: 206-838-4333

Tickets Available for 5th Avenue Theatre Multicultural Cast – Kiss Me, Kate

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Apr 6 – Apr 29, 2018

For a limited time, save 25% on zones 2-5 when you buy your tickets from this link. Mobile users log in and use promo code KISS.

Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Samuel & Bella Spewack
Directed by Alan Paul
Choreographed by Michele Lynch

 

The multi-Tony Award®-winning Cole Porter masterpiece that set the standard for great musicals and then broke the mold! Inspired by the real life story of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the undisputed king and queen of Broadway legend from the 1920s to the 1950s. This sparkling sensation is, at its core, a true battle of the sexes. A charming leading man and his superstar ex-wife are starring in a production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. As they swing from love to loathing and back again, their behind-the-scenes battles spill on to the stage and shine a bright light on long-standing historic issues of gender inequality.

Kiss Me, Kate is a fantastic evening of amazing entertainment, celebrated music, fabulous dance, great performances, and a little something more to tell us about how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

Produced as a part of the 2018 citywide Seattle Celebrates Shakespeare Festival. Click HERE for more information about other productions happening around the city throughout 2018.

Kiss Me, Kate runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.
Some shows deal with mature themes and may not be appropriate for all children. For information about whether a particular show is suitable for your child, we strongly encourage you to read the Content Advisories for each production. Children under 4, including babes in arms, will not be admitted.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: THE BURLESQUE ALICE IN WONDERLAND

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Verlaine & McCann Debut Original, Evening-Length Musical Compositions in 10th Anniversary Production of
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS:
THE BURLESQUE ALICE IN WONDERLAND
April 26-May 6, 2018 at The Triple Door
 
Conceived, Developed, Directed, and Produced by Lily Verlaine & Jasper McCann
Artistic Direction and Choreography by Lily Verlaine
Music Direction, Script, and Lyrics by Jasper McCann
With great excitement, Verlaine and McCann announce the 10th anniversary production of their original re-imagination of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of nonsense and fantasy, Through The Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland. New this year, Verlaine and McCann debut an evening of original music arrangements that will be performed live on stage for the first time by a jazz/rock ensemble comprised of top Seattle-based musicians. Accompanied by the finest dance talent including Lily Verlaine as Caterpillar, Tori Peil as Cheshire Cat, and Paris Original’s Knave Of Hearts, fresh scenic design by Footlight Award-winner Julia Welch, invigorated costuming by Stephanie Seymour, and Lily Verlaine’s award-winning choreography, Through The Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice In Wonderland will be on stage for an extended two week run at The Triple Door, performing April 26 through May 6, 2018. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Triple Door box office at (206) 838-4333 or visiting their website at thetripledoor.net.
In Verlaine and McCann’s mischievous re-imagination, we follow Alice as she discovers what wonders lie beyond the velvet rope at Wonderland’s most exclusive nightclub, The Looking Glass, and tries to best the evil Queen of Hearts to become the next Queen of Wonderland. This season, dancers from around the region combine traditional jazz and ballet dance into a whirlwind of whimsy and bawdy beauty, set to a stunning new score inspired by hard-bop, psychedelic rock, go-go, and Indian Raga-pop recordings of the mid-60’s. Of the music, McCann said, “Now that we’ve tackled Tchaikovsky, my team (Kate Olson and Michael Owcharuk, who worked with me on composing/arranging the music for Land Of The Sweets) and I felt like anything was possible. When Lily and I conceived of Alice, we wanted it to have a psychedelic 60’s look and feel. We’ve taken inspiration from 60’s rock groups (The Zombies, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Association, The Beatles), pop-jazz composers (Henry Mancini, Lalo Schfrin) and hard-bop jazz (Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan). I’m excited to see the way the live music changes the energy of the production, and to how it inspires the dancers’ performances.
PROGENITORS OF THE “SPECTACLE OF ECDYSIASTIC PAGEANTRY“
Verlaine and McCann are the Seattle-producing pair behind the wildly popular holiday spectacle Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker. They produce large-scale, theatrical burlesque extravaganzas that feature high-quality costuming, original scripts, musical compositions, and professional-caliber dance performance. Each production evolves visually with every passing season. Over the last five years, Verlaine and McCann have engaged heavily with local costumer Stephanie Seymour (formerly of Teatro ZinZanni) to reinvest in their productions visual quality, delighting returning audiences and newcomers alike, while also presenting a brand new scenic design by Julia Welch in 2017 that returns now in 2018.
Verlaine and McCann strive to bring new interpretations of classic themes to dance, theatre, and storytelling, and have put their own unique touch on the Carroll cannon. “We have always strived to eschew representations of ideas that have a monopoly in the cultural conversation,” Verlaine commented. “For Alice, we’ve interpreted Carroll’s classic characters in a way we believe to be fresh, new, and unexpected. And, as new artists take on a character, we let the artists’ strengths inform the character. For instance, Tory Peil’s stoic/manic performance of the Cheshire Cat role differs greatly from prior artists’ performances, and the Tribellas’ (Ivy D’Vine, Juwana Heart) Flamingoes number now showcases their signature fusion belly dancing where before they were sadistic ballerinas. We always try to add some new surprises… who knows what we’ll add this year?”

Langston Hughes African American Film Festival (LHAAFF)

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In a packed 4-day weekend, Langston, the new non profit housed in the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute brings its Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival (LHAAFF) with over 30 features, documentary and short films selected from the U.S. and abroad. The festival kicks off on Thursday, April 19th and runs through Sunday, April 22nd at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Avenue S. in Seattle. The annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival is a major season program of the LANGSTON organization.

The festival features selected works from 31 countries, with over a dozen world premieres each exploring the Black diaspora in new and challenging ways. “It never ceases to amaze me how powerful and complex the stories of our people and community can be when we can see ourselves represented on the screen, notes Langston Executive Director, Tim Lennon. There is power in our ability to tell and share our own stories.”

LHAAFF kicks off on Thursday, April 19th with a lively celebration of Black Brilliance in cinema including a Bites and Bubbly Happy Hour @ 5pm followed at 6:30 pm with a brilliant programme of Seattle premiere short films along with a post screening discussion with filmmakers.

Other festival highlights include:

Friday 4/20 @ 12:30 PM – Matinee Screening: Behind the Badge – A lunchtime discussion and film paring exploring the Black community’s relationship with law.

Friday Night Feature Film @ 8PM : Love and Life – Featuring local filmmaker Nikki Wade’s Seattle Premiere of Charlie/ “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie”

Also on Friday – HepCat Ball – In partnership with the Museum of History and Industry, LHAAFF swings into style, featuring jazzy music, vintage duds with hors d’oeuvres included in the ticket price and drinks for purchase.

Saturday Workshops –
From Page to Screen: A writing workshop with veteran screenwriter Charles Murray (Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy) and writer/director Jackie Stone (Burning Angel Dust, Intercept)

Virtual Reality: Exploring Blackness in a Virtual World – SIXR Collective Experience

Saturday 4/21 @ 12:30 pm Youth Film Showcase – featuring youth film entries and SIFF Crash youth workshop films

Saturday Afternoon Feature : Making SkyBreak – Featuring Zo! followed by a late night after party featuring Zo! & Carmen Rodgers “Piano & A Microphone” at the official after party Saturday, April 21 at 10 PM – 2 AM at Fred Wildlife Refuge.

Sunday – A tribute to the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panthers with the Seattle premiere of “My People Are Rising” Documentary with Seattle filmmaker Rafael Flores. This powerful documentary, over 7 years in the making tells the story of a young Aaron Dixon whose initiation, rise and founding of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party is chronicled.

 

 

The festival will host 20+ filmmakers in attendance, and feature a variety of provocative conversations, quirky, heartbreaking and powerful handcrafted independent films. Local filmmakers in attendance include
Kiana Harris – AJE IJO: ‘7 Reflections’
Rafael Flores – “My People Are Rising”
Nikki Wade – Charlie/ “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie”