Seattle Shakespeare Company launches 20th Anniversary Season with Hamlet

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its 20^th anniversary season with a masterpiece of world drama - Hamlet. Award-winning director John Langs returns after his much-lauded production of The Merchant of Venice to stage and rediscover this exalted classic.

Tickets are available now through the Seattle Shakespeare Company Box Office at 206-733-8222 as well as online at www.seattleshakespeare.org.

The acting company of Hamlet features 15 local Northwest actors with Darragh Kennan (Twelfth Night, Electra) taking on the title role. Kennan is joined on stage by Charles Leggett (The Merchant of Venice, King Lear), Richard Ziman (Henry IV, parts 1 & 2, Chamber Richard III), Mary Ewald (Founding member of New City Theatre), David Pichette (Henry IV, parts 1 & 2), and Brenda Joyner (Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing - Wooden O).

In the play, after Prince Hamlet hears the otherworldly voice of his dead father demanding revenge, it ignites an intense whirlwind of intrigue and deception. Pulled apart by love and duty, Hamlet struggles to make sense of his upended world as he attempts to pursue justice.

"I feel like Shakespeare wrote a human being in Hamlet that was looking to the future -- a spirit that was moving forward," said director John Langs on the first day of rehearsal. "Shakespeare was sort of inventing a human being out there on the edge with this character, and all of these obstacles that Hamlet has to move through; so many people also have to move through in their lives. At the end of the play I just feel that the loss of that spirit moving forward that gets eaten by a machine of politics and fear and greed is something we can all really relate to and respond to."

This will be the second time that Seattle Shakespeare Company will have produced Hamlet in its 20 year history.

WHEN: October 27-December 5, 2010 (Opening Night: Friday, October 29 at 7:30PM)

Performance times: Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 PM with selected Saturdays at 2PM and selected Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM

Taproot Uncorked celebrates Heroic Wines and an extraordinary post-fire year

Celebratory fundraiser takes place on October 22, one year after arson

SEATTLE – September 28, 2010 – One year after the arson that severely damaged—and threatened to destroy—Taproot Theatre Company’s Greenwood playhouse, the theatre hosts Taproot Uncorked, a fundraising event celebrating its extraordinary post-fire year and looking ahead to the future. On October 22, Taproot Theatre and Greenwood’s Vineyard Wine Shop team up at The Upper Crust’s Greenwood Square for a night of pairing heroic wines and Taproot’s heroic year.

Given the challenges, and ultimately victories, of the past year, the theme of heroic wines seemed appropriate.

“By heroic wines, I mean wines which are victorious in their endeavor to survive all odds,” says Vineyard Wine Shop owner Patrick Anderson. “With each passing year the vine’s roots grow deeper and deeper into the soils, and with this comes the wisdom of age and experience.”

The fire in the early hours of October 23, 2009, destroyed the Eleanor Roosevelt Building—which Taproot leased to four businesses—and resulted in such extensive smoke and water damage to the theatre that Taproot was forced to shut its doors for three months and relocate performances. Having weathered multiple recessions in its nearly 35 years, Taproot’s leadership had learned to persevere through the ups and downs of time, but a fire was something no one ever thought would happen.

“It hit as a shock, but throughout that morning I just kept thinking, ‘We have to get through this. We have audiences to serve, a neighborhood we’re committed to,” said Taproot’s co-founder and producing artistic director, Scott Nolte. “The way the Greater Seattle arts community, the Greenwood-Phinney neighborhood, and so many other friends rallied around us gave me hope that we would get through this and come out even stronger than before.”

Taproot Theatre officially reopened its doors on January 29, 2010, for opening night of The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis’ allegory adapted by George Drance and New York’s Magis Theatre. The production played to sold-out houses and broke all attendance records in the theatre’s nearly-35-year history. In addition, the 2010 season went on to bring in Taproot’s highest number of subscribers ever.

The evening’s festivities run from 6 to 8 p.m. and include tasting and learning about heroic wines with wine expert Patrick Anderson, hearty hors d’oeuvres from The Upper Crust, plus time to visit with some of Taproot’s most deeply rooted artists who will be pouring the wines. Taproot Uncorked takes place at The Upper Crust Catering’s Greenwood Square, located at 8420 Greenwood Avenue North. Seating is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Tickets cost $45 and are available online at www.taprootuncorked.com.

Taproot Uncorked is made possible through generous partnerships with The Vineyard Wine Shop and The Upper Crust Catering.

Legendary Joey Arias gives homage to Billie Holiday in "Strange Fruit"

GLADD Award Winner & Cirque du Soleil emcee brings back his critically acclaimed Seattle-born show for one night only.

SEATTLE — Legendary underground entertainer-turned international cabaret sensation Joey Arias returns to Seattle’s historic Triple Door on Tuesday, October 12 at 7:30pm, for an evening of homage to the great Billie Holiday, with all the bawdiness, elegance, and musical genius needed to properly channel the magic of "Lady Day." Joey Arias will be accompanied by his longtime pianist and creative co-conspirator, Eliot Douglass. Strange Fruit's return to Seattle is made possible by producer The Swedish Housewife Presents.

Cirque du Soleil created a role specifically for Arias, the emcee/”Mistress of Seduction” for Zumanity: the Sultry Side of Cirque de Soleil, which he played for a five year run. Arias is the 2009 recipient of GLAAD’s “Off Off Broadway” Award for Arias With a Twist, an intimate “cabinet of curiosities” melding Arias’ legendary voice with puppeteerBasil Twist’s lavish, ecstatic visual creations. Showing at The Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on October 16, patrons can buy a limited number of joint-cover tickets for both "Strange Fruit" and "Arias With a Twist" by calling The Triple Door or visiting the box office in person. Visit http://bit.ly/ariasdc for more information on the joint cover offer.

Now with international acclaim, Seattle was home for the creation and development of Strange Fruit. The Swedish Housewife brought Arias from New York to perform at Re-Bar and paired him up with local jazz musician Pete Leionen. Craig Flory was part of the birth of "Strange Fruit," which was further developed with Eliot Douglass. Arias and Douglass have toured with this production to London, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, New York, and Vancouver B.C. Variations of this show have been seen in Australia and Berlin. The Swedish Housewife has produced the Seattle engagements since 1990 at Re-Bar, The Crocodile and most recently, The Triple Door. Craig Flory joins this engagement on saxaphone, with Denali Williams on drums.

The Stranger celebrated Strange Fruit as "nothing short of amazing" and declares the show will "blow your f***ing head open," while Seattle Gay News wrote, “to say [Arias] left victorious would be something of an understatement… the only thing strange about this particular fruit is just how darn brilliant he really is.”

Pianist Eliot Douglass has worked with Arias for 17 years, with concerts in three continents. The two also worked together in the hit Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas, where Douglass was an original member, composing and arranging material for the show. Douglass has worked with Linda Ronstadt, Jack Nicholson, Patti Austin, Debbie Reynolds and Shirley MacLaine, among other artists.

Outrageous and avant-garde, Arias’ one-of-kind voice and thoroughly modern take on the music of Ms. Holiday continues to bend minds, winning over music and theatre lovers all across the planet. He has been featured at such diverse spaces as NYC’s hallowed Carnegie Hall and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and has collaborated with countless influential artists, including David Bowie, Andy Warhol, and Klaus Nomi.

Tickets are available now for this one-night only engagement. Order over the phone by calling 206-838-4333, in person at the box office at 216 Union St, Seattle, WA 98101, or online at tripledoor.net

2010 Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award

What: Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award: M. Burke Walker. A freelance director in Manhattan since 1999, M. Burke Walker lived and worked in Seattle from 1966-1999. He was the Founding Artistic Director of the Empty Space Theatre which he led for twenty years. His regional directing credits include theaters throughout the United States; locally, in addition to theEmpty Space Theater, he has worked with Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, ACT Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild, theatre simple and Seattle Shakespeare Festival (now Company). For a full bio, please see attached file. Mr. Walker will be honored at this year’s Gregory Awards ceremony.

The Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award honors individuals in our theatrical community who have given their time, energy and talents over a number of years. In particular, this award honors people who have had a widespread positive effect on the community. The award is named in honor of Gregory A. Falls, a former chair of the UW School of Drama, who is credited with creating Seattle’s vibrant theater scene. Falls died unexpectedly of pneumonia at age 75 on April 3, 1997.

Where: ACT Theatre, Kreielsheimer Place, 700 Union Street, Seattle.

When: Monday, October 25^th, 2010. VIP reception begins at 6:30 pm, doors open at 7:00 pm and the ceremony begins at 7:30 pm.

Who: All members of the theater community and the general public are encouraged to attend (ticket information is listed below). The evening will offer a unique opportunity to spend time with local artists, honor Mr. Walker and the nominees, and help show your support for our local theater community.

TICKET INFORMATION

To purchase tickets, please go online to www.gregoryawards.org or call the ACT box office at 206-292-7676. Presale tickets are $15 for TPS members, $20 general admission, or $30 at the door (no discounts at the door). Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the ceremony begins at 7:30 PM.

VIP RECEPTION

Please join us for a special VIP reception honoring M. Burke Walker and the nominees in other awards categories at 6:30 PM before the doors open for the main event. VIP tickets are $100 and include an opportunity to meet the artists at the reception, complimentary wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening, access to the VIP lounge (sponsored by Fremont Brewing and Willis Hall Winery), preferred seating at the ceremony, and a mention in the souvenir program.

For More Information:

Visit www.GregoryAwards.org for more details on the Gregory Awards.

For press inquiries, please contact Rebecca Olson at GregoryPress@tpsonline.org.

Intiman’s ‘Run/Walk for Congo Women’ Reaches Capacity of 600 Participants

Proceeds from the 5K event on Saturday, October 16 will benefit Women for Women International’sCongo Program, one of several organizations supported by Intiman in connection with its recent production of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre announces that 600 participants have joined its ‘Run/Walk for Congo Women’ around Seattle ’s Green Lake Park on Saturday, October 16, the capacity for the 5K event. All proceeds will benefit Women for Women International’s Congo Program. The Run/Walk is one of several programs sponsored by Intiman to raise awareness about the ongoing tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Intiman’s production of Ruined, which became the second-best-selling show in the theatre’s history after its extended run this summer, is now at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles , where it runs through October 17. The co-production is directed by Intiman Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey, who also directed the world premiere of the play after developing it over five years with Lynn Nottage.

“The success of Ruined, both as a piece of theatre and as a play that can effect change, has been gratifying,” says Whoriskey. “Nothing, however, prepared me for the level of engagement and activism that we have seen in Seattle . The commitment of our audiences and this community to take action and support women in the Congo has been extraordinary.”

Intiman is the sole sponsor of the Run/Walk, which was inspired by author and activist Lisa Shannon’s grassroots movement “Run for Congo Women.” This event is one of several opportunities that Intiman offered in connection with its production to raise awareness and financial support for survivors of sexual violence.

Following each performance, members of the company collected donations for the Panzi Hospital of Bukavu—the hospital mentioned in the play—which provides treatment, surgical repair and other services for Congolese women. Seattle audiences collectively donated more than $50,000 to support the hospital and Intiman’s local outreach efforts.

In addition to its institutional offerings, members of Intiman’s staff are supporting a woman in the Congo through Women for Women International and have raised funds locally for OKoNGO, a Seattle-based organization that supports Congolese refugees in the United States .

Intiman’s production of Ruined was sponsored in part by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

For more information, visit www.intiman.org.

ACT Dishes Advice, Blood, Insanity, Lectures, Awards and Spooky Stories >>> October 2010

Seattle, WA – September 28, 2010 – Julie Briskman continues in the moving portrayal of Ann Landers, The Lady With All the Answers, while Martin McDonagh’s highly anticipated, blood-drenched farce The Lieutenant of Inishmore takes to the stage next door. The popular Pinter Fortnightly series returns with a reading of The Hothouse, a hilarious comedy about inmates running an asylum, as well as – for the first time – a reading from a writer other than Pinter: Madagascarby J.T. Rogers (winner of the Pinter Review Prize for Drama). ACT’s exciting new lecture series, InterACTions, continues with neurosurgeon Dr. George Ojemann as he explores Human Brain Mechanisms for Consciousness. ACT also opens its doors to Theatre Puget Sound’s 2010 Gregory Awards, honoring outstanding local artists, productions, and companies. And on Halloween, horror haunts Town Hall as Short Stories Live returns with a terrifying mix of stories sure to chill you to the bone!

The Lady With All the Answers by David Rambo

Now - October 31

Tickets: Single tickets start at $37.50 (adults) $10/$15 (students/people 25 and under) or included for ACTPass Monthly Members

Starring Julie Briskman, enjoy an evening of home truths and delicious dish with renowned advice columnist Ann Landers as she shares some of her favorite letters and memories while struggling to write the toughest column of her life. This is an irresistible portrait of the woman who used charm, chutzpah, and “one hell of a Rolodex” to become America’s Therapist.

Pinter Fortnightly

A Central Heating Lab Event

October 4 & 11

Tickets: FREE or included for ACTPass Monthly Members; seating is limited, reservations are required.

Curator Frank Corrado continues the popular Pinter Fortnightly series - free Monday evening readings of works by the late Nobel laureate playwright Harold Pinter, performed by some of Seattle's favorite local actors. October readings feature the full-length play The Hothouse, a deliciously cynical and fast-moving romp around the notion of the asylum being overseen by the lunatics. Cast includes: Gretchen Krich, Mark Chamberlin, Burton Curtis, Frank Corrado, Allen Galli, Jean Sherrard, and Ian Bell, with Director Jane Kaplan. On October 11, the series will introduce - for the first time - a writer other than Pinter: the important young American playwright J.T. Rogers, and his play Madagascar (winner of the Pinter Review Prize for Drama). Cast includes: Hana Lass, Megan Cole, and Frank Corrado, with Director David Ellenstein, artistic director of the North Coast Repertory Theatre.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh

October 15 - November 14

Tickets: Single tickets start at $37.50 (adults) $10/$15 (students/people 25 and under) or included for ACTPass Monthly Members

A gleefully gruesome comedy from the Oscar-winning author of In Bruges, about a merciless Irish terrorist and his obsessive love for the thing that matters most to him: his precious black cat, Wee Thomas. Turn off your political correctness meter and wallow in this outrageous, blood-drenched farce. You won't believe your eyes!

InterACTions: MindScapes—Part 3— Human Brain Mechanisms for Consciousness

A Central Heating Lab Event

October 24

Tickets: $15, free for students/people under 25, or included for ACTPass Monthly Members

Part three of the new annual InterACTions speaker series features neurosurgeon Dr. George Ojemann as he discusses what is commonly called ‘consciousness’, and how the brain both responds to external stimulus and overlays it with deeply encoded memory that can influence a conscious experience.

2010 Gregory Awards

October 25

Tickets: $20 advance; $30 at door; TPS members: $15 (advance only)

Join Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) for Washington's second annual regional theatre awards ceremony. The 2010 Gregory Awards will celebrate outstanding local artists, productions and companies from the 2009-2010 season, honoring over 60 nominees across 12 categories. TPS will also present the 13th annual Gregory Falls Lifetime Achievement Award. Mingle with local theatre celebrities while enjoying live music by The Love Markets, Red Carpet interviews, hors-d'oeuvres, refreshments, and the presentation of this year's Gregory Award recipients.

Short Stories Live at Town Hall: The Witching Afternoon

A Central Heating Lab Event

October 31

Tickets: Advance tickets, $13/$10 Town Hall Members, seniors & students; $15/$13 at the door or included for ACTPass Monthly Members; online at brownpapertickets.com.

Think of it as NPR’s Selected Shorts, Seattle style: ACT Artistic Director Kurt Beattie selects compelling short stories based on a common theme; then local actors bring the stories to life during readings at Town Hall. This Halloween, horror haunts the afternoon hours with this program of spooky short stories read by Kurt Beattie, John Bogar and Paul Hunter. On the program: “Wicked John and the Devil,” a work of English/American lore from American folk tales and songs compiled by Richard Chase; the good-versus-evil tale “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne; and the chilling “Narrative of The Ghost of a Hand” by Sheridan Le Fanu, the premier ghost-story writer of the 19th century.

Launched in 2008, The Central Heating Lab at ACT serves as an incubator and catalyst for new works. ACT cultivates, produces, and presents artists working in all performance genres and provides an artistic home for a variety of local performance groups and artists. Relationships develop daily with individual actors, performers and playwrights while established partnerships with groups such as the New Century Theatre Company, RAWSTOCK, Seattle Dance Project, and Icicle Creek Theatre Festival deepen. New programs are added throughout the year.

With year-round programming produced by The Central Heating Lab at ACT alongside ACT’s Mainstage season of plays, ACT offers its patrons a unique opportunity to maximize their theatre experience – the ACTPass Monthly Membership: all you can see for only $20 (under age 30) to $25 per month! Members can attend any ACT produced performance throughout any given month, provided tickets are available. It is flexible, affordable, and is the first of its kind in the region. There is no contract, members may cancel at any time, and there is no limit to the number of times a member can attend. For the month of October, that means a Member can see all our shows, if they so choose, for only $20 to $25 vs. paying the single ticket price of at least $103 (if buyer would choose to see all offerings).