Tuesday, September 21, 2010

TAPROOT THEATRE’S ACTING STUDIO NOW OFFERS ADULT CLASSES FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ACTORS

Fall quarter features Adult Showcase, and brand-new Professional Actor Conservatory class

SEATTLE – September 15, 2010 – Whether you’re an amateur actor or a professional, Taproot Theatre’s Acting Studio has something for you this fall. With Adult Showcase and the brand-new Professional Actor Conservatory class, fall quarter features classes for adult actors of all experience levels. Registration is open now; forms are available online at www.taproottheatre.og, or contact Taproot’s Acting Studio at (206) 529-3668 or studio@taproottheatre.org.

With Adult Showcase, Taproot’s Acting Studio believes it’s never too late to develop your acting skills. After all, you do it all the time, whether you realize it or not, in interviews, presentations, and telling stories. Whether you're already an actor or you've never set foot on stage, embrace this opportunity to learn new techniques and develop your skills under professional tutelage tailored to your individual experience. You'll put it all together while participating in the rehearsal process and performance of a one-act play to be presented on Taproot's stage. A great option for first-timers and people with amateur experience! Adult Showcase runs Tuesdays, October 5 through November 22, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Brand new this fall, the new Professional Actors Conservatory: Going Deeper with the Basics class, taught by esteemed director and actor Marianne Savell, is for the professional actor. Recently mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Savell has years of experience directing and acting on stages along the West Coast and Chicago, teaching and coaching, and has served on the staff and boards of a number of theatre companies, including Hollywood’s Actor’s Co-op andSouth Coast Repertory Conservatory in Costa Mesa. She will coach actors on scene work, teaching them to keys to delving into the core of characters and bringing out their wants, obstacles and actions to deepen the actors’ storytelling skills and make the character come alive. Going Deeper with the Basics takes place on Mondays, October 25 through November 22, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Both classes take place at Timberlake Church-Ballard, located at 1460 NW 73rd Street in Seattle.

Fall quarter at Taproot’s Acting Studio also features classes for kids and teens. Registration is open now. Registration forms and class descriptions are available online at www.taproottheatre.org, or contact Taproot’s Acting Studio at (206) 529-3668 or studio@taproottheatre.org.

Monday, September 13, 2010

TPS 2010 Gregory Awards Nominees Announced

WHAT: The nominees for the 2010 GREGORY AWARDS have been announced, and tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Gregory Awards Ceremony at ACT on Monday, October 25, 2010.

TICKET INFORMATION & INSTRUCTIONS

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 the nominees 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, plus complimentary wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening, access to the VIP Lounge (sponsored by Fremont Brewing), preferred seating at the ceremony, and a mention in the souvenir program.

THE NOMINEES FOR EACH CATEGORY ARE:

Outstanding Actor

Eric Ankrim

Charles Leggett

MJ Sieber

Ray Tagavilla

Hans Altwies (Members’ Voice)

Daniel Berryman (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Actress

Anne Allgood

Maria Glanz

Terri Weagant

Portia

Marya Sea Kaminski (Members’ Voice)

Marianne Owen (People’s Choice)

Person to Watch

Trick Danneker

Angela DiMarco

Marc “Waxie Moon” Kenison

Patrick Lennon

Brandon Ivie (Members’ Voice)

Jager Weatherby (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Playwright

Rachel Atkins

Steven Dietz

Scotto Moore

Kristina Sutherland & Desiree Prewitt

Scot Augustson (Members’ Voice)

Stephanie Timm (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Scenic Design

William Bloodgood

Steven Capone

David Gignac

Derek McLane

Andrea Bush (Members’ Voice)

Matthew Smucker (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Music & Sound Design

Edd Key

John Osebold

RJ Tancioco

Rob Witmer

Brendan Patrick Hogan (Members’ Voice)

Matt Starritt (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Costume Design

Melanie Burgess

Julia Evanovich

Lynda L. Salsbury

Paul Tazewell

Sarah Burch Gordon (Members’ Voice)

Frances Kenny (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Lighting Design

Donald Holder

Peter Kaczorowski

Andrew D. Smith

Tom Sturge

L.B. Morse (Members’ Voice)

Robert Aguilar (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Director

David Armstrong

Kurt Beattie

Greg Carter

Victor Pappas

Sheila Daniels (Members’ Voice)

Jane Jones (People’s Choice)

Outstanding Production

42nd Street

Candide

Electra

The Laramie Project

Ruined (Members’ Voice)

The Cider House Rules, Part 1 (People’s Choice)

Theater of the Year

Balagan Theatre

Book-It Repertory Theatre

Contemporary Classics

Village Theatre

ACT (Members’ Voice)

Seattle Repertory Theatre(People’s Choice)

AFTER PARTY

After the ceremony is over, please join us for the official after-party of the 2010 Gregory Awards, at Solo Bar in lower Queen Anne: 200 Roy Street, Seattle, WA 98109. Solo will donate a portion of all proceeds that night to TPS.

ALSO: Check out this interview with NCTC co-artistic directors, Paul Morgan Stetler and Hans Altwies about their 2009 "Theater of the Year" award:

For More Information:

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

Taproot Theatre hosts two free events at Greenwood Library during Arts Crush

Drama Queens, Pirates, Toddlers and Parents–there’s something for everyone!

SEATTLE – September 8, 2010 – What happens when you get a whole bunch of children and parents in the room with some actors and drama teachers? A whole lot of fun along with learning and bonding. Taproot Theatre Company hosts two free events at the Greenwood Library this October as part of Arts Crush, the month-long festival highlighting various forms of art across the region. Mark your calendars for October 19 for an engaging and dynamic drama class for toddlers and their parents or caregivers, and October 23 for a free performance of Treasure Ally by Taproot Theatre’s Road Company.

On Tuesday, October 19, at 11 a.m., Taproot Theatre’s Acting Studio will present a free session of its popular Drama with Your Mama. Originating from an idea that drama can help nurture creativity along with social, physical and vocal awareness in toddlers, Taproot’s Acting Studio created this fun and engaging class that guides parents or caregivers and their little ones (ages 1 to 3 years old) in creative play and theatre games.

Then on Saturday, October 23, at 11 a.m., Taproot Theatre’s Road Company presents a free performance of Treasure Ally, one of its brand-new educational touring shows. Treasure Ally will entertain students (and their parents!) while teaching them valuable lessons about bullying. The good ship Buccaneer has a bad case of the bullies, and it’s much worse than our hero Louis ever experienced on the playground. The pirate captain calls him names and won’t even let him off the ship in time to get to class! And that’s not all; it turns out the captain is being bullied himself. Can Louis and his fellow crew members teach their captain a few things about standing up to bullies before the next full moon? Or will Captain No-Beard come to pick on them and steal their map to the treasure? Appropriate for all ages, especially children and their families!

Greenstage Hard Bard Productions brings MACBETH!

MACBETH by William Shakespeare
Directed by Ken Holmes
October 8 - 30
Thursday - Sunday at 8pm
INDOORS AND DOWNTOWN: 2115 5th Avenue
(Right behind the Cinerama, and across the street from Top Pot Doughnuts)
Always Free
Reservations recommended and can be made at www.greenstage.org
or call 206-748-1551
The return of HARD BARD. A special Halloween treat!
In the tradition of last year's hugely popular, over the top, Halloween HARD BARD production of Titus Andronicus, GreenStage tackles the bloody, spooky, and witch-filled tale of Macbeth. In Shakespeare's most infamous tragedy, three weird sisters present powerful prophesies to the great general Macbeth, propelling him and his lady toward a world of murder, mayhem, and madness. BOO!
Mature themes...and lots of blood - may not appropriate for young children

Ann Landers, Winning Short Stories, Big Parties, and Cerebral Dates Make for a Delightfully Fun Filled September at ACT!

September 2010

Seattle, WA – September 2, 2010 – September is loaded with a variety of plays, readings, presentations and parties, starting with David Rambo's portrait of renownedadvice columnist Ann Landers in The Lady With All the Answers. Also answering the big questions is ACT's new lecture series, InterACTions with “The Physiology ofImagination and the Aesthetics of Stability” with historian Mott Greene. The popular Pinter Fortnightly series and Short Stories Live return, along with Seattle Dance Project’s 2010-2011 season opener, Project Orpheus, based on the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. September also marks the return of ACT Out! Gala & Benefit, a fun filled night featuring the talents if UMO Ensemble, “Awesome” and The Love Markets.

The Lady With All the Answers by David Rambo

September 10-October 31

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.


Short Stories Live at Town Hall: The Jewish Imagination

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 12

Tickets: Advance tickets, $13/$10 Town Hall Members, seniors & students; $15/$13 at the door or included for ACTPass Monthly Members; online atbrownpapertickets.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. The season premiere of Short Stories Live features excerpts from classic short stories capturing the Jewish imagination: Woody Allen’s "Hassidic Tales, With a Guide to Their Interpretation by the Noted Scholar"; the Depression-Era "Looking for Mr. Green" by Saul Bellow; and J.D. Salinger’s story-within-a-story, "The Laughing Man." Readers include: Kurt Beattie, Frank Corrado, and Chris Ensweiler.

ACT OUT! Gala & Benefit

A Special Event at Seattle Art Museum

September 13

Tickets: $200 (or just $35 for the ACT Out for Central Heating Lab party)

For 2010, ACT's party of the year is heading to Seattle Art Museum. ACT OUT!, the formal gala, is upstairs, featuring a menu by TASTE, select wines from Columbia Crest Grand Estates, and jaw dropping entertainment provided by UMO Ensemble, with musical act, The Love Markets. And that’s not all: for only $35, get access to the party action downstairs with hosts Ian Bell and Peggy Gannon, along with the talents of Jose Bold and headlining performances from CHL artist "Awesome", making for an unforgettable evening of fun in support of ACT’s artistic and educational programming.

Seattle Dance Project: Project Orpheus

A Central Heating Lab Event

September17-September 25

Tickets: start at $25 or included for ACTPass Monthly Members

Based on the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Project Orpheus showcases the choreography of Wade Madsen, Eva Stone, and Olivier Wevers. Join Artistic Directors Julie Tobiason and Timothy Lynch on a journey to the underworld and witness furies, snakes, and powerful creatures as they interact with Orpheus and Eurydice in this original, modern dance interpretation. Originally created in the Bullitt Cabaret at ACT in 2008 as a companion piece to Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, Project Orpheus opens Seattle Dance Project’s 2010-2011 season and will be restaged in the round for ACT’s Allen Theatre.

Pinter Fortnightly: The Dumb Waiter and Family Voices

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 20

Tickets: FREE! Seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged

Curator Frank Corrado continues the popular Pinter Fortnightly series with readings of two contrasting one-act plays. In The Dumb Waiter, one of Pinter’s funniest plays, a pair of seemingly inept hit men occupy a shabby basement room awaiting instructions for their next job, instructions that come from above via a very comically inclined dumbwaiter. Family Voices is a more sober work, at times witty and ironic, and at times anguished and poignant. It consists of intercutting monologues that suggest either narrated letters between a mother and son, or possibly an interior monologue given voice. Cast includes: John Ayward, R. Hamilton Wright, Susan Corzatte, and Burton Curtis.

InterACTions: Mindscapes – Part 2 – The Physiology of Imagination and the Aesthetics of Stability

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 26

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

Part two of the new annual InterACTions speaker series features historian Mott Greene as he investigates how it is becoming increasingly evident that the pace of fundamental novelty and imagination, at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century, is actually slowing down. He will share how an explosion of a variety of cultural products acts as a brake on the creative process and the acceptance of change within our social and technical structures – and our artistic creations.

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 July and August, 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 $165 (if buyer would choose to see all offerings).

September 2010 Summary:

The Lady with all the Answers by David Rambo

A Mainstage Play

September 10-October 31

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

Short Stories Live at Town Hall: The Jewish Imagination

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 12

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

ACT OUT!

A Special Event at Seattle Art Museum

September 13

Gala & Benefit Tickets: $200

CHL Party Tickets: $35

Seattle Dance Project: Project Orpheus

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 17-September 25

Tickets: start at $25 or included for ACTPass Monthly Members

Pinter Fortnightly: The Dumb Waiter and Family Voices

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 20

Tickets: FREE, but seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged

InterACTions: Mindscapes – Part 2 – The Physiology of Imagination and the Aesthetics of Stability

A Central Heating Lab Event

September 26

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