All Tickets, All Shows—Available Now!

For the first time 5th Avenue Theatre opens single ticket sales to all shows in the 2010-11 Season

SEATTLE, WA –The 5th Avenue Theatre has changed the way that patrons can buy tickets to shows for the 2010-11 season. Starting Tuesday, August 17 at 10 am, patrons will be able to purchase tickets for any of the seven shows in the season. Advance ticket purchases can be made via phone, website or in person at the box office. Audience members can now ensure that they get the best seats available for any of their favorite shows coming up, all the way through next summer!

Among the casting highlights for the shows featured in the 2010-11 season are:

Noted Broadway actor John Bolton (Spamalot, Curtains) will be featured as The Old Man in A Christmas Story: The Musical (November 26—December 30). He will be joined by Seattle favorite Anne Allgood (Sunday in the Park with George, Candide) playing Mother, in the premiere of this hilarious new musical adapted from the perennial holiday TV classic.

The touring production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal (February 22—March 13) will star Alice Ripley, the Broadway actress whose performance netted the production one of its three Tony awards. Ripley also received the Helen Hayes Award and the Audience Award fromBroadway.com.

9 to 5: The Musical (April 5—April 24), the new Broadway sensation featuring music by Dolly Parton, has a powerhouse cast that includes 5th Avenue favorite Dee Hoty as beleaguered office secretary Violet. Hoty has an extensive Broadway career and was last seen on the stage of The 5th in the title role of Mame. The cast also features Seattle-based performer Ryah Nixon, a nominee for a 5th Avenue High School Musical Award in 2004, and a winner of a Seattle Times Footlight Award in 2009!

The 5th’s production of the classic Guys and Dolls (May 12 through June 5) will star 5th Avenue favorites Brandon O’Neill as Sky Masterton (last seen on our stage in On The Town and Candide) and Billie Wildrick as the beautiful but frustrated chorine Miss Adelaide (also in On The Town and Candide, as well as over a dozen other shows at The 5th!).

Tickets for all shows, as well as season ticket packages to the 2010-11 season, are available by calling206-625-1900/toll-free 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849). Tickets can also be purchased in person at the box office located at 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle, or online at 5thavenue.org.

Pratidhwani Presents Rabindra Nath Tagore's CHITRANGADA - THE WARRIOR PRINCESS

Pratidhwani Presents Rabindra Nath Tagore's CHITRANGADA - THE WARRIOR PRINCESS

Seattle, WA August 10, 2010 - Pratidhwani - a Seattle area based organization of South Asian performing artists will present CHITRANGADA - THE WARRIOR PRINCES - an Indian dance ballet at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue WA on August 21st, 2010 at 7:30PM.

The story of Chitrangada comes from the great Indian epic The Mahabharata. Arjuna – the exiled prince of Indraprastha, had traveled far to the kingdom of Manipur in the eastern Himalayas. There, he met Chitrangada, the beautiful daughter of the king of Manipur, and was moved to seek her hand in marriage.

The king demurred on the plea that, according to the matrilineal customs of his people, the children born of Chitrangada were heir to the throne of Manipur and he could not allow his heirs to be taken away from Manipur by their father. Arjuna agreed to the stipulation that he would take away neither his wife Chitrangada nor any children borne by her from Manipur and wed the princess on this premise.

The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore re-imagined the story as a dance drama about love, illusion, and conquest. Tagore's version of the story differs a little from the original Mahabharata tale, and explores the inner complexities of the human psyche. Tagore’s Chitrangada is no beautiful princess and lacks feminine grace. Raised as the future king of Manipur, she is a fearless warrior and hunter, often dressed in a man’s attire. In a chance encounter in the woods, she meets and falls madly in love with Arjuna. However when Arjuna spurns her love, she is convinced that he would never love her the way she is. In desperation, Chitrangada prays to Madan, the god of love, to transform her into a beautiful woman. When she meets Arjuna again, he cannot help but fall in love with her. She starts a life of illusion and hypocrisy – refraining from stately duties to conceal her true self. Eventually, when raiders attack her kingdom, Chitrangada steps forward as the warrior princess that she is to protect her people. Impressed by this woman who is his equal in warfare, and no longer in love with her just for her beauty, Arjuna wholeheartedly welcomes Chitrangada for the true woman she is.

In this 150th birth anniversary year of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Pratidhwani is once again pioneering the Indian arts scene in Seattle. CHITRANGADA - THE WARRIOR PRINCESS is danced mostly to instrumental music. Beautiful lyrics in Bengali, penned by Tagore himself tell the story, which will also be presented as English narration throughout the ballet. This international approach to this classically inspired dance presentation - performed by 45 dancers in seven different dance styles, makes all language barriers irrelevant.

CHITRANGADA will be performed on August 21, 2010, 7:30PM at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA.

Website: http://www.pratidhwani.org/chitrangada

Tickets: Available online at http://www.pratidhwani.org/chitrangada/tickets.html

Regular : $15
Premium : $18
Seniors, Children under 12, and Pratidhwani/TPS Members: $3 discount.

About Pratidhwani

Pratidhwani is a non-profit cultural organization based in the Seattle area. We are, at our core, a group of professionals of Indian heritage, who are extremely enthusiastic and passionate about the artistic traditions of our homeland. The main objective of the organization is the promotion and cultivation of the performing arts of the Indian subcontinent. Recognizing that the performing arts of India encompass a vast and varied number of styles, genres and traditions, different wings of the organization provide a platform for as many art forms as we can.

ARCANA by John Longenbaugh Opening at OPEN CIRCLE THEATER!

Open Circle Theater is excited to bring you our first show of the season, Arcana. A collection of six short plays and two monologues by John Longenbaugh and inspired by the Major Arcana of the Tarot, Arcana mixes comedy and pathos, fantasy and poetry that take the temperature of male/female relationships in the first decade of the new Millennium. The leader of the Holy Roman Empire (yes, it still exists) tries a more non-conventional way to find connection; the new Pope brings a surprising change to the Vatican - and a love for Macy Gray; and thin walls reveal more about your neighbors than you expected.

Individual pieces of Arcana have been performed at 14/48, 24 Hour Theatre, Little Red Studio, Northwest Playwrights Alliance and LA’s New Stages and been published in Plays and Poems, North by Northwest, and Cirque Literary Quarterly.

Open Circle Theater is proud to be the first to present eight of the 22 pieces as a cycle reflected in the talents of five Seattle directors including the playwright.

Arcana. The turn of the next card is never what you’d expect.

(Note: some nudity and adult situations.)

WHAT: ARCANA by John Longenbaugh

WHEN: September 10th thru October 2nd

Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 4pm

* OPENING NIGHT IS 100% FREE! FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (206) 382-4250

PRICE: $16 at the door / $14 Advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/123293

Students/Seniors $3 off at the door

WHERE: Open Circle Theater

2222 2nd Ave, Second Floor

Seattle, WA 98121

Directed by Mary Cutler, John Longenbaugh, Evan Tucker, Nikki Visel, and Rob West

Cast - April Davidson, Anthony Duckett, Katherine Grant-Suttie, Erin Ison, Sarah Rose, and Brandon Ryan

DONALD BYRD TO CHOREOGRAPH INTIMAN’S BLACK NATIVITY AT THE MOORE THEATRE, THE GOSPEL MUSICAL’S NEW HOME

SEATTLE’S FAVORITE ‘HOLIDAY PARTY’ WILL KICK OFF WITH SPECIAL SUMMER SALE ON TICKETS PURCHASED BETWEEN AUGUST 18 AND SEPTEMBER 1

The artistic team — including director Jacqueline Moscou, Musical Director Pastor Patrinell Wright and Byrd — will hold open auditions for actors and singers on August 25 and 26 and open auditions for dancers on August 31; slots for non-Equity performers can be booked at 206.269.1901 ext. 129 or devinb@intiman.org

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre announces that acclaimed choreographer Donald Byrd will join the artistic team of its popular gospel musical Black Nativity as it starts a new holiday tradition being co-presented with Seattle Theatre Group at The Moore Theatre. Performances will run December 10-26, with a preview performance on December 9.

To celebrate Seattle ’s favorite “holiday party,” Intiman and Seattle Theatre Group are offering a special 15% discount on tickets for performances from December 10-19. The “pre-sale” tickets will be available from August 18 through August 31 as an online-only promotion. Ticket will range from $30-$40 and can be purchased using the password BNEARLY at http://STGpresents.org/artists/?artist=1326.

Donald Byrd is the Artistic Director of Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theater, which has been widely lauded for performing bold and innovative new works under his leadership. He has also choreographed for majormodern dance and classical repertory companies, as well as numerous stage productions for leading American theatres and on Broadway. He received a Tony nomination for The Color Purple, and to many he is probably best known for The Harlem Nutcracker, a reworking of the Christmas classic that toured nationally for five years. In 2011, he will choreograph the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! for the5^th Avenue Theatre. At Intiman, Byrd previously worked with Moscou and Pastor Wright on Crowns and consulted on this season’s world premiere of The Thin Place.

"I am thrilled and honored to be teamed again with Jackie and Pat,” says Byrd. “My experience working with them on Crowns was a joy and I have longed for us to be able to work together again. Black Nativity is a classic and a Seattle tradition, and I am privileged to be a part of it.”

This month, Intiman’s casting department and the artistic team will hold open auditions for African American actors (middle aged or older) who wish to audition for the role of a Narrator; singers (sopranos and male voices); and dancers. Prospective choir members should be able to sing traditional gospel music; dancers should be accomplished in contemporary dance.

Auditions for the role of the Narrator and vocal auditions will be held on August 25 and 26 from 6 pm-10 pm at the Center House Theatre on the ground floor of the Seattle Center House. Actors will be asked to read from the text by Langston Hughes, and singers should prepare one gospel song to sing a cappella. Dance auditions will be held on August 31 from 6 pm-10 pm at the Intiman Theatre Rehearsal Studio located at 201 Mercer Street . Dancers will audition in a group call and should dress appropriately.

Auditions must be booked in advance. To reserve a spot or for additional information, interested singers and dancers should call 206.269.1901 ext. 129 or email devinb@intiman.org and provide the following information: name, phone number, and whether you are auditioning as an actor, singer (please indicate preferable date) or dancer. Auditions slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and will be confirmed.

Although Black Nativity will be performed this year—its 13^th season—in its new home, which allows for greater audience capacity, Intiman will continue its commitment to family-friendly pricing to ensure that the production will remain accessible to audiences that have made it a holiday tradition.

Beginning September 1, patrons can purchase single ranging in price from $35-$55, with discounts available for the preview performance, patrons under age 18, and groups. Single tickets will be available fromhttp://www.STGpresents.org.

Seattle Shakespeare Company to produce The Threepenny Opera at Intiman Theatre Feb. 16 - Mar. 6, 2011

Single tickets on sale Sept. 28

SEATTLE, WA: Seattle Shakespeare Company announced today its plans to produce The Threepenny Opera at the Intiman Theatre. The Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill musical satire about the dapper criminal, Mac the Knife, and the denizens of his seedy underworld will run February 16 through March 6, 2011 for 15 performances only.

"For our 20^th anniversary, we wanted to stretch our wings in a new way," said artistic director Stephanie Shine who will direct the production of The Threepenny Opera. "It's a unique confluence of timing and space availability. We're very excited to perform at Intiman on this project. Producing Threepenny is a challenge in and of itself, but the opportunity to produce it in a larger venue for us will be an exhilarating thrill ride."

Seattle Shakespeare Company launches its 20^th anniversary season with Hamlet at the end of October which will run in repertory with the new comedy Wittenberg about young Hamlet's college days. A chamber version of the fairytale adventure Cymbeline starts the new year, followed byThe Threepenny Opera. The season wraps up in the spring with Shakespeare's frothy comedyThe Merry Wives of Windsor.

Single tickets go on sale September 28 online at www.seattleshakespeare.org or at the Seattle Shakespeare Company Box Office at (206) 733-8222. Prices start at $15. Season tickets are on sale now and start at $82 for the five play season.

Byrd to Fly on 5th Avenue Stage!

Tony-nominated choreographer Donald Byrd to choreograph

5th Avenue’s 2011 production of Oklahoma!

SEATTLE, WA –The director, choreographer and design team for Oklahoma!, the classic Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein musical, have been announced. Playing at The 5th Avenue from July 8 through August 6, 2011, the musical will be directed by The 5th’s Producing Director Bill Berry(On The Town, West Side Story, Cabaret), with scenic design by Walt Spangler, costumes by Alejo Vietta, lights by Tom Sturge, and sound by Zach Williamson. The show will be choreographed by Donald Byrd, the Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Company.

From 1978 until 2002, Byrd was Artistic Director of Donald Byrd/The Group, a critically-acclaimedcontemporary dance company. He has created more than 80 works for modern dance companiesincluding Spectrum, the Ailey Company, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company andPhiladelphia Dance Company (Philadanco). He has choreographed for classical companies such as Pacific North west Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Aterballetto, MaggioDanza diFirenze, and Oregon Ballet Theater. He has also worked extensively with theater and opera companies including New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Intiman Theater, San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera and New York City Opera. In 2006, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his choreography of the Broadway production of The Color Purple.

Byrd has led Spectrum Dance Company since 2002. His most recent work for the company wasFarewell: A Fantastical Contemplation on America’s Relationship with China, which premiered earlier this year at the Moore Theatre, where Spectrum Dance Theater is the resident dance company. Other notable productions include Interrupted Narratives/War and The Theater of Needless Talents, which toured nationally in 2009; The Sleeping Beauty Notebook, which toured to New York and theSpoleto Festival in Italy; Bhangra Fever, performed by Spectrum in PNB’s April 2007 Celebrate Seattle Festival, and Petruchska/Miraculous Mandarin.

“This season at Spectrum Dance Theater I have been exploring the theme of relationships, love and obsession,” says Byrd. “I was excited to be approached by The 5th Avenue Theatre to work onOklahoma! The Rogers and Hammerstein classic offers a unique perspective on these themes and provides fertile ground for fresh interpretations.”

Byrd also has a personal connection to the original choreographer of Oklahoma, Agnes de Mille. “I met Agnes de Mille when I was a student at the Harvard Summer Dance Program. She was there giving a talk and observing classes. I was speaking with her one evening after she had observed me in class earlier in the day and she said to me, ‘You, young man, should go to New York!..Go to Ballet Arts at Carnegie Hall and tell them I sent you.’ So I did. I had been on the fence about making a life of dance and could not commit to a move to New York which seemed like the next logical step if I was going to dance. But hearing that ‘command,’ and it felt like a command coming from de Mille, was the push I needed.”

While this is the first time that Byrd has worked with The 5th as a choreographer, the Spectrum company has previously collaborated with The 5th Avenue on West Side Story and most recently On The Town, both also directed by Berry. “Using the Spectrum Company in our productions brought such depth and emotional power to the dancing that I am excited to be able to continue this collaboration,” says Berry. “Working with Donald as a choreographer is exciting to me as an artist, as his work is so emotionally rich and dense it’s a natural fit for Oklahoma.”

Tickets for Oklahoma!, as well as season ticket packages to the 2010-2011 Season, are available by calling 206-625-1900/toll-free 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849), in person at the box office located at 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle, or online at 5thavenue.org.

U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott to Speak at Intiman Theatre on Sunday, August 15, Following the Final Performance of Ruined at 2 pm

Tickets for all remaining performances of the play are available now fromwww.intiman.org or 206.269.1900

SEATTLE— Intiman Theatre announces that U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott will speak and answer questions about his personal experience with and interest in African issues following the final performance of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined on Sunday, August 15 at 2 pm. This event is free for the audience and open to the public.

Tickets for all remaining performances of Ruined, which is directed by Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey , are on sale from www.intiman.org or 206.269.1900.

Congressman McDermott, whose political career began in 1970, is currently in his 11th term serving Washington State ’s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has worked on African foreign policy issues throughout his career. Trained as a physician, he left politics in 1987 to serve as Regional Medical Officer in the U.S. Foreign Service. Based in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), he provided psychiatric services to Foreign Service, AID, and Peace Corps personnel throughout sub-Saharan Africa . In 2004, he was part of a bipartisan coalition of U.S. Representatives who championed the passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. In July 2010, the U.S. Congress passed the Wall Street Reform Bill, which includes provisions first introduced by Rep. McDermott, which will hold accountable American companies that use minerals in their products from mines that help fund the war in the DRC.

Congressman McDermott’s talk is presented through Intiman’s new International Cycle and the theatre’s efforts to raise awareness—through its plays and outreach programs—about global issues. The International Cycle will be produced annually in connection with Intiman’s ongoing American Cycle. Both Cycles include events, community conversations and opportunities for Intiman to work with a range of guest speakers who help illuminate the often surprising intersections between issues in our community and around the world, and inspire dialogue and activism both globally and in Seattle . For more information about the International Cycle, go to http://www.youtube.com/intimantheatre.