Theater News

Seattle Spotlight: June 2010

Summer Follies

Showtunes! Theatre Company is celebrating its 10th year anniversary by moving to The Moore and presenting Stephen Sondheim’s Follies (June 5-6), starring Rebecca Spencer, Anna Lauris, Bob DeDea, Bobbi Kotula, Eric Ankrim, and John Patrick Lowrie. Washington Ensemble Theater world premieres Cancer: The Musical! (June 4-21) written and performed by Montana von Fliss as she details the touching story of taking care of her dying father with humor and compassion.

A 20th anniversary season for Book-It Repertory is capped off by The Cider House Rules, Part One: Here In St. Cloud’s, adapted by Peter Parnell from the novel by John Irving (June 9-July 11). Homer Wells lives in an orphanage with Dr. Wilbur Larch, who saves not only babies, but mothers too, by performing illegal abortions when necessary.

Loosely based on a true story, The Female of the Species by Joanna Murray-Smith (ACT Theatre, June 18-July 18) follows feminist writer Margot Mason into writer’s block, skewering feminist doctrine in this viciously funny play about gender politics. Eric Coble imagines the near future at SecondStory Repertory with Natural Selection (June 4-26), a Northwest premiere. Theme park curator Henry Carson tries to find a genuine Indian, but will he notice that the world is sliding towards apocalypse? Phoenix Theatre presents David Lindsay-Abaire’s Fuddy Meers (June 4-27), as each morning Claire wakes up with no memory and she journeys to piece her life back together.

Our American Theatre Company presents their annual full production, Angels Fall by Lanford Wilson (June 4-26). Four strangers, including a priest and a doctor, are forced to face their demons and make some changes in this funny, timely play. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series comes to Open Circle with The Wyrd Sisters (June 4-26). See Macbeth from the witches’ viewpoint in this uproarious comedy. Eclectic Theatre Company adds a smooch with Stop Kiss (June 24-July 3) by Diana Son.

Outsider`s Inn Collective revives an 18th-century play, Mariamne by James Compton (June 11- 12), which tells the story of Herod the Great and his second wife, Mariamne, as they are driven towards doom by the conflicting forces of love, and jealousy, suspicion, and revenge. Driftwood Theatre gets mysterious with And Then There Were None (June 11-27) by Agatha Christie.

Two festivals of short plays present a large handful of local playwrights. Live Girls, Quickies Volume XI (June 18-26) at the Ethnic Cultural Theater will feature seven new works by women, while Eclectic Theatre Company produces Fourplay: Seattle Playwrights Put Out (June 10-19).

Until summer children’s theater camp shows are ready for the stage, Tacoma Musical Playhouse is one place to take the kids for Peter and the Wolf (June 12-20), as adapted by prolific playwright Allison Gregory. Live instruments onstage enhance the tale.