Theater News

Seattle Spotlight: September 2010

A Doctor in the House

Daniel Breaker
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
Daniel Breaker
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Intiman Theatre breaks out the snake oil with Moliere’s A Doctor in Spite of Himself (September 3-October 10). This classic farce stars Tony-nominated actor Daniel Breaker in his Seattle debut, and centers on what happens when a spirited woman convinces the town that her scoundrel of a husband is the best doctor around.

The Village Theatre exposes The Full Monty (September 15-November 21) when six average-looking, unemployed steelworkers make a bold plan to get themselves out of debt by stripping to their altogethers! Nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, this feel-good musical stars Dane Stokinger as Jerry and brings back Jerry Dixon as director/choreographer.

In other musical news, the 5th Avenue Theatre brings in the tour of In the Heights (September 28-October 17), set in New York City’s Washington Heights and focusing on a changing, vibrant community. Joseph Morales leads the touring cast as Usnavi. Meanwhile, Tacoma Musical Playhouse raises hell in 1960s Baltimore with Hairspray (September 24-October 17). Judy Ann Moulton, one of Seattle musical theater’s talents, sings from the long song list of beloved Judy Garland in Judy Sings Judy (September 16-19). Reefer Madness The Musical smokes up Burien Little Theatre (September 24-October 31).

Book-It Repertory presents The Cider House Rules, Part II (September 15-October 16) as Homer leaves St. Cloud’s orphanage to discover life’s infinite shades of gray. Critically-acclaimed Connor Toms reprises his role as Homer. ACT Theatre dishes with The Lady With All the Answers by David Rambo (September 10-November 7). Julie Briskman plays 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. ACT also presents Short Stories Live: The Jewish Imagination at Town Hall (September 12).

ArtsWest answers Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty (September 8-October 2). Katjana Vadeboncoeur directs Shawn Law, David S. Hogan, Angela DiMarco and Allison Standley as four friends who are forced to contemplate “How much is ‘pretty’ worth?” Taproot Theatre regionally premieres Wedding Belles by Alan Bailey and Ronnie Claire Edwards (September 22-October 23) as a bedraggled bride is found stranded in 1942, and the determined ladies of the Eufala Springs Garden Club leap into action!

Theater Schmeater presents The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (September 17-October 16), the classic story of shy Laura, her overbearing mother, the conflicted brother and the already-engaged accidental suitor. Strawberry Theatre Workshop solves the problem in Breaking the Code (September 9-October 9) by Hugh Whitemore, a biographical exploration of British mathematician and computer pioneer Alan Turing who is put on trial for his homosexuality.

SiS Productions continues the soap opera with Sex in Seattle 18: An Everyday Kind of Love (September 10-October 9), as Seattle’s longest-running quirky romantic comedy about contemporary Asian American women may finally reveal which of three men fathered the baby. A bumbling vaudeville act tries to change careers in Once in a Lifetime, by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart at Phoenix Theatre (September 3-26). Open Circle Theatre presents Arcana by local playwright John Longenbaugh (September 10-October 2), an evening of short plays inspired by images in the Tarot deck.

Seattle Children’s Theatre starts their regular season with The Borrowers (September 30-October 31). Under the floorboards, Arriety Clock and her parents borrow whatever they need from the humans above… until the boy who lives upstairs sees Mr. Clock. Forced to flee, the Clocks make new friends and learn that, maybe, the world isn’t such a scary place after all.