Theater News

Seattle Spotlight: October 2009

Live in Technicolor

Anthony Fedorov
(© Alicia Hansen)
Anthony Fedorov
(© Alicia Hansen)

The 5th Avenue Theatre dazzles with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (October 13-November 1). American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov stars in the title role. Tacoma Musical Playhouse opens the John Kander-Fred Ebb-Rupert Holmes tuner Curtains (October 2-25), in which the mysterious death of a Broadway-bound musical’s talent-free leading lady brings in a theater-loving detective to conduct an investigation.

The Seattle Repertory Theatre partners with the Paramount bringing in Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County (October 27-November 1), winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play. The Westons, a large extended clan, comes together in rural Oklahoma when the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Estelle Parsons heads the cast. Seattle Rep also plays Opus, by Michael Hollinger (October 30-December 6), where the Lazara string quartet is not so harmonious backstage.

ACT presents Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll (October 9-November 8) while Intiman debuts Robert E. Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Abe Lincoln in Illinois (October 2-November 15). Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center presents the U.S. premiere of Obama On My Mind (October 15-November 15), which writer/composer Teddy Hayes originally premiered in London, in March 2009.

A new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma is world premiered by Book-It Repertory (October 20-November 22), when well-intentioned Emma applies her efforts as matchmaker. Another droll, but very adult, comedy is at ArtsWest, Measure for Pleasure by David Grimm (October 21-November 14), a naughty Restoration romp. Seattle Public Theater woos its audience with Tryst by Karoline Leach, where a handsome con man stalks a love-starved woman (October 2-25). Annex Theatre debuts The Believers, by Jim Bovino (October 23-November 21). Zastrozzi: Master of Discipline by George F. Walker visits Balagan Theatre (October 1-24), when the notorious master criminal of all Europe is hell bent on avenging his mother’s death.

Superb puppetry is on tap this month with Bloody Henry (October 1-24), an hysterically accurate puppet show about a misogynistic mass murdering Henry VIII. Sgt Rigsby and His Amazing Silhouettes displays shadow puppets for Teensploitation, (Theatre Off Jackson, October 8-31) a show for anyone who ever died of embarrassment during puberty. Everyone’s favorite invisible rabbit, Harvey, is at SecondStory Repertory (October 2-24). Forever Plaid comes to Bellevue Civic Theatre (October 9-17). And MacBeth is at Eclectic Theatre Company (October 30-November 21).

Nancy, Frank and Joe, a new play by Kristina Sutherland and Desiree Prewitt premiering at Macha Monkey (October 30-November 21), is a fast-paced journey through the juvenile fiction empire that brought Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to generations of young readers. WET visits (October 1-26) Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom by Jennifer Haley (October 1-26) where something else is coming to visit… Emerald City Scene shares diaries in Fiction (Freehold Theatre, October 9-24), when successful married writers Linda and Michael share too much and their relationship begins to break down.

Several one-act festivals are presented this month. Stone Soup Theatre introduces Durang7, with works by Christopher Durang; WARP (Writers and Actors Reading and Performing) performs their annual Halloween one-act festival, Scare Package (October 17-24); and Artattack Theatre gives us Shorts: David Lindsay-Abaire (October 16-November 7), featuring the playwright’s “Crazy Eights,” “Baby Food,” and “That Other Person.”

Open Circle Theater adapts H.P. Lovecraft’s novel The Case of Charles Dexter Ward for a Halloween presentation of Madness Out of Time (October 9-November 14). Steeplechase Productions presents the third annual festival of plays written in French language, Playing French Seattle (October 19 – November 1).
Children will be entranced by Bunnicula (October 30-November 15) at SecondStory Repertory, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie at Seattle Children’s Theater (October 16-November 29).

Finally, Seattle has embraced Live (Free) Theater Week (October 12-18), with dozens of theatrical performances to choose from.