Seattle Spotlight: November 2008

Seattle Repertory Theatre produces two shows this month. Boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (November 13-December 14), features a nerdy marine biologist who calculates the end of the world is near and posts an online personals ad to find a girl that will help him ensure the survival of the species. Also, You Can’t Take It With You by Kaufman and Hart (November 28-January 3) depicts a collision between free spirits and conservatives, and is directed by Warner Shook. Kimberly King joins this cast fresh from her triumphant role of Becky in Becky’s New Car at ACT.

Beauty and the Beast roars into The Village Theatre (November 12-February 1) with Belle played by the incandescent Jennifer Paz accompanied by Eric Polani Jensen as the Beast. Cinderella by Rodgers and Hammerstein (November 14-30) dances into Seattle Musical Theatre, starring Jackie Whitsett in the title role. Meanwhile, Tacoma Musical Playhouse presents The Slipper and the Rose, (November 28-December 21), the West Coast premiere of a charming new musical version of the same tale, by Richard & Robert Sherman. Also, Fiddler on the Roof is spied at Driftwood Players’ Wade James Theatre, November 21-December 21.

Holiday shows are dusting off the decorations. ACT gets the chestnuts roasting with its 33rd annual production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Gregory A. Falls (November 28-December 28), this year alternating Sean Griffin and Allen Fitzpatrick as Scrooge. A bit of a drive away, Stardust for Christmas, presented by Harlequin Productions at the State Theater (November 20-December 31) puts the Stardust Club on the line with a back room card game and a gangster. Open Circle Theater brings us the Judy Garland Christmas Special (November 28-December 20), pretending it’s 1963 and Judy Garland is scheduled to film a Christmas special for her TV show…if they can find her. Taproot Theatre Company discovers The Christmas Foundling (November 21-December 27), as miners become wealthy during the California gold rush after an infant is deposited on their doorstep. Plaid Tidings: The Forever Plaid Christmas Show has it’s Seattle premiere (November 28-December 23) at ArtsWest. Next Stage world premieres Island of Misfits (November 28-December 21) by Amy Boyce Holtcamp, in which oddball puppeteers abandon the Christmas special they are working on, to flee to Canada so Freddie doesn’t have to go to boot camp.

Terrific non-holiday productions include Book-It Repertory’s new adaptation of Willa Cather’s My Antonia, (November 25-December 21) adapted by and starring Book-It regular, Annie Lareau, with George Mount as Jim Burden. Theater Schmeater presents Roger Rueff’s So Many Words (November 6-December 6), about a novelist receiving a visit from a beautiful young fan whose arrival triggers a cascade of events that shake the foundations of his philosophy. theater simple’s award-winning adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Snow Queen, makes a special appearance at the Bathhouse Theater, November 19-23, and they want everyone to know it’s not just a kid’s fairytale. Balagan presents Shakespeare’s Othello (November 20-December 13), starring Johnny Patchamatla.

Three new companies debut work! New Century Theatre Company presents The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice as its inaugural production (ACT’s Falls Theatre Space, November 13-December 13), when everyman Mr. Zero finds out he will be replaced by a machine. Tennessee Williams’ Out Cry — a two-character work that the author called his “most beautiful play since Streetcar” — is mounted by Do North Theatre Company at the Little Oasis Theatre, November 7-23. Obie Award winner Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom is done by Theatre Machine at Stone Soup Theatre (November 6-15), with an all female cast examining themes of power relationships, sexual discrimination, and gender roles still relevant to society today.

Especially for children, The Wizard of Oz (November 21-January 17) brings his great and terrible self to Seattle Children’s Theatre. Two musicals adapted by Susan Bardsley and Lani Brockman for children are Pinocchio at Storybook Theater (November 8-16) and ‘Twas the Night (November 29-December 21), at Studio East, a hilarious spin on the familiar holiday poem.