Theater News

Seattle Spotlight: November 2007

Anyone Can Whistle

Andrea Ross in Whistle Down the Wind
(© Joan Marcus)
Andrea Ross in Whistle Down the Wind
(© Joan Marcus)

5th Avenue Theatre is bringing in the touring company for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down the Wind (November 13-December 2), about a young girl who finds a mysterious stranger hiding in her barn. Andrea Ross, a 16-year-old sensation, stars as the girl, fresh from an album debut produced by Webber. Eric Kunze plays the man she befriends, whom she believes is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.


Seattle Repertory Theatre gives us The Cook by Eduardo Machado (November 1-December 2), starring Zabryna Guevara, who originated the role of Gladys in its world premiere in New York. Gladys, a young cook, keeps the mansion she works at safe for four decades in Cuba. Another Rep production, Birdie Blue by Cheryl L. West (November 15-December 16), will star Velma Austin, fresh from a “special recognition” award in Chicago. Birdie’s life parallels the history of contemporary African-American life.


Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I waltzes in to the Village Theatre (November 14-January 27). The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris, relates one man’s holiday tenure in Macy’s Santaland, relocated to Seattle Public Theater (November 30-December 24). Book-It Repertory debuts Peter Pan adapted by Joy Marzec (November 29-December 23), a new take on a familiar tale. Another familiar tale is A Chorus Line by Hamlisch and Kleban at SecondStory Repertory (November 2-December 1).

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (November 2-17), Tom Stoppard’s comedy of two characters from Hamlet, kicks off Ghost Light Theatricals’ fifth season. The creator of HBO’s Six Feet Under, Alan Ball, tells of Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, bridesmaids avoiding the wedding at Work It Productions (November 2-December 1).

Annual rituals include the 10th anniversary of Black Nativity at Intiman (November 28-December 28), and the 32nd annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at ACT (November 23-December 24). More Christmas productions are The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol at Taproot Theatre Company (November 16-December 29), and A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley at New Everett Theatre Company, (November 23-December 9), a new adaptation by Israel Horovitz.


Less wintery fare includes The Further Adventures of Anse and Bhule in No-Mans Land (November 2-17), a post-apocalyptic buddy tale of love, death and transformation, presented by Theatre4. Theater Schmeater called for original scripts that sound like David Mamet and four plays will be presented in Mamet Schmamet (November 2-December 2). Twelfth Night Productions introduces The Foreigner, by Larry Shue (November 8-11), a clever comedy showing what happens when characters deal with a stranger they believe knows no English. Playing French Seattle is Steeplechase Productions offering of two contemporary French plays, performed in French with English supertitles (November 8-11).


Children can enjoy four musicals. StoryBook Theater/Studio East presents Twas The Night (November 24-December 16), written by Lani Brockman & Susan Bardsley. Seussical The Musical comes to Seattle Musical Theatre (November 16-December 2). Meet Me in St. Louis is performed at Tacoma Musical Playhouse (November 30-December 16), about the 1904 World’s Fair. Finally, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is displayed at Driftwood Players (November 16-December 16).