Local Arts Organization Seeks Teen InputWe are recruiting teens to participate in a 1.5 hour focus group to beheld June 10 or 11 at 6:00PM in Seattle. You will receive $75 cash forsharing your time and opinions with us about local arts & entertainment.Click on the link below to complete a brief screener to see if youqualify to participate and feel free to forward the link to friends whomay also be interested.Take Survey Now!
A review of Around the World in 80 DaysBy Jonathan H., age 16Around the World in 80 Days is the third production of Taproot Theatre’s 2009 season, and is sure to stand out as one of their best shows to date. Based on the 1873 novel by Jules Verne, it is a play adapted to the stage by Mark Brown mixing elements of action, romance and very silly slapstick comedy. It’s very similar to typical summer blockbusters: often silly and air headed, but a heck of a lot of fun. The script is extremely witty and the pacing is well fleshed out. Although the best parts in the play come from many of the funny lines delivered by the characters, some of the best parts involve the actors playing a variety of roles: specifically Andrew Litzkey, playing the Narrator as well as 17 other characters throughout the show. The script requires only five actors to play over 30 different parts, which all add to the fun. The play completely follows the original plotline of the novel, unlike Disney’s 2004 box office bomb, with Jackie Chan. The story begins with Phileas Fogg (Ryan Childers), a rich and proper English gentlemen who is a member of the Reform Club, which is all that is known about him from the start as we are given no back story. He has just fired his former assistant for bringing him shaving water at the wrong temperature, when he meets a Frenchman by the name of Passepartout (Nolan Palmer), whom he then hires to fill the position. He makes a bet with the men in the Reform Club that he can travel around the world in 80 days, wagering 20,000 pounds if he can pull it off. He and Passepartout begin their voyage on a train to Suez, in which we find out that they are being followed by Detective Fix (Bill Johns). He is convinced that Mr. Fogg is the bank robber that he is trying to nab, because of Fogg’s wealth and the way that he escaped town right after the robbery. Fogg and Passepartout travel by train into India, where they help rescue a native girl Aouda (very well acted by Alyson Scadron Branner), who is about to be used for a sacrifice. She later decides to join them on their voyage, with Detective Fix following along in disguise. Their voyage continues to take them through Singapore, China, Japan, followed by traveling across the United States, eventually making it back to London. Along the way, they have to overcome typhoons, Native American ambushes, and various other zany situations. As for the five main actors, Ryan Childers has the easiest job of only having to play Phileas Fogg the entire time. He plays it with heart, and he really becomes the character, especially in his movement which mirrors the sophisticated manner he follows at the beginning of the show. He also plays the straight man, not really aiming for a laugh, though his character does spout many a comedic line. Nolan Palmer does a fine job as Passepartout, making a really endearing character for the audience to get to know. Bill Johns is extremely funny as Fix, as he gets the great expressions and body language down with Fix and the other eight characters he inhabits. Of course, Andrew Litzky gets some of the biggest laughs in many of his 17 roles, particularly the grizzled sea captain and the American Yankee. He makes each role stand out above the other, though some of his roles require walking out on stage to say a line and leaving. The set is part of the fun as well. Because the plot line consists of traveling to many different locations, most would expect big set pieces and crazy special effects. For set pieces, the stage consists of two boxes, two chairs, a crate and one stool. And yet, these pieces are used to represent a train, a court house, a boat, a pub, and even (creating a good deal of laughs) an elephant. It is brilliantly staged by director Scott Nolte, who is able to keep a steady pace and create laughs from things not even in the script. He also does a great job directing movement, especially in the typhoon scene or when the characters are sitting on a train or, per say, on an elephant. He deserved to be on the stage for the standing ovation the crowd gave at the performance Saturday night. Some more special recognition goes to Mark Lund, for a beautiful, yet simplistic set. He also set up the exciting soundtrack, which really makes the play more exciting. Monty Taylor, who designed the lights, does some great work as well, especially with the lighting effects in the typhoon scene. Also, Nikki Visel, the dialect coach, for doing an excellent job with the actors with the many dialects used in this play. Though Around the World in 80 Days was written nearly 140 years ago, it still finds its roots for the audience. It plays itself as a period piece, but also as a contemporary piece in its comedy. It’s a very silly show, without any underlying messages, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is very good since it shouldn’t be taking itself seriously. A lot of the scenes play out like sketches from Saturday Night Live, with the people you recognize playing a random character in a different accent. If that kind of humor is to your suiting, this play is for you. If you’re interested in a little summer adventure, this may also be just the show for you. But most of all, if you’re interested in a great night of fun and laughter, I definitely recommend you check this out. I would bet 20,000 pounds you will not be disappointed. You can see Around the World in 80 Days at Taproot Theatre, located in Greenwoodnow through June 20, 2009visit www.taproottheatre.org or call 206.781.9707 for tickets and more information.
A review of Future Wave Shorts 2009by Zoe B.FutureWave Shorts 2009 is a collection of eleven short films. Overall, I found these films pretty disappointing, but there were two gems. “If You Want 2 Get Technical” is a sort of mini-documentary about an unusual African American family living in Brooklyn. The oldest sister, who is gay and in loving relationship, is raising her own child as well as her younger sisters. There’s a cheesy moment or two but mainly it is a really sincere piece (“She’s the man when I want her to take out the garbage”). The other one I really enjoyed was called “A Work of Fiction”. I won’t reveal too much about it because that would ruin the surprise, but the structure is fantastic and makes a relatively mundane plot clever.FutureWave Shorts 2009 plays at the Egyptian Theatre June 6th at 4pm.Highlights of SIFF 2009By Thomas Hustoncourtesy of The Garfield Messenger“In the Loop” – May 21After the US President and British Prime Minister decide to fight another war in the Middle East, US General Miller (James Gandolfini) and UK Secretary of State Foster (Tom Hollander) must work together to stop it. Their plans backfire, however, when Foster accidentally endorses the war in a television interview. “In the Loop” has been compared to “Doctor Strangelove” for its hilarious and biting criticism of war and politics.“Passing Strange” – May 23Each year, SIFF honors somebody in the film industry with a Golden Space Needle Award. Spike Lee will be receiving this year’s award at a special ceremony on May 23 at the Egyptian Theatre. As part of the tribute, Lee will do a full Q&A session with the audience and present his newest film, “Passing Strange,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical about a black artist who travels to Europe to discover himself.“Dead Snow” – May 23 & 27This relentlessly gory Nazi zombie movie from Norway looks horrifically entertaining. Eight Norwegian medical students on a ski trip are interrupted one night by a hiker who tells them about the Nazi occupation of the area during World War II. The Nazi soldiers supposedly froze to death, but as the vacationers soon learn, they weren’t quite dead yet.“The Beast Stalker” – May 27 & 30This thriller from Hong Kong centers around the kidnapping of a young girl by a one-eyed professional hitman. A police sergeant trying to redeem himself from a dark past takes on the case, and an elaborate cat-and-mouse game ensues. Sounds slightly corny, but should be an exciting action flick if nothing else.“Humpday” – June 5 & 7Directed by Seattle-native Lynn Shelton, “Humpday” is a self-proclaimed bromantic comedy. Two old college buddies are dared to make an erotic film for a local porn festival. They see it as an art project, but must also come to terms with the reality of having sex with each other, as both men are heterosexual and Ben is married.“Tetro” – June 10Francis Ford Coppola will be presenting a special screening of his latest film (and first original screenplay in over 30 years), “Tetro.” The film follows 17-year-old Bennie as he travels to Buenos Aires to track down his long-lost brother. Now going by Tetro, Bennie’s brother is wary of any connections to his former life, but once reunited, the brothers revisit their tumultuous childhood growing up with a self-absorbed musical genius for a father.Visit www.siff.net/festival for more complete information on these films, as well as the rest of the 2009 line-up.
The Seattle International Film Festival begins its 2009 season this Thursday! Stay tuned to the Teen Tix blog for reviews of this year's films by many of our Teen Reviewers.First up:Princess of AfricaReviewed by Emma K.Marem Ndiaye is a dancer. This is the premise on which Juan Laguna’s documentary Princess of Africa is set. Beautifully shot and articulated, the film examines ambition, jealousy, and family against the backdrop of cultural divides. The setting is as big a character as the people themselves from the beginning – opening on a shot of Marem, a young girl, dancing on a beach in her native Senegal, the film sets the stage to examine the marriage between culture and dance, as well as the line drawn between the talented and the untalented. In the village of Louga lives the family of Pap Ndiaye, an admired “griot”, or musician. Two of his three wives, Kine (Marem’s mother) and Fama, keep his household running while he performs in Europe. The humble home overflows with people – both women’s children and mothers are there laughing, working, and supporting Pap. Everyone praises him and casually describes how life in this plural marriage works: when he is home, Pap alternates between wives every two days. When asked if this lifestyle creates any discord, Kine’s mother shrugs and says, “We are poor, we are black, we agree.”A question this film examines at length is whether or not this harmony is real. In many ways it is, but as more figures are introduced it reveals itself to be precarious. The force behind any uncertainty is Sonia, the third wife. She is a dancer, she is Spanish, and she is Pap’s self professed true love. Kine and Fama say that the arrangement between the three is natural – when she visits, she understands the Senegalese culture, an attitude “uncommon in a white person”. But is there real understanding between everyone? The passion of Sonia’s dance makes Pap love her, inspires Marem, but plants envy in the hardworking hearts of his African wives. Marem’s aspirations are supported, but they are also a constant reminder that she has the kind of talent that drew Pap to Sonia – that drew him away from Kine and Fama. Princess of Africa is a documentary but the story has such depth that is sometimes feels as though it was written by someone with tremendous insight. Each person articulates themselves so well that the dialogue feels like poetry in places, and as each figure’s true emotions are revealed so are some fascinating questions – despite being the chosen one, is Sonia in turn jealous of Pap’s other wives? Does dancing in Europe give Marem the liberty she felt when she danced in her own courtyard? Is talent something that cannot be denied?Director Juan Laguna’s desired connection between a family’s private life and dance does not follow through in every respect. Some of the situations in which he tries to blend the two are not cohesive, but the powerful attention given to the social stigma of being ungifted is intriguing. This theme delivers. Also interesting are the ways in which certain elements are portrayed. In the U.S., where polygamy has become a source of debate as well as an overused punch line, it is refreshing to see the response to plural marriage in a culture that wholeheartedly accepts it. It is given a humanistic meaning as various figures react to it in their own ways – it is the norm, but does that make it easy to live with? Also extremely pertinent is the attention given to ethnicity. Sonia is constantly referred to as the “white person” – even Pap says he finds her mesmerizing because “no other white person” is like her. By developing this theme, the film accentuates the distinction between, but also the beauty of, different races.This documentary achieves a difficult unification between the burdens and blessings of a culture, and the freedoms and restrictions of art. By incorporating sequences that look like watercolor paintings, and at times ironic music, the film becomes more that an expose on race and marriage. It muses on the life that surrounds Marem, the daughter of an African who aspires to live a life like that of the only white woman she knows. Whether or not what she sees around her will influence Marem towards or away from her dream is the crux of this story. If this film is any indication of the fresh and versatile stories that will presented at SIFF, then you do not want to miss this year’s festival. Princess of Africa plays at Pacific Place CinemaJune 4th at 9:15pm and June 7th at 1:45pmvisit www.siff.net for more information, and info on how to order tickets.
Free Preview Screening of Paper Heart Starring Michael Cera!May 20, 4:00pm, AMC Pacific Place CinemasSIFF is hosting a special FREE advance screening of Paper Heart, starring Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi, and YOU are invited. All Teen Tix members may RSVP and bring a friend to attend this special free preview screening on May 20 at 4:00pm.Seats will fill quickly, so please RSVP now. Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed. If you can't make it to this advance screening, you can see Paper Heart at its regular screenings during the Seattle International Film Festival on May 23 and 24. Learn more at www.siff.net.CLICK HERE TO RSVP! http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp&invite=ghk82w4fxzjcbmte66tnuc41xx6bgtfv4t8tgmv8g30phsxznu9fAbout Paper HeartLos Angeles-based comedian and actress Charlyne Yi decides to travel the country in search of an answer to the age-old question: does love exist? Remaining the only true skeptic among the various people she interviews (from children on the playground and a psychic to long-married couples and scientists), Charlyne and her friend, director Nicholas Jasenovec (Jake Johnson) search for answers and advice. The pseudo-documentary leads Charlyne into uncharted romantic territory when she crosses paths with fellow actor Michael Cera. The romantic tension between both real-life actors appears genuine, but just how much of the film is scripted and how much is real? This self-aware film walks a quirky line as the characters explore the affection, anticipation, and agitation that often accompany love in modern society. By choosing to make love appear awkward, spontaneous, and enchanting, Paper Heart avoids Hollywood tricks and tries to portray something authentic, whatever that may be. Recommended for ages 13+.
Come join Teen Tix as we celebrate 5 wonderful years of providing arts access to our region’s teenagers.See Live Bands!Eat Good Food!Hang with your Friends!The evening features:Live music from EMP’s Experience: The Band Come see these amazing teen bands rock out with two sets of original interpretations of classic and popular music. These talented teens cover everyone from Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Beyonce and Coldplay, to Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. Their music has a distinct rock edge, and reflects the unique personality of the 15 member band.Awards CeremonyTeen Tix Participating Organizations will be honored with awards based on categories created and voted for by teens.You can vote by clicking here:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XY87sNoHIlGrEtdwuGTeyA_3d_3dPlus, we’ll kick off our Passport to the Arts campaign, a brand new contest for Teen Tix members. Attend shows and win money! Attend the event to find out more!This Teen Tix Special Event will be held at The VERA Project, located in Seattle Center on the corner of Warren & Republican Ave N.Hey Teen Tix members: Attendance at this Special Event is FREE! But space is limited. So you must reserve a spot in advance by emailing teentix@seattle.gov or calling 206.233.3959
Meet Ellen Hopkins the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, as she reads from her new book Identical.Thursday May 14th, 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m.The Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.Winner of several awards, Ellen Hopkins is the author of popular novels such as Crank and Burned. Adopted and raised in California, Hopkins has been an author since she was a child: she published her first piece of writing, a poem, in her town’s local newspaper. Known for her unique poetic writing style (“novels-in-verse”), Hopkins’ characters are quirky, realistic and easy to relate to.Her novels have struck an emotional chord by shedding light on issues that many teens face and experience that are often ignored and misunderstood by society. For more information, click on:http://blog.spl.org/yablog/
A Review of The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bearsplaying at Book-It Reportory Theatreby Molly L.Spring brings new perspectives for Sepha, an Ethiopian immigrant living in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C., having come to America for the promise of a better life. Now he reflects on the past, filled with connections and pain, in America and Africa. With his fellow immigrant friends, he names coups in his small grocery store and remembers his family, especially his dead father.Sepha thinks of Judith, who he loved, the only white woman to live in his neighborhood. She’s gone now. From changes in the neighborhood rose violence, driving Judith out.Sepha remembers Naomi, Judith’s bi-racial daughter, as the sweet presence in this play, the beautiful thing borne by heaven. In the store, Sepha and Naomi read books aloud and imagine, making up fantastic stories about their butler/chauffeur monkey, Henry.Dinaw Mengestu’s first novel turned play has a fun and playful atmosphere, full of laughter and energy, but underlying this are themes of pain and discrimination. Sepha’s father in Ethiopia was dragged away and shot because he went against the government, and Judith’s house receives threats and damage because Judith is the only white woman in the neighborhood.This story is perfect for springtime, when we remember how wonderful it is to be alive and free. With happiness and laughter, this play energizes the audience and changes the way we think about new things and about going home: “[t]here is a simple and startling power to that phrase: going back home. There’s an implied contradiction, a sense of moving forward and backward at the same time, but there’s no tension in the phrase. Instead, the contradiction gives in to something else: an understanding, perhaps, that what you’re returning to can never be the same as what you left.”A question of loyalty is asked in this show, of Sepha, and the whole audience. Who should we be loyal to? Should we work harder on our loyalty to the past or to the future, to Africa, or to America, to old friends or new, to memories or to our dreams.The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears plays now through May 9that Book-It Repertory Theatre, located in Seattle Center at the Center House Theatrevisit www.book-it.org or call 206.216.0833 for tickets and more information
Icicle Creek Theatre Festival launches high school conservatorySleeping Lady LodgeLeavenworth, WAAug. 2-8The Icicle Creek Theatre Festival is offering large scholarships to their full-immersion conservatory! For one week in August, teenagers who love the arts will have the opportunity to work hands-on with Broadway actors, award-winning directors, and voice-over artists from their favorite X-Box 360 video games. The week will cumulate in a staged reading of plays written by the students in the stunning Canyon Wren Hall. Icicle Creek has spent the past six months working in collaboration with ACT Theatre, and as part of the ICTF this summer, ACT's Artistic Director Kurt Beattie will be directing one of the plays. Scholarship applications are easy to fill out and available online. Students of all economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for scholarships. Find out more at their website!http://www.iciclecreekact.com/
DON'T MISS IT! ARTattack: Teen Night Out — American Rebels Are you ready to be a cultural rebel? We all know the American Revolution didn’t stop in 1776. Give props to your world-changing, revolutionary role models. They could be historical freedom fighters or people in your family or community who give back in a BIG way. Rock a poem, dance, make art or sing your heart out. We want to see your skills! Come make ARTattack your stage. Featuring local talent: SAM's Teen Advisory Group (TAG), Jason Webley, The Frontmen, Seattle Youth Poetry Slam finalists from Youth Speaks Seattle and more!Date: 5/8/2009 Time: 6-9 pm Location: SAM Downtown (near The Hammering Man)
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Presented by the Mayor's Youth CouncilTell the Mayor what you think!!!Voice your opinions!Saturday May 16, 2009At the VERA Projectlocated in Seattle Center at the corner of Warren Ave N and Republican Street12:30pm: Doors open1:00 - 2:00pm: Ask the Mayor2:30 - 4:00pm: Round Table Discussions onSchools Climate Action NOW Racial Discrimination Teen Homelessness EnvironmentQuestions???? Contact: Jenny Frankl, Program Coordinatorjenny.frankl@seattle.gov206.733.9588 (Office)Or Visit:pugetsoundoff.orgorhttp://www.seattle.gov/mayor/myc/
A review of Auntie Mameat Driftwood Players by Jenny S.Auntie Mame, based on the 1955 fictional account of a boy’s relationship with his freewheeling aunt has enjoyed many incarnations as a novel, play, movie, musical, and movie musical. Visual productions of Mame Dennis’s life tend to feature lavish period costumes, million dollar sets, and actresses of illustrious fame and renown in the title role. While the Driftwood Players production of Auntie Mame boasts none of these assets (the theatre is small and dingy, the costumes clearly rented from the community, and the cast comprised of local actors who have not, alas, quit their day jobs) nonetheless, this is community theatre at its best; a wonderful interpretation of Lawrence and Lee’s witty text. Once one becomes accustomed to the smaller scale on which The Driftwood produces its shows, it is easy to note the beauty and huge effort that went into this particular production. The Driftwood is a nonprofit organization which depends heavily on community support and volunteers to continue its existence, an existence ever more precarious in these times of financial hardships which are hitting arts and culture institutions extremely hard. Now more than ever we must continue to support all art forms, and continue to appreciate and value the institution of community theatre.Mame Dennis’s crazy adventures take place over a span of about thirty years, starting in the days of prohibition and jazz in the 20s, and spanning into poodle skirt wearing, chocolate-malt drinking world of the 50s. Mame’s character of carefree, living, loving, learning abandon has captivated audiences worldwide. The story of a kind hearted eccentric who takes in her orphaned nephew in order to “show him the ways of the world” is equal parts amusing and touching. The Driftwood’s production includes many creative elements that make this portrayal of the play individual and innovative. Little affections like playing music of the era during set transitions, which altered as the play progressed throughout the decades, transport the viewer to an earlier time. Local artist’s works are featured in the lobby of the theatre as well as in the set of Mame’s New-York City art deco apartment. Among the cast itself, Alyson Soma shines as a fine comic actress in the role of Agnes Gooch, a woman hired as a secretary to record Mame’s life story on a rickety type-writer into a multi-volume epic. Melody Mistlin and Laura Crouch also steal their scenes, respectively as a Broadway actress and a jealous Southern belle. Mame, a show written and directed (in this case) by men, is dominated by strong, often hilarious, female characters. Mame herself shines, under her slightly askew wig and fraying evening gown. Margaret Bicknell takes on the title role with class, talent, and tireless labor; she is scarcely ever off stage for more than three minutes at a time. She truly carried the show.“Live! Live! Live! Life is a banquet!” bursts out Mame, fighting the small mindedness of bigots, anti-Semites, and uncultured fools who continue to infringe on the education of her darling nephew. “And most poor sons of bitches are STARVING to death!” This most famous line of the show encompasses the message depicted in the somewhat lengthy production. Whether on Broadway or in Edmonds, Mame’s message of creativity and love for life leaves audiences with what can only be described as a warm glow. Imperfections and all, this fine production is highly recommended. Auntie Mame plays at Driftwood Players,located in Edmonds, now through May 2ndVisit www.driftwoodplayers.org or call 425.774.9600 for more information
A Review of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hydeat ACTby Tavis H.In this crazy world, time is money. We run to and fro trying to make short term bucks, long term bucks, and ultimately just enough bucks to get by. But sometimes all this buck bogarting can become a little tiring and we spend some of that cold hard cash on entertainment. Now when people like you and me seek entertainment we usually go for a movie, a concert, a night at the symphony, or a play. It is most disappointing when one learns that have spent their money to have someone waste their time. This is the problem with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde -the newly proclaimed “opus” of the rising American actor and playwright Jeffery Hatcher -a man that ACT Theater would like you to think is a rising star- it tricks you into thinking you are going to see a stage adaptation of one of the most celebrated novels of the latter two hundred years, then successfully robs you blind and wastes your time. Jekyll and Hyde is a striking example of how avant-garde theater can be an enormously pretentious flop; a parade of strained messages, weak themes, and moral conundrums –usually in the form of making you feel torn between leaving at intermission or sucking it up and pretending to get your money’s worth. To briefly summarize the show, it’s loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the story of the esteemed Doctor Jekyll who discovers a potion that can alter the physical and mental attributes of a person. Upon taking it, he transforms into the nefarious Mr. Hyde, a murderous, hateful misanthrope. The story itself is an alluring target for the modern playwright. I can see how it could be envisioned as a strong base for being crafted and altered into a psycho-philosophical exploration into nihilism, existentialism, realism, justice, emotion, good/evil, and all the other mumbo jumbo in-between. However where it fails miserably is in the key word PLOT. When dealing with philosophical shows like Waiting for Godot or Equus you are dealing with a show that is powerful because its plot is layered around a core of these messages, themes, and philosophy (MTP’s). These MTP’s are liquid, hardly tangible, free to interpret as we please, and no where near as solid as a plot. Therefore the well structured MTP show ends up like one of those vodka filled truffles; liquid on the inside, but cleverly held together by a shell of chocolate on the outside. However, Jeffery Hatcher seems to get this arrangement very confused. He tries to layer the plot driven story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with MTP’s. What you end up with is a small, solid, chocolate core with the vodka on the outside; it is very messy, and does not hold together one bit. What it results in is a quasi-minimalist, avant-garde flop that reminds us where the stereotype of bombastically vain theater comes from. Now, it would be unfair to rail against this show -nay, tear it a new one- without describing why it so dismally failed; and the one word to do so is script. The script is dreadfully loose, frequently dispersing imbecilic koans of hackneyed wisdom regarding morality meeting inherent nature, the mind juxtaposed to the brain, and one of my favorites, the discussion on how “the will is all one needs” and how “sin is nothing but weakness.” In other words if you have taken a psychology or basic philosophy class you will find these questions and statements awfully convoluted regarding the sense that the show can’t decide if it’s empiricist or rationalist; a failure of distinction that leaves you robbed of that little kernel of joy that you have at the end of a show or play where you say to yourself “hmmmm, that’s an interesting concept-- I’m going to think about that.” No, no, my friends, the way it has been written leads to the elusion of all facets of critical thinking, and in its place leaves a dark hole of mediocrity; one that leaves you nonchalant as well as nonplussed. The cliché dialogue not only dins the ears of the audience, but also renders a state of blasé drudgery for the techies, director, and actors.The script is life and death for any fine actor. A great actor can deliver a script so as to make it excellent, but when it comes to actors that are skilled in their profession, yet not quite great, a script can annihilate them all. This was what definitely happened to the victimized actors of Jekyll and Hyde. They were killed by their script. It was clear that all of them were pouring great amounts of energy and focus into creating and maintaining the multiple characters they had to play (despite the fact that the Scottish accents were atrocious) yet only two were able to escape the poor structure and cheap, two-bit dialogue of the show. They were David Pichette (Mr. Gabriel Utterson, Mr. Edward Hyde) a wonderful Seattle actor, and Bradford Farwell (Dr. Henry Jekyll) a fine actor making his Seattle debut.Now there was some err on the parts of the actors. Many of the lines they delivered were cut with long, strained pauses and stutters. This would often lead the audience into falling out of the illusion and wonder whether the actor had forgotten a line or was just not delivering it well. There is also one actress who was good, but horribly miscast. Sylvie Davidson (Ms. Elizabeth Jelkes) is clearly strong in her trade but was poorly directed and was allowed to go into a form of acting more fitting for the drama of the high school grapevine. The totality of the show cannot be entirely blamed on the script however, for there was another significant flaw that forced my date and I to draw blood from our knuckles trying not to laugh out loud. The music of the show was mostly that of Phillip Glass’ Dracula soundtrack –an epic that I have a great affection for- and was played at the most inappropriate times, reminding me of the Ingmar Bergman movie Smiles of the Summer Night and how Bergman decided to place the most comical sound bits at the most awkward spots. If you are unfamiliar with Bergman’s film, imagine watching a very serious courtroom drama, and all of the sudden, in the middle of a tear jerking witness stand confession, Banana Phone starts blasting over the PA system…yes, it is very silly. It is with this in mind, my friends, that I suggest you steer clear from ACT until May 22nd –when another show comes out- for if you go, you will be grossly disappointed and you will feel that your five or ten dollars could have gone towards scrumptiously well-priced Thai food instead of a dreary night at a show that is more confused than its own main character. Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde plays at ACT now through May 9thvisit www.acttheatre.org or call 206 292-7676 for tickets and information.Disagree with this review? Leave a comment, or submit a review of your own to teentix@seattle.gov
Teatro ZinZanni presents Camp ZinZanniSix One-Week Summer Day Circus Camps for Children Ages 9-16from July 6 through August 15Held in Teatro ZinZanni’s Magical SpiegeltentObjects in Motion – Juggling, Yo-Yo, Rings, Hoops, Ribbons, SpinningPlates, Diabolo, Cigar Boxes, Spinning Clubs, Hats, and magic handtricks.July 6 – July 11 Ages 9 – 12July 27 – August 1 Ages 13 - 16Let’s Get Physical – Physical expression through Slapstick, Dance,Movement, Mime and Clowning.July 13 – July 18 Ages 9 – 12July 20 – July 25 Ages 13 - 16Acrobalance – Floor Acrobatics, Tumbling and Balance on Trampoline,Rola Bola, Ladder, Stilts, Unicycle, Rolling Globes and Aerial Arts.August 3 – August 8 Ages 9 – 12August 10 – August 15 Ages 13 - 16Each session will culminate in a free revue-style performance for family and friendsunder Teatro ZinZanni's antique red velvet spiegeltent. Cost per camper is $350 persession. For enrollment information, please visit http://zica.zinzanni.org.All the details and a video can be found here:http://zica.zinzanni.org/camps.htm
Teen Tix Special Eventat ACT TheatreDr. Jeckyll and Mr. HydeCome celebrate the first show of ACT's 2009 season with a special backstage tour, a conversation with Artistic Director Kurt Beatie, and gourmet popcorn to boot!Your Teen Tix pass gets you $5 admission to all of the above.Tuesday April 21st6:00pm: Tour of ACT's theatre and backstage spaces by Steve Coulter, Technical Director6:45pm: Conversation with Kurt Beatie, Artistic Director about the importance of theater in society, and about Jeckyll and Hyde7:00pm: Gourmet popcorn and soda snack7:30pm See the show!ACT is an amazing space. . .you don't want to miss out on the tour.About the Show:Jeffrey Hatcher has seen the Victorians, and they are us. In his inventive retelling of the classic thriller, four different actors play Henry Jekyll's depraved alter ego. With its observations on the blurry line between good and evil, audiences will savor this show's psychological musings as much as its classic melodrama. And if you think this timeless story just might say something about how we live today, well...the doctor is in."Hatcher has written a play that honors the original, but gives a more complex interpretation of the dual nature of man . . . It's a dark and disturbing story liberally peppered with humor."Arizona Daily StarYou must RSVP to attend. Email teentix@seattle.gov with the name and number of people attending by Monday April 20th.
A Review of Improvise Your Own Adventureat Unexpected ProductionsBy Jasmine K.The "Improvise Your Own Adventure" at Unexpected Productions exceeded my expectations beyond belief. I had to keep telling myself that every show is different, there is no script, and the actors were just wingin' it. They performed adequately considering the constraints of the media. The whole theatre was engaged in the experience and it wasn't just actors on a stage that were performing a play, it was raw, interactive and hands down hilarious. I highly suggest anyone [the shows are all-ages friendly] to see this show, over and over again, it will never be the same, that's the great thing about improv. If that doesn't convince you enough, deep sea+engaged couple+pre-honeymoon disaster+underwater volcano+crazy submarine people=laugh-til-you-cry-syndrome, and you will leave this show quoting lines that will never be heard... because there was no script! Beautiful!I can't even put it into words! I'm so glad I went!Unexpected Productions is housed at the Market Theatre in Pike Place Market.They have shows Wednesday thru Sunday, several shows a night.Current offerings include: Improvise Your Own Adventure, Theatre Sports, and Duo Comedy Improv ShowcaseCheck out www.unexpectedproductions.org for more information, and then use your Teen Tix pass to get $5 tickets any time!
National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)April 24 - 26, 2009113 Films by Filmmakers 22 and Underheld at SIFF Cinema, Cinerama, and EMP/SFMParticipate in Panels, Workshops, Concerts, Parties and much more!This year over 75 of our filmmakers are coming from around the world, as well as dozens of Hollywood professionals; so it's a great opportunity to meet lots of cool people. visit www.nffty.org for more information.SPECIAL DEALTeen Tix members gain admission to film screenings for $5 with your Teen Tix Pass orGain entry to all NFFTY 09 film screenings, panels, and special events by purchasing a VIP Festival PassThis pass normally costs $65, but as a Teen Tix member you can get it for $20!!To order your pass today, visit http://nffty09vip.eventbrite.com/?discount=teentix
A review of Swan Lakeby Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hallby Renee A.Love at first sight, evil sorcerers, and evil look-a-likes: sounds like the latest bad teenage soap opera. Actually, what I really am referring to is Pacific Northwest Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake (playing April 9th through the 19th at McCaw Hall). I would just like to point out the dance is beautifully done and about the furthest thing away from a bad teenage soap opera. My opening night experience was immaculate as all aspects of the show, from the staff’s eager willingness to direct me to the pre-show talk (I got a little turned around), to the beauty of the set and costumes made me want to come back and see it all again!For those of you unfamiliar with the plot, Swan Lake is about the tragic love between Prince Siegfried (played opening night by Lucien Postlewaite) and Odette the Swan Queen (Kaori Nakamura), a woman who spends her days in bird form and only returns to her beautiful, human form at night. The audience follows along as Prince Siegfried is informed by his mother, the Queen, that he must choose a bride. The story then truly turns to fantasy when on a hunting excursion, the Prince and his men encounter a flock of swans that magnificently transform into women (in a glorious dance number of course). Soon after experiencing the swan-girls for the first time, we get to meet the sorcerer (quite a dramatic character), who is responsible for the curse put on Odette and the others. While the story can be found all over the internet, and if you attend the pre-show lecture you will hear the entire plot, I am not in favor of spoiling the ending for you.So before I do my final schpiel of encouraging you to partake in this fantastical experience, I thought I would touch on a few of the highlights of the show just to give you that added urge to go. I never thought that dancers and actors partook in each others’ worlds, unless it was to be in a musical, but these dancers have not only mastered their beautiful choreography but also the strong acting that it takes to carry out a show with no talking. I found the Prince (Played by Lucien Postlewaite) to demonstrate particularly excellent acting skills but my favorite character by far was the Jester (played by Jonathan Porretta) and I suggest that you keep a watch out for his mischievous antics throughout the show. Also an interesting fact that I learned at the pre-show lecture is that the entire set is built slightly at a 5 degree angle. Once I made it into the auditorium I saw for myself that it is true. I agree wholly with PNB’s Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington that this idea does help the allusion that the story is taking place in another world, similar yet different that the one we live in. So if you are craving for something different that the usual Friday movie and friends routine, or you are simply looking for a new experience to expand your horizons, consider getting yourself down to McCaw Hall to catch a performance of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Swan Lake.Swan Lake plays at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center now through April 19th, 2009visit www.pnb.org for tickets and information, or call 206.441.2424
