TeenTix Blog

The K of D, an urban legend at Seattle Rep"It was truly an excellent play, and Renata Friedman is a total beast. She manages to portray at least fifteen different characters distinctly and seamlessly, ranging all over the stage as she flips between personalities to tell the story. As she weaves her own legend, you’ll find yourself leaning forward, intrigued and morbidly fascinated by the story." - Tucker C., Teen Press Corps"...a beautifully detailed and evocative physical production...[featuring] the fierce, dexterous talents of noted Seattle stage actor Renata Friedman." - Seattle Times"all at once creepy, funny, poignant and moving" - Broadway World Seattle"As she skitters back and forth across the dock, her shadow looms like a giantess above the eerie rural setting...Her presence truly is larger than life—much larger, in fact, than the skinny, long-limbed girl on stage." - Seattle Met Culture Fiend"It's impossibly cheesy and delightfully creepy all at once...[director] Abraham makes sure that her bravura performance never distracts us from the mood of a great yarn being told with high style." - Seattle WeeklyThe K of D, an urban legendThrough February 20Seattle Repertory TheatrePhotos by Chris Bennion

Name: Tucker!Age: 17!School: Bothell High!Favorite teen tix experience....Rimini Protokoll [at On the Boards] takes the cake. That was some trippy stuff.One Teen Tix venue that you wish more people knew about: Unexpected Productions. But if you go to their improv shows, bring a change of clothes, because you might pee yourself laughing. Just FYI.Which foreign language do you most want to learn? I really want to learn either Norwegian, Swedish, or Icelandic. I have a theory that those countries are populated entirely by beautiful blond men that are dying to meet me. I am all too happy to oblige them.What is your perfect Saturday? My perfect Saturday involves any combination of the following: Green tea, reading, PNB, bicycles, being in Seattle at midnight, Cupcake Royale, NWFF, European people, cameras, and adventures.Do you have any New Year's resolutions? I have resolved to read at least 12 books that I am not required to read for a class or work. I am very bad about this.What is one thing you must do before you die? Date a beautiful Scandinavian man. Or possibly skydive.In/OutCollege Right Away or Gap year - Unless you're in the Peace Corps or something, in which case you are a rock star.Coffee or Tea - Green tea is on direct loan from heaven.English or Bio - John Steinbeck is a mofo and can beat up a Punnett square any day of the week.Poetry or Prose - At the same time, Robert Frost is also a mofoFacebook or Not Facebook (In my opinion, people who aren't on Facebook shouldn't be allowed to vote in this, because they are not real people).Car or Bus - For less than a buck, someone is going to drive you there. 90% of the time, this is a no-brainer.Early bird or Night Owl - Ben Franklin really only got half the truth.Jeggings or Pajama jeans - BOTH OF THESE ARE GROSS WHY WOULD YOU EVER SHAME YOURSELF IN PUBLIC LIKE THIS???The Teen Tix Steering Committee is a group of young, committed arts leaders who help guide and shape the Teen Tix program. We'll be introducing you to one member of your Steering Committee every few days here on the blog. Interested in joining the Steering Committee? More info can be found here.

Teen Steering Committee member Tucker C. reports on Teen Night at The K of D at Seattle Rep On Sunday, January 16, a group of over one hundred teenagers came to the Seattle Repertory Theatre. They thought they were there just to eat cake and mill around before watching The K of D, Seattle Rep’s edgy new play exploring urban legends. Little did they know, however, that they had just walked into my sinister, murder-tastic trap. As they milled around getting to know each other, I moved from table to table like a shadow, killing people as stealthily as I came. It should be noted that I am such a classy murderer that I need only inform people that I have killed them for them to die, no weapons required. All was going swimmingly until one wary witness caught me red-handed and turned me in, ending my homicidal streak and winning the game. WATCH THE KAKE OF DEATH SLIDESHOW: After I was safely in prison (don’t get too comfortable, though—state budget cuts have me eligible for parole in two years!) other fabulous awards to the partygoers were given, including free tickets to those who could guess which Seattle urban legend was a fake. All of these fancy and fun events transpired, of course, while set to the teenageresque soundtrack of FREAKOUT. Some daring Teen Steering Committee members even tried to get some action moving on the dance floor, but to no avail. I can only assume that they were terrified danceless by the dangerous, suave, and very sexy murderer prowling about. Almost everyone, however, enjoyed some of the Kake of Death, which caused only a few less deaths than I did. Soon enough, everyone got their seats and enjoyed some quality theatre. It was truly an excellent play, and Renata Friedman is a total beast. She manages to portray at least fifteen different characters distinctly and seamlessly, ranging all over the stage as she flips between personalities to tell the story. As she weaves her own legend, you’ll find yourself leaning forward, intrigued and morbidly fascinated by the story.

Name: Emily H.Age: 15School: Garfield High SchoolFavorite Teen Tix experience (so far): Nutcracker! But Ruined was good too...One Teen Tix venue that you wish more people knew about: Intiman (well, teenagers at least)Which foreign language do you most want to learn? RussianWhat is your perfect Saturday? TV all morning, then dinner and a show with friendsDo you have any New Year's resolutions? to do something creative everyday!What is one thing you must do before you die? master sewingIn/OutCollege Right Away or Gap YearCoffee or Tea (neither, water with lemon English or BioPoetry or ProseFacebook or Not FacebookCar or BusEarly Bird or Night OwlJeggings or Pajama Jeans (or as J.Crew calls them, "leggy denim")The Teen Tix Steering Committee is a group of young, committed arts leaders who help guide and shape the Teen Tix program. We'll be introducing you to one member of your Steering Committee every few days here on the blog. Interested in joining the Steering Committee? More info can be found here.

Hey! It's our Crush-of-the-Month, actor Renata Friedman, talking about being the entire cast of The K of D and why she thinks it's such a great play for young audiences (Hint: good for short attention spans. Yay!)The K of D, an urban legendSeattle Repertory TheatreThrough February 20

Review of Mozart's Requiem at Seattle Symphony by Safaa D.To all those who are awaiting the chance to visit the Seattle Symphony: it's time to grab a cab to Benaroya Hall. All others who have experienced an enchanting evening at the Symphony, bring a friend, relax and let your mind be worked for you by the intricate weavings of Mozart’s Requiem.I am one of those people who has no formal musical education, sad to say, but I envy the people who can bring such clear crisp notes seemingly out of thin air. (I never could understand the kids who complained about piano lessons.) For now, attending the Seattle Symphony will fill the gap between me and this otherworldly language. Getting the chance to attend a night of mostly Mozart had me watching the clock all day until the time of the performance.When the orchestra begins their first piece, Daniel Brewbaker's Be Thou the Voice, you forget that about thirty musicians are all playing on separate instruments. The orchestra, led by Gerard Schwarz, impresses you with the idea that all the musicians are playing one large instrument. And, in a way, they are.Though music is suppose to be mainly an auditory art, the performance is visually stunning as well. The stage and the flashing instruments belonging to all those well-practiced musicians, give you the idea of a sunset complete with music. The orchestra appears to perform effortlessly, a tribute to the artists’ hard work and dedication.The highlight of the evening for me, without doubt, is the French Horn performance by John Cerminaro. A truly moving spectacle, the intricate French Horn is brought to life in full playing Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 2. You feel as if a faun followed by a phalanx of wood sprites is going to jump out from behind the cellos. After this enchanting serenade, the talented Cerminaro shakes hands with the not-quite-drenched first violinist.The night comes alive with the flute-like voice of Soprano Christina Siemens (replacing the absent Hanan Alattar for the Thursday performance) ringing out purely to the enraptured audience. This is not to overlook the rest of the talented soloists (Mezzo: Allyson McHardy; Tenor: Ross Hauk; and Baritone: Weston Hurt) who gave stellar performances. They were accompanied by the vibrant, euphonic Symphony Chorale.People attending Seattle Symphony are people who truly wish to be here, enjoying and respecting the hard working musicians who in return give a stunning performance.I hope all who enjoy music or wish to try something new will attend this enticing bit of culture. And a good thing about Mozart's Requiem is you don't have to go to a funeral to hear it.Mozart's Requiem is closed. Next up at Seattle Symphony: Opera Highlights Festival I. More info at seattlesymphony.org

Name: Haley B.Age: 16School: Holy Names AcademyFavorite Teen Tix experience (so far): Getting front row seats to Nutcracker.One Teen Tix venue that you wish more people knew about: Seattle Symphony (yes, it's Teen Tix!)Bio: I'm just an environmentalist art nerd who loves going to Seattle shows and helping out Teen Tix.Which foreign language do you most want to learn? ChineseWhat is your perfect Saturday? Get up. go to easy street records, Chinese food lunch & a good show.What is one thing you must do before you die? Get lost in New York City and not care one bit.In/OutCollege Right Away or Gap YearCoffee or TeaEnglish or BioPoetry or ProseFacebook or Not FacebookCar or BusEarly Bird or Night OwlJeggings or Pajama JeansThe Teen Tix Steering Committee is a group of young, committed arts leaders who help guide and shape the Teen Tix program. We'll be introducing you to one member of your Steering Committee every few days here on the blog. Interested in joining the Steering Committee? More info can be found here.

Hey Opera Lovers!Seattle Opera's current production of The Barber of Seville is a major hit! But sadly, several upcoming performances are already SOLD OUT, meaning NO Teen Tix will be available for the following dates:Saturday January 22Sunday January 23Saturday January 29You may still have a chance though at the other performance days on the 21st, 26th, and 28th.Best to call ahead. 206.389.7676So plan accordingly. . .

Mozart's Requiem at Seattle SymphonyThe story Mozart's final composition is shrouded in mystery. Commissioned by a Count (who eventually tried to take credit for it himself), the work was left unfinished at the time of Mozart's death. His widow, Constanze, had it completed by another composer, Süssmayr, but kept his identity a secret so that she could continue to make money off of it. Then, Pushkin's opera Mozart and Salieri asserted that Antonio Salieri completed the work, and this myth was solidified by Peter Shaffer's epic play, Amadeus, and turned into common knowledge when Amadeus was adapted for film in the '80s. Here's what we know for sure: Mozart's Requiem is one of the most haunting, moving compositions ever. Go.LISTENMozart's RequiemSeattle SymphonyJanuary 20, 21 & 22

Name: Julie H.Age: 14School: Mercer Island High SchoolFavorite Teen Tix experience (so far): Going to see a laser light show (Michael Jackson) the day I turned 13.One Teen Tix venue that you wish more people knew about: Seattle Laser Dome!About me: I was born in Michigan, moved to France, back to Michigan, then WA in the summer of 2nd & 3rd grade. I am a year young for my grade. I have a dog & 2 rabbits, but have had 13 pets in my lifetime. I love tennis, dancing, acting, animals, traveling, talking, making new friends, and a lot more!Which foreign language do you most want to learn? Italian. I speak French & Spanish and Italian is similar.Do you have any New Year's resolutions? Become closer to God, and nature!What is one thing you must do before you die? Too many to say! Move somewhere very interesting and over time be more adventurous.In/OutCollege right away or Gap yearCoffee or TeaEnglish or Biology BOTHFacebook or Not Facebook Don't have one, but want one! Otherwise, email.Car or BusEarly bird or Night owlJeggings or Pajama jeans ?

The Agile, Artful, Awfully Cute Renata FriedmanInterview by Safaa D.One of Renata's many faces in The K of D. Photo by Chris Bennion.Q. Tell us a little about yourself and where you grew upA. I was born in Montana, but moved to Port Townsend when I was 2, so did most of my growing up there. I'm currently based out of Seattle, after spending many years in New York full time and then several more years living a very bi-coastal existence.Q. Your father owns a theater in Port Townsend, did this influence you to go into acting?A. By the time he opened it, I already knew I wanted to be an actor, but growing up in a cinema certainly taught me a lot. I'd head down there after school and do my homework in the lobby, then spend the rest of the evening tearing tickets and watching movies. The 90's was such an incredible decade for independent film, and those were my formative middle and high school years. I remember being especially taken by the movies of Jim Jarmusch, Zhang Yimou, Robert Altman, Krzyzstof Kieslowski and the Coen brothers. I watched a whole lot of Rated-R art flicks when I was very much underage.Q. You travel quite a bit between New York and Seattle, what differences do you see between the two theater scenes?A. Size is one of the most fundamental differences. We have a couple dozen theatres/companies in Seattle, and New York has hundreds. Because of the abundance of theatre in NYC, it's more a part of the everyday--I know folks back east who see two or three plays a week. Seattle is actually full of actors who defected from New York at some point in their career looking for a better quality of life, and I think that's reflected in the warmth of the theatre community here.Trick Danneker as Orpheus and Renata Friedman as Eurydice in Eurydice at ACT Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.Q.The K of D is premiering this weekend at the Rep and you are the entire cast! Tell us about The K of D and how you came to take it on.A. The play centers around a young girl in rural Ohio who develops the Kiss of Death. I play a number of characters, including the girl's parents and a handful of teenagers who were there when she was struck with her mysterious power. I've been involved with the show since 2006 when I did a reading/workshop of it at ACT Theatre. A couple years later I decided to produce it myself in Seattle. I hired Braden Abraham as director, and he pulled together a great team of designers. After that show proved a success, we were accepted into the New York International Fringe Festival and later the Fringe Encores Series in 2009. The playwright, Laura Schellhardt, has been an unwavering supporter of our production, which has helped spur on its continuously evolving performance life.Q. You acted in some wonderful pieces in 2010, where can we expect to find you next?A. I'm actually considering a couple out of town possibilities at this point, but I can't say much more than that. The Seattle audition season is just about to start up for the Equity houses, so beginning in March I'll be going in for the next round of auditions for the 2011/12 line-up, which will determine my employment (or unemployment) in Seattle for the next year.Q. Any bit of wisdom you've picked up out of all your years of acting?A. I wish someone had warned me when I was younger that acting employment doesn't have all that much to do with talent. Booking a role comes down to timing, what you look like, who you know, your reputation, business savvy, and the director's mood on the day you read for them. It's important not to equate unemployment with lack of skill. Sometimes years of hard work and tenacity really do pay off, sometimes you get lucky quick, and sometimes it's an endless uphill battle. There's no formula. This profession is a huge gamble. Don Darryl Rivera, Steven Epp, Renata , Allen Gilmore and Daniel Breaker in A Doctor in Spite of Himself at Intiman Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion. Q. When you are not rehearsing or performing what can you be found doing?A. Practicing the ukelele. Reading. Cooking. Going to Elliot Bay Book Co. and staring at all the pretty books. Seeing all my dear and wonderful friends. Writing letters. Bike rides with my boyfriend. Figuring out what the next acting job's going to be.Q. Are you a reader? What's your favorite book?A. When I was a teenager, my favorite books were the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransom. I still reread those every few years.Q. Leave us with some lyrics or quote that you like.A. Um. I don't think any of my favorite quotes are appropriate to publish in this interview.Thanks Renata! We think you're pretty much the greatest.See Renata play seventeen different characters (!) in The K of D, playing now through February 20th at Seattle Rep. More info at seattlerep.org

Name: Rosemary T.Age: 14School: Homeschool!Favorite Teen Tix experience (so far): going to god of carnage at the Seattle RepTeen Tix venue you wish more people knew about: Unexpected Productions (they're hilarious!)Which foreign language do you most want to learn? CHINESE!What is your perfect Saturday? Hanging out with friends baking, and then salsaing the night away!What is one thing you must do before you die? Visit India and drink a mango lassi.In/OutCollege Right Away or Gap YearCoffee or TeaEnglish or BioPoetry or Prose (neither...)Facebook or Not FacebookCar or BusEarly Bird or Night OwlJeggings or Pajama JeansThe Teen Tix Steering Committee is a group of young, committed arts leaders who help guide and shape the Teen Tix program. We'll be introducing you to one member of your Steering Committee every few days here on the blog. Interested in joining the Steering Committee? More info can be found here.

SuttonBeresCuller: Panoptos @ Henry Art Gallery

It's your final month to catch this show. Here's how it works: in one room, you control an atari-style joystick that in turn controls a high-def camera that, in another room, peruses an entire gallery full of art. The effect is disorienting and delicious, and makes you look at art in a whole new way. Go.PanoptosHenry Art Gallery11-4: Wed11-9: Thu, Fri11-4: Sat, SunClosed: Mon, TueThrough February 23rd, 2011Henry Art Gallery is ALWAYS FREE for Teen Tix members, and you can always bring a guest for $5!PANOPTOS micro-site: henryartexhibits.org/panoptosSuttonBeresCuller website: suttonberesculler.comSuttonBeresCullter facebook: facebook.com/suttonberescullerHere's Mykaila's Crush of the Month profile of the three artists behind this opus, from back in October:Blush-inducing art trio SuttonBeresCullerby Mykaila O.On my way to interview John Sutton and Ben Beres of SuttonBeresCuller, there was one question I was absolutely dying to ask: How do you cut a van in half?SuttonBeresCuller (John Sutton, Ben Beres, and Zac Culler) make unexpected—unexpectable—art. From living on a floating island on Lake Washington (The Island) to putting a little park on a van trailer (Trailer Park) to making a portable living room with only three walls (There Goes the Neighborhood) to a sculpture creation made out of fans (The Answer, My Friend...) SuttonBeresCuller have mastered the creation of mildly mind-bending, often grin-provoking, intensely imaginative art. Their current installation, Panoptos, at Henry Art Gallery, is no exception—it’s 100% crushworthy, just like its creators.Panoptos @ Henry Art GalleryPhoto by Matt WesterveltJohn and Ben (and I’m sure Zac too) are crushworthy because their art is genius. That’s the reason. Straight up. It takes a genius (or three geniuses) to create what they do and create the way they do. Their immense creativity is enough to induce blushing in even the most stoic of art-digging teenagers. SuttonBeresCuller’s intensity, dedication, and focus about their art amazes — they’ve been working on one particularly challenging piece, Mini Mart City Park, for about six years. They are ready for just about any worst-case scenarios, learning as they go about what they need to do to realize their ideas like figuring out and creating the ideal light system for the camera to minimize glare on the pictures hung in Panoptos.Watch Mykaila's interview with John and Ben:Though a crazy genius artistic trio might seem a little intimidating, John and Ben were warm and inviting, and the trio seem to be nothing less than gregarious. Not surprising since they’ve worked with environmentalists, computer programmers, electrical engineers, and van cutters-in-half during the production of their art. Creative, intelligent, determined, friendly, genius? Sounds pretty crushworthy to me.And as for that van? They told me it had to be done with extreme care.Hey! It's a SuttonBeresCuller slideshow!

Review of Chamber Cymbeline at Seattle Shakespeare Company by Alyssa T. If reading Shakespeare for your English class wasn’t the best experience ever, seeing Chamber Cymbeline can restore your faith in Will’s ability to entertain (and not torture). Unlike many English teachers, Seattle Shakespeare Company tries and succeeds at making this Shakespearean play a pleasure to watch.

Celebrate Asia! at Seattle SymphonySumi Jo is awesomeCelebrate the musical traditions of China, Japan, Korea and India together with those of the West in this spectacular, one-night only event. Now in its third year, Celebrate Asia! will feature world-renowned, Grammy Award–winning Korean soprano Sumi Jo, a Japanese koto performance and more. PLUS, four local ensembles representing different ethnicities within Seattle’s Asian community will perform in the lobby before the show: Thai traditional folk music and dance group Chaopraya Ensemble; Filipino folkloric music ensemble Rondalya sa Seattle; and a trio of students from the Zhenlun Cello Studio, as well as Chinese Lion Dance from Belltown Martial Arts, both representing the Chinese community.Celebrate Asia!Friday, January 14 @ 7:30Seattle Symphony

Radoslaw Rychcik | In the Solitude of Cotton Fields @ On the Boards

The National Theatre Live: HamletTONIGHT at SIFF CinemaSIFF is kicking off a year-long series of screenings high-def "digital cinema exhibitions" from Britain's National Theatre with a modern-dress Hamlet that folks say is "suberb." The thespians at the National Theatre, as you might expect, have got some game, and, anyway, Shakespeare always sounds better coming off of English lips. Well, it does. The National Theatre Live: HamletMonday, January 10 @ 7:30SIFF Cinema

Nervous about using your Teen Tix pass for the first time? Never fear! Veteran Teen Tix users are here to tell you that they feel your pain, but it's really just not that scary. Watch!

Name: HallieB.Age: 16School: Seattle Waldorf High SchoolFavorite Teen Tix experience (so far): Speech & Debate at Seattle RepTeen Tix venue you wish more people knew about: YATCWhich foreign language do you most want to learn? I want to get better at Spanish, but I also want to learn Arabic.What is your perfect Saturday? Going to dance, meeting friends, and then going to see a show!Do you have any New Year's resolutions? No, I don't usually make them.What is one thing you must do before you die? Live in a foreign country.In/OutCollege Right Away or Gap YearCoffee or TeaEnglish or BioPoetry or ProseFacebook or Not FacebookCar or BusEarly Bird or Night OwlJeggings or Pajama JeansThe Teen Tix Steering Committee is a group of young, committed arts leaders who help guide and shape the Teen Tix program. We'll be introducing you to one member of your Steering Committee every few days here on the blog. Interested in joining the Steering Committee? More info can be found here.

Connor Toms really is becoming a SST's favorite.