TeenTix Blog

Review of Young Americans' Theatre Company's Polaroid Stories by Emma MeHomeless individuals are a constant fixture on the streets of any major city. However, most of the homeless people seen are usually adults. Teenagers are rarely seen on bustling city streets, begging for money and food. This does not mean that they don’t exist.Polaroid Stories, the Young Americans' Theatre Company's newest play, weaves through the stories and interactions of a variety of homeless teenagers and examines their struggle to survive. My expectations were uncertain before seeing this show, for I had little knowledge and understanding of the mindset of this type of teen. The cozy basement theatre was an ideal setting, leaving the actors to get up close and personal with the audience. A simple set was provided in the background: a chain link fence littered with photographs and writings as symbols of hope, as well as a blank wall which would soon make its purpose become known.The lights dim until all that can be seen is a girl who says nothing. She simply holds out a remote and starts a slideshow projecting onto the blank wall. This occurs periodically throughout the show, depicting the homeless teens and their actions in a creative and revealing manner. I watched with curiosity as the slideshow ended and the teens appeared. Sometimes there would be a large group of them, arguing about their dreams to grow up to own the world. Sometimes there would be two of them, trying to maintain a faithful relationship in a life of distrust. Sometimes there would be only one, telling their story of how they came to be homeless in the first place.Nearly all of the scenes deal with anger, wishes, and forgetfulness. Shouting is common, especially at the companions who serve as reminders of what life has become. There are stories, recollections of events and people past. Having nothing left, many of the teens turn to drugs and alcohol to aid them in forgetting their situation. Swearing is constant, for the teens have no reason to censor themselves after all they have been through.I felt as though I had been dropped into the daily lives of the characters. The amazing and convincing actors help to convey the myriad of emotions that homeless teenagers deal with. With a clever and expressive script containing poetry, metaphor, and endless description, I got to experience what homeless teenagers are put through, and why they make the choices that they do. This show is interesting in that it spotlights how the homeless view others and utilizes the emotionally vulnerable perspectives of teenagers to describe it. By the time I walked out of the theatre to the busy streets above, I carried a message of how hard life can really be and a greater idea of some of the things that go on behind those streets.Polaroid StoriesYoung Americans' Theatre Company at Balagan TheatreThrough August 8NOTE: Recommended for people age 14 and up due to language and mature themes. No one under 14 will be admitted.SNAPSHOTS: Teens-Only Night With Young Americans' Theatre CompanyThursday, August 5thParty (with FREE food and photo-art-making!) at 7:00Show at 8:00$5 Teen Tix available NOW at brownpapertickets.com

I would be most interested in plays with standard adult topics that also feature strong young characters. I would not say no to a play just about teenagers and their lives, but my preference would be the inclusion of realistic and developed teenage roles in plays with other adults.

A Not-So-Ruined Production of Hope, Humor, and Humilityby Nikolina SPart 1: "RUINED"Rarely does theater inspire us to do better, to be better, to feel, that, as adolescents we can make a difference in the world. I came into Ruined believing it to be a story of yet another African tragedy; I was precocious, however, in assuming that this would be the extent of it. The Congolese War is indeed an African tragedy, with hundreds of thousands of cases of repeated rapes and assaults on women, millions dead, and a large chunk of the population in refugee camps, the conflict is vicious and the fight for survival is severe. Ruined is not only able to shed light on the issue, enlightening audience goers of the horrors that young women must face on a daily basis in the Congo, but outstandingly enough, it is able to create the story with humor and humility. More importantly however, it is able to make what is happening in the Congo relevant to each and every one of us.Photo by Joan MarcusThe story introduces three young women, all different and unique in their own ways but all sharing a similar fate: prostitution to escape the war. Like many young girls, they enjoy rap music, singing, dancing and reading romantic novels. While Josephine and Salima oblige the requests of the many soldiers that come into Mama Nadi’s, the audience soon realizes where the title Ruined comes from. The third young woman, Sophie is a victim of a brutal and mutilating rape, all too common in the Congo, which in turn makes her unable to engage in sexual behavior. Despite Mama Nadi’s initial unwillingness to take Sophie in, screaming “I’m running a business, not a mission!” she eventually succumbs as a favor to her friend, Christian, and a box of Belgian chocolates. The crude language and disturbing scenes of rape and groping are balanced with comedic relief from Christian, the local trader and Mama Nadi’s friend.Photo by Chris BennionI found myself hating Mama Nadi for putting the girls up to prostitution while she sat behind the bar counter and greedily collected her money, emotionless as to what the girls were going though. We soon realize, however, that Mama Nadi is a very complex, multidimensional character. Although she makes the girls prostitute, she is in fact protecting them at the same time by providing them with a roof over their heads, food to eat and a refuge from the barbarous soldiers that repeatedly assaulted the girls in their former lives. In one of the most powerful moments of the play, Sophie, who limps as a result of the assaults, reveals “every step I take I feel them in me.” I didn’t find myself weeping crocodile tears, instead I was awed at the courage of these women who are not much older than myself. The fact that this young girl can still hold her head high and continue with her life is extremely inspiring because it shows that despite the horrible hardships faced by so many women, there is still hope for a better tomorrow. Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the play was the odd love connection between the giddy Christian and the pessimistic Mama Nadi, who reveals her feelings on the subject: “love, it is a poisonous word.”Portia as Mama Nadi and Russell G. Jones as Christian. Photo by Chris Bennion.The transitions are carried out effortlessly by the music of Africa, the drumming of the cast and the beautiful voices of actors Condola Rashad (who plays Sophie) and Portia (Mama Nadi). I felt the audience mesmerized and captivated as much as myself by the incredible performance of the entire cast, particularly Portia. Portia’s portrayal of Mama Nadi invoked more fear in me than did the commander of the militia. The standing ovation from the audience at the end of the production was much deserved.Part 2: AFTER RUINEDPhoto by Susan Schulman. See more of Schulman's photos of the Congo at Congo Now!I had the opportunity to interview Zaki Abdelhamid, the Director of Education and Community Programs at Intiman Theatre, and Russell Jones, the actor who portrays Christian. When we weren’t joking around about Justin Beiber or expressing our fascination with the late Michael Jackson, we were able to talk about the seriousness of what Ruined represents and what people can do to help. Both men are clearly passionate not just about the production itself but about the importance of spreading the word about the atrocities that are currently happening in the Congo. Zaki told me about Intiman’s “International Cycle,” a series of productions over the next five years that are designed to bring awareness and inspire activism for global conflicts. Ruined is the first production in the series and already the reaction has been phenomenal. Zaki was especially happy to admit that Ruined, in terms of popularity and response, is in the top 3 of all productions ever put on at the Intiman. Zaki attributes Ruined’s success to people of Seattle, “they ask me ‘what can I do?’” Many of the raped women in the Congo have genital defects that are very expensive to cure. The Panzi Hospital, the one that Sophie wishes to go to, is a real hospital that specializes in reconstructive surgery. After every show, the cast has been accepting donations, two-thirds of which go directly to the hospital and a third of which go toward supporting Intiman’s International Cycle.TAKING ACTIONCONGO NOW! on FacebookIntiman's Run for Congo Women, October 16th, Green LakeThe Enough! Project with suggestions for practical steps you can take (like supporting "conflict-free" electronics)Panzi Hospital of Bukava - a mission to help survivors of sexual violence in the CongoWe then talked about what young people can do because I mentioned that when I saw the show, I noticed that there weren’t very many adolescents in the audience. While he did concede that, he also said that they “have seen an increase in young audiences” and are “working on bringing more young people” because its “not the lack of young people interested, we just have to reach them.”The Congo Now project is aimed specifically at young people to inspire “awareness and activism.” Congo Now has both a Twitter and Facebook page that young adults and teenagers can check out to find out more about the conflict in the Congo. Zaki also mentioned “active invitation” to Ruined as a great way for young people to become aware of the Congolese conflict, “one person tells ten of their friends who go to see the show and then they tell ten of their friends and so on”. Zaki wants young people to become “agents of change” because, he specifies, “these issues” (rape and assault) “are dealt with not just in Africa but everywhere.”Photo by Susan Schulman. See more of Schulman's photos of the Congo at Congo Now!When I asked Mr. Jones about what kind of message he thinks Ruined sends, without hesitation he said “hope is a necessary ingredient.” We continued to talk about theater in relation to a younger audience because this production does require a certain level of maturity and I asked him what he thought about that introducing mature content to a younger audience. “I want young people to broaden their global view because we’re all connected” Mr. Jones replied. Some ideas, like making theater more teen-friendly and affordable (Teen Tix!), came up during our discussion. In an age of constant media bombardment, Hollywood movies full of special effects, texting and internet, Mr Jones expressed “young people need to be exposed to theater.”Photo by Susan Schulman. See more of Schulman's photos of the Congo at Congo Now!Young or old, the opportunities to help women in the Congo and to help raise awareness about the atrocities in the Congolese War, which has claimed more lives than the Holocaust1 but which, unfortunately, most history teachers fail to address, are endless. It’s our turn to make a difference and help end the longest standing conflict in Africa. Helping can be as simple as becoming aware of conflict or as challenging as pressuring the media to cover the stories of these women so that more people will get involved in the movement. An easy first step you can all take is by watching Ruined and becoming more familiar with the notion of rape used as a weapon of violence in the Congo. I can promise that you will come out of Ruined not only extremely moved but inspired to join the movement for change in the Congo."You will not fight your battles on my body anymore" -SalimaRuinedIntiman TheatreThrough August 15NOTE: This is an extremely popular show. For your best chance of getting Teen Tix, we recommend attending Tuesday or Wednesday evening or Sunday afternoon. For all performances, we recommend calling ahead to check on ticket availability. Intiman's Ticket Office: 206.269.1900CONTENT NOTE: This show contains mature content and subject matter, including war, prostitution, and rape. It is recommended for audiences ages 16 and up.Watch the trailer:1. International Rescue Committee Congo Mortality Survey, 2007.

Our friends at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, under the leadership of new Artistic Director Jerry Manning, have launched the YES Initiative. Here's what they say about it:"The YES Project's primary purpose is to work with writers (especially young ones) to find and develop works for our stages that will resonate with young audience members."The theory, basically, is that if you put young protagonists on stage, young people will be more likely to come.Trick Danneker, Erin Stewart, and Justin Huertes play high school students in Seattle Rep's 2010 production of Speech & Debate. Photo by Kathryn Bernard.Oh, hey, guess what? YOU are the young people. YOU. You you you. You, Teen Tix member reading this. You are the target of this initiative. They want YOU. So, you, what do you think? A lot of you are avid theatre-goers, a lot of you are sometime theatre-goers. A lot of you like other art forms but avoid the theatre. Whatever category you fall into, we want to know: do you wish there were more stories about people your age in the theatre? Are you tired of trying to get excited about seeing middle-aged people's marriage problems on stage? What if the theatre that's supposed to be FOR you was also ABOUT you? Would it make a difference? Or does it not matter to you?This is your moment, young theatre-goers of Seattle. What do you want? Comment and take the poll (up at the top of the page!)

Everybody is talking about Ruined, Intiman's searing portrait of the lives of women in war-torn Congo. It won a Pulitzer, was a huge hit in New York, and is now here in Seattle with a mostly sold-out run that's already been extended due to popularity.Our reviewer, Nikolina says "Rarely does theater inspire us to do better, to be better, to feel, that, as adolescents we can make a difference in the world but more importantly that we can act on that inspiration...[Ruined] is able to create the story [of war] with humor and humility. More importantly however, it is able to make what is happening in the Congo relevant to each and every one of us."This is the kind of wildly popular show that would usually be difficult to get Teen Tix to, but Intiman wants you to get a chance to see it, so they are making us this special offer:2 for $10 Teen Tix for the 2 pm matinee THIS Wednesday, July 28th. That means you can get your $5 Teen Tix ticket AND bring a guest (of any age) for $5 too! All the usual rules apply: day-of-show only, and when they're gone, they're gone. But Intiman anticipates there will be plenty of space for this ONE show, so this is your chance! Don't blow it!PLEASE NOTE: This show deals with mature subject matter, including war, rape, and prostitution. It is recommended for mature audiences only.Intiman's Ticket Office opens at noon. Call them at 206-269-1900 to check availability. They're happy to help!

Hey teen tix! Thanks for being awesome!

Review of Kurt at Seattle Art Museum by Ehrik A.The Seattle Art Museum’s Kurt inducts Nirvana frontman into the celebrity club of monomial stardom, where he ironically joins the likes of Madonna, Cher, Prince, Twiggy, and Tupac. I prepared myself for the art exhibit honoring Kurt Cobain by revisiting some Nirvana tunes before embarking on my journey. Headphones in. Press play. Brace for impact. Walking into the SAM exhibit was much of the same experience. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I plunged in headfirst only anticipating shock.

Kurt Cobain, 1994, Jack PiersonKurt is a balance—it is neither a graveside tribute laden with fans’ idolatry of their fallen hero, nor is it a case study that dissects the influence the musician had on a generation. It does a good job maintaining a little of both and then some. The exhibit consists of five galleries containing 80 art pieces that range from photography, paintings, graphite drawings, film manipulation, dance, and sculpture. The art is as thorough as it is diverse and will leave you revisiting your favorites throughout the exhibit.The first gallery contains a mystical calling of the spirit. In Standing Wave Séance, artists Hadley+Maxwell construct a 12-sided room resembling a fledging band’s basement studio. It is equipped with Kurt’s red Marshall stack, a carpet and duct-tape patchwork floor, and a single flickering light bulb that hovers above a solitary microphone in the center of the room. Speak into the microphone and guitar feedback, roaring fans, and the faint but imitable voice of Kurt himself bounces off the walls (soundproofed on the outside) as if only for a moment his spirit passed through the room.

Dancing in Peckham, 1994, Gillian WearingThe next gallery feels appropriately less personal, displaying the outsider’s portrait of Cobain’s life. Kurt the celebrity is portrayed through various magazine clippings and paintings centered around the idol. Friedrich Kunath’s 6’x6’ painting recreating a notebook filled with Kurt’s pencil sketches depicts Kurt the Artist. And Gillian Wearing’s silent video of herself dancing to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and subsequently Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” breathes elements of Kurt the musician.The final gallery is a memorial. A slideshow of Aberdeen by Rodney Graham depicts the place of Kurt’s birth, and painter Jordan Kantor’s Greenhouse recreates forensic photos of the place of Kurt’s death. In the middle of it all lies the exhibit’s Mona Lisa. Scott Fife creates a cardboard bust held together by screws and glue that perfectly resembles the rock star’s blank stare out into the open space, calling you to stare back.

Kurt Cobain, 2006, Scott FifeIn the end, Kurt is difficult. It brings together the sadness of Kurt’s death, the influence his life left on a culture, and the violent glamour that made both possible. But if not for the man, come for the art.KurtSeattle Art MuseumThrough September 6Hours:Wednesday–Sunday: 10 am–5 pmThursday & Friday: 10 am–9 pmMonday & Tuesday: closedTONIGHT: A panel discussion about Kurt with artist Gretchen Bennett, music producer Steve Fisk, Director of Western Bridge Eric Fredericksen and others. Moderated by EMP|SFM Senior Curator Jacob McMurray. 7 - 8:30 pm @ SAM. more info.

It's an idea so radical, it could only have been thought up by those rebels at the Young Americans' Theatre Company (who had the crazy notion three years ago that teenagers could handle material that dealt with - gasp! - sex and - horror! - drugs - and, y'know, violence, and complicated feelings and all that stuff that makes high school administrators run screaming in the other direction.) It's a TEENS-ONLY night of theatre. No adults allowed (okay, two adults allowed - Pete and I will be there, cleverly disguised as teenagers. Got any tips?) For their production of Polaroid Stories, YATC invites you to join them for a pre-show party with photo booth (!) and refreshments by Café Vita. The photos you take can be taken home or contributed to the lobby display - a collage of pictures and teen pocket detritus - for Polaroid Stories:"This cutting edge script blends a modern interpretation of Ovid's Metamorphoses with an exploration of the life teenagers live on the streets. A searingly blunt and beautifully visceral piece, it unites interviews with real homeless adolescents and slam poetry to create a love story unlike any other. Meditating on what home means to those who eternally wander, it begs the question: on whom do we depend for survival, and from whom do we forever seek escape?"WHAT? Teens Only Night with Young Americans' Theatre CompanyWHEN? Thursday, August 5th7pm: Party8pm: Polaroid StoriesWHERE?Balagan Theatre, 1117 E Pike St, Capitol HillHOW MUCH? $5 for Teen Tix members, $12 for students. Tickets available NOW at brownpapertickets.com. Space is extremely limited. We strongly encourage buying tickets in advance.RULES? No adults allowed. No one under 14 admitted due to mature content. This is an alcohol- and drug-free event.About YATC:"The Young Americans' Theatre Company fulfills a distinct niche in Seattle's theatre community. It operates as the only uncensored and teenage run forum, for actors, directors and designers, in the city while serving as an ever-evolving platform for young artists to challenge themselves through their work in a supportive, dedicated environment. We believe that YATC's productions hold relevance for teenage and adult audiences alike. Young artists can create meaningful, dynamic, and passionate contributions that stand on their own, regardless of age or intent. Our purpose is to offer an environment that cultivates this belief." Visit YATC's facebook.Note to parents: This event will be supervised by two Teen Tix staff members. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at 206-233-3959 or teentix@seattle.gov.

Review of I Myself Have Seen It: Photography & Kiki Smith @ Henry Art Galley by Lucy H

Untitled (Head of Guanyin)Entering Kiki Smith’s exhibit feels as though you are entering another person’s mind. I Myself Have Seen It is clearly the result of an unrestrained imagination. There is an overwhelming number of photos and sculptures of seemingly unrelated subjects. For Smith they must have a connection, but as someone who has never seen her work before, I am a bit lost. The artwork has no interpretations or explanations. Even the titles fail to hint at any underlying meaning of the works. While walking through I Myself Have Seen It I felt like one of the sterling silver figures in Smith’s Wandering: sculptures of young girls, deer, and wolves scattered in a glass box, gazing in different directions. They have no understanding; they are merely observing. They seem to have no purpose or reason for being there; they just are. Despite my confusion, I respect Smith’s ability to let her mind wander so freely, and her ability to express what she imagines.

SanpakuEventually I focus on developing my own interpretation of Smith’s works rather than guessing her thoughts behind her art. One place that is meaningful to me is a group of photographs each titled Untitled (Eve). The first image depicts the top of a female statue’s head and her hand reaching up from the bottom of the image. The second depicts the statue’s feet. The third depicts the statue’s face looking at something unseen by the audience. When observing these photographs I feel I am missing what the statue wants me to see. Each time the photographer only reveals a small part of the statue (concealment of the whole is a motif in Smith’s exhibit). For me, the three Untitled (Eve) images represent the voices of many women who have tried to be heard but have not succeeded.

Sleeping WitchPerhaps my understanding of this group of photographs is far-fetched to you. Maybe the gallery filled with artworks of white animals has an important meaning for you while I am left puzzled. However I believe the purpose of I Myself Have Seen It is to illustrate how familiar objects have different meanings depending on the observer. It also illustrates how objects’ settings affect their meaning. Sculptures appear more than once in the exhibit, but they do not have a consistent purpose. By photographing her artwork Smith controls where observers’ eyes are drawn because she chooses their vantage point. Furthermore, by putting the photographs and sculptures in front of us with no explanations or interpretations, Smith forces us to discover what the objects mean to each of us individually. Thus to understand Smith’s exhibit, you have to visit it yourself!

HarpiesI Myself Have Seen It: Photography & Kiki SmithHenry Art GalleryThrough August 15thHours: 11 - 4 Wed, Sat, Sun; 11 - 9 Thu & Fri; Closed Mon & TueTeen Tix members always get in FREE at the Henry, and you can bring a friend or family member for $5 ANYTIME the Henry is open. Go!NOTE: contains mature imagery, recommended for people ages 16 and up

Here's my opinion - if we allow texting at live performances, more teens might show up. however, they would be too busy texting to pay any attention to the performance. it's rude to the audience, the performers, and anyone and everyone else involved in the show. if you are so obsessed with texting that you cant live without it for a few hours, don't bother going to the show. it's just plain disrespectful.

One of the things we love about summer is that there's a ton of teen created art happening: Breaking Character by QTET at Washington Ensemble Theatre, Hair& The Laramie Project by the SCT Drama School, Sideshow by the ArtsWest Apprenticeship Program, and, of course, our good friends at Young Americans' Theatre Company tearing it up all summer long.This weekend, we would like to strongly encourage you to check out Roulette. A brand new rock musical by the Out of the Box Theatre Conservatory, a group of young actors, writers, musicians and performers (including a bunch of Teen Tix members! Hey there Dylan, Kayla, Amy, and Tyler!), this is a story of a a boy and his internet. And here's a great gimmick if we ever heard one (from actor Amy Helmuth's blog): Throughout the show, audience members have the opportunity to participate in the theatrical experience by using their smart phones to communicate with our main character by way of their Facebook page. If you post something, the cast on stage will react to it right before your eyes!Roulette runs this weekend and next at Balagan Theatre on Capitol Hill. As always, Teen Tix are $5 at the door.Roulette's Facebook (where you can see tons of videos of random duded sitting on their couches.)

Intern post #3

Sorry about the lack of post last Wednesday--I was busy doing an intern-y thing: Purging the Teen Tix Member database of faulty email addresses (revealed by hundreds of bounceback responses to a Teen Tix Newsletter). About 600 email addresses, 8 hours, and one beautiful week later, I emerge victorious and return to blogging (thank goodness)... but how is this important to you? If you aren't getting the weekly newsletter (and your spam filter isn't at fault),update your Teen Tix member information! Here's how:Email Teen Tix and let us know your name and correct emailaddress and we'll fix it.

There's a little internet thing making the rounds today that I couldn't resist. It's a "statistic analysis tool" that supposedly tells you which famous author's your writing most resembles. They don't tell you what aspects or qualities of your writing they are analyzing to come to this conclusion, so it's a little bit annoying and dumb. So, of course, we had to spend some time playing with it. Here are the results for me (Holly), Mykaila (our summer high school intern), and our last few review writers: Me: I write like J.R.R. Tolkien I write likeJ. R. R. Tolkien

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Mykaila writes like Dan Brown: I write likeDan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Callan writes like Kurt Vonnegut: I write likeKurt Vonnegut

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Paulina writes like Stephen King: I write likeStephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Yvette writes like Vladimir Nabokov: I write likeVladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!And Emma Me. writes like Mark Twain: I write likeMark Twain

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Who knew? Want to find out who you write like? Go here

By Arista Burwell-ChenTeen Tix is the Seattle Center’s best kept secret. But it shouldn’t be. It is a free program that offers teens ages 13 to 19 access to five dollar tickets to dozens of local arts organizations in an effort to encourage youth to frequent the arts. “The best aspect of Teen Tix is that it makes our arts community stronger,” says Program Manager Holly Arsenault, “It brings needed age diversity to arts audiences.” By helping to engage a new generation of audiences, Teen Tix has proven itself to be an essential part of Seattle’s cultural landscape. But why bother? Arsenault explains, “Arts experiences are valuable. Being an audience member can be just as enriching as creating art, and those experiences should be available to everyone regardless of age and income.” Plus, Teen Tix is a great way for what Arsenault calls “arts curious teenagers” to find and form their own communities. Teen Tix is designed to allow young people access to a wide variety of programs ranging from the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet to the Experience Music Project and Michael Jackson Laser Show at the Seattle Center, and to give them opportunities to further engage with art through special meet-the-artist events, leadership opportunities, and the chance to write reviews for the Teen Tix blog.The only bad part about Teen Tix is that this fabulous opportunity ends at age 20. However, that is all the more reason to get involved in the arts earlier. Just take it from Holly, who says, “There’s a whole community of art lovers out there who like the same things you do.” Teen Tix wants you to find them.Arista Burwell-Chen is an 18 year-old Seattle resident and Teen Tix member. She is a recent graduate of Holy Names Academy, and was one of 13 local youth selected to participate in Teen Tix’s 09-10 Young Critics Workshop, an arts journalism seminar for 11th & 12th graders. To learn more about Teen Tix and to sign up for a free Teen Tix pass, visit seattlecenter.com/teentix.

Review of Man of La Mancha at Taproot Theatre Company by Callan C.Dreaming the impossible dream – that’s what Taproot Theatre’s performance of Man of La Mancha is all about. This award-winning musical about Miguel de Cervantes and his classic novel Don Quixote carries a classic message of hope, even in the most hopeless of situations. The story begins with Cervantes being thrown into prison by the Inquisition, where he meets a rough group of prisoners who are immediately suspicious of him. They put Cervantes on trial and charge him with being “an idealist, a bad poet, and an honest man.” Cervantes pleads guilty to all charges, but also persuades the other prisoners to let him defend himself in the form of a story – the story of an old man who calls himself Don Quixote.Jeff Berryman and Don Darryl Rivera. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.I have to admit that before seeing Man of La Mancha, I knew very little about Miguel de Cervantes or the story of Don Quixote. However, I don’t think my ignorance took away from my enjoyment of the performance – in fact, I think it might have made it more enjoyable. I found Taproot Theatre’s intimate space to be well-suited for the story-telling aspect of the play, and the simple set and props seemed realistic, seeing as the story is supposed to take place in a prison. The actors, too, were excellent. Jeff Berryman, who portrayed Cervantes and his alter-ego Don Quixote, was passionate and charismatic in both roles. However, I must say that Don Darryl Rivera, who played Cervantes’ servant and Don Quixote’s sidekick Sancho Panza, was my favorite. He added some much-needed humor to this otherwise serious play, and I couldn’t stop myself from grinning when he sang “I Really Like Him” to explain why he so loyally serves his master Quixote. Though not all the actors were perfectly in pitch for the various musical numbers, the music (which included live guitar and percussion) was well-done overall.The storyline itself is somewhat predictable towards the end, but I found it to be very touching and inspiring nevertheless. The ending and final song nearly brought tears to my eyes, as I believe it did for much of the audience. Though I have not actually read Don Quixote, as I said before, through my own research I believe that Man of La Mancha does stray somewhat from the original novel. In Man of La Mancha, the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred in more ways than one. Despite the fact that Don Quixote is really a crazy old man, you cannot help but find yourself on his side, enjoying his delusions of grandeur and glory. As the play ended I found myself wondering if it is better to be sane, living in a dismal reality, or to be insane, living in a fantasy world where one can truly dream. Perhaps it is as Cervantes says: “When life itself is lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Too much sanity may be madness.” - Callan C.July 10, 2010Man of La ManchaTaproot TheatreThrough August 7th

Our summer high school intern, Mykaila, signs this year's Teeny Awards as the official representative of the Teen Steering Committee. This was taken last week, obvs, but we couldn't post it until after we surprised the winners with singing telegrams. Hey! Speaking of the Teen Steering Committee, want to be on it? We're looking for new members. If you are 13 - 19 years old, love art, love Teen Tix, and want to help make Teen Tix the best it can be, we want you! More info here.

Okay, here are some statistics that will probably not shock you: 88% of teenagers with cell phones are texters, half of those say that they send more than 50 texts a day, and one in three say they send more than 100 texts a day (that's 3,000 texts a month!) (Pew Internet, April 2010)So, here's the question: has texting become so integral to teens' lives that the fact that you can't text while you're watching a play or dance performance or even a movie deters you from wanting to do those things? Today on Slog, Paul Constant suggests that maybe some accommodation could be made for people who can't stand to go an hour and half text-free: maybe movie theaters could designate the last two rows as "text-friendly," thereby providing texters with a place where they won't feel deprived and the people around them won't feel annoyed by their little glowing screens. Last year, during their run of Speech & Debate, Seattle Rep designated a couple of rows in the balcony for tweeting for a couple of performances. It's not hard to imagine (okay, it's a little bit hard, but since you're all young and your imaginations are therefore hopefully still in working order, I'm sure you can get there) theaters and music halls adopting a similar system as audiences grow younger and - for better or worse - less capable (or willing) to be separated from their technology.So, what you think? Would you be in support of arts organizations making space for mid-show texting? Be honest - have you ever been deterred from going to see something because you knew you wouldn't be able to text for a couple of hours? Or do you think that texting during shows is a social scourge that ought to remain forever verboten? Take the poll (up there on the right)!

Teen Tix is pleased to fling open its doors and hand you the keys. In other words: COME AND JOIN OUR TEEN STEERING COMMITTEE!Teen Tix’s Teen Steering Committee is a group of opinionated and highly dedicated individuals who are committed to making the arts accessible for young people.Here are a few of the things that we do:• Come up with innovate marketing techniques for promoting the arts to teenagers• Award our annual Teeny Awards, recognizing the best in teen-friendly local arts• Write and create content for the Teen Tix blog, website, and other media outlets• Meet with leaders from various arts organizations to share our ideas and learn about what they do• Serve as “watchdogs” by attending venues and checking up on the box office experience.• Plan and help execute special events at Participating Organizations• Act as ambassadors for Teen Tix at your school• Help set the course for the future of the Teen Tix program• See shows!If you believe that the arts are valuable, if you want to help make the arts accessible for everyone regardless of age or income, and if you want to be a leader in Seattle’s youth arts movement, we need your voice!• The Teen Steering Committee meets monthly from October to June of each year at Seattle Center.• Participation in the committee can qualify for Service Learning Credit at your school.• First Meeting for the 2010-11 school year will be held in early October.Ready to throw in your name?It’s easy! You must be nominated to join the committee. Simply have an adult (who is not your parent) or a fellow teen email us with a short explanation of why YOU should be part of our team. Make sure they include your name and email address, so we can follow up with you.Hurry! The first meeting of the year will be in early October!

Our second annual Teeny Awards were a HUGE success: more votes, more awards, more love for Seattle's most teen-friendly arts organizations. HOORAY!Teen Tix's Teeny Awards are presented every Spring by the Teen Steering Committee based on member voting. The awards aim to empower young audiences, to reward youth-friendly programming choices, and to acknowledge those organizations where young audience members feel particularly welcomed and valued. Our beautiful certificate, designed by Brian NaubertThis year, we surprised all of the winning organizations with singing telegrams. Our amazing Teeny Awards Delivery Squad - Elsa, Katy, and Mac - sang, danced, and spread joy all day long. It was (how shall we say?) completely off the hook. Watch!Thanks to everyone who voted, thanks to our incredible Delivery Squad, and thanks to all of our participating organizations for making Seattle such a great place to be an arts-loving teenager. WE LOVE YOU! See you next year.Teeny Award Winners 2010:Best Selling Show of 2009 - 2010:Roméo et Juliette at Pacific Northwest BalletBest Art Exhibit of 2009 - 2010:Polaroids: Mapplethorpe at Henry Art GalleryBest Dance Performance of 2009 - 2010: 3 by Dove at Pacific Northwest BalletBest Film of 2009 - 2010: tie! The Yes Men Save the World at Northwest Film Forum and Sci-Fi on Blu-Ray Series at SIFF CinemaBest Play or Musical of 2009 - 2010:Speech & Debate at Seattle Repertory TheatreBest Music Performance of 2009 - 2010:Sound Off! 2010 at EMPBest "Other" Show of 2009 - 2010:Laser Michael Jackson at Seattle Laser DomeBest Date Venue: Pacific Science Center's IMAX & Laser DomeBest Box Office Experience: Seattle Children's TheatreBest Seats in the House: Seattle SymphonyBest Film Organization: SIFFBest Museum or Art Gallery: Seattle Art MuseumBest Performing Arts Organization: Seattle SymphonyBest Multi-Disciplinary Organization: Cornish College of the ArtsFavorite New Teen Tix Organization: Seattle Art MuseumFavorite Organization Overall (small): Young Americans' Theatre CompanyFavorite Organization Overall (mid-size): Seattle Shakespeare CompanyFavorite Organization Overall (large): Pacific Northwest BalletThe Phoenix Award: Rising From the Ashes: Taproot Theatre Company

SummerSoundFREE all-ages concert at Center SquareVoted in by members of the Soundboard and EMP’s Youth Advisory Board, Seattle’s Kids and Animals will kick-off the concert at 7 pm. Remaining performances will be held by Sound Off! Alumni Idiot Pilot (Sound Off! 2004), People Eating People (featuring Nouela from Mon Frere, Sound Off! 2004) and SEACATS (Sound Off! 2010).Kids and Animals live on KEXPKids and Animals is an eclectic group of young Seattleites who have received much recognition for their sophisticated songwriting and uninhibited live show. Since self-releasing their self-titled debut album they have peaked at number eight on KEXP's local music charts.Idiot Pilot is a high energy duo from Bellingham, WA who have been performing their unique blend of music for nearly ten years. As Pioneers of the burgeoning post hardcore and electronica landscape, Idiot Pilot is known for their spastic live shows and experimental recordings.People Eating People is a piano-driven trio headed by Seattle keyboard player Nouela Johnston.

SEACATS at SoundOff! 2010Photo by Brady HarveySEACATS is an uncompromisingly catchy rock quintet from Kelso, WA. Creating the perfect pop concoction of surf guitars, hand claps, and Ba Ba Ba Ba’s, their endearing songs are backed by upbeat percussion and a relentless sneer.SummerSoundThursday, July 87 - 10 pmCenter Square (right behind EMP!)FREE!