TeenTix Blog

We loved you Michael.

the break/s: a mixtape for the stage @ ACT Theatre"Hip-hop renaissance man" Marc Bamuthi Joseph is an accomplished dancer, an award-winning poet and a passionate educator. His new play – the break/s: a mixtape for the stage – features Joseph's unique fusion of movement and theater; a powerhouse mixture of dance, sound, story, and visual imagery. With two turntables, a video jockey and Joseph's virtuosity, the break/s is an enthralling piece of performance magic. Drawing on interviews and documentary footage, this collaboration between performer, score and projected image explodes the boundaries of theater, dance and film and explores the conflicts between public identity and private identity in our globalized, multi-everything era. This powerhouse performance has sold out theatres and electrified audiences around the country – come experience it for yourself.From David Schmader's preview in the Stranger:Foremost among these "best parts": the titular breaks, those rhythmic interruptions/breakdowns/repetitions that have juiced hiphop since the beginning, co-opted by Joseph in his play's kaleidoscopic-mixtape structure, and the sense of community inherent in both hiphop and theater. "Hiphop sprung up in ritual community space around portable sound systems, where whoever had the loudest system is the one who rocked the party," says Joseph. "That's where hiphop was born, in peaceful communities around loud sound."And here's a video preview:Now through July 12thMore info and show times here.ACT's Ticket Office: 206-292-7676Did you see it? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

What is Teen Tix? Teen Tix is a free arts-access pass that allows teenagers to purchase $5 tickets to theatre, dance, music, film and visual art.Who can sign up for Teen Tix? Any teenager age 13-19 can sign up.Do I need to live in Seattle in order to sign up? Nope. Anyone, from anywhere, can sign up and use the pass as long as they are 13-19 years old.How much does it cost to sign up? Nothing! It’s free to sign up.Where can I use my Teen Tix pass? You can use your Teen Tix pass at any of our Participating Organizations.How do I use my Teen Tix pass? Teen Tix is a rush ticket program. You show up any time the box office is open on the day of the show that you want to see, and our participating organizations will sell you a ticket for $5. At our museum partners, just show up any time the museum is open and show your pass for $5 entry.Can I make reservations? No. Teen Tix tickets are sold on a first come, first-served basis starting when the box office opens on the day of the show ONLY. You cannot reserve tickets. However, we do encourage you to call ahead and ask whether or not Teen Tix tickets are expected to be available for the show that you want to see.Can I buy my ticket in advance? No. Teen Tix is a day-of rush ticket program. You can only purchase your ticket on the day of the show that you want to see. However, you can call ahead on the day of the show that you want to see and purchase your ticket over the phone at many of our participating organizations.Can I buy my ticket over the phone? Many of our participating organization box offices will allow you to purchase a Teen Tix ticket over the phone on the day of the show that you want to see. You will still need to show your Teen Tix pass and ID when you pick it up. There are no over-the-phone sales at our museum partner organizations, nor at CD Forum, Cornish College of the Arts, Giant Magnet, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, Pacific Science Center's IMAX & Laser Dome, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theatre, or Seattle Symphony.So, how can I be sure there will be tickets available? We can’t make any guarantees, but we can get pretty close. If you’re concerned that there won’t be tickets available for the show you want to see, the best thing to do is call the box office and ask. They usually have a very good idea about how many Teen Tix tickets will be available on any given night, and they’re more than happy to help. The phone number for each participating organization is listed on our website.Can I buy more than one ticket? Yes! On Sundays (at our participating performing arts organizations) and on Thursdays (at our participating museums) Teen Tix members can purchase a second ticket for just $5! That means you can bring along anyone you like, including an adult or a child too young for Teen Tix, and buy them a $5 ticket, too!How do I find out what’s playing? As a Teen Tix member, you will automatically be subscribed to our weekly email newsletter, which will tell you about all of the great stuff you can go see with your Teen Tix pass. Additionally, the Teen Tix website has event listings that are constantly updated. You can also check our participating organizations' websites to find out what’s going on. We also recommend checking this blog frequently for recommendations, interviews, and reviews by other teens.Will you sell my information? No. Teen Tix will never share your email address, or any of your other information, with any outside group for any reason. However, as a public agency, Seattle Center is subject to and must comply with public disclosure requests.I lost my pass, what do I do? If you lost pass (or never received one in the first place), please click here to fill out the lost pass form. It takes a few days, so don't wait until the day you want to go to the show! We'll email you a temporary pass, and get a new pass out to you within a week.I just found out about Teen Tix, but I want to go see something TONIGHT. Help! Never fear! We've got you covered. Just go here and fill out the online registration form. Within a few minutes, you'll receive a confirmation email. OPEN IT! Respond to the confirmation, and, within a few minutes, you'll receive a second email that contains a temporary pass. Print out that pass and bring it with you to the box office just as you would a regular Teen Tix pass. Hooray!I registered for Teen Tix but never received my pass. What’s up? If it’s been two weeks or less, your pass is probably on the way – there are only a few of us and so many of you, sometimes it takes us a little while, but it’s coming, we swear! If it’s been more than two weeks, it might have gotten lost in the mail. Email us with your name and address and we’ll get a new one out to you.I registered for Teen Tix and received my pass, but I’ve never received the e-newsletters. What’s up? It sounds like we probably got the wrong email address for you when you signed up and your newsletters are bouncing back at us. Send us an email with your name and correct email address, and we’ll get you back on the distribution list. DO NOT re-register for Teen Tix!Don’t you have to dress up to go to these places? No. You can dress up if you want to, and you’ll probably see some people who look pretty fancy when you go, but it’s not a requirement. In fact, one of the nicest things about the arts scene here in Seattle is that it’s pretty casual – it’s about enjoying the art, not being in a fashion show! So wear what you’re comfortable in…just keep your feet off the seats.What’s the point of all this? The point is that art is valuable, and it’s for everyone. An arts-going community is a healthy community, and we think that means that everyone should have access to high quality arts programming, regardless of age.Okay, how do I register? Go here and fill out the online form. In about two weeks, you’ll get your pass in the mail, and then you’ll be good to go.My question still isn’t answered. What should I do? Give us a call or shoot us an email. The number here is 206-233-3959, and the email address is teentix at seattle dot gov.

Hey there Teen Tixer! Did you know that you’re a part of a huge community of arts-going teens? Yeah! There are more than 20,000 of you now. But it’s not enough to just be a Teen Tix member – Teen Tix is about experiencing the arts. Here’s how:1. Sign up for Teen Tix: You can register for Teen Tix anytime by going here and filling out the form. It takes 30 seconds, and it is totally, completely, 100% FREE! Be sure to provide a valid email address, and respond to the email that you'll get asking you to confirm your registration. Done!2. Get your pass: Your little blue Teen Tix pass will come to you in the mail in about a week. This pass is your ticket to $5.00 tickets at all of our participating organizations. Lost your pass? Never got one in the first place? Go here3. Find out what’s playing: The best way to find out about what you do and see each week with your Teen Tix pass is the Teen Tix e-newsletter. The Teen Tix e-newsletter will always tell you every single thing that you can see that week for $5.00 with your pass. It comes out every Wednesday evening right to your inbox. You can also read the newsletter on our our website. If you are registered for Teen Tix but NOT receiving the newsletter, send us an email and let us know. You can also always visit the calendar on our website.4. Go to the show! Teen Tix tickets for performing arts (theatre, dance, music, etc.) are available day-of-show only. That means, anytime on the day that you want to go, you just show up at the box office of the venue you want to attend and buy your ticket. You can also purchase tickets over the phone on the day of the show by calling the box office. Teen Tix museum entries are good all day every day, but there are no over-the-phone sales for museums. When you go to pick up your ticket, make sure you remember to bring your pass, some form of ID (like a school or state ID or drivers license) and your five dollars in cash. If you forget any of these things, you might not be able to buy your ticket.IMPORTANT: Ticket availability is NOT GUARANTEED. Sometimes shows will sell out and there won’t be any day-of-show tickets available. How do you make sure there will be a ticket for you when you go? Call ahead and ask! The people who work in our participating box offices can usually tell you whether or not there will be Teen Tix tickets available on the day that you want to go. Give ‘em a call! They’re happy to help. The phone numbers for the box offices are always listed in the newsletter and on the Teen Tix website.5. Bring a friend! On Sundays (at our performing arts venues) and Thursdays (at our museum venues) Teen Tix tickets are 2 for $10. That means that a Teen Tix member can bring anyone they like – including an adult or a child too young for Teen Tix – for just $5.00 more! Also, stay tuned to the newsletter for annoucements about special Teen Tix events. Still have questions? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Teen Tix website: www.seattlecenter.com/teentix/faqs.asp

We are bummed to announce that the Planetary Poetry and Pizza for Teens event that was scheduled for this Wednesday, June 24th has been cancelled. We apologize to any of you who were planning to come. Are you bummed, too? Wish we would do more poetry/literary events? Please leave a comment and let us know!

is what my mother used to say all summer long when I would complain to her that I was bored. It's summer. Are you bored? No, because you are not boring, right? But if you're feeling like maybe you actually are a little bit boring (and really, who among us isn't from time to time) I have a solution for you: EMP Teen Artist Workshops. They've got drums, blues guitar, graphic novel, voice. Tons of stuff. Also scholarships. Also, totally the opposite of boring. LISTEN! They start really soon. Don't sit around thinking about it. Just go do it. Or, y'know, just...be boring. Whatever. It's Friday, what do I care?empsfm.org/camps

Do you love dance? If you do, then Pacific Northwest Ballet wants to hear from you!Pacific Northwest Ballet is doing a survey to see how we can improve for the future. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Everyone who participates will be entered in a drawing to win a season subscription for two to the 2009-2010 season of Pacific Northwest Ballet. To begin the survey, simply go to our website: http://www.pnb.org/survey.htmlWe’ll be asking you some questions about the website, so please take some time to browse the website. A box will automatically appear to invite you to take our survey. Thank you from Pacific Northwest Ballet!

Read David Schmader's preview in The Strangerthe break/s: a mixtape for the stageJune 17 - July 12ACT TheatreMore info here

A Review of TITUS at Washington Ensemble Theatreby Tavis H.In the world of theater there are few companies that are truly inspired by the art of the theater. We can almost always count on finding some form of entertainment or cultural enlightenment by seeing a professional production of Frost/Nixon, or Equus. We find the think of the drama as enlightening and peering into the psyche of a disturbed or disgraced character as titillating. However, few of these productions truly experiment or attempt to defy the norms of the theater, and those who do have a tendency to fail in bringing about a glorious revelation or epiphany that makes the theater experience more than entertaining, but cathartic. However, it is not to say that rare gems of theater do not exist, they do: one just has to find them. In the case of Washington Ensemble Theater’s extraordinary performance of TITUS, it found me. On the evening that I watched the absolutely outstanding adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, simply called TITUS, all was not going well. It started off in a restaurant I had been dying to try that ended up in a big disappointment in the form of mushy gnocchi, it then was followed by a long walk, sore feet, an espresso in my lap, thirty minutes of ironing my pants with an ice cube and a rag, and very low expectations for a theater company that I had never heard of, for a show that’s only redeeming quality is the amount of bloodshed that goes on. So as I marched into the Washington Ensemble Theater’s little black box theater, my low spirits silently mocked how this two hour long show with no intermission would probably end up being like most amateur theater: long, uninspired, and verse recited…incomprehensible. By the end of those two hours, my jaw was dropped, and my cheeks ran red with shame for being so prematurely judgmental. Never before had I seen an avant garde production as tight and powerful in its stature. Every facet, every single scene, resonated an aesthetic beauty in all forms of the art of the stage. The actors, the lighting, the set design, the pure imagination struck a form of awe in me that I have rarely had the opportunity to experience. For example, instead of blood, rose petals were slingshot on stage, or hot tamales were spilt, or instead of the blatant rape of Lavinia there was a disturbingly poetic dance to “All of Me.” It is hard to capture all of the wonderful ideas that were put to use by the Ensemble, however I beg you to take my word on this stellar performance and treat yourself to a wonderful experience, so unique, so fresh, so beautiful. Washington Ensemble Theater, I salute you! TITUS played at Washington Ensemble Theatre May 15th thru June 15th 2009For details on the theatre, and their upcoming season, visitwww.washingtonensemble.org

Join MacArthur Fellow, poet, and translator Peter Cole in workshops for teachers, teens, and general public and find out!Planetary Poetry and Pizza for TeensWednesday, June 24, from 3 to 6 p.m.The Rainier Room located in the Northwest RoomsSeattle Center Explore the night sky with The Museum of Flight’s portable planetarium “Constellations and Cultural Stories,” and stories its beauty inspired in the ancient Greek, Chinese and Native American cultures. MacArthur Fellow, renowned poet and translator Peter Cole will then lead a poetry workshop focusing on both ancient and contemporary texts (including lyrics from Britney Spears songs.) Pizza and socializing will end the event.Free admission to the Friday, June 26 performance of The Planets, at 7pm included with your attendance at workshop.This event is sponsored by The Museum of Flight, Teen Tix, Seattle Arts and Lectures Writers in the Schools, Humanities Washington and Seattle Symphony. This event is free and open to the public and an R.S.V.P. is required to teentix@seattle.gov or (206) 233-3959.

A review of (500) Days of Summerat the Seattle International Film Festivalby Emma K.One of the gems in this year’s festival is undoubtedly (500) DAYS OF SUMMER. A retake on the classic romantic comedy, the film follows Tom (boy-next-door Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his relationship with Summer (a radiant Zooey Deschanel). Over the course of 500 days, Tom has his belief in love at first sight taken away, but then returned. To say more would be to ruin the charm, kick, and quirk of this story which is utterly refreshing. First time director Marc Webb gives the film a style all its own, mixing moments of tenderness with those of offbeat humor, all set to a hip soundtrack. Unexpected as they are, these touches complete the film’s unique appeal It’s not your everyday romance, but SUMMER will have all aspiring filmmakers wishing they had thought of it first. Slated to be released nationwide, this delight is a must see.This film has already played at SIFFBut the festival continues through the weekendCheck out www.siff.net for complete movie listings

A review of Night FlightAn operetta performed by Book-It Repertory Theatre at The Moore Theatreby Mykhanh P.I have to admit, as I sat through the opening number of Night Flight, I was praying for the pace to pick up. Unfortunately, it didn’t until the second half. Night Flight doesn’t really have a true plot. It is an operetta that has more of a “day-in-the-life” kind of feel to it, giving you a glimpse of what the life of a French airmail pilot was like in 1930s Buenos Aires, as Riviere, the chief, guides his pilots through their night-time ventures using radios and Morse Code. It probably would have worked, except for the fact that there was really no overarching theme to the mostly unconnected series of events. It was very confusing trying to follow the story at first, since the characters never seemed to be properly introduced and some technical pilot terms were used; you couldn’t really figure out who exactly they were or what they were supposed to be doing. The random French words and phrases sprinkled in with the normal American accents was disjointed, and it also didn’t help with the confusion that an actor would abruptly interrupt himself to narrate his own thoughts or actions in the third person before immediately getting back into character. This disrupted the flow even further and was an extremely odd choice to make, as there was no particular, all-knowing narrator and the actors neither broke the fourth wall nor spoke in first person when narrating. If a person couldn’t figure out when a character was narrating or not, it could be very easy to get lost.The second half, however, is another story. When one of the pilots got lost in a storm, the tension and suspense onstage increased dramatically as his fate is left hanging. Everything was so much more interesting and enjoyable as a result of this, and the pace quickened considerably. It was here especially that I would have liked to see the play delve more deeply into a theme; there was so much untapped potential, especially with all the different directions the narration could have gone. For instance, in one emotional monologue, Riviere comes to the conclusion that “Love leads us nowhere.” But otherwise, I was intrigued, particularly with the ambiguous ending.The actors in Night Flight did a nice job of portraying the characters; they made you feel connected and sympathetic towards them. They sang pretty well when you could actually hear them over the live quartet, which made the environment feel even more intimate when coupled with the simple, bare set. The original songs were pleasant enough, if slightly forgettable, although at times, the tango influence was confusing. Using ladders as planes and rolling them across the stage was really clever, and the lights made it really feel as if you were flying among the stars in the night. Overall, it was just an average performance that probably will not inspire you to jump out of your seat and board a plane right away.Night Flight plays now thru June 14th at the Moore Theatre, located downtown on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Virginia.Presented by Book-It Repertory Theatrefor tickets and more information, visit www.book-it.org or call 206.216.0833

A review of The Tempestplaying at Seattle Shakespeare CompanyBy Jennifer B.A Shakespeare for everyone, which is to say if you enjoy magic, love, and watching a spellbinding performance, then The Tempest is the show to see! The Seattle Shakespeare Company collaborates with internationally known local artists Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher, to make a mystically haunting performance. “Her [Jesse Sykes] background as a visual artist shapes her relation to the physical world as much as it influences her earthy, intelligent approach to song composition.” (Seattle Weekly by Hannah Levin, February 12, 2007)This mysterious performance which has a heavy connection to spirits and unspoken wonders starts out simple but then explodes with imaginative events. For every speck of sadness there seems to be a positive upturn leaving you in high spirits. It starts out with a father and daughter pulled from luxury to the fate of being stranded on a deserted island, their only company being a rotten servant and a mystic woman that only the father can see. When the abandoned confront the people that abandon them it is no wonder that there is diverse mix of excitement and emotions. Everyone loves an adventurous love story.The artistic team seemed to be perfectly matched to this performance. Sykes haunting tones would set a mood of complex darkness that would keep the audience intrigued forecasting future events. Magic is made when local artist collaborate.In an amazing use of space, L.B. Morse’s set incorporates the entire stage. There is a wonderful use of color that brings the mystic elements of the show alive before the actors even enter the stage. Walking on the blues of the stage to find your seat draws and intrigues you before you even sit down. There is a seemingly misplaced ladder, however, that during parts of the performance cuts off a section of the audience, making it hard to connect to the action. Otherwise it is well designed to incorporate the small changes in location.Throughout the enactment the costumes where innovative in design and well placed. Every actor’s character was well adorned in a matching article. But the most important costume of the performance seamed to fall short of expectations set by previously appearing garments. The witches’ costume that is worn during her confrontation of the characters that could not normally see her was missing the power that it was supposed to possess. With random wing pieces getting caught and with a simple yet ineffective design it just didn’t seem to match the importance of the action.Seattle Shakespeare always has a strong and effective cast. They have a brilliant use of ensemble and can make even the most awkward scenes appear natural. All the singers captured the chilling nature of the music. The lead of the show was brilliantly played by Michael Winters. This demanding role was accomplished with the greatest care and complexity. A vast range of emotions was needed to accomplish this character that was portrayed to the greatest degree. A more simple character whose performance was not in any way lesser was the comic relief of Kerry Ryan who presence always lit the stage. The audience was filled with laughter from the moment she entered until the moment she left. Her brilliant understanding of comic relief enthralled the whole audience.The performance was well pulled together from beginning to end. Though there were a couple of unexplained elements such as the garments of the main character being a modern hospital robe, which didn’t exactly seem to translate into the theme of the rest of the performance. George Mount remained true to the playwright and captured the magic intended by Shakespeare. Excluding the beginning, the audience was intrigued throughout the show. Though one has to admit that the start of the performance was a fair attempt, it just fell short of the energy that was intended. It was had no big impact which made it hard to connect with the rest of the performance.Going to Seattle Shakespeare Company is always a joyous event. The staff is always cheerful and their excitement for their productions rubs off on the audience members. It is no wonder that they have such a dedicated following. Overall it was a meaningful and inspired performance.The Tempest performs at the center House Theatre in Seattle Centernow through June28, 2009Visit www.seattleshakespeare.org or call 206.733.8222 for tickets and information

A review of At West of Plutoplaying at Seattle International Film Festivalby Emma K.AT WEST OF PLUTO, a film from Québec, is a meeting between John Hughes’ cult teenage films and the classic nihilism of French cinema. Following a group of fictional kids over the course of 24 hours, PLUTO tries to be “real”. As the directors said before the screening, they wanted the film to be about teenagers not “26-year-olds pretending to be teenagers.” The movie accomplishes this pretty well in the first half. Quirky moments between the different cliques in high school and humorous class presentations given by all the characters set a mood of entertaining eccentricity – the stoner talks about his love for peanut-butter; the preppy girl gives a speech on Ben Affleck. Later on, the plot thickens when a house party goes wrong and an abusive brother returns home. In trying to explore the trials of adolescence, the story focuses too much on stereotypes than on the people behind them. Some moments are rewarding, but the ending doesn’t capture the unique funk of the beginning. PLUTO is not completely realistic, but worth watching if only to see a dog attempt to pull a tree down in segments throughout the entire film. It’s moments like this that are the most fun to watch, and strangely enough the ones most reminiscent of our own offbeat lives.At West of Pluto played this past weekend at SIFF.But, there is one more week of amazing films still to attend!visit www.siff.net for complete listings

Northwest Film Forum has announced their Summer 2009 filmmaking workshops.Moviemaking in Action: Using Video to Tell Your StoriesMonday-Friday, Aug 24–28, 12–4pmInstructor: Amanda BeckerTuition: $250Max Attendance: 9Recommended for ages 14-17In the beginning there is a story. But what does it take to get from story to screen? This week long, intensive course is designed to help you build a story or experiment with themes, learn the basic techniques of digital filmmaking (including: video cameras, lighting, and sound) as well as discovering the magic behind persistence of vision. We'll work in small groups, developing ideas and learning the basic communication skills necessary to function as a filmmaking team. Your 2-3 minute group films will be edited using Final Cut Pro. The course will conclude with a screening of all finished projects in NWFF's cinema.Mixed Animation CampMonday–Friday, July 13–17, 12–4pmInstructor: Britta JohnsonTuition: $250Max Attendance: 10Recommended for ages 14-17Are you a first-time animator or a seasoned filmmaker looking to pick up some new tricks and skills? Come join us for a solid week of animation! Classic Disney films and TV shows like Gumby were all made before computers and demonstrated a variety of hands-on animation styles which are still used today in films like Coraline. Students will learn these traditional animation techniques by working with drawings, collage, clay, puppets or objects. Each student will create his or her own short film by going through the whole process: planning a project with scripts and storyboards, using movement to give characters expression, and finishing pieces with voiceovers and sound. Finished films will be compiled on a DVD for students to take home and share.Visit the NWFF website for more information, and to register for classes.

Cool video from Taproot Theatre about their latest production!Click here to see Around The World In 80 DaysTaproot Theatre is located in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle.The show plays through June 19, 2009.Visit www.taproottheatre.org or call 206.781.9707 for more information

Great idea! I'm up for it!

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On Monday, May 18th, Teen Tix celebrated its 5th Anniversary with a party at The VERA Project.At that celebration, we handed out The Teeny Awards to several of our Participating Organizations.These awards were voted on by Teen Tix members, and reflect their opinion on what's great about all of our arts venues.Congratulations to all our winners, and a bit shout out to all the other Participatings Organizations who won runner-up status.Here are the winners:BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE AwardAwarded to the venue that offers Teen Tix members the best seat locationsSeattle Repertory TheatreBEST BOX OFFICE EXPERIENCE AwardAwarded to the venue that has the friendliest box officeSeattle Children’s TheatreMOST POPULAR VENUE AwardTeen's most favorite venueSeattle Children’s TheatreMOST POPULAR NEWBIE AwardAwarded to our favorite venue added within the past yearSeattle SymphonyBEST OF SHOW 2008/9 AwardTeen Tixers wrote in their Favorite show in the past yearWomen and Wallace at Young American’s Theatre CompanyTHANK GOODNESS YOU ARE WITH TEEN TIX AwardAwarded to the venue we are most grateful participates in Teen TixSeattle OperaHIGH QUALITY AwardAwarded to the venue that consistently produces the best quality eventsINTIMAN TheatreTHE UP AND COMING AwardTeen Tixers choice of the venue they'd like to attend more of in the futureACTBEST SELLING SHOW IN 2008/9 AwardBased on Teen Tix usage data, the #1 selling show in the past yearSwan Lake, Pacific Northwest BalletBEST SELLING VENUE AwardBased on usage data, the venue most attended by Teen TixersPacific Northwest Ballet