TeenTix Blog

We've come a long way from sitting in Tommy's basement joking about how fun it would be to be in a theatre company run only by teens. We've gotten grants, rented spaces, rehearsed a main stage show, and spent countless hours calling everyone we could think of to come and see us perform. The most exciting part of all this is that, finally, we open Thursday night.All this is not to say that we don't still have things to do. Chelsea and I spent the better part of tech rehearsal yesterday (when we weren't on stage, of course) making lists of things we still needed to get. Costumes, props, box office paperwork, and rotten tomatoes all made the list. It's getting down to the wire and, although we're more than confident that we will present a complete and polished show on Thursday, it is amazing how many things you take for granted when someone else controls your production.This has been such a great learning experience for all of us, and we're so proud of the work that we've done so far, even if we still have some work left to do. Keep checking back to the blog, i promise to let you know how opening goes.much love,Zoey and the whole YATC crewCome check it out yourself! Buy tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com or show up and use your teen tix, but make sure to get there early because we're only selling 12 teen tix per night.Tommy Fleming, Sarah Youssefi, Samuel Tilles and some blurry girls rehearse Women and Wallace.

There's a lovely article by Misha Berson in the Times today about The Young Americans' Theatre Company. Congratulations guys!

Yesterday, I stumbled across this interview with Marianne Owen and R. Hamilton Wright, two of our most accomplished and revered local actors. I loved this part, from Marianne, about her first experience at a professional theatre production:

MARIANNE: Mine — well, I went to — how old was I — 14. I think 13 or 14; I can't recall which — anyway, my high school class went to Beverly Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts for a matinee performance of The Tempest. This theatre was sort of under a tent in the round, and I happened to have a seat on the aisle. I'd seen a few shows before, but that was the first professional show I'd seen. I had no idea what the play was I about, I just knew it was Shakespeare and we were studying it in Sister Mary Amadeus's Shakespeare class. Ariel was wearing a leotard — probably a cheesy sort of green-mauve leotard with sort of, not fairy wings, but diaphanous fabric coming off her — and she had a whole handful of sparkles. And every time her hand moved, the sparkles would go into the air. And she was about two feet away from me, in the aisle, and she was talking down to Prospero on the stage, who was in white robes, old — he looked like Charlton Heston in Moses— and I looked at her, and I think some of the sprinkles hit my hand, and I looked there, and I thought "What is that — they're in a bubble! What is that air? What is that? I want to know what that is!" I can still see it in my mind's eye.

Hey you young people out there! This is just a little hello from the Young Americans' Theatre Company: Seattle's newest and only completely student run theatre company. We just want to start off by giving a big shout out to Teen Tix for all the support they've given us as we make our way into the community. We're just getting off the ground, but we've definately hit the ground running since forming back in march. For those of you who haven't heard anything about us, we are a group made up of young men and women from the ages of 16-18. Our board consists of Tommy Fleming, Chelsea Taylor, Zoey Belyea (that's me), Hattie Andres, Emma Kelley, and Sam Tilles. You may recognize those names from shows you've seen lately at the Intiman, Seattle Children's Theatre, and The Rep, but now we've come together to start a completely new project. We are in the proses of mounting a complete and professional level main stage show entirely on our own and without the supervision of parents, teachers or adults of any kind.Zoey Belyea wields in a knife in rehearsals for YATC's Women and Wallace. Photo by Johnny Valencia.With this company we hope to give talented and committed students of acting a space to explore themselves as artists without having to answer to any authority figure and, most importantly, without having to pay for an expensive program. We want to give young people in the Seattle community a place where they can work and grow as actors in the company of their peers, and we want to produce work that is relevant and true to the lives we lead. There is such a shortage of material for people our age because so many adults cannot come to terms with the things we actually encounter in our every day lives. Things we can't put on stage at school such as sex, drugs, swearing, and violence can sometimes be a part of our lives (and a part of our first show Women and Wallace) and we want a space outside of a scholastic setting where we can portray these aspects of our lives. Our goal, however, is not to be shocking or scandalous. Our goal is to be real and to be taken seriously.We're so excited with all the progress we've made so far and we can't wait to update you. Look for an article on us in the Ticket section of the Seattle Times this Friday!! And please come support our show; a show produced, directed and performed by teenagers just like you. Women and Wallace by Jonathan Marc Sherman. August 7-17, Thursday-Sunday, 8pm. Performances will be held at the Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112. Buy tickets here.P.S. Become our fan on facebook!

First of all I would like to point out that the SCT Summer Season Productions are real productions. Not just "summer camps". You have to audition, sometimes you’re called back, and then, if you're good, you get to be in one of the shows. Hundreds of kids audition, some international kids too, and only a handful get to be in a production. It's not just a, if you pay we'll put you in the play, set up like Broadway Bound is. Secondly, I don’t really understand your comments about the lack of boys in the plays. Not many boys are into live theatre. At least in age group. It really is girl dominated. Like in my play, High School Hamlet, it's written so that all the genders in Hamlet are reversed. So there are only two boys in my play. And if you count all the other roles in Hamlet that boys normally would have to fill... it makes more sense not to fight the reality of the situation.And these plays do have directors. If you liked the show the production should be attributed to them, not to Seattle Children’s Theatre. I saw the plays too and I don’t think you gave the kids, or the staff, the credit they deserve. They only had four weeks to pull together a one hour play. In the theatre world that’s not very long at all. They do a good job for their age and the amount of time they are given. But, it is still a real production!~Emma

Review of the SCT Drama School's productions of Beauty Idol and Cam Jansen, By Ari S., age 17BEAUTY IDOLBeauty Idol is a one-act play which largely consists of teenage girls competing against each other for the title of “most beautiful.” It’s a weighty topic, and definitely not one to be taken on lightly. However, the members of this Seattle Children’s Theater drama camp seem to have dealt with it admirably well. All the actresses were clearly having a great time, as was the audience, but they also obviously understood the serious nature of the ideas they were presenting. It’s a genuinely valuable experience for an audience member, to attend a play and spend most of it laughing, but to acknowledge the deeper ideas within it as well. For that, I feel, these actresses deserve recognition.Just as in another SCT camp’s production of Cam Jansen, the play chosen for this group of actors was positively exceptional. Every actor was given a role with more than just a few lines and the chance to be more than just a support for someone else. The play also fit the age group nicely, and, while it’s always nice to see some boys joining up for summer drama camp, you can’t have everything, and there’s no shame to be found in an all-girl play. Some memorable performances were definitely those of Latifah, the hostess who certainly got the crowd going, and Jasmine Riley, whose attitude was well-played and enjoyable.Unfortunately, there were moments during the production when dialogue seemed awkward or unfitting. Yet, I feel that this was less the fault of the actors than it was the writing of the play itself. Moments of confrontation in particular were somehow off, lending the play a slightly disjointed air. Still, other than such minor mishaps, the play was very well designed, with humorous caricatures at the beginning turning into much wiser real girls by the end. The conflicts between the mothers were a nice touch, something I didn’t see coming and greatly enjoyed.Beauty is sensitive topic for discussion, one which we face every day and often find hard to come to terms with. Even if we assert that we find everyone beautiful, we find ourselves making judgments without realizing it, critiquing people for no good reason. It’s nice to have a reminder now and then, telling us to get back on track and stop finding fault with other people based on how they look. Beauty Idol provides this reminder in a funny and delightful way. I thank all these actresses for the prompting and hope they know how much I value it.CAM JANSENWhen I was sitting in the audience at Seattle Children’s Theater waiting for the lights to dim and this particular show to start, I was in fact undergoing a curious sense of apprehension. The reason for this, understandably, was that I had actually read some of the Cam Jansen books in my youth; books which must have been rather good, because they obviously stuck with me. I can’t say I recall them very well, but I was still hoping that I wouldn’t be disappointed in this reincarnation of a fond childhood experience. And yet, as I watched the play travel from start to finish, I found myself quite pleased, even delighted, with what I saw. From what I can remember of Cam’s endless adventures with her best friend Billy in tow, this theater camp at the SCT got it exactly right.The play Cam Jansen is an adaptation, or rather, extensive elaboration on the contents of the book Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries. It follows the course of the camp from start to finish, with not just one but two whole mysteries to solve. I’ll admit that the play was obviously intended for a younger audience, so perhaps some of the jokes were not exactly my cup of tea. However, it was truly delightful to be plunged back into the juvenile fiction of my youth, when even a simple conversation between a boy and a girl is a matter of high intrigue. It was an opportunity to look back, to see how far I’d come, but also maybe to wonder how much I missed it.The cast of Cam Jansen is primarily campers, admittedly with an overwhelming number of girls compared to boys, something which seems to happen quite often in theater camps. Each role was delightfully distinct in personality, with not a single role disappearing into the background. I personally particularly enjoyed the fact that every camper received a role with more than just a couple lines. The theater camps I’ve personally experienced have often chosen plays that required some campers to fade into the background and never receive their moment in the spotlight, which I feel is something that the SCT managed to avoid completely. Particular roles which shined were Molly, with her eternal air of innocence and fabulous deadpan delivery, and Eric, who I personally feel got all the best lines.I believe that the Seattle Children’s Theater did an excellent job of bringing this play to performance level. My one suggestion would perhaps be more work when it comes to projection. By and large I was able to make out all the lines, but when an unhappy child near me would begin kicking up a fuss, it was often difficult to hear what new mysterious discoveries were being made. Other than that, I can only say congratulations to the entire cast on a fabulous production and good luck with all their future acting endeavors.Ari S.July 24th, 2008Cam Jansen and Beauty Idol are closed, but you can still catch the rest of SCT's Summer Season:Ernie's Incredible Illucinations | July 31st - August 2ndVesuvia! | July 31st - August 2ndMedieval Farces | August 7th - 9thHigh School Hamlet | August 7th - 9thUrinetown, The Musical | August 15th - 23rdwww.sct.orgDid you see one of these shows? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of A Man Named Pearl by Kaitlin S., age 19“Pearl Fryar really put the town of Bishopville on the map”; at least, that is what the people of Bishopville think. Pearl Fryar is no Batman, but his friends and neighbors are convinced that he’s a hero. Also unlike Batman, Pearl Fryar is a real person, and no characters in his movie are acting. A Man Named Pearl is an inspirational, entertaining piece of work that moves at a refreshingly slower pace than most Hollywood dramas.An uncanny knack for topiary art is a highly uncommon skill for a hero to possess, but it is Pearl Fryar’s talent. With not a dime to spare on plants, and without formal training, Pearl Fryar sculpted a world-renowned topiary garden almost out of thin air. Using an interview format, Pearl and others who witnessed this botanical miracle describe its unfolding, and the impact it had on their town.The closest A Man Named Pearl comes to “action scenes” are shots of Pearl trimming his topiaries with a chain saw. The movie was made up almost entirely of interviews. However, although the word “interview” tends to have connotations of stuffiness, the interviews in A Man Named Pearl felt more like chats in someone’s living room than formal interviews. Because Pearl overcame odds like poverty, racism, and lack of education, his story is truly inspirational. Both the approachability and honesty of the interviews and the intriguing subject matter made this movie entertaining. Although A Man Named Pearl does not contain the thrills, excitement, and adventure of typical super-hero movies, it captures a compelling hero story with something more than Hollywood typically has to offer: a healthy dose of realism. Kaitlin S.July 16th, 2008A Man Named PearlSIFF CinemaAugust 1 - 7www.siff.netDid you see this film? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

By Eric Engelhard & Hattie AndresBefore every performance of bare, each of us are exploding with enormous amounts of excitement and energy. As a cast we are a group of friends with strong, close relationships. We have so much fun together! In the few-hours of our nightly pre-show preparation, we work to fine tune the aspects these off-stage, real-life relationships and then apply them in our performance. In addition to all the necessary make-up, costume, and prop setting, we all have unique, personal, or even strange pre-show rituals.5-6 PM: Arrive at ArtsWest. It is up to each of us to determine how early before the 6:00 call time we need to arrive. If you need extra time, this is where you get it. Many of us have quite a commute, from places as south as Tacoma, east as Issaquah, and north as Everett. To make the 6:00 call time, most leave early to allow for any traffic complications. Before 6:00, actors are often found lounging in the green room, grabbing a last minute bite to eat and catching up with each other. Laughter is never of shortage backstage!6 PM: Actors and band called. The 6:00 call time is set by the Stage Manager (SM) and works as a deadline for the cast, crew, and band. The SM calls anyone who hasn't arrived yet. You don't want to get this call!6- 6:30 PM: Physical and vocal warm-ups, make-up, set props and quick change costumes. We use this time to set any props. Some of us play multiple characters and have frequent quick changes during the show. All quick change costume are preset where we need them. Each actor has their own specific technique for executing their quick changes. Usually it’s only a matter of seconds between buttoning your last button and needing to be on stage! Some of us start applying make-up. For bare, not a lot of make-up is required. This is due to the smaller size of the ArtsWest theatre and the teenage characters that we portray. Some use this time to prepare physically and mentally. Yoga and other stretches are popular choices for physical warm-ups.6:15 Fight call and lift call. These calls are for our safety. Those in the sword fight are called on stage to run their fight choreography. Also, those in opening number dance lift perform the lift in time with the music. These calls are used to fix any problems and as a memory refresher.6:30 PM: Mic-check. At this time, everyone's mic is checked. One by one, the sound technician has each of us sing a selection from one of our songs in the show. The best part is choosing which selection you want to sing. People switch songs, sing in a different genre, or even sing non-show songs! During each person's check, the sound technician balances volume and fixes mic placement problems. We then sing the opening number, “Epiphany”, to balance the whole cast's levels.6:30-7 PM: Finish setting props and costumes. Continue applying make-up. Whatever wasn't finished before mic check is done now. All props and costumes need to be set before the house is opened to the audience at 7:00. In the separate men and women dressing rooms, each actor has their own station. Some actors choose to use this time to focus on the show, keeping mainly to themselves while others engage in lively conversations to keep the energy flowing between cast mates. There’s one thing for certain – someone’s always singing! Legally Blonde, Dreamgirls and In the Heights appear to be favorite sing along material at the moment.7:00 PM: House opens.Group vocal warm up. The theater is opened to the audience and therefore closed to the performers. You would have to be very sneaky to set anything you forget without the audience noticing. Also, we now get together as a group to warm-up. Bare is vocally challenging material. The vocal chords are muscles just like any other in the body, so warm ups are important to keep the voice healthy. One of the favorite vocal warm-ups is the “Giant Banana” arpeggio. For those actors who struggle with time management (we won’t name any names), vocal warm-up is used as a time to multi-task by finishing make-up or a physical warm up at the same time.7-7:30 PM:Finish applying make-up and getting into costume. Focus. Almost time! Now is the time when we finish whatever else there is to finish. There are a few strange and quite funny last-minute focus exercises. Tongue twisters are a frequent and seemingly random outburst from everyone. Those who sing the Act 1 closing song, “One”, run through one of the tougher harmony sections together. First, for fun they sing as country singers. They do it a second and final time, this time as if it were the real performance. During this second run, they make purposeful eye contact with the others in an attempt to deepen their connection with each other.7:28 PM: Places called. By now you better be finished or else you're probably going to miss your entrance! The Stage manager calls “places” and we move to our first entrances. Some actors are already completely in the world of the show, completely silent and focused while others prefer to offer pre-show hugs and whispers of “break a leg”.7:30 PM: Curtain. After places have been reached the house lights dim and the music begins!Claire Edgerton (Ivy) arrives early to set her hair in hot rollers<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Hattie Andres (Tanya) focuses on her breathing while doing herroutine warm-up of sun salutationBlaire Smith (Sister Chantelle) ensures that her lip gloss is poppingin preparation for her portrayal of the Virgin Mary in a dreamsequence later in Act IJustin Huertas (Matt) achieves perfection by leaving himself adequate time to get into costume________________________________________________________________________________bare: a pop opera runs thru July 26 - only 3 shows left!ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery4711 California Ave SWThursday, July 24 @ 7:30Friday, July 25 @ 7:30Saturday, July 26 @ 7:30http://www.artswest.org/ or (206) 938-0339Buy tickets NOW, they're selling fast! $15 general admission, $10 for 25 and under, $5 for TeenTix members.

Review of Romeo & Juliet by Michelle K.I have reason to believe that all modern love ideologies have sprouted off the great Shakespearian classic Romeo & Juliet. Forbidden love is only the more alluring still; a parent’s acceptance towards a relationship can often be seen to adolescents as a passion-killer. Sneaking around and seeing a significant other late at night is always exhilarating for some reason rather than in the sunlight, and the phrase, “I will die if I can’t see _________!” is often a common phrase among young lovers. In this way, the playwright William Shakespeare has left an indelible mark on our love lives, craving a juicy relationship just as the star-crossed teens Juliet and Romeo experienced at the mere ages of 13 and 16.Hana Lass, John Farrage and Michael Place in Romeo & JulietPhoto by John UlmanSo really, “Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?” Well, ask and I shall receive: I found him in Volunteer Park near Capitol Hill, Seattle. Collaborating to piece together the 15th annual Summer Shakespeare Fest, Wooden O Productions and the Seattle Shakespeare Company create an all you can eat buffet of free, outdoor Shakespearian performances. This outdoor theme suited the play that I watched, Romeo and Juliet, very well: free-flowing stage, the whisper of birds in the background, and the warm descending sun all creating a mood of old-world charm. Crowds of the young and old came to share in the fantastically embellished prose of lovers and claimed their seat on the grass in front of the minimally dressed stage. A wooden balcony, the mainstay of the stage throughout the play, served various scenic purposes, and with a little imagination from the viewers, did so quite efficiently.Most vital to the undoubtedly famous and crowd-drawing Shakespearian play, Romeo and Juliet, was the cast. The chemistry between this eternal couple needed to burst with infatuation and love, the supporting players needed to be witty and breathe life into the characters, and the confusing language of the play needed to be relayed to our contemporary audience with purpose and clarity so we could grasp the message of Shakespeare’s words. In all, this goal was achieved, and then some. Juliet and Romeo were expertly cast, Hana Lass played Juliet and Michael Place acted as Romeo. Both obviously attractive, it was easy to imagine them attracted to each other. Lass has also involved in productions with Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and Defibrillator Productions. A dark beauty, Hana Lass ably pulled off the character of Juliet, persuasively displaying the evolution of her character’s love-abiding fervor. Place, a handsome, and perfectly picturesque Romeo, charmed the crowd with his bellowing voice that spoke of his convictions towards Juliet. After all, Juliet is the sun. Mercutio, also molding his role into a sardonic and humorous character, made the play even more enjoyable with his mocking and good-natured repartees of Romeo’s “undying” love for Juliet. Moreover, the Nurse provided a comedic outlet in the play, allowing the audience to laugh when laughing was needed. The subtle alterations made to the way things were said in the script were possibly the most tactful move in the cast’s favor. Words were given meaning by using emotion: much of which lacked the first time I read the play in school. To say the least, I came out understanding the prohibited love affair of the Montagues and Capulets much more clearly.Romeo and Juliet will always live on as the couple who would do anything for each other, even kill themselves. Although I’m not saying take a note from their drastic actions, it may be best to derive the passion from their suicidal ends and take to heart the actual love that existed within the realms of where no love is supposed to be. Symbolically, Shakespeare may have been trying to convey that one should always love thy enemy, which is a valuable concept that should be remembered today especially in this world of constant embattlement. We are all roses, maybe with different names, but surely we all smell as sweet.- Michelle K.July 12th, 2008For another viewpoint on Wooden O's Romeo & Juliet, check out Molly L.'s review.Romeo and JulietWooden O Productionsseattleshakespeare.org/woodenoSHOW SCHEDULE:Thursday, July 17 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandFriday, July 18 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSaturday, July 19 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSunday, July 20 - 3pmEdmonds City Park, EdmondsWednesday, July 23 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodThursday, July 24 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodFriday, July 25 - 7pmAngle Lake Park, SeaTacSaturday, July 26 - 7pmPine Lake Park, SammamishSunday, July 27 - 6pmFisher Pavilion, Seattle CenterWednesday, July 30 - 7pmRichmond Beach Community Park, ShorelineFriday, August 1 - 7pmCity Hall Open Space, RedmondSaturday, August 2 - 7pmSno-Isle Library Marysville Branch, Marysville

There's something wonderfully nerdy going on over on the Slog. It seems that a number of Stranger staffers went to see Intiman's A Streetcar Named Desire. Then one of them (Editor Christopher Frizzelle) posted about how much he looooved it. Then another one of 'em (Visual Arts Editor Jen Graves) got on to say how much she did not love it. Then our own Professor Kiley got in on the action by posting his, y'know, official and sanctioned and sanctified review of the show, and, well...just see for yourself. Here's the digest version (caution: links contain coarse language):PointFrizzelle: "I’d always thought of Streetcar (which I’d only ever read) as a cheesy, mid-century melodrama, a scenery-as-food piece, but I was totally carried along by the performances that Sheila Daniels (profiled by Brendan Kiley last week) got out of these actors."CounterpointGraves: "For me, this Streetcar was flat. It had a sort of acceptable forgettableness...The interpretations of the three main characters struck me this way: bad (Blanche), not quite good (Stanley), better than she had any right to be (Stella). When the main attraction is Stella, your Streetcar’s off the rails."Other pointKiley: "Those able to tear themselves from the image of Saint Brando will see new dimensions in Tennessee Williams’s icon of masculine inadequacy and rage...The wound in this Streetcar—and it’s a gaping, festering one—is the “Blue Piano,”...The ominous notes that followed Blanche’s revelation that her first husband was gay are egregiously goofy. But Daniels has coaxed quality, multihued performances out of her actors." (Sorry, Kiley's writing doesn't lend itself to easy pull-quoting.)And...anotherSchmader (in the comments from Kiley's post): "I agree with Brendan and Christopher and disagree with Jen and Mary McCarthy...The woman who played Stella was the standout, but I thought the actors behind Blanche and Stanley both brought something new to the roles...But the sound design is a hate crime."RebuttalFrizzelle (again): "Jen Graves...practices criticism when she writes about art but merely deploys synonyms for “I don’t like it” when she writes about plays on Slog that she thinks I have thought too highly of...(Right, Ms. Graves?) “Bad” how? “Better” how?"RefutationGraves (again): "Mr. Frizzelle... Should we trust your take on Streetcar when your take is essentially that it’s great because it doesn’t suck the way you expected it to?"And then things simmered down, at least online. But my point is this: there's no right way to look at, or think about, art. Even high-falutin' professional critics who get paid for their opinions don't always agree (in fact, they probably disagree at a higher-than-average rate.) Also, I read Slog too much.Did you see Streetcar? Yeah? What did you think of it? Leave your comments on our reviewer, Sophia B's, review.

this seems well written

Review of Romeo and Juliet by Molly L., age 13You think you know the story: young lovers defy the rift between their families to be together in a love that finally leads them to die for one another. But do you remember the whimpering babies in that story? The moaning dogs or all the picnicking? Welcome to the Amphitheater at Volunteer Park on a Sunday night where many people have come together to enjoy a double feature. No, there aren’t two plays showing tonight but there’s just as much drama offstage here as there is onstage. The audience arrives early to stake claims marked with blankets and garden chairs with the legs cut off. Here everyone is asking themselves “is my chair too tall?” Near the stage the action has already begun as well.Hana Lass and Michael Place in Wooden O's Romeo & JulietPhoto by John UlmanAn aisle is staked with bright pink ribbon, huge set pieces are being assembled with the assistance of hammers, nails and scaffolding in a high-speed construction project. The audience finally sits down in their previously claimed seats, picnicking on Ezell’s chicken, Kettle Chips, and fresh fruit. Everyone is talking and mingling; there are no outsiders. Kids run from blanket to blanket, listening to the laughter. Everyone is catching up with old friends, putting up umbrellas to shield them from the sun. Without the stage up front it would look just like a closely packed picnicking area, not a theater.At this open-air theater there are no lights to go down when the show starts, only the sun, sinking behind the trees. You can see the backstage on the actual platform, but it’s really only a few white tents. Everyone is still talking. Will the noise ever go away? But then, 15 minutes late, the actors come on stage and the crowd suddenly seems to have disappeared because of the quiet.The play begins. The audience is drawn in by every word spoken by each character. An ice cream truck comes by but it won’t get much business here, the play is providing all the sweet and savory satisfaction that anyone needs. An airplane passes low above and the action stops as the actors stare at it. The crowd laughs, enjoying the entertainment. Attention remains upfront and towards the actors speaking the beautiful lines of the balcony scene, playing off each other, showing real emotion.“Is love a tender thing?” Romeo asks as the sun sinks and the lighting changes, casting shadows over the audience who cuddle together to keep warm. Night has almost fallen as each lover dies for the other and adds to the chilling thoughts that the suicides inflict.You walk away with a new perspective on the story, one that includes picnicking people and noise-making babies. The tale of Romeo and Juliet is no longer just another Shakespeare play. It is now the double feature that you’ll remember. With action onstage as well as off until they blend together and there is no separation between audience and actor, we’re all together breathing the same air, our lives sharing the same stage.- Molly L.July 13th, 2008For another viewpoint on Wooden O's Romeo & Juliet, read Michelle K's review.Romeo and JulietWooden O Productionsseattleshakespeare.org/woodenoSHOW SCHEDULE:Thursday, July 17 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandFriday, July 18 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSaturday, July 19 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSunday, July 20 - 3pmEdmonds City Park, EdmondsWednesday, July 23 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodThursday, July 24 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodFriday, July 25 - 7pmAngle Lake Park, SeaTacSaturday, July 26 - 7pmPine Lake Park, SammamishSunday, July 27 - 6pmFisher Pavilion, Seattle CenterWednesday, July 30 - 7pmRichmond Beach Community Park, ShorelineFriday, August 1 - 7pmCity Hall Open Space, RedmondSaturday, August 2 - 7pmSno-Isle Library Marysville Branch, Marysville

Review of A Streetcar Named Desire by Sophia B., age 16When Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer-winning A Streetcar Named Desire first hit theatres in 1947, it was considered one of the most shocking and brilliant works ever written. Now, sixty-one years later, it's hard to argue with that line of thinking.Jonno Roberts as Stanley Kowalski and Angela Pierce as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at Intiman Theatre; Chelsey Rives (behind Roberts) plays Stella. Photo by Chris Bennion.Streetcar, with its raw emotions, unconventional characters, and daring plot, is certainly a well-written one; but we all know that what even the most stunning play can't be brought to life by insipid actors. Luckily, the cast of Intiman's production was anything but. Every one of them, from the rambunctious but kind neighbor woman (Khatt Taylor) to the battered but loyal Stella (Chelsey Rives) were masters of inflection, timing, and expression. Rives provided a nice touch by infusing her character with more strength than would be expected from such a character.The most important players are Stanley Kowalski (Jonno Roberts) and Blanche DuBois (Angela Pierce.) The prissy Blanche relentlessly criticizes the common, rough-hewn Stanley, who has married her sister Stella. Since clashes of pride and background are what ultimately lead to Streetcar's heart-wrenching conclusion, one shoddy actor could spoil the play. Instead, both actors gave their all, and the results were brilliant. Roberts perfectly toed the line between charismatic and loathsome, his character by turns humorous, menacing, and pitiable. At times he did veer towards melodrama, but given his loud and violent character that is to be expected.Pierce too was melodramatic, but for her fractured and cartoonish character, melodrama was more than appropriate; it was necessary. Blanche DuBois is, in a sense, three characters; and Pierce played them all, switching seamlessly from voice to voice and pose to pose. Furthermore, she applied small touches that erased any skepticism about her ability to emote subtly. In one charged scene, something as small as her arm shaking struck me as one of the most effective conveyances of emotion I have ever witnessed.Intiman is a small theatre, and there was one setting for the entire play. Luckily, it was an exquisite one, with carefully constructed squalor and glorious lighting. The sound effects, which included a live piano, served not only to entrance the audience but to throw light upon Blanche's fragile psyche. At one point, the use of thunder made me fear a descent into cliché, but my fear was unfounded; thunder was used only once. The grand finale, a haunting rendition of the folk song Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child, would leave any listener breathless. I exited the theatre babbling about the sheer splendor I had just experienced.I was not the only one.- Sophia B.July 9th, 2008A Streetcar Named DesireINTIMAN TheatreThrough August 2ndhttp://www.intiman.org/Intiman's Ticket Office: 206-269-1900Did you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

'Wizard Rock the Vote' by Harry and the PottersHey guys, its that time of year again. Every July in Seattle, when the Harry Potter junkies come out from under the stairs in their red and gold striped scarfs, you'll know Harry and the Potters (or 'HATP') have arrived in the Emerald City. In past years, they've had free shows at local libraries to promote summer reading and summer rocking. Kids from age 5 to 35 are seen in their Hogwarts house's garb, accompanied by their muggle friends & family rocking out to Potter-themed ditties. However, this year they're touring on the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo (aka "Camp Jump and Yell for Boys and Girls and Wizards) with fellow nerd-rockers Math the Band and Uncle Monsterface. They'll be at Neumos on the 23rd, and its not-so-free. They charge $12 at the door for general admission, and all ages are welcomed to come (although not recommended for those especially little wizards and witches). Doors open at 7pm and the show is likely to sell out. Fully worth the $12.Also, NOT A TEEN TIX EVENT!Sorry kids, but I'm afraid this is full price for everybody.

Very fine review. Having read all of Jane Austin's books and watch every video of them that I can find, your review makes me sad to have missed the production!

...doesn't mean you won't. Here are audience reactions to A Marvelous Party, currently playing at ACT. (Actually, there is one young - and very enthusiastic - cutie in there.)And here's what our teen reviewer, Paulina P, had to say:"The pair of black upright pianos makes one wonder what kind of party one is about to step into, and evaluate the fact that maybe you should have dressed a tad more formally. All those worries disappear however when the four singer-characters step on the stage to give the audience some insight into why they are here...Do bear in mind that the audience was mostly older people who were there for the Noel Coward wit. That did not stop others—such as myself—from having a good time and laughing at the amazing physical comedy and witticisms of Noel Coward. A Marvelous Party runs until July 13 at the ACT, and as Coward said “Tell your friends”." Read Paulina's whole review here.A Marvelous Party closes this Sunday at ACT.

I've just spent a most enjoyable half-hour listening to the boys from local underground art collective PDL talk about their work. You should listen to it, as they have a cool, unpretentious style that I'm told appeals to you teenage types.Then, you should go to Kerry Park this Saturday, the 12th, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm to see them unveil their latest, super-secret work of art. And don't say I never told you anything that would make you seem cool to your snobby friends.PDL, by the by, are the guys behind the Unauthorized Tour of SAM, which this year's Young Critics experienced and reviewed, and about which they said things like:"PDL are satirical geniuses." - Ashraf"...this tour almost is an inadvertent act of reverse psychology. The more the creators poke fun at serious pieces of art, the more the observer finds themselves willing to unpack and analyze the piece." - Elsa"Have you ever heard of PDL? If so: you are impossibly hip. If not: don’t worry there is still time." - LeahPDLs "Eaglets", with Alexander Calder's "Eagle", at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Photo by Belltown via Flickr.Thanks to Jen Graves over on the good ol' Slog

I'm a big fan of Improv Everywhere! One of my favorites is Food Court Musical.

Improv Everywhere is a New York City based performance art collective that, despite its terrible name, is unassailably cool. They've struck again, this time by creating a hall of mirrors on the 6 train: If you haven't seen it, though, you've got to check out Frozen Grand Central, which remains my favorite:Delightful.Thanks to Slog.

I was a devil in that production