Wow! I thought, “that’s so cool!” But then my friend Agastya (hmmmm . . . might it be that those with names beginning with “A” like to lead the pack? The last name of the woman who did the first Theatre Puget Sound post also began with the letter “A” . . .), posted his list. He saw 102(!) shows in 2009. And his goal in 2010? – to break his own record by trying to see at least 3 shows a week! For the month of January, he’s seen 14. At that rate, he’ll see well over 150 shows by year-end.

There used to be a guy in town named Joe Boling. He saw more live performance than anyone. He included opera and other performances on his list, but I think he averaged about 250+ performances per year and I think he hit over 300 one year. He would try to see shows every night of the week and loved nothing better than to try to catch 5 shows on Saturdays. He paid for every single ticket and wrote personal reviews for everything – all archived with Theatre Puget Sound. One year I tried to see as many shows as him and only hit about 150. I was sad when he moved out of state – theatres need more devoted audience members like Joe. But I’m delighted to see that there’s a small group of people out there trying their darndest to beat their own personal best.

How many shows did you see last year? If you saw one a month, maybe aim for 3 every two months. Or if all you were able to see was one show, why not try for 2 this year? Need suggestions? Check out the current Art Zone show or check at the Show Links section on the Art Zone website. Have fun with it and get out and see some theatre!

Enjoy!
Kathy

P.S. And in case you’re wondering – in 2009 I saw 76 shows which I thought was pretty decent until Agastya told me how many he’d seen. So I went gang-busters and saw 10 shows in January (to try to beat his 100+) only to find out he’d seen 14. I guess the nice thing about being 2nd is I have something to aspire to without feeling the pressure of having to stay #1.

So what can you see that’s still currently playing, you ask? My faves are Emma at Book-It – a sublimely sparkling stage adaptation of the classic novel by Jane Austen. Austen was such a keen observer of human behavior that even now, almost 200 years after Emma was originally published, her insight on romantic relationships in particular is still as insightful and hilariously accurate as it must have been back then. The direction and cast are superb. This is a terrific choice to bring a date, for book groups, for gal pals, for parents with teenage daughters, or groups of any age from teens to seniors.

The other fabulous show is the Seattle Repertory Theatre’s production of Opus by Michael Hollinger. An impressive cast of some of the best local actors, this taut drama is moving and often quite funny. Opus is a passionate peek into the world of professional classical musicians, but more importantly, Opus is a revealing portrait about the personal and professional relationships between people who have to work together as a team. Life is too short to squander and this play inspires one to ponder – are we truly spending our life doing what we love with those that we truly care about? And if we’re not, isn’t it time that we did?

Plus, if you’re looking for something fun to enjoy with the younger members of the family, do check out Bunnicula at SecondStory Rep and Honk at Seattle Musical Theatre!

Enjoy!
Kathy

But on to the matter at hand – it’s my fave time of year – autumn! And what makes it even better? Live Theatre Week! Taking place October 12 – 18, Live Theatre Week is a chance to find out why Seattle has the best theatre scene in the country. See free performances, catch an open rehearsal, and get a behind-the-scenes look at what an incredibly vibrant theatre community we have. Check-out the Seattle Performs site for information on how to sign up for free theatre tickets and an extensive listing of free, fun family events taking place throughout the week and beyond.

And best of all, this year, for the first time in local history, Theatre Puget Sound will be throwing a huge theatre party awards extravaganza as the grand closing finale of Live Theatre Week on Monday, October 19 at 7:30pm at Intiman Theatre. And you’re all invited. This gala event will honor outstanding achievement in acting, directing, playwriting, production as well as Theatre of the Year and Person to Watch. Visit The Gregory Awards website for a full list of nominees and information on how to attend. The Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award winner will also be honored at the event. This year’s recipient is Chris Bennion, who has dedicated over thirty-five years of his time and talents as a professional photographer to promoting and documenting theatre in the Puget Sound region. Celebrate theatre, mingle with local stage stars, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment provided by the Love Markets. I’ll be there! Hope you will, too!

Kathy

Isn’t Seattle the best place ever when it’s nice?! Ahhhh… love it. I’m keeping my eye out for fun and interesting art events, so, here are a few more possible outings to add to your summer art calendar:

Rawstock

Get ready for Rawstock 2009! This raw and irreverent film event, hosted by The Central Heating Lab at ACT, hits the screen for one night only on July 24th, with all sorts of great independent movies, including the Seattle premieres of David Lowery’s “St. Nick”, Calvin Reeder’s “Snake Mountain Colada”. The schmoozing starts in the Raw Lounge at 8:15. Get tickets from ACT.

Check out the Seattle Art Dealers Association upcoming event, “SADA Introductions 2009”, happening on Saturday, July 18th from 11-5. This self-guided tour features art works that are chosen by art gallery owners– who pick artists from other galleries, not their own—and is meant to represent the best of the new century. This unique mid-day art walk is your chance to check out, and meet, the hot up & comers! For a list of participating galleries, and tour map, go to www.seattleartdealers.com

Batteries Not Included

Here’s a fun art freebie you can enjoy from the comfort of your computer! Local filmmaker Jon Behrens, who normally makes experimental arty films, has made something a little different. “Batteries Not Included” features vintage toy commercials from Mattel, Ideal, Hasbro, Marx, Aurora, and many others. If you were born in the 1950’s, 1960’s or 1970’s, this will spark many pleasant memories. If you’re of the younger set, this might give you a new appreciation for your square, out-of-date parents. Watch the streaming video or download a copy

Artist Allie Jones, who represents herself as Allie Jones Art “The Art of Giving Back”, has a new show of original work opening at Café Flora, the fabulous vegetarian joint in Madison Valley, opening on August 3rd. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Cancer Care Alliance, where Allie’s father is currently in treatment. Stop by and see how philanthropy, art, and delicious food, can come together!

Enjoy these beautiful days, and make sure to add a daily dose of art to your outdoor activities.

xo, nancy g.

Oh man, it’s almost July– how in the heck did that happen?! Well, there’s no time for my whining… here’s some cool stuff to consider:

ATTENTION SUBURBANITES!
Greg Lungren one of Seattle’s super hip groovster guys has an upcoming show entitled “I Am From Bellevue”. The exhibit, at Open Satellite in Bellevue, runs July 10th thru August 1st, and is all about Greg’s investigation of suburban identity and the impact of suburbia on the artists who are born there.

ATTENTION WRITERS!
On July 18th and 19th, from 10:00 am to 10:00 am, ZAPP @ Richard Hugo House, will host a 24-hour Zine Challenge. Drawing inspiration from over 20,000 zines in the Hugo House collection, participants will pull an all dayer&nighter to create a complete and original 24-page zine. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, as well as sleeping arrangements in the ZAPP second floor offices.
This event is free, but registration is required: zapp@hugohouse.org or (206) 322-7030.

ATTENTION PERFORMERS!
If you’re interested in improving your artistic skills, look no further than Freehold Theatre’s two summer intensives:

Marc Kenison, aka Waxie Moon, is a core member of the vibrant and burgeoning Burlesque and Cabaret community. If you’re already performing, or if you’re an interested novice, Marc’s “Creating Cabaret” class, happening July 6-23, is your foot in the door.
Matt Smith the best darn improviser in the city, perhaps the world, has taught thousands of people to improvise–me included– and his approach is nothing short of brilliant. Sign up for his summer workshop, July 6-30, and walk away with improved confidence and a solid foundation of improv skills.

For more information on both classes, go to Freehold Theatre.com

That’s it for now. Stay in touch.

“Art is an affirmation of life…” – Madeleine L’Engle, writer

Amen, Sister Madeleine.

Xo, nancy g.

This week I attended the one on their upcoming premier of Catch Me If You Can. Yes, based on the movie (with Leo DiCaprio & Tom Hanks) and book of the same name about the fascinating life of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who between the ages of 17 – 19 charmed his way into millions of dollars while posing as a Pan Am pilot, a pediatric doctor, and a lawyer after passing the bar at age 19. Created by the same dream team who developed the Tony-Award winning musical Hairspray, written by Tony-Award winning Terrence McNally, with costumes designed by “the” Bob Mackey and featuring an all-star line-up of male leads, I have a very strong hunch this is going to be the must-see event of the season. 5th Avenue is hoping to recreate the same magic they did with Hairspray (the musical that put Seattle on the map as THE place to develop new Broadway-bound musicals). Only playing here from July 23 – August 16, be sure to catch it if you can!

And of course, as mentioned on the show, New Century Theatre Company’s Orange Flower Water is going to get folks buzzing. Provocative, intimate and utterly human, this play about the fragility of marital relationships showcases the incredible virtuosity of this dynamic new theatre ensemble. For adults only, this darkly humorous, unflinchingly honest portrayal of two couples features some of the best acting talent in the city and will be Seattle’s first glimpse at the writing talent of Craig Wright. Get your tickets now – opening night is already sold out. Orange Flower Water plays June 24 – July 20.

Enjoy!
Kathy

This week I attended the one on their upcoming premier of Catch Me If You Can. Yes, based on the movie (with Leo DiCaprio & Tom Hanks) and book of the same name about the fascinating life of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who between the ages of 17 – 19 charmed his way into millions of dollars while posing as a Pan Am pilot, a pediatric doctor, and a lawyer after passing the bar at age 19. Created by the same dream team who developed the Tony-Award winning musical Hairspray, written by Tony-Award winning Terrence McNally, with costumes designed by “the” Bob Mackey and featuring an all-star line-up of male leads, I have a very strong hunch this is going to be the must-see event of the season. 5th Avenue is hoping to recreate the same magic they did with Hairspray (the musical that put Seattle on the map as THE place to develop new Broadway-bound musicals). Only playing here from July 23 – August 16, be sure to catch it if you can!

And of course, as mentioned on the show, New Century Theatre Company’s Orange Flower Water is going to get folks buzzing. Provocative, intimate and utterly human, this play about the fragility of marital relationships showcases the incredible virtuosity of this dynamic new theatre ensemble. For adults only, this darkly humorous, unflinchingly honest portrayal of two couples features some of the best acting talent in the city and will be Seattle’s first glimpse at the writing talent of Craig Wright. Get your tickets now – opening night is already sold out. Orange Flower Water plays June 24 – July 20.

Enjoy!
Kathy

If you’re a Led Zeppelin fan, which I am, (just can’t get enough of John Bonham’s genius drumming), tune into 102.5 fm/KZOK, because they play Led Zeppelin about 90% of the time.

One of Seattle’s great bands, “The Squirrels“, wrap up a brilliant 25-year career with their “Death With Dignity Retirement Tour”. The big show happens Saturday, June 13th, at The Tractor Tavern in Ballard.

I saw “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” @ Balagan Theatre last weekend, and a couple of the performances-Ray Tagavilla, in particular — are not to be missed. The show closes this Saturday, May 30th, so don’t delay — call now!

Byron Au Yong unveils his newest composition, “Stuck Elevator” at this years On the Boards “Northwest New Works Festival”, happening June 5-7. It’s a beautiful original opera based on a harrowing and true story.

One of the coolest programs of the Seattle International Film Festival each year is their Fly Filmmaking Challenge. This challenge is where 3 Seattle filmmakers make a narrative short film with just 5 days of shooting and 5 days of editing. You can check out this years crop of “on the Fly” creations, all with a “film noir” theme, on Wednesday, June 10th at the lovely Egyptian Theatre on Capital Hill.

The annual Northwest New Works Festival at On the Boards, running June 5-14, is always full of surprises and is usually worth checking out. These are the shows that have caught my eye:
Byron Au Yong
SANDSTROMMOVEMENT
Scott/Powell
Zoe/Juniper
Sunday Service

Every Tuesday morning, from 7-10 am, Scott Lawrimore, owner of the Lawrimore Project, a gallery space in the International District, hosts an informal art talk at Café Presse, a French bistro on 12th Avenue, near Seattle University. This weekly event often has some sort of theme; sometimes features special visiting guest speakers; and is always a wonderful time of connecting with other artists and drinking good coffee!

Speaking of good ingestibles, you simply must try the cous cous w/black beans salad at Pasta & Co. The nutty cous cous, soft beans, and crunchy chunks of red and yellow peppers, are dressed with a tangy, lemon-edged vinaigrette that makes me want to eat it with a shovel!

Finally, a few theatre picks:
“Titus” from the always excellent Washington Theatre Ensemble. May 15-June 15. Get tickets from Brown Paper Tickets (800-838-3006).

“Below the Belt” from ACT Theatre, featuring 3 outstanding actors; John Procaccino, R. Hamilton Wright, and Judd Hirsch. May 22-June 21.

For more arty ideas, check out the latest Art Zone episode.

Talk to you soon.
–nancy g.

ReAct offers the Seattle premiere of Rabbit Hole – winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Receiving rave reviews, this current production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s script explores the greatest loss that any family can bear, but does it with such tenderness and layered with much humor, that the effect is actually quite uplifting and ultimately very human. Audiences and especially anyone who is a parent are loving this play. Presented at Richard Hugo House, this production runs through May 31.

Meanwhile at Balagan Theatre Steve Martin’s delightful treatise in play form, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, explores the grand concepts of love, relationships, creativity, talent and genius as only Steve Martin can. Martin imagines what might happen if a young Picasso and a young Einstein meet in a bar in Paris. But the true genius revealed in watching the play is that of Martin himself. He explores big, big ideas but mixes in a lot of wild and crazy low-brow humor – talk about someone with a huge imagination! Picasso plays through May 30 on Capitol Hill.

Seattle Public Theater presents Bryony Lavery’s A Wedding Story through June 7 at The Bathhouse Theater. How can love ever equal our expectations of it? Sometimes it’s easier just to run the other way and that’s what Sally has always done. But as Alzheimer’s begins to rob her parents of their idyllic loving relationship and Sally meets the woman of her dreams, life and love take an unpredictable turn in this exuberantly funny and elegantly moving look at unconditional love.

Really want to see a show but don’t know if you can afford it? Check out the theatre’s website – a) lots of tickets are a lot less expensive than you might think; b) many theatres offer great deals (2 for 1’s; special discounts for those under 25, students, seniors and groups; pay-what-you-can nights; etc.); or c) often you can usher or volunteer in exchange for a free ticket.

Theatres can’t really fulfill their fullest potential unless they have an audience. Play your part. Go see some theatre.

Until next time,
Kathy