Author: Ciara Caya

Voting opens July 11 and runs through August 4 for the favorite breakout star of San Francisco Opera.

The Emerging Stars competition recognizes one young talent from San Francisco Opera’s 2022/23 season. The winner wins a cash prize, provided by Jan and Maria Manetti Shrem, through the Emerging Stars Fund.

The contenders for the Emerging Star are Aigul Akhmetshina (Olga, Eugene Onegin); Amina Edris (Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra); Ben Bliss (Chevalier de la Force, Dialogues of the Carmelites); David Butt Philip (The Emperior, Die Frau ohne Schatten); Deanna Breiwick (Sister Constance, Dialogues of the Carmelites); Evan Leroy Johnson (Lensky, Eugene Onegin); Gordan Bintner (Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin); Jake Ingbar (Leonardo, El último sueño de Frida y Diego); Jakub Orlinski (Orpheus, Orpheus and Eurydice); Jonathan Tetelman (Alfredo Germont, La Traviata); Meigui Zhang (Eurydice, Orpheus and Eurydice); Michelle Bradley (Mme. Lidoine, Dialogues of the Carmelites); Taylor Raven (Fatima, Omar’s Mother, Omar); and Yaritza Véliz (Catrina, El último sueño de Frida y Diego).

Check out each of the competitors’ profiles and learn more about the contest on San Francisco Opera’s website.

Book-It Repertory Theatre is closing the curtain after 33 years of producing literature-based theatre. Book-It’s last production, Solaris, will continue to run through July 9.

Book-It Rep previously announced their 2023/24 season, including four productions: Frankenstein, Fellow Passengers, Crumbs/Migas, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This upcoming season is now cancelled. Refunds will be made to those who purchased a 2023/24 season subscription or flex pass, or patrons can turn their purchase into a donation. To refund a purchase, email Book-It at info@book-it.org or call 206.216.0833.

Difficulty recovering from the pandemic and “a business model that doesn’t work in today’s environment” are the reasons given by Book-It for shuttering its doors. Book-It employs 18 permanent staff and over 260 cast members, designers, artisans, directors, writers, technicians, and dramaturgs.

“This is an incredibly difficult decision to make. We know the reverberations this will have on the theatre industry in this town, on actors, stage managers, stage technicians and crews, writers, directors. We need mid-sized theatres such as Book-It for the entire eco-system to flourish,” said Christine Stepherson, Book-It Board President. “We have a dream team of artisans and staff at Book-It who believe in our mission and have gone above and beyond, we have a small but dedicated board, but we don’t currently have a model that works.”

Tickets are available for Solaris playing now through July 9 at Center Theatre.

The 2023/24 season for Seattle Shakespeare Company will include tragedy, comedy, and everything in between. The indoor season will include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors, The Bed Trick, and Romeo and Juliet. Productions have been trimmed to sleek three-week runs, and the company will use the fourth weekend to feature an inaugural run of special one-off events.

Seattle Shakespeare Company’s education programming will include youth productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor and Romeo and Juliet. An education tour in the spring will present Macbeth performed by professional actors.

“I hope everyone is going to fall in love with everything we’ve got on the docket just as much as we have while crafting it,” said Artistic Director George Mount. “We had the fun challenge of thinking creatively about how we can rebuild our community during a time of such uncertainty while simultaneously being able to foster the future of the organization.”

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Our old friend Falstaff has a ploy to make some easy money—woo Mistress Page and Mistress Ford and thus gain access to their husbands’ wealth. It shouldn’t be too challenging; he can be quite a charming and insightful man when it benefits him. He sends the mistresses notes with declarations of love, but in a small town like Windsor, everyone knows everyone else’s business and Mistresses Page and Ford soon realize their notes are exact copies.

Rather than take that insult lying down, they make dates with Falstaff, scheming to be discovered in flagrante by their husbands and so to achieve their saucy revenge on the knight. Throw in a cartload of other zany characters and watch shenanigans ensue!

OCTOBER 25–NOVEMBER 12, 2023

The Comedy of Errors

What are the chances there’s a guy walking around town with your face? What are the chances there’s another guy walking around town with your servant’s face? Antipholus and Dromio encounter some trouble when their doppelgangers seem to be on the loose in Ephesus, not realizing that their identical twins with identical names were separated from them in a shipwreck decades earlier. This sets up a chain of dominos: launching several existential crises, arrests, assaults, and an exorcism until the truth of the doubling is finally revealed. The descent into hysteria is reversed with a family reunion and a happily ever after.

Jimmy Shields makes his Seattle Shakespeare directorial debut following his appearance as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in 2023’s Twelfth Night. Originally adapted for Wooden O, this small ensemble version of The Comedy of Errors cleaves right to the heart of the comedy and features actors playing their own twins to hilarious effect.

JANUARY 10–28, 2024

The Bed Trick

College: a time of freedom, of frivolity, of friskiness. Freshmen Lulu and Marianne test their limits as they party through the school year in search of their place in the world: Marianne is newly eighteen, while Lulu tries to reignite a spark with her boyfriend of ten years. But when their drama-nerd-roommate Harriet brings in baggage from a student production of Measure for Measure, ideas of consent and manipulation start to seep into their lives.

Seattle favorite Keiko Green brings her sharp provocation and biting humor to a new play that puts contemporary discussions in direct conversation with one of the most problematic devices in Shakespeare. In the grand tradition of the problem plays, The Bed Trick has no answers, but will have you pondering the questions long after you leave the theatre.

MARCH 20–APRIL 7, 2024

Romeo and Juliet

Conflict is brewing in the streets of Verona as a new generation ages into a war they have no stake in–yet. Young Capulets and Montagues have spent their whole lives being taught to hate one another, but when Romeo and Juliet meet, all they see is their love and what they’re willing to sacrifice to be together. Desire, parental expectations, and a drive for independence pressure these lovers to make choices that could change the fate of their whole community.

Artistic Director George Mount guides this production of Romeo and Juliet that will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about one of the most famous love stories ever told.

APRIL 24–MAY 19, 2024

The Broadway touring production of The Book of Mormon will take the stage at BroadwaySF’s Orpheum Theatre May 23–June 18, 2023. A limited number of tickets will be sold for $25 via the TodayTix Digital Lottery.

The lottery opens each week on Saturdays at midnight for the following week’s performances and will remain open until 11 a.m. the day before each performance. Visit TodayTix’s website to enter the lottery.

The Book of Mormon has been dazzling audiences, and doubling them over in laughter, since its debut in 2011. The musical, with book, music, and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone, is the winner of nine Tony Awards^® including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.

“The best musical of this century.”

The New York Times

SIFF announced that they have acquired the Seattle Cinerama Theater from the estate of Paul G. Allen. SIFF will reopen the theater later this year under a new name.

SIFF Executive Director Tom Mara made the announcement during the Opening Night celebration of the Annual Seattle International Film Festival, which runs through May 21. “We are honored to take on stewardship of this historic theater. It’s a film venue adored by the community and speaks to the critical role SIFF plays in bringing the power and art of film to diverse audiences across our region,” said Mara. “So many of us have experienced the magic of this theater, and we are excited to carry on the vision and impact that Paul Allen started so many years ago.”

The historic theater was opened in 1963 but was in disrepair by the 1990s when philanthropist and investor Paul G. Allen bought the theater and restored it. The venue became a beloved home for cinema, screening new releases, independent films, festivals, and events. During the COVID-19 pandemic the theater was closed in 2020 and was put on the market.

“We are so pleased about SIFF’s acquisition of the theater,” said Jody Allen, executor of the Allen Estate. “They are the ideal mission-driven organization to now shepherd this very special place, bring more film and movie lovers to downtown Seattle, and steward the venue and its role in our community for years to come.”

SIFF plans to reopen the theater later this year with a new name. The venue will be the fourth run by SIFF, along with SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Film Center, and SIFF Cinema Egyptian.

California Shakespeare Theatre announces Good Medicine: A Night of Live Native Stand-Up on July 8.  For the third year, the best and brightest of North America’s Native comedy scene will take the stage at the Bruns Amphitheater.

Hosted by Good Medicine founder and Oakland-based Native Comedian Jackie Keliiaa, the night will include comics from across the United States and Canada including Jana Schmieding, Brian Bahe, Larry Omaha, and Dakota Ray Hebert.

In addition to a night of laughs, the event includes a Native artisan market featuring art, jewelry and apparel from Native-owned vendors Braven Saige Eagle, Kirbear Yurok Designs, Where The Land Meets the Sky Studio and Turquoise Hogan Creations, as well as food at the Cal Shakes’ Cafe. The evening will finish with a dance party hosted by DJ Interval, featuring a multi-generational gathering with a mix of hits from Native bands, such as Redbone and The Halluci Nation, and East Bay artists like Tower of Power and Tony! Toni! Toné.   

Good Medicine: A Night of Live Native Stand-Up at Bruns Amphitheater on July 8, 2023 at 6 p.m. Tickets $25–40.  

The two-day giving campaign has come to an end! Thanks to donors, Washington nonprofits raised nearly $12 million dollars.

1,409 organizations were a part of GiveBIG’s campaign this year, which took play May 2 to 3. A total of 22,575 people donated through the online giving platform. Although the campaign is over, there is still time to donate! The Washington Gives platform that hosts GiveBIG is open year-round! Meaning you can donate to nonprofit organizations anytime you want.

What a GREAT feeling, knowing we came together to support the nonprofits in Washington that do the important work of serving our communities, stewarding the environment, creating art, and improving our lives. We can all feel good about GiveBIG’s success.

Want to learn more about how much your favorite nonprofits raised? You can check out the leaderboards on Washington Gives.

So a big thank you to all those who donated, all the organizations that participated, and all those who donated resources and time to the campaign. We got that giving feeling!

As the buds begin to bloom and the leaves turn green, the time for change is all around us. This is also true at Book-It Rep. Gus Menary will turn over the position of artistic director to Kelly Kitchens, an established artist and Book-It collaborator.

Gus Menary joined Book-It Repertory Theatre in January 2020, right before COVID-19 forced the prolonged shutdown of most businesses, including theatres. In light of the shutdown, Menary pivoted Book-It from in-person live theatre to audio dramas that could be listened to digitally and from the home.

In 2021 and 2022 Book-It presented world-premiere audio adaptations of works from Octavia E. Butler, Alexandre Dumas, and N.K. Jemisin, among others, which were helmed and voiced by some of the most talented artists in Seattle. In the Spring of 2022, when the world began opening again, Gus shepherded Book-It’s return to in-person stage performances with adaptations of works by Amy Tan, Rachel Ingalls, and Agatha Christie, among others. 

“My hope is that my time leading Book-It will have been during its hardest fight for survival and continuance of art creation, and that as a result of our work the future will be brighter for our next leader,” said Menary. “I am enormously grateful for the opportunity Book-It bestowed on me and incredibly proud of the work the staff and artists have contributed to the organization. Despite challenges, the last few years were also filled with triumph, magic, and incredible examples of the perseverance of human spirit  that made all of it supremely worth it. It has never not been hard, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Kelly Kitchens will step in as interim artistic director for the 2023-24 season. Kitchens is a seasoned artist who directed Mrs. Caliban for Book-It last spring. Kitchens has been part of the Book-It community as an actor, adaptor, teaching artist, director, audience member and supporter. She has directed Book-It shows, as well as shows at the Seattle Opera, Seattle Public Theater, Seattle Shakespeare, ACT Theatre, and more. One of the first roles she landed in Seattle as an actor was the front end of a donkey in Book-It’s very own Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant.

Seattle Rep’s 2023/24 Season Includes Cirque Troupe 7 Fingers, Adaptation of Little Women, and much more. Check out Seattle Rep’s entire 2023/24 season below.

The Tempest

The powerful Prospero, banished to a magical island by a conniving sibling, bewitches a storm to bring them back together for a final showdown—will it be revenge or reconciliation? Sprites abound, young lovers meet, and mischief is made as two very different worlds collide. With a cast of 60+ and featuring spectacular guest performances from local community groups, Seattle Rep’s Public Works community brings to life this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s otherworldly adventure.

August 25–27

Passengers

Your train is about to depart the station and a cirque spectacular awaits. Through contemporary dance, music, and extraordinary acrobatics, a breathtaking series of vignettes tells the unique stories of reunions and goodbyes from the strangers that surround you onboard. From contemporary physical theater troupe The 7 Fingers comes this jaw-dropping ride you must see to believe.

September 22–October 15

Islander

Myth and reality collide when the tide washes a mysterious stranger onto the shore of Eilidh’s lonely island, changing her life forever. Join us for a musical showcase of epic storytelling, intimately staged with a contemporary Scottish folk-inspired score. Two actors embody a host of characters while weaving, building, and layering their voices using live looping technology. This internationally acclaimed hit will create an expansive, ethereal soundscape for the ears and imagination as Seattle Rep kicks off the North American Tour.

October 20–November 19

Little Women

Jo March isn’t concerned with what’s “ladylike.” Actually, she’s not sure she wants to be a lady at all. An aspiring writer, Jo must negotiate with society’s expectations to realize her dreams. Against the backdrop of the Civil War, the beloved March sisters grow together and apart, discovering love, joy, and loss as they learn the importance of family and being true to oneself. Kate Hamill’s (Pride and Prejudice, 2017) fresh and lively adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel will bring the entire family together this holiday season. 

November 10–December 17

Quixote Nuevo

Aging Cervantes professor Jose Quijano isn’t going down without a fight. When his family tries to move him to an assisted living facility, Jose escapes on his valiant tricycle steed in search of his long-lost love. Reality and fantasy blur in the Texas desert, as Jose dubs himself Don Quixote and embarks on a fantastic, death-defying journey to discover the truth of his past. Underscored by vibrant Tejano music, Quixote Nuevo is a humorous and heartfelt quest towards becoming the hero of your own story. 

January 19–February 11

Sanctuary City

Winter, 2001, Newark, NJ. Two DREAMers—pre-DACA—meet up on the fire escape, which happens most nights. Both undocumented teens, they grapple with life’s challenges, from family to their futures. When one becomes naturalized, she promises to marry the other so he can receive his papers and truly start his life. As time passes and their relationship shifts, both must confront what they are willing to sacrifice to live freely and belong. This searing and captivating new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning Martyna Majok asks what we’re willing to risk for those we love. 

March 1–31

Fat Ham

Juicy, a young queer Black man, has a lot on his plate. His mother just married his uncle after the untimely death of his father, whose ghost appears at a family barbecue demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. Sound familiar? Fresh from its Broadway debut, this Pulitzer Prize-winning play inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a sparkling and uproarious new comedy about seeking love and liberation.

April 12–May 12

April showers means you’re going to want to stay indoors—do that while going to see one of these wonderful accessible performances.

It’s a season for change and growth, and we’ve got the stories to represent that. A quiet library becomes a meeting place for those in need at TheatreWorks; and stranded passengers clash with those who take them in at Broadway SF. Check out the full list of open captioned, ASL interpreted, and audio described performances coming to the Bay Area in April.

Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer

TheatreWorks

“To hope is to vote!” Famed activist and civil rights hero Fannie Lou Hamer makes this impassioned rally cry, reminding us that change begins with just one voice. Tracing her steps from sharecropper to activist to political candidate, Fannie takes audiences on a gospel-filled journey of justice and self-determination, inspiring every American to rise up and fight for the vital issues of our time. Featuring a live band and the return of Greta Oglesby, star of last season’s critically-acclaimed Gem of the Ocean!

Audio Described: April 1 at 8 p.m. / April 2 at 2 p.m.

Come From Away

Broadway SF

This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Don’t miss this breathtaking musical written by Tony^® nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and helmed by Tony-winning Best Director, Christopher Ashley. Newsweek cheers, “It takes you to a place you never want to leave!”

ASL Interpreted: April 15 at 1 p.m.

A Distinct Society

TheatreWorks

By chance and geographic anomaly, a quiet library in northern Vermont straddles the U.S.-Canada border. Most years it’s just a curiosity, but during the “Muslim ban,” it becomes an unlikely meeting place for an Iranian family who find themselves on opposite sides of an invisible divide. When the Québécoise librarian, a U.S. border patrol officer, and a local teenager become involved, all must choose between breaking the law and saving themselves. A favorite from our New Works Festival!

ASL Interpreted: April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Open Captioned: April 23 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. / April 26 at 2 p.m.

Audio Described: April 28 at 8 p.m. / April 29 at 8 p.m. / April 30 at 2 p.m.

Pretty Woman

Broadway SF

Pretty Woman: The Musical, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award^®-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde). Brought to the stage by lead producer Paula Wagner, Pretty Woman: The Musical features an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69”, “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton. Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News). 

ASL Interpreted: April 30 at 1 p.m.