Author: encore

On December 16, 2022, Taproot Theatre Company will present a special Cosplay & Cake performance of The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley in honor of Jane Austen’s birthday.

Before the performance, arrive early for a free birthday cake. All customers will enjoy 25% off their concessions purchase if they are dressed in Austen-inspired apparel. For the 8 p.m. performance, doors open at 7 p.m. Jane, happy birthday!

The play, written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon and inspired by Austen, will be presented from November 23 until December 30, 2022.

“In this all-new Jane Austen-inspired story, we return to the world of the Darcys and Bennets! Lydia’s come for Christmas, the halls are decked, and the aroma of everyone’s favorite orange biscuits fills the air. But downstairs the loyal staff scramble to keep a secret that could upend the festivities. Amid the chaos of Christmas, a little yuletide forgiveness might be the one gift everyone needs.”

Tickets are now available online.

After just announcing a new cooperation, the Seattle Symphony and Key to Change held their first event together on October 8: a masterclass with conductor Jonathon Heyward (the soon-to-be Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra).

Key to Change is a regional nonprofit that has previously received funding from the Community Stages Fund. Its mission is to break down obstacles that prevent young, underprivileged artists and students of color from developing their musical talents.

Heyward worked with four studio students, offering some technical advice but mainly providing suggestions on what he is best known for: consciously and purposefully presenting music to an audience. The students’ comments about how motivating it was to learn from a teacher who resembled them in some way provided an illuminating view of the meeting point between music instruction and outreach.

Noah Geller, concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony, has recently been appointed as a violin instructor for Key to Change, furthering the relationship between the two organizations. Alongside Key to Change Executive Director Dr. Quinton Morris, Geller will provide students enrolled in the Young Artist Academy twice-weekly private violin instruction.

A Message From Macha Theatre Works:

Macha Theatre Works is proud to announce their upcoming production of The Flight Before Xmas, written by Maggie Lee and directed by Lia Sima Fakhouri, running December 2–23, 2022 at West of Lenin. This family-friendly show is a modern take on the traditional expectations and challenges of the holiday season, using fantastical storytelling and whimsical comedy to help your spirits soar clear into the New Year.

The holidays can be stressful enough, so spending Christmas Eve stranded at the airport with a bunch of strangers is the last thing anyone needs! With endless delays, kids shuffling between stepfamilies, old and new relationships being tested to their limits, and a rogue cat on the loose, the holiday spirit can disappear quicker than your lost luggage. But sometimes you just need to be a little late in order to truly appreciate what you’re rushing toward. The Flight Before Xmas is a heartwarming modern and original holiday show about finding your way home and the family we discover for ourselves.

“We are thrilled to be producing this holiday show after canceling twice due to the pandemic!” said Macha Producing Artistic Director Amy Poisson. “This play is a fresh, contemporary story that modern families will relate to, and our cast includes youth actors so the kids can see themselves truly reflected on stage. It’s a funny script with genuine heart that explores the why of the holidays in a way that is original and surprising.”

The Flight Before Xmasruns December 2–23, 2022 at West of Lenin in the Fremont neighborhood (203 N. 36th St., Seattle, WA 98103). The show is 75 minutes with no intermission and is appropriate for ages 7 and up.

Tickets are on sale now.

A Message From ACT:

ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) has announced the complete cast and creative team for their 47th consecutive production of the beloved classic, A Christmas Carol. Originally adapted for the stage in 1976 by ACT founder Gregory Falls, this season’s production will see Seattle actors Bradford Farwell and Tim Hyland in the infamous role of Ebenezer Scrooge. The timeless magic of Charles Dickens’ plays ACT’s Allen Theatre November 25-December 24. Single tickets and a special holiday ticket package are available now at ACTtheatre.org or by calling the ACT Box Office at (206) 292-7676.

Of this season’s fresh production, Director John Langs said, “The tradition of A Christmas Carol at ACT has become one of the highlights of the year. In a world that is changing so fast, sharing this iconic story of redemption and renewal annually has become a joyful touchstone for many who call ACT home and audiences who have made this story a part of their holiday tradition.” 

ACT’s production of A Christmas Carol is recommended for ages 5 and up. Children under the age of 5 will not be allowed in the theatre. The show run time will be 90 minutes with no intermission.

ABOUT THE CAST

ACT’s 2022 production of A Christmas Carol will feature Bradford Farwell (ACT: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde) and Tim Hyland (ACT: The Lieutenant of Inishmore) alternating in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, Avery Clark as Bob Cratchit (ACT: Oslo, Dracula), Keiko Green as Mrs. Cratchit (ACT: Dangerous Liaisons), Rob Burgess as Mr. Fezziwig (ACT: A Christmas Carol), Sara Waisanen as Mrs. Fezziwig and Spirit 2 (ACT: Sweat), Arlando Smith as Fred (ACT: Choir Boy), Shawn Belyea as Marley (ACT: Sweat), Joe Moore as Middle Scrooge (Seattle Public Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Hazel Rose Gibson as Belle and Niece (ACTlab: The Good Woman of Setzuan), Josephine Keefe as Spirit 1 (Spokane Civic: The Humans), Isla Deskin as Tiny Tim (professional debut), Tristan Hagen as Charles Cratchit (ACT: A Christmas Carol), Micah Riley Hutchinson as Peter Cratchit and Young Scrooge (Taproot Theatre: Peter Pan), Evangeline OpongParry as Street Urchin (Seattle Children’s Theatre: Corduroy), Natalia Ortiz-Villacorta as Martha Cratchit (Seattle Children’s Theatre: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane), and Ariadne Taw as Belinda Cratchit (ACT: A Christmas Carol).

The understudies for this production include Casey Raiha (Village Theatre: The Book Club Play), Mandy Rose Nichols (ACT: A Christmas Carol), Tim Gouran (ACT: Assisted Living), and Molly Jayne Aidlin the Youth Understudy (professional debut).

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

The creative team for A Christmas Carol includes John Langs (director), Shana Bestock (associate director), Crystal Dawn Munkers (choreography), R.J. Tancioco (music director), Shelley Schermer (scenic design), Deb Trout (costume design), Connie Yun (lighting design), Sharath Patel (sound design), and Sara Becker (dialect and vocal coach).

Taproot Theatre Company has announced that Bretteney Beverly will fill the role of associate artistic director. Beverly previously worked with Shawnee Theatre in Indiana where she was first the associate artistic director and later the producing artistic director.

Beverly hails from Texas. She received B.A. degrees in Music and Psychology from Tougaloo College in 2012 and her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Acting from Regent University in 2016. After graduating she worked as an actor and director in Atlanta.

“I look forward to continuing to tell stories of hope from all walks of life and propel Taproot and its mission and values forward in this exciting new season for change and growth. Additionally, I look forward to getting to know Seattle,” Beverly said. “Our city’s support helps keep our doors open and allows us to continue to serve our patrons and beyond by producing quality theatre and educational programs.”

Beverly previously appeared in Taproot’s production of Crowns in 2018.

On November 8, Inspire Washington and partners will host All in for Advocacy, a virtual advocate rally. During this meeting you will learn about the cultural agenda for the 2023 Legislative Session.

Ever feel like you want to be more involved with the arts and culture community of Washington, but unsure of where to start? You can do so much more than attending an art show or donating to an organization—you can be an advocate!

Don’t worry, Inspire Washington will help you through it. Through this meeting you will be provided with talking points, one sheets, and other resources needed to champion your arts and culture community. With these resources, you will feel confident speaking with your lawmakers and legislature about what is needed in 2023.

This session will be held by Inspire Washington, ArtsWA, Humanities Washinton, ArtsEDWA, and others.

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All in for Advocacy will be held virtually on November 8 at 12 p.m. you can register now online.

A Message From TheatreWorks:

Join TheatreWorks’ at the stunning Montalvo Arts Center for their 19th New Works Festival. It’s in the DNA at TheatreWorks to gather their friends and family and build community around the creation of new plays for the American theatre. Plays that celebrate the human condition—stories that build understanding, that entertain, that take us to new surroundings, new emotions, and new heights.

Shows

The Motion

How do we value a meaningful life? What does it mean to be human? This fiercely intelligent play takes audiences on a visceral exploration and collective examination of these questions when four eminent scholars gather before a live audience in what appears to be a straight-forward debate about animal rights. But as their arguments turn progressively more personal, the debate itself takes a series of shocking and unexpected turns sending them on an epic, kaleidoscopic journey into the heart of what we truly believe.

Hart Island

Over one million bodies are buried on Hart Island in New York City’s East River. The poor, the unclaimed, and the unknown are laid to rest in rudimentary pine boxes and unmarked graves. In this inspiring and hauntingly beautiful new musical, an immigrant woman looking for her child discovers the unexpected compassion of a disillusioned inmate on the burial crew. These two people on the edge of society change each other’s lives forever as they begin to grieve and learn to appreciate each other’s humanity.

Words We Believe

Orange County, California. Today. When 17-year-old Fitri goes missing, her best friend Ayan goes looking for the truth of how and why she disappeared. She confronts Elaine, an older white woman who just might be the mother of the boy Fitri ran away with…the boy who might have sent threatening voicemails to her mosque. When Elaine’s friend Sally inserts herself into the situation, what started as an interrogation of facts becomes an interrogation of friendship. Between what everyone believes, will they be able to piece together the truth?

Buy A Pass

A Message From Berkeley Repertory Theatre:

Berkeley Repertory Theatre and The Robinson Family Fund for the Arts has announced that Bay Area actors Cathleen Riddley and Brian Rivera are recipients of the 2022 Charles Dean Award. Established in 2014, this annual award is presented to local actors who have dedicated their career to Bay Area theatre. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize for each actor endowed by The Robinson Family Fund for the Arts and administered by Berkeley Rep. Usually presented at the annual Theatre Bay Area Awards ceremony, this year Cathleen and Brian will receive their awards at Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor 10th Anniversary Party being held on Sunday, October 30. The Ground Floor is Berkeley Rep’s nationally recognized research and development laboratory for theatre.

This year’s recipients were selected by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, including Berkeley Rep’s Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer, American Conservatory Theater’s Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon, and Magic Theatre’s Artistic Director Sean San José.

“We are so grateful to The Robinson Family Fund for the Arts for their vision in supporting and celebrating the extraordinary actors who are making a life in theatre here in the Bay Area,” said Berkeley Rep’s Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer. “And I’m appreciative that my friends and colleagues Pam MacKinnon and Sean San José partnered with me on the selection of this year’s recipients. We are so proud to be able to celebrate Cathleen and Brian and acknowledge their deep contributions to this artistic community.”

The Charles Dean Award is the brainchild of the late Leigh and Ivy Robinson, avid Bay Area theatregoers and longtime Berkeley Rep supporters, who approached Berkeley Rep in 2014 with the idea of recognizing actors who have chosen to dedicate their professional lives working in the Bay Area. The awards were named after accomplished Bay Area actor Charles Dean, whose work the Robinsons much admired.

Past recipients of the Charles Dean Award include Charles Dean, Margo Hall, James Carpenter, Sharon Lockwood, and Stacy Ross.

Need a getaway? We have just the escape. 

Now through November 15, when you register on the official Encore+ hub, you’ll have the chance to win Kenmore Air tickets!

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With access to arts news, features, and interviews, all shared directly to your inbox in our weekly newsletters, registered users on the official Encore+ hub stay up to date with what’s going on in the arts communities of the Greater Seattle Area and the Bay Area.

Simply register as a user for a chance to win a pair of tickets for one of these iconic Kenmore Air flights:

Scenic Seattle Seaplane Tour: The Seattle Scenic Seaplane Tour is a uniquely Northwest way to see this world-class city. You get to enjoy the unique thrill of flying off the water and soaring over one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

San Juan Islands Round Trip: Kayak tours, world-class whale watching, biking, hiking, and cozy lodgings, the San Juan Islands have it all. Stay for a long weekend and refresh yourself in an environment that feels worlds away from the hustle of the city.

Eligibility: The Kenmore Air contest is open only to those who register on the official Encore+ hub during the contest period. Must be 18+ as of the date of entry and a legal resident of the United States. Void where prohibited by law. The contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited. Only Kenmore air travel is included. Contest winner is responsible for all other travel and lodging costs.

Contest Period: Entries will be accepted online starting on October 18, 2022 and ending November 15, 2022. 

How to Enter: Interested individuals may enter the contest by registering on the official Encore+ hub (https://www.encoreplus.app/account/register). Use one-click Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn login option, or register with your email address and full name.  

Voucher Expiration: Vouchers must be used before December 31, 2022.

A Message from Inspire Washington:

We are now less than three months from the state’s legislative session. This will be a challenging year for cultural advocacy due to decreased tax revenues, shrinking federal support, and a potential economic recession. We know that science, heritage, and arts organizations are still struggling to recover from the pandemic and many are facing a financial cliff due to decreased audiences. We also know that your programs are vital to economic recovery, addressing the mental health crisis, and bringing connection and vibrancy back to community life. We have big goals for this legislative session and to succeed, we will need EVERY person in EVERY district to make their voice heard. 

We are excited to share an important date with you.  Join us for a Virtual Advocate Rally on Tuesday, Nov 8th at 12pm. At this time, we will share all of the cultural requests the Legislature will consider next year. 

We are also excited to share two funding opportunities for Washington cultural businesses from ArtsWA and ArtsFund! Scroll down to learn more about about these programs and how to apply.

We have worked tirelessly to represent your cultural programs and secure financial support but there’s still so much left to do. Inspire Washington must remain visionary, ambitious, collaborative, and aggressive for the cultural sector.  Please consider investing in our advocacy objectives by joining as an invested cultural partner. We exist because of the growing list of partners that pledge dues every year.  Like you, it’s been a hard year for us so we ask you to seriously consider joining our circle.  Click here to learn more.