Author: encore

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This year GivingTuesday will be on November 28, 2023.

On GivingTuesday the whole world comes together to give back in many different ways: through acts of kindness, gifts of voice, time, talent, or treasure. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past 11 years, this idea has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during GivingTuesday⁠⁠—whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts.

Get ideas on how to give based on your passions and location.

Village Theatre presents Beautiful: The Carole King Musical now through December 23 in Issaquah and runs in Everett January 6 to 28, 2024. Tickets are now available. See what critics and audiences are saying!

She wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Beautiful tells the touching and true story of chart-topping musical legend Carole King’s remarkable rise to stardom: beginning as an ordinary girl with extraordinary talent, charting her rock ‘n roll songwriting with husband Gerry Goffin, exploring her relationship to fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, and forging her path to becoming one of the most successful and enduring solo artists in popular music history.

Chock full of your favorite hits like “One Fine Day,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “The Locomotion,” “(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and so many more, Beautiful is more than just beautiful music— it’s an inspiring story of a groundbreaking female artist who forged her own path in the male-dominated music industry, finding her own true voice and moving the earth for us all.

“One of the best musicals I’ve ever seen!”

Audience member

“This is [Sarah Rose Davis’] best performance yet…you’d have thought you were listening to Carole King on that stage.”

BroadwayWorld

“I came away singing and smiling!”

Audience member

The directors and cast have been announced for readings of new plays by five local playwrights to be performed October 27–29, 2023.

ACT Contemporary Theatre released more details of New Works Northwest, the Inaugural Festival, to be presented October 27–29, 2023 in ACT’s Bullitt Theatre. In kicking off this festival, ACT Contemporary Theatre continues as the epicenter of groundbreaking new work that promises to captivate, challenge, and inspire. All tickets are pay-what-you-can and are available now online or by calling the ACT Box Office at (206) 292-7676. Seating is limited and has already sold out for Mrs. Loman is Leaving and VIAL MAN (The Apothecary’s Story).

For this inaugural season, ACT will present five plays written by Seattle playwrights over the course of three evenings. The inaugural playwrights are Andrew Lee Creech (Taproot Theatre: Last Drive to Dodge); Steven Dietz (ACT Contemporary Theatre: Dracula); Katie Forgette (ACT: Assisted Living); Reginald Andrè Jackson (ACT: The History of Theatre, About, By, For, and Near); and Maggie Lee (Macha Theatre Works: Sheathed).

Performed as readings in a small, intimate setting, audiences will get the chance to witness the workshop process of bringing stories from script to stage. New Works Festival features the directing talents of Faith Bennett Russell (Seattle Public Theater: Pipeline); Jeff Steitzer (Seattle Shakespeare Company: Mother Courage and her Children); Valerie Curtis Newton (ACT: History of Theatre, Part 1); ACT Artistic Director John Langs (ACT: Every Brilliant Thing); and ACT Artistic Associate Shana Bestock (Seattle Public Theater: Amadeus).

The New Works Northwest Festival will feature an ensemble of local actors including Rob Burgess, Varinique Davis, Kathy Hsieh, Tracy Michelle Hughes, Reginald Andrè Jackson, Jonelle Jordan, Charles Leggett, Liz McCarthy, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Eva OpongParry, Be Russell, Arlando Smith, Amy Thone, Morgan Gwilym Tso, Kevin Warren, Malcolm West, Bob Williams, Jarron A. Williams, Mike Winters, Dedra Woods, and R. Hamilton Wright.  

Maggie Lee’s The Sunless Scar will feature members of ACT’s Young Core Company: Alphie Alloway, Sally Calvo, Vice Curtis, River DeJong, Ravenna Donohue, Emmett Driscoll, Enza Fammartino, Fish Harrison, Sylvie Kelderman, Aly Martin, Lillian Morris, Izaik Neisuler, and Claire Sloss.

New poetry project from California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick invites Californians to write about their state.

Inspired by “My California,” California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick’s ode to the Golden State, the California Arts Council (CAC) has announced today the first phase of Our California, an inclusive and participatory arts project that invites all Californians to write a poem about their city, town, or state and explore what they love about it, what they find in it, what they would change about it, or what hopes they hold for it.

“Each of us has a unique experience and relationship with California,” said California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. “It is a place of bounty of innovation, opportunity, and progress, as well as difficulty and violence, challenges, and areas of need. Poetry can be a bridge to personal and societal change, and it can show us new ways of seeing ourselves and the world around us.”

Our California is a joint project of California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick and the California Arts Council, with support from the California State Library. The project encourages Californians across the state to share their feelings about the place in which they live through the art of poetry. A portal for participants to submit their works will be added to the California Poet Laureate website later this fall. Submissions will be published to the site on a quarterly basis.

POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is playing at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre now through October 22. Get your tickets today and see what audiences and critics are say.

Berkeley Rep brings you this gleefully feminist satire just in time for the Presidential primaries! When the President unwittingly spins a PR nightmare into a global crisis, the seven brilliant and beleaguered women he relies upon most risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. (Any resemblance to past White House shenanigans is purely coincidental.) Entertainment Weekly says, “The likelihood that you will laugh until your face hurts is one of near certainty.”

“LMAO-inducing POTUS rips America a new one and roots around inside. [Annie] Tippe’s cast triumphs! It’s the kind of theater where you almost never sit back; you’re ever alert for the walls of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to come tumbling down.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“Nasty fun! Gargantuan guffaws! Playwright [Selina] Fillinger has a wicked way with a one-liner. Her women are smart, ambitious and crude as hell. From the first line to the last, the play’s language is so salty you may need to bring hydration – and that’s when the play is at its best.”

Chad Jones’ Theater Dogs

“All the actors in POTUS were tremendous. How lovely to see an all-female cast. It reminded me — and I mean this in a good way — of the Barbie movie.”

Audience Member

“Loved this play! Witty, clever, funny and entertaining!!”

Audience Member

“Just what we all need!”

Audience Member

Kate Maltais will fill the position of managing director at 5th Avenue Theatre, succeeding Bernadine C. Griffin, who retired in July after 21 years with the theatre.

Maltais will come to 5th Avenue Theatre from Stages in Houston, Texas where she is the managing director. During her time as Managing Director, she consistently demonstrated strong leadership, upholding the fundamental principles of transparency, teamwork, and a dedicated stance against racism and oppression. These very values will be carried over to her new position at The 5th.

“Helming The 5th Avenue Theatre along with Bill is a dream come true,” said Maltais. “I have long followed the organization and admired its commitment to an artform I deeply love. I am looking forward to collaborating with this incredible team of staff, board, and artists to ensure the longevity and vibrancy of The 5th for generations to come. Downtown Seattle is going through a renaissance and I’m so eager to join city, business, and nonprofit leaders in forging opportunities for residents and visitors to find connection and joy in our community.”

Maltais’ selection as the new Managing Director of The 5th follows an extensive search process that lasted for several months. In late 2022, a search committee comprising staff, board members, and community leaders was established to collaborate with the Tom O’Connor Consulting Group in identifying the ideal candidate to assume the executive leadership role.

“Katie’s unwavering dedication to nurturing sustainable organizations that foster the creation of art is truly inspiring,” said The 5th’s Producing Artistic Director, Bill Berry. “Her boundless enthusiasm and unwavering belief in the transformative power of musical theater are forces to be reckoned with. I eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, partnering with her to fulfill The 5th’s mission in the years to come.”

This week mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack will be featured in San Francisco Opera’s web series In Song.

In a moving journey of discovery, re-connection, and riveting music, this new episode of In Song unfolds on the streets of Buenos Aires, as mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack returns to the homeland she left at age 6. Mack traces her roots, shares memories of her childhood, and reunites with her family, then delivers no holds-barred renditions of Piazzolla’s “María de Buenos Aires” and “Los Pájaros Perdidos,” as well as Pauline Viardot’s “Havanaise.” Husband/tenor Alek Shrader and their two children join her for this homecoming, just prior to rehearsals for her starring role of Frida in Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego.

Learn more at San Francisco Opera’s website.

Beginning on July 31, Dámaso Rodríguez will fill the role of Seattle Rep’s Artistic Director. Seattle Rep conducted a national search after Braden Abraham left the position in January 2023.

Rodriguez boasts over two decades of artistic leadership experience, including a remarkable nine-year stint as head of the Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon. With a knack for producing classic works and nurturing new plays, he has captured audiences’ imaginations nationwide. Rodriguez’s legacy as a visionary in the arts remains an enduring inspiration for creative leaders everywhere.

“As we look ahead to our 60th birthday this fall, I am delighted to welcome Dámaso to Seattle Rep and partner with him to lead the Theater into its next sixty years of activity,” said Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. “All across the country, this is a time of significant upheaval but also tremendous opportunity for the performing arts, and I believe Dámaso’s artistic vision, deep commitment to community, and his personal integrity are precisely what we need at this moment of change. I am so excited for Seattle artists and audiences to get to know Dámaso, and I can’t wait for us to get started.”

Rodriguez, a Co-Founder of Furious Theatre in Los Angeles, has left an indelible mark on the city’s stage scene. Praised as “one of the fastest-rising ensembles in L.A. stage history” by LA Stage Magazine, Furious Theatre owes much of its success to his visionary leadership during his 11-year tenure as Co-Artistic Director.

Following this, Rodriguez embarked on an eight-season journey at Pasadena Playhouse, where he served as Associate Artistic Director under Sheldon Epps. The subsequent nine years saw him take the reins as the Artistic Director of Artists Rep, further solidifying his reputation as an artistic trailblazer.

In recent years, Rodriguez has expanded his horizons as the Vice President of Arts Consulting Group. During this time, he has provided strategic guidance to theaters across the United States, navigating the challenges of a post-COVID world and gaining valuable insights into nationwide production dynamics.

Throughout his multifaceted career, Dámaso’s vision and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of theatre, making him a true pioneer and a driving force in the industry.

“I am honored to be joining Seattle Rep and building upon its storied, vibrant, and vital legacy,” said Rodriguez. “Seattle Rep’s boldly stated vision of ‘theater at the heart of public life’ is exhilarating in its simplicity, ambition, and absolute necessity. I look forward to collaborating with Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann, the staff, board, patrons, partners, volunteers, and Seattle’s extraordinary theater community to devise Seattle Rep’s next chapter.”

Tasveer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to South Asian film and arts, has recently made a significant move by relocating its administrative team to the Opera Center. This strategic decision allows Tasveer to forge a collaborative partnership with the staff of the Seattle Opera, facilitating the sharing of state-of-the-art facilities and event spaces.

Not only will Tasveer gain access to a workspace, storage capacity, and valuable technical support, but it will also have the privilege of hosting its annual film festival in the renowned Tagney Jones Hall. This grand theater, boasting a seating capacity of 200, represents a splendid venue for Tasveer to captivate audiences with the mesmerizing world of South Asian cinema. The convergence of these two esteemed institutions signifies a remarkable development in the realm of artistic collaboration and promises an exceptional future for both organizations.

A grant called Building for Equity, provided through 4Culture/King County, created the opportunity for the partnership. The grant supports building projects for arts and cultural organizations and drives for equitable resource allocation.   

“We are looking forward to having our next festival in Tagney Jones Hall,” said Operations Manager Khenrab Palden. “Being at Seattle Center is the opportunity to showcase our programs to a much wider audience. This relationship with Seattle Opera gives us a chance to share our heritage and art with the larger Seattle community.”

Tasveer has committed to an initial three-year endeavor. This significant step not only offers Tasveer an invaluable opportunity to establish a comprehensive plan for constructing its own dedicated space but also serves as a catalyst for their upcoming capital campaign. Rita Meher, Tasveer’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, expressed enthusiasm for this pivotal moment, stating, “We are launching our own capital campaign. Being here gives us time to build our fundraising capacity. I’m not sure that we can acquire our own building in three years, but being here lets us get started. Programs like this one are a form of activism, leading to the creation of equitable systems that assist under-resourced organizations.”

Such visionary programs hold the power to enact positive change, acting as a form of activism by nurturing the growth of equitable systems that support under-resourced organizations. Tasveer’s residency at the Opera Center embodies this spirit of transformation, heralding a future brimming with possibilities and a steadfast commitment to fostering a more inclusive artistic landscape.

San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) has unveiled an ambitious and multifaceted initiative known as Creation House, aimed at providing a wide range of career-enhancing opportunities for SF Ballet company members, SF Ballet School students, and guest artists. This initiative places a strong emphasis on choreography and the development of new works, offering a diverse portfolio of options to participants.

Creation House encompasses four distinct strands of creative exploration and mentorship, namely Choreographic Residencies, the Choreographic Exchange and Physical Play workshops, ChoreoLabs, and the SF Ballet School Choreographic Program. Through these avenues, dancers will have the necessary space and time to delve into their creativity, push boundaries, and receive guidance within the company’s supportive environment. This initiative builds upon SF Ballet’s longstanding commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing emerging choreographic talent, and fostering collaboration within San Francisco’s artistic communities and beyond.

The brainchild of Artistic Director Tamara Rojo and Associate Artistic Director Kerry Nicholls, the Creation House program will be part of a broader range of professional development initiatives aimed at comprehensively supporting the careers of dancers within both the school and the company. These initiatives will include a two-year leadership training program, providing dancers with valuable skills beyond their mainstage roles, as well as opportunities to engage in wellness sessions conducted by external health and wellbeing practitioners. SF Ballet’s professional development programs, including the newly introduced Creation House, actively seek collaborative partnerships from the Bay Area and beyond, reflecting the company’s global vision.

“Through the launch of Creation House, SF Ballet will provide both company members and the renowned international choreographers who visit us the opportunities and resources they need to create bold new work with confidence,” said Rojo. “In my first year as Artistic Director, a core priority has been to expand the resources we offer to our dancers. Taking part in new work development and having access to the choreographic process is invaluable experience for dance artists, and by offering this opportunity to our company members, we will also help SF Ballet identify and invest in the innovative new voices that will further our art form.”

With the launch of Creation House, SF Ballet reaffirms its commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging innovation, and providing dancers with a holistic support system. By offering a plethora of career-enhancing opportunities and promoting collaboration with artists from diverse backgrounds, SF Ballet aims to create an environment conducive to artistic growth and excellence.