Category: News

With a fresh Illuminations theme and new Artist in Residence, 18 artist debuts and 11 company debuts, six world premieres, and more than 80 events overall—to name just a few highlights—there is so much to explore! Subscriptions go on sale April 21 to the Cal Performances 2023/24 season.

Go deeper into the newly announced season with article and videos on the most exciting elements of the season!

2023/24 Season Illuminations: “Individual & Community”

WATCH: Jeremy Geffen, john a. powell, and Illuminations artists discuss how concepts of individual and community impact society, their work, and their creative practice.

Conversation with Artist in Residence Mitsuko Uchida

WATCH: Acclaimed pianist Mitsuko Uchida speaks with Jeremy Geffen about plans for her Cal Performances residency as well as her two 2023/24 performances.

Spotlight on 2023/24 Season Premieres

READ: A fascinating deep dive into some of the most anticipated new works on the season.

Rising Stars Share Their Musical Journey in Photos

READ: The 2023/24 season’s rising star artists share photos from key moments in their careers thus far.

2023/24 Dance Season

WATCH: Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen and renowned dance company directors guide us through an exhilarating season of dance.

Get that giving feeling!

We all get a good feeling when we show up for others—whether it’s a family member, neighbor, or community organization. Giving is supposed to feel good—and who couldn’t use more of that?

Early giving is now open! Visit GiveBIGWa.org to discover and donate to nonprofits that are making good things happen in your community and around Washington state.

In every community, nonprofits provide critical programs and services. They provide before and after school programs, keep our waterways healthy, assist seniors who want to remain in their homes, and put food on the tables of the 30% of Washingtonians experiencing hunger.

Many of the things we all love about our communities depend on nonprofits. They bring us music, dance, and theatre. They care for parks and public spaces and safeguard the health of our waters and fisheries. They provide services essential to the lives of people with disabilities and those dealing with mental or physical health challenges.

The GiveBIG platform has more than 1,400 Washington nonprofits for you to explore. Find one, find many! And get that giving feeling today.

The 2023/24 season for Meany Center for the Performing Arts has been announced! Twenty-one enthralling artists and ensembles will take the stage to perform for Seattle audiences. Meany Center offers four different series for subscribers: Dance, Chamber Music, Piano, or Crossroads.

By subscribing to Meany Center’s 2023/24 season, you’ll save up to 20% off regular single ticket prices. You’ll also receive priority seating, same seats from season to season, free ticket exchanges, lost ticket replacements, 10% off extra regular-priced single tickets, and the option to purchase pre-paid weekday parking passes (Saturday parking is free!). See more information regarding the season here.

Dance Series

Six innovative dance ensembles performing their latest work.

Grupo Corpo on October 19–21, 2023

Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca on November 16–18, 2023

Compañía Nacional de Danza on January 25–27, 2024

Circa on February 15–17, 2024

Mark Morris Dance Group on March 14–16, 2024

Cie Hervé KOUBI on May 9–11, 2024

Chamber Music Series

Five performances by the world’s leading chamber ensembles.

Turtle Island Quartet on October 6, 2023

Roomful of Teeth with Gabriel Kahane on November 2, 2023

Wu Han, Philip Setzer & David Finckel on February 20, 2024

Calder Quartet with Antoine Hunter’s Urban Jazz Dance Company on March 28, 2024

Israeli Chamber Project with Karim Sulayman on April 16, 2024

Piano Series

Five intimate solo recitals by internationally acclaimed pianists.

Isata Kanneh-Mason on October 5, 2023

Garrick Ohlsson on November 8, 2023

Michelle Cann on February 1, 2024

Hélène Grimaud on March 9, 2024

Yefim Bronfman on April 18, 2024

Crossroads Series

A five-event showcase of music at the intersection of genres and cultures.

Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North on October 27, 2023

Small Island Big Song on February 24, 2024

Carnival of the Animals on April 6, 2024

Rhiannon Giddens on April 19, 2024

Chris Thile on May 4, 2024

The next season of ACT Theatre brings Lauren Yee’s critically acclaimed play, Cambodian Rock Band, to the stage in a co-production with The 5th Avenue Theatre. Next up is A Case for the Existence of God by award-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter. In the spring, Stew, a new work by 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist Zora Howard will be staged. And concluding the season is the Lehman Trilogy, a production that has astounded audiences and critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Cambodian Rock Band

Guitars tuned. Mic checked. Get ready to rock! This darkly funny hit play with music tells the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor returning to Cambodia for the first time in 30 years, as his daughter prepares to prosecute one of Cambodia’s most infamous war criminals. Backed by a live band playing contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies, this thrilling story toggles back and forth in time as father and daughter face the music of the past.

September 29–November 5, 2023

A Case for the Existence of God

Inside a small loan brokerage in Idaho, two men struggle to make a place for their family in the American dream, navigating the tensions of parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy. This award-winning play leads the audiences on a twisting journey of intrigue, revelation and surprise as the lives of two fathers intertwine in a glorious reflection on what it means to be human.

February 2–18, 2024

Stew

Mama’s up early to prepare the perfect stew for a very important community meal. As the day rolls on, tempers go from a simmer to a boil, and secrets rise to the surface for three generations of Tucker women. When the violence hovering around the periphery of their lives begins to intrude upon the sanctity of the kitchen, mothers and daughters wrestle with loss and hope in this hilarious, haunting drama.

March 15–31, 2024

The Lehman Trilogy

The Tony Award^®-winning Best Play makes a thrilling Seattle debut after a triumphant run on London’s West End and Broadway. The Lehmans begin as so many American immigrants do: on a cold dock in New York City 1844 as a young Jewish man enters his new country for the first time. Joined by his two brothers, he lives the American Dream: from humble beginnings to outrageous success. 163 years later, that legacy—The Lehman Brothers—comes crashing down, triggering the largest financial crisis in history. How? Why? This extraordinary feat of storytelling invites us to question what success is worth, how legacy is defined, and what we value in the wake of devastating collapse.

April 26–May 12, 2024

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced their 2023-24 season. Filled with characters and stories focused on the point of change, the 53rd season celebrates well-loved authors, TheatreWorks artists, and more. It’s a season that ignites imagination, inspires conversation, and enlivens the soul.

Mrs. Christie

In parallel storylines that blend past, present, and Poirot, this glimpse into Agatha Christie’s real-life mystery proves that sometimes you need to disappear in order to find yourself.

October 4–29, 2023

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Six ambitious, hilarious middle schoolers—played by some equally-hilarious adults—go head-to-head in this riotous musical.

November 29–December 24, 2023

How I Learned What I Learned

One of the greatest playwrights of our time returns to the stage in this open-hearted memoir charting one man’s journey of self-discovery through adversity, and what it means to be a Black artist in America.

January 17–February 11, 2024

Queen

In this high-stakes environmental drama, best friends Sanam and Ariel—PhD candidates from India and the U.S.—research the collapse of bee colonies worldwide, dreaming they themselves might collapse the glass ceiling of academia.

March 6–31, 2024

Tiger Style!

Mike Lew’s hilarious new satire is a claws-out look at the triumphs and traumas of tiger parenting and what it takes to make it out the other side alive.

April 3–28, 2024

Being Alive: A Sondheim Celebration

A towering giant of musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim chronicled the loves and losses, breakdowns and breakthroughs of human relationships in a wealth of unforgettable musicals. In this revelatory world-premiere revue, his profound understanding of the human heart takes center stage once again.

June 5–30, 2024

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of the National Theatre of Scotland production of Let the Right One In, performing at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre May 20 through June 25, 2023.

Tony Award winners Jack Thorne and John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), along with Obie Award winner Steven Hoggett (2023 revival of Sweeney Todd, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), have entertained audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with their exhilarating, cutting-edge brand of theatrical storytelling. Now they bring us a supernatural thriller that’s part brutal vampire myth and part coming-of-age romance. Oskar, a bullied boy from a broken home, and Eli, a teenager who moves in next door and rarely leaves the house, become devoted friends. When their neighborhood is haunted by a series of mysterious murders, a shocking truth tests Oskar and Eli’s growing love.

“Together and separately, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, and Steven Hoggett have created some of the most electrifying nights I’ve ever experienced in the theater,” said Berkeley Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer. “I am so proud to welcome them to Berkeley Rep with this beautifully tender and thrilling story.”

The cast of Let the Right One In includes (in alphabetical order) Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (Oskar), Jack DiFalco (Janne, Jimmy, Torkel), Erik Hellman (Kurt, Oskar’s Dad, Jocke, Nils, Stefan), Michael Johnston (Jonny), Noah Lamanna (Eli), Diego Lucano (Micke), Nicole Shalhoub (Oskar’s Mum), Julius Thomas III (Halmberg, Mr. Avila), and Richard Topol (Hakan).

Directed by John Tiffany, Let the Right One In is adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne from John Ajvide Lindqvist’s Swedish novel and screenplay of the film of the same name. The creative team includes Steven Hoggett (Associate Director/Movement), Christine Jones (Scenic Designer), Chahine Yavroyan (deceased) (Lighting Designer), Gareth Fry (Sound Designer), Aileen Sherry (Costume Designer), Ólafur Arnalds/Arnór Dan Arnarson (Composer), Jeremy Chernick (Special Effects Designer), Lillis Meeh (Special Effects Supervisor), Yasmine Lee (Associate Movement Director), and Lisa Anne Porter (Resident Associate Director/Vocal Coach), with casting by Jim Carnahan Casting.

Tickets are now available for purchase.

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.

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

Dorothy is traversing the yellow brick road at Seattle Children’s Theatre, the Dashwood sisters are flirting over at Village Theatre, and Tracy Turnblad is grooving at Broadway at the Paramount. Check out the full list of open captioned, ASL interpreted, audio described, and sensory friendly performances coming to Seattle in April.

Paige in Full

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Move yo’ body rhythms reverberate in this beat-filled visual mixtape that blends poetry, dance, media, and music. Equal parts comedy, pain, and retrospection, Paige Hernandez uses the stage to share her own story as a multicultural girl growing up in Baltimore who is desperate to fit in and find her voice. Paige’s journey through hip-hop leads to self-discovery to become a leading artist of this generation. Sibling-duo Paige Hernandez (writer and performer) and Nick tha 1da (musician) in collaboration with Danielle A. Drakes (director) and Bryan Joseph Lee (dramaturg) have developed a unique coming-of-age story that speaks to a dynamic hip-hop-influenced generation.

ASL Interpreted & Audio Described: April 1 at 5 p.m.

Sensory Friendly: April 2 at 4 p.m.

Havana Hop

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Havana Hop: a children’s tale of culture and confidence! Young Yeila dreams of being a superstar but her lack of confidence gives her awful stage fright. With advice from her mother and mentors, Yeila begins her journey to find her roots, get confidence and be amazing! Travel with Yeila who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style! The audience gets to dance along in this dynamic participation play where one actress creates three generations of lively women. Journey with Yeila as she discovers the fun of her multi-cultural heritage.

ASL Interpreted & Audio Described: April 1 at 1 p.m.

Sensory Friendly: April 2 at 12 p.m.

Sense and Sensibility

Village Theatre—Everett

With a flirtatious nod to Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton, our production of this playful new adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters—sensible Elinor and sensitive Marianne—after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. This classic-modern mashup revisits the 18th-century England of the beloved iconic characters, and layers it with smart comedy and zany antics—all cheekily underscored by a contemporary mix of your favorite pop songs, bringing to life this delightfully indulgent literary masterpiece on Village Theatre’s intimate mainstage.

Captioned: April 8 at 1 p.m.

Hairspray

Broadway at The Paramount

You Can’t Stop the Beat! Hairspray, Broadway’s Tony Award^®-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour! Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” Hairspray is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times).

ASL Interpreted & Audio Described: April 9 at 1 p.m.

Open Captioned: April 9 at 6:30 p.m.

How to Break

Village Theatre—Issaquah

An electrifyingly innovative world premiere production of a new work developed in part by Village Theatre. Featuring a dynamic kaleidoscope of music, poetry, breakdancing, and beatboxing, HOW TO BREAK is an inspiring story that follows two hospitalized teenage hip-hop dancers, their nurses, and doctors as they navigate their adolescence in the confines of a hospital room, finding ways to love and learn amidst IV bags and chemotherapy. Part commentary on the American healthcare system, part moving autobiography, and part profound journey through the joy and pain of growing up, HOW TO BREAK reveals just how resilient the human spirit is in the face of change and transformation.

ASL Interpretation: April 15 at 1 p.m.

Captioned: April 29 at 1 p.m.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Growing tired of her life in Kansas, Dorothy and her little dog Toto discover a new adventure in the wonderful and magical Land of Oz after a cyclone swoops them “somewhere over the rainbow.” While following the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who quickly become her new friends. Together, they overcome their fears of witches, flying monkeys, and a haunted forest to learn if the Wizard can make their dreams come true.

ASL Interpreted: April 29 at 1 p.m.