BWW's Top Seattle Theatre Stories of 2012

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Seattle in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

January

BWW Reviews: SPRING AWAKENING at Balagan Theatre - A First "Must-See" of the New Year

Let me just start out saying that I don't like this show. Right from the moment it first came out and I first heard the cast album, I thought it was forced and a little pretentious. Then I saw a tou... (read more...)

Eric Ankrim, Alexandra Zorn Lead OKLAHOMA! At 5th Avenue Theatre 2.3-3.4

The 5th Avenue Theatre is bringing the wide open plains to Seattle this February with a reimagining of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! ... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE at the Seattle Rep

There are certain authors whose shows I never miss if possible. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Terrence McNally, and Howard Ashman to name just a few. These are people whose work I rank among my ... (read more...)

February

5th Avenue Theatre Announces Panels to Discuss Race in its Production of OKLAHOMA

The 5th Avenue Theatre will host panel discussions and a Town Hall meeting to engage audiences about the portrayal of race in its current production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Called "provoc... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: A CHORUS LINE at Seattle Musical Theatre

For musical theaters "A Chorus Line" is pretty much the holy grail of musicals. Most people love it and it has some of the most iconic and recognizable songs and characters out there. But few theate... (read more...)

LES MIZ Set to Return to 5th Avenue Theatre, 6/27-7/7

Due to popular demand, Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of LES MISERABLES will return to Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre for a spectacular two-week engagement, June 27-July 7, 2012. ... (read more...)

March

5th Avenue Theatre Announces JERSEY BOYS, MEMPHIS & More for 2012-13

5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong yesterday announced the seven productions making up the celebrated Seattle musical theater's 2012-13 season. The program fea... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: FIRST DATE at ACT

If you choose to take a date (first or otherwise) to the new World Premiere musical "First Date" currently being presented at ACT and co-produced through ACT and the 5th Avenue Theatre, you may end up... (read more...)

Washington State, The 5th Avenue Theatre Present All-Student OKLAHOMA, 3/16-17

The 5th Avenue Theatre production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! has closed its doors, but the chant of "O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A" still rings through the theater's rehearsal space. Washington state teen... (read more...)

April

BWW Reviews: DAMN YANKEES at the 5th Avenue Theatre

"You gotta have heart!" That's the central conceit of any production of "Damn Yankees". Without that heart they might as well be singing about golf. Well luckily the current production at the 5th A... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: THE TWILIGHT ZONE: LIVE! from Theater Schmeater

There are certain givens in Seattle. It rains a lot. You can pretty much find a Starbucks on every block. And Theater Schmeater's presentations of "The Twilight Zone: Live!" are always a blast. An... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Lea Salonga at the Moore Theatre

What constitutes a Broadway Diva? A Broadway star who's endured the test of time with iconic roles that remain in the minds of fans forever. Well then dear readers, we had a Broadway Diva in town la... (read more...)

May

BWW Reviews: THE PRODUCERS at Village Theatre

It's difficult when you have an iconic show to work with such as "The Producers" currently playing at Village Theatre. The Mel Brooks classic movie turned Mel Brooks mega hit stage musical turned Mel... (read more...)

Daniel Berryman, Aaron C. Finley, Naomi Morgan & More to Star in 5th Avenue Theatre's RENT, 7/21-8/19

It's a brand new season of love this summer when The 5th Avenue Theatre brings a bold and innovative production of RENT to the stage. Fresh from his smash success with First Date, Bill Berry directs t... (read more...)

LES MISERABLES, Starring Peter Lockyer, Returns to 5th Avenue Theatre, 6/27-7/8

Due to popular demand, Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of LES MISERABLES returns to Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre for a spectacular two-week engagement, June 27-July 8, 2012.... (read more...)

June

BWW Reviews: JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN from Azeotrope

What makes a "good" person? When is a horrific crime such as murder justified? Where does redemption come from and for whom? These questions and more are posed in the riveting second offering from ... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: ONE SLIGHT HITCH at ACT

Lewis Black, best known for his hilarious stand up comedy and in your face editorials on "The Daily Show" has brought his new wedding day farce for it's west coast premiere to ACT. And while there we... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: AMERICAN IDIOT at the Paramount Theatre

Rarely am I this surprised by a show, especially one I've already heard. But last night I had to completely change my tune over Green Day's "American Idiot", currently playing at the Paramount Theatr... (read more...)

July

BWW Reviews: 5th Avenue Theatre's RENT Loses Its Edge

Is it possible that "Rent", Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking hit from 1996 has now become so dated that it no longer has The Edge it once had? Or is it that the current production from the 5th Avenue... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Over-the-Top MIRACLE! at Intiman

Crass, over the top and offensive. Filled with bad taste, outrageous costumes and more dick jokes than you can shake ... well ... a dick at. If anyone asked me to describe Intiman's current production, ... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: ROMEO AND JULIET at Intiman Lacks Love From Lovers

One of the biggest pitfalls of casting "Romeo and Juliet" is that you need to find younger actors (the lovers are supposed to be 14 years old) who can handle these characters and this play without dev... (read more...)

August

BWW Reviews: 99 LAYOFFS at ACT Gets Mired in its Own Joke

You know that friend of yours whose entire life is one big ball of negativity. We all have them (or maybe you are them). That person who constantly goes on about his tale of woe yet can never seem t... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Sound Theatre Company's THE ILLUSION Brings Truth to Magic

I don't think many would disagree when I say Tony Kushner is one of theater's most incredible playwrights with his amazing gift for language. And his adaptation of Pierre Corneille's 17th century tal... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Haunting Morality Tale from The Schoolyard's THE LAST LEPER OF CHARENTON

Take away what you want from The Schoolyard's latest endeavor, "The Last Leaper of Charenton"; a transitional tale of the struggle between science and religion or a morality play about who judges beau... (read more...)

September

BWW Reviews: Upstart Crow's TITUS ANDRONICUS is Brutally Good

The impetus to cast a largely male Shakespearean show such as "Titus Andronicus" (or any show for that matter) with an all female cast can come in a number of guises. A juxtaposition of male cruelty ... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Village Theatre's BIG RIVER Has Some Big Talent But Also An Identity Crisis

At the top of the show for Village Theatre's production of "Big River, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" we are greeted with a quote from Mark Twain and the original book. "Persons attempting to fi... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Omigod You Guys, SMT's LEGALLY BLONDE is Totally Great!

The movie should not have been very good but Reese Witherspoon sold it. The musical is very good and the original Elle Woods, Laura Bell Bundy took an insanely difficult part and nailed it. This is ... (read more...)

October

BWW Reviews: Seattle Rep's PULLMAN PORTER BLUES - A Rocky Start for an Incredible Play

I understand that opening night isn't always the glorious shining gem that it ought to be. Sometimes, no matter how good a show it may be, it's just not quite there yet. Such was the case with the S... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: RAMAYANA at ACT - A Stirring Fable You MUST Experience

On the chance that you only read the first few sentences of my review of "Ramayana", currently playing at ACT, let me just say this right at the start. Go see this show! Hire the babysitter, arrive ... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: WICKED at the Paramount Still Wicked

Is it possible I've seen "Wicked", currently playing at the Paramount Theatre, too many times? It's not like I'm even into the double digits here having only seen it three times. But even with those... (read more...)

November

BWW Reviews: Naughty Puppet Goodness at Balagan's AVENUE Q

There's a certain amount of pressure when a theater company becomes the first in the area to produce a big name show locally. Yes, it's a coup to be the first to get the rights (and Balagan seems to ... (read more...)

Seattle Opera's 2013 RING CYCLE Tickets On Sale 11/12

Seattle Opera's critically acclaimed production of Wagner's four-opera epic Der Ring des Nibelungen returns for three cycles in August 2013. Online ticket sales to the general public will begin on Mon... (read more...)

BWW Reviews: Riveting Lovers in Seattle Shakespeare Company's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

A Shakespearean tale of one of the most famous couples in all of history performed by some of the best actors in town and directed by one of Seattle's best directors. You'd think it'd be a slam dunk ... (read more...)

December

BWW Reviews: Adorable Joy at 5th Avenue's ELF Abounds

I'll admit I was one of the first to roll their eyes in disdain when I heard they made a musical of the Will Ferrell movie "Elf", back in 2010. "Oh Good," I thought, "another overly sweet yet bland m... (read more...)

Seattle Opera's LA CENERENTOLA Rings in the New Year, 1/12-26

Seattle Opera rings in the New Year next month with royalty, a ball, and plenty of giant rats when it stages La Cenerentola, Rossini's effervescent take on the Cinderella story. But you won't find a g... (read more...)

Whidbey Children's Theatre Opens WILLY WONKA, 12/7

Whidbey Children's Theatre production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Junior will open this Friday, December 7 and run weekends through Sunday, December 22. ... (read more...)

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