Connor Toms

Some of Seattle's most talented actors will be hard at work in collaboration with writers from around the country in the rehearsal halls of The 5th Avenue Theatre this month as the company's NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals launches its three week intensive development cycle this weekend.

In our current political climate where candidates regularly hurl insults at each other on things such as penis size it's hard to remember that politics used to be about the candidate's stand on issues as well. So when did that change? When did we go from building up our own candidate in an ad to tearing down the other candidate with scandal, derision and fear? ACT might have the answer to that with their world premiere play "Daisy" that takes a look into the creation of one of the most infamous political ads and one of the first attack ads ever created.

With a Presidential election looming, a group of advertisers working for Lyndon B. Johnson unleash the most infamous political commercial ever conceived, the "Daisy ad". The ad played once, but it carved a scar into the American psyche. Based on actual persons and events, ACT presents the world premiere of political thriller Daisy by Sean Devine. This explosive play explores the power of manipulation in advertising and the clear moment in television history that launched the age of negative attack ads, and forever changed how we elect our leaders.

I'm perfectly fine when a play chooses to break the fourth wall and become self-referential. The ability for anything to be able to point out its own shortcomings is a sign of self-actualization. But when a play repeatedly does so and then pats itself on the back for its cleverness of doing so as does Aaron Posner's "Stupid F**king Bird", currently playing at ACT, then it becomes wearing almost to the point of insulting. And while Posner's play certainly has its funny moments, those repeated exposes onto itself started to feel like the play was flipping the audience the bird (and I don't mean a Seagull).

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents Stupid f**king Bird by Aaron Posner, where Chekhov's story of love, art, and a hapless bird gets a remarkably contemporary face. On the grounds of a country estate, a battle between young and old ensues in this heartbreaking, hilarious, sort-of-adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. Winner of the 2014 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, Stupid f**king Bird is about our longing to love and be loved.

A Contemporary Theatre announces the spring shows that will occur during the debut season of Artistic Director John Langs. Highlights include the haunting and hilarious musical Assassins, the sixth co-production with The 5th Avenue Theatre, is now running through May 8. ACT celebrates eight talented writers in the 2016 Young Playwrights Festival Mar 10-12 and the world premiere of Worse Than Tigers opens Mar 24. April brings the heartbreaking, hilarious, sort-of-adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull with Aaron Posner's Stupid f**king Bird.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents Stupid f**king Bird by Aaron Posner, where Chekhov's story of love, art, and a hapless bird gets a remarkable contemporary face lift.

Broadway-bound new musical, Come From Away, presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre, wins four Gypsys, tying with another new musical, Lizard Boy, also produced by Seattle Repertory Theatreand also with four Gypsys, a company that has been known for years as a powerhouse dramatic straight-play playhouse! 

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre and Artistic Director John Langs are thrilled to announce ACT's first Core Company. Each year, a group of actors will join ACT in a year-long creative endeavor, performing and contributing as artistic ambassadors to ACT's Mainstage season. Langs has assembled the talents of Keiko Green, Kirsten Potter, Lorenzo Roberts, Jasmine Jean Sim, G. Valmont Thomas, Connor Toms, and R. Hamilton Wright for 2016.

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle is pleased to present the nomination slate of the fifth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.

New Century Theatre Company, hot off their Gregory Award win for Theatre of the Year, has once again shown why they're one of the best in town with their truly affecting production of "Festen". Where other companies might have put on a passable show, New Century Theatre Company gives a gripping and sometimes disturbing production showing off the insane amounts of talent they have at their disposal.

New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) closes out its first season at 12th Avenue Arts with a powerhouse family drama adapted by David Eldridge from the Danish film The Celebration. The Company has wanted to produce Festen for many years and it will be NCTC's biggest production yet. Festen will be directed by Tony Award nominee Wilson Milam and the cast will feature the work of ten Company Members.

Artists Repertory Theatre is proud to present Portland audiences with The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar, directed by former Artistic Director Allen Nause, beginning March 10, 2015. This production is in association with Seattle's ACT Theatre and follows their production of the play last September with much of the same design team, but includes two new cast members. ACT's production was named 'Best Play' in the Broadway World 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards. At the end of 2014, The Invisible Hand was produced Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Artists Repertory Theatre is proud to present Portland audiences with The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar, directed by former Artistic Director Allen Nause, beginning tonight, March 10, 2015.

Artists Repertory Theatre is proud to present Portland audiences with The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar, directed by former Artistic Director Allen Nause, beginning March 10, 2015.

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle just announced the nomination slate of the fourth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards,theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.

Oh my! It's been a hell of a year for the Seattle Theatre scene and I can say we've been quite fortunate to see the incredible shows we have. So many amazing shows in fact that picking just a few stand outs (let alone a "best") is a near impossibility. But I have searched the deep dark recesses of my memory to find the shows and performances that really stood out and stuck with me beyond the evening and throughout the year. And so, without further ado, I'm thrilled to present the BWW 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks). Let the awesomeness flow!

Romantics the world over have loved the works of Jane Austen for centuries with her tales of loves lost and then found. And one of her best beloved is now on stage from Book-It Repertory Theatre with "Pride and Prejudice". And not only is it a wonderful adaptation filled with superb performances but, guys, take your dates to this one and you're bound to get lucky.