TeenTix Blog by TeenTix

Handel's Messiah @ Seattle SymphonyIt's that time of year! Seattle Symphony is proud to present its annual performances of Handel's Messiah, and we're even happier to give you $5 tickets to this special event! This year there will be a food drive put on by Food Lifeline, Washington’s largest hunger relief organization. Stop by before or after the show and donate non-perishables to families in need this holiday season. Here's a video of the Seattle Symphony Chorale in a flash mob last year:Happy Holidays from Teen Tix!Handel's MessiahDecember 16 - 19Seattle Symphony

Review of Every Christmas Story Ever Told @ ArtsWest by Melissa C.As a theatre kid in West Seattle, I have spent a lot of time at ArtsWest - the local theatre and gallery - and I was not disappointed. The gallery exhibit was impressive and less outrageous/disturbing than usual. It featured 3D paintings, unbelievable colored pencil drawings, and paintings of food that were a treat before the show.From left: Justin Huertas, Brian Lange, and Nick Edwards.“One thing was for sure, Marly was dead” …The show began as seemingly your average Christmas Carol with Brian sitting center stage with a spotlight focused on him, then in crashed his costars, begging him not to do another version of this Dickens classic. The audience was eating it up, roaring with laughter as this play began to feel like improv with organically delivered, funny lines and audience participation. The first act was a series of fast moving skits incorporating the holiday classics and transitions of stand up about Christmas traditions around the world. The fast forward version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas was hilarious and their rendition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was a witty montage. However, there were certain sections that went on far too long. I quickly lost interest in the ‘Santa: real or not? debate’, and their rendition of Rudolf had a level of humor that was more infantile and less enjoyable than the rest of the show.From left: Brian Lange, Justin Huertas, and Nick Edwards.In the second act the three energetic actors got into the swing of things once they finally gave Brian the chance to sum up the Christmas Carol as he had been begging to do all along. He was gleaming with pleasure until Scrooge was visited by his old business partner - Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life. At first Brian was outraged that Nick was planning to tarnish his beloved Christmas classic however, he eventually gave in and had the audience on the edge of their seats so that they wouldn’t miss one brilliant moment. This mash up was clearly the highlight of the show to the point that it seemed the rest this hilarious play had been written around it to fill up time. Finally ‘Every Christmas Carol Ever Sung’ ended the play on an adorable note.Every Christmas Story Ever ToldThrough Dec 24ArtsWest

Review of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol @ Seattle Public Theatre by Monet C.In a damnation of his own making, Jacob Marley finds, much to his chagrin, that the only way to a better non-existence--since he is “not just merely dead, but sincerely, utterly, and totally dead”--is to redeem the one person worse than himself, namely, Scrooge, with a bogle at his shoulder. (To find out what a bogle is, see the show!) At first, he believes that it is impossible, that the old man could never have a complete and willing change of heart; however, as time moves forward, back, and freezes, he finds that the old miser might just have a chink in his shell after all. Conveyed through wonderfully expressive acting, beautiful wording, and impressive lighting, the journey through space, time, and memories is a superb visual spectacle.Featuring Jim Lapan(Of Mice and Men), Patrick Lennon, Pam Nolte (A Wedding Story), and Evan Whitfield (My Wonderful Day, The Violet Hour), I found myself entranced by the 3rd person narratives and the effortless slips into first-person acting. Although there were a few scary moments, they were perfectly placed, and not over the top. If there was anything I would change about this glorious show, it would be to have it in a bigger venue, so more people could enjoy it at once! Jacob Marley's Christmas CarolThrough December 24Seattle Public Theatre

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory @ SIFF CinemaThe classic romp through a life-size game of Candy Land returns to SIFF Cinema after winning a Teeny Award last year! Follow Charlie as he (spoiler alert) finds the golden ticket and travels to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, meets Oompa-Loompas, is witness to the selfishness of the other children, and is tempted to ruin Wonka's secret to the evil Mr. Slugworth. "Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination!"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate FactoryDecember 9 - 11SIFF Cinema

Sounds like a great night! Do the attendees have to be associated with Teen Tix or can any art-loving teen show up at SAM and get in?

This just in:Seattle Symphony's upcoming performance of Holiday Pops with Marvin Hamlisch has limited ticket availability.If you want to attend, Teen Tix are only available for the following two dates:Thursday 12/8 at 7:30pmFriday 12/9 at 8pmRing in the Holidays with Marvin Hamlisch and the Seattle Symphony with classics like "O Holy Night," "My Favorite Things," and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Bring on the holiday cheer and let it snow!You can find more information on the concert here.Holiday Pops with Marvin HamlischDecember 8 & 9Seattle Symphony

Teen Night Out @ Seattle Art MuseumAttention, Teen Tixers! We just caught wind of a great opportunity for teens at SAM: A FREE Teen Night Out Featuring Hip-Hop and Asian Culture. This event is just for high school students who love art, are looking to love art, or those who just want to have a great night of tours, performance, and music! At this awesome event, you'll get FREE admission to Theaster Gates: The Listening Room and Luminous: The Art of Asia. The doors open at 7PM, when you'll be serenaded by the Seattle Symphony. After that, there's a whole lineup of talented artists, including--get this--the wildly popular hip-hop group, the Blue Scholars! There will be tours offered randomly throughout the night, and art-making activities all night long like silk-screening, button making, and much more. Remember! You must be in high school to attend this event. You can glean more information about this event here.Teen Night OutDecember 9th @ 7PMSeattle Art Museum

Review of Zoe|Juniper: A Crack in Everything @ On the Boards by Jackie A.The rippling hedges on the empty stage set a peaceful but ominous atmosphere as I waited for the show to begin. Those hedges predicted the beautiful yet mysteriousZoe|Juniper: A Crack in Everything, presented at On the Boards from December 1st to December 4th. Choreographer Zoe Scofield and visual artist Juniper Shuey fuse dance and visuals together to create a piece that felt on the cutting-edge of modern performance, and one that I was heavily absorbed in throughout. Scofield and Shuey promise an “examination of the gap between cause and effect”. They slow time and stretch each moment into a lifetime. One dancer, as she moves unhurriedly across a glass wall, traces her outline with a red marker to create a history of her movement. A single instant is thereby transformed into a prolonged, painful struggle. During other moments, the frenetic ticking of a clock speeds up time, while also serving as an anchor in reality. The dance, performed impeccably by dancers Christiana Axelsen, Diana Deaver, Raja Kelly, Anna Schon, and Zoe Scofield, consists of jerky and twisting movements. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, and reminded me of the uncoordinated yet determined motions of a newborn animal. The piece has a surreal quality that is baffling at times. During one section, a dancer grips a red string in her mouth that is pulled tight from offstage, and moves slowly backwards, stretching the string with her. This was bizarre, but completely engrossing to watch. A Crack in Everything is strange and somewhat alien, but one part in particular is unmistakably human. One male and one female dancer strip and sit in chairs, naked, facing each other, and then unexpectedly, they begin to bark aggressively at one another. The audience laughed, undoubtedly recognizing the familiar yet embarrassing human tendency to bicker in even the most foreign of creatures. The piece advertised to explore elements of the Greek Tragedy Oresteia, but I hardly got a sense of it, except for the warrior-like costumes. However, if you watch the piece through ‘Greek Tragedy glasses’, you will probably find multiple ‘Greek’ moments. In one scene, I got a clear sense of the classic theme of power: as the four female dancers move forward, the single male dancer repeatedly picks them up and moves them backward, setting back their progress. In the end, he fails to achieve his goal, as the four females successfully make it to safety offstage. Greek interpretation: the omniscient ruler is eventually overpowered by weak but numerous underlings. A stretch, but this abstract and intriguing show begs for multiple interpretations. As much I as wanted to make sense of A Crack in Everything at times, I couldn’t. Maybe this enigmatic quality is why I left craving more. Zoe|Juniper: A Crack in EverythingCLOSEDUp next at On the Boards: 12 Minutes Max

Review of Dragonslayer @ Northwest Film Forum by Rosemary T.Director Tristan Patterson’s youth-and-revolt documentary Dragonslayer chronicles the life of a young anarchist skateboarder named “Screech” over the course of eight months in and around Fullerton, Calif. “I see this as a lovers-on-the-run film,” says director Patterson, who dropped by for the opening of his new film showing at the Northwest Film Forum now through Wednesday. “Instead of escaping the law, they’re escaping suburbia.”Screech and his girlfriend live moment-to-moment-–looking for a place to sleep, getting stoned, getting drunk and, of course, skateboarding--in what Patterson describes as a post-apocolyptic existence that coincides with the beginning of the country’s economic crash.The film’s throbbing soundtrack of punk rock and indie-rock bands such as The Smiths, Best Coast and Dungen echoes the counter-culture attitudes of Screech and this So-Cal subculture where sex and drugs and rock-n-roll are only secondary to finding the next abandoned swimming pool for boarding.The cinematography is gorgeous, making ordinary back yards look like Hollywood sets and rendering beach fire pits into epic moments, even though the content of Screech’s thoughts don’t go much beyond pot-hazed and beer-soaked child-like ponderings about his perfect world.You may not get a satisfying sense of character arc or even plot (as Dragonslayer ends, Screech is stoned again, boarding again, with his young son on the side of the pool and you think, “Oh, that’s his son’s future?”). But you will be exposed to the free-spirited landscape of Fullerton’s skateboarding culture.NOTE: Contains mature material, esp. drug and alcohol references. Recommended for ages 17+.DragonslayerDecember 2 - 7Northwest Film Forum

Review of A Year with Frog and Toad @ Seattle Children's Theatre by Jennifer K.A Year With Frog & Toad is a wonderfully heartwarming tale about the strength of friendship despite individual differences. Based on the characters of a popular children’s storybook, the musical is highly entertaining and enjoyable for audiences of all ages.From left: Christian Duhamel, Jennifer Sue Johnson, MJ Sieber, Auston James and Vickielee Wohlbach in SCT's production of A Year with Frog and Toad. Photo by Chris Bennion.The sets and costumes are perfect for each setting, and there’s a certain element of fantasy that the kids find innocently mystical. All of the songs that they sing are filled with a certain holiday happiness that the viewer can’t help but smile while watching the entire show. Despite it being based on a children’s book, A Year With Frog and Toad addresses complexities that exist in people of all ages. Toad is often insecure and the two friends endure a mild skirmish which they eventually manage to overcome through opening up to each other and forgiving. MJ Sieber and Auston James in SCT's production of A Year with Frog and Toad. Photo by Chris Bennion. Some words and jokes can be a tad complex for younger children, but at the same time it makes the production more accessible to audiences of all ages. If you’re in your late teens, fear not! There are plenty of older viewers who attend as well. A Year with Frog and ToadThrough January 15Seattle Children's Theatre

Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant @ Book-It Repertory TheatreShort, sweet, and memorable--Owen Meany knows that this is his year to play Baby Jesus in the annual Christmas pageant, and this pint-sized guy is going to get his wish, whatever the cost! Josh Aaseng, center, as Owen Meany. Photo courtesy of Book-It Rep.Book-It made an online version of the program for all to enjoy this Christmas season, and it's packed with holiday horror stories, the usual run down of cast, crew, and author John Irving, and "True Confessions of Christmas Pageant Survivors." You can check it out here.Owen Meany's Christmas PageantNovember 29 - December 23Book-It Rep

is not in Venezuela.Is Guatemala

Review of Granito: How to Nail a Dictator @ SIFF Cinema by Jennifer K.Granito is an inspiring film about the massacre of the indigenous Mayan tribe in Venezuela and the current generation’s journey to demand justice from a corrupt government. In the absence of effective media focus, the crimes of the Guatemalan government have gone completely unnoticed, and the genocide is often overlooked in history. The creator of the documentary also produced When the Mountains Tremble to increase awareness of the Mayan extermination campaigns. Her dedication and passion towards the subject matter can be felt through the medium of film, and provokes the audience to be proactive about the issues that exist today in less fortunate societies. A still from the movie Granito: How to Nail a DictatorThere is an abundance of footage that the filmmaker took herself, providing an extensive pathos driven argument for her case. Although the effort is greatly admirable, half of the film is in Spanish and the viewers must often read the subtitles, which could be difficult for some. However, it truly is heartfelt to listen to the Mayan people recounting their experiences encountering Venezuelan soldiers who were ordered to massacre entire towns.The human injustice is baffling and the film evoked sympathy and frustration in light of the suppression of the people by a corrupt government. As the years pass with no significant progress toward justice, the filmmaker attempts to make the past experiences relevant to the current generation so that the Mayan victims will not be forgotten. GranitoThrough Nov 29SIFF Cinema

Review of Hairspray @ Seattle Musical Theatre by Melissa C.I was hoping to once again be surprised and delighted by Seattle Musical Theatre, whose building looks like a warehouse from the outside and feels intimate and friendly on the inside, but is capable of putting on high quality performances that belie its appearance. Not this time. This performance had so many problems that rather than being entertained by the inspirational story of how a chubby high school student achieving fame and success in integrating the Corny Collins Show, I found my attention diverted by the poor performances, which were numerous enough to produce unintentional comedy, instead of purposeful laughs from well delivered lines. When I first entered the theatre I was surprised at the intricacy of the set. While the other Seattle Musical Theatre’s shows that I have seen have had simple, clean backgrounds. This set was a whimsical, colorful, and impressive collection of platforms, doors, curtain, sliding beds, and flipping walls. But the tech crew was not able to follow through at this higher level and the audience was left waiting while they stumbled through a clumsy scene change. That was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the technical issues in this play. Every light and sound clue was late and awkward so that actors were left singing and dancing in the dark and exiting under bright lights. Not to mention the fact that the mic system was atrocious. Tracy Turnblad, played by Kate Moyer, luckily was a belter and her amazing voice carried through the audience even after her microphone cut out. However, Kate’s positive attributes ended there. She stiffly turned to the audience and said each line in a mocking tone as if making fun of the script. When dancing in the chorus she fell far behind all others when her character was supposed to be outshining all her peers. The cast of Hairspray at Seattle Musical Theatre. Photo by Jenni El Fattal.Amber Von Tussel, whose character was supposed to be the least talented of them was one of the best dancers and actors present. Meanwhile, her mother blundered angrily around the stage, clearly the polar opposite of the talented, put-together Ms. Baltimore Crabs she was supposed to be. Her costar, Corny Collins, livens up the show with his energetic attitude and perfect singing, even though his dancing looked like a mental patient getting an electrical shock. But nothing was as disturbing as Colleen Gillon consistently ending her fun and dynamic characters with the line “I am so lonely” which immediately turned the audience’s chuckles into baffled silence. However, she was one of the better actors, and in general it was the smaller characters that shone - especially Michael Gibbs, whose producer, cop, and principal were simple but hilarious, and gave a reality check to the overdone characters and cheesy lines which dominated the stage. There were some main characters that were able to pull it together. Lil’ Inez was an adorable bundle of talent who won the audience’s hearts. And her mother, Motormouth Maybelle somehow made her rhyming lines seem natural and had the crowd on its feet after her rousing ballad. This was not the only showstopper. The choreographer showed what he was capable of in the number ‘I Can Hear the Bells’ when Link Larkin was carried around like a life size Ken doll.While this was one of the worst professional shows I have ever seen and a huge disappointment knowing what this theatre company is capable of, it was far from boring. However, if you come, make sure to “brace [yourself] for a whole lotta ugly comin' at you from a never ending parade of stupid.”HairsprayThrough December 11Seattle Musical Theatre

Would I (a parent) be able to buy a regular priced ticket to attend Nutcracker with my teenager?

Review of Sylvia @ Seattle Repertory Theatre by Olivia M.I’ve always kind of wanted a dog, a best friend to play Frisbee and snuggle with, but after seeing Sylvia, I know what I really want: an adult human woman pretending to be a dog who can speak English while maintaining the mannerisms of a dog, and who frequently swears quite vulgarly at cats. And I know I want this from spending an evening watching Sylvia at the Seattle Rep.In this gratifying play that is now being revisited after 15 years, we are let into the lives of empty nesters Greg and Kate (Alban Dennis and Mari Nelson), who have moved back to New York City and are both focusing on their careers, when Greg brings home a dog named Sylvia (hilariously portrayed by Linda K. Morris), who was mysteriously found in a park. I was a little confused by the nonchalance of this stray dog acceptance, but who am I to argue with a dog lover’s logic when I have never been graced with a dog in my home. Kate fights back against Greg bringing Sylvia into their apartment, as she wishes to maintain her clean, fun life, sans small life forms who depend on her, namely children or animals.Linda K. Morris, Alban Dennis, and Mari Nelson in Sylvia. Photo courtesy of Seattle Rep.Those three central actors are accompanied by a fourth, Darragh Kennan, who surprised me by portraying three roles. Kennan was my favorite part of the show, consistently making me laugh as Tom, Greg’s dog park buddy, Phyllis, a suspiciously high voiced lady socialite friend of Kate, and finally the super odd, new age marriage therapist Leslie, that Greg and Kate end up going to because Greg’s blossoming affection for the dog makes him refuse to give her up. The bottom line of this show is that I went into it fairly stressed about all the homework I still had to do on that Wednesday evening, and was instantly pulled laughing into the storyline. This is not to say that I didn’t feel my fair share of heartache from the story progression, but without spoiling anything, I will admit that I did walk away satisfied, with both a mended and warmed heart. The set is really fantastic, with the different scenes shifting and the furniture mysteriously pulled on and off screen by what I can only deduce is magic, or possibly invisible string? The puzzle remains. For a few hours of escaping the drudgery that is daily life in Seattle’s winter, I would very much recommend Sylvia to both dog lovers and those lacking furry friends. SylviaThrough December 11Seattle Rep

The Nutcracker @ PNBBring on the Sugarplum Fairies, the Snowflakes, and the Toy Soldiers and celebrate with PNB's annual performance of The Nutcracker! Our friends at Pacific Northwest Ballet are offering a special ONE NIGHT performance of The Nutcrackerjust for Teen Tix Members. 200 Teen Tix tickets will be available for sale on November 27th at 4:00 PM at the PNB box office. Get your tickets on a first-come, first-served basis and enjoy the show! (No companion tickets available.) This is a great opportunity to spend a night in the magical world of The Nutcracker.Check out last year's trailer:NOTE: This performance is the only one of its kind. All other performances of The Nutcracker are NOT Teen Tix eligible.The NutcrackerNovember 27 @ 5:30 PMPNB

Review of All Ages Dance Party: Vampires vs. Werewolves @ EMP by Melissa C.I am not a huge fan of either horror movies or the rap bands that were scheduled to perform at this teen organized event honoring the opening of the new exhibit, so it was warily that I entered the EMP. Immediately I was greeted by enthusiastic makeup artists. These friendly professionals quickly did up our faces and sent us off to be photographed. As I wandered up the stairs the music was pounding, and I prepared myself for a dark, sexy dance party, but I was disappointed to see a small group of teens gathered close to the low stage and a few scattered on the sides looking bored. Once I joined the masses around the stage, my enjoyment increased tenfold. The two young men onstage commanded us to keep our arms up as they busted out some rhymes about life as young rappers and eventually slowly backed off the stage, leaving the crowd cheering for more. They were followed by a tedious but satisfying student made horror film to fill the space before the next artist. Meanwhile, downstairs the horror exhibit was open for spooky flashlight tours or just wandering through as we dared. The exhibit was both informative and scary. Even the security guards were friendly and passionate about their jobs. I ended up walking out of the event with my arms full of complimentary gifts, a new appreciation for rap, and a promise to watch at least three classic horror movies. I spotted groups of people grabbing their coats and dipping early because of the small crowds and little known bands but this late night dance party ended up educating and entertaining me far beyond my expectations.All Ages Dance Party: Vampires vs. WerewolvesCLOSEDEMPSHOWING NOW: Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film

Review of The Swell Season @ SIFF Cinema by Chloe L. Without having seen the movie or knowing about the band beforehand, this movie did not hold as much appeal to me as it could to others who have an understanding of the characters. No one is introduced, it is just assumed that we know the characters; therefore, it is important not to walk into this movie without background information. Even so, this movie had a certain appeal to me. The film grows on you with its extremely realistic approach and odd ability to capture the moment. Interspersed with songs, clips of landscapes, and quotes from interviews, the viewer gets a feeling for the high stress and emotions that these two artists had to go through during their tour. As we follow Glen and Markéta through their two year tour after winning their Oscar, we also watch as they fall apart. We feel the stress of life on the road and get a feeling for the struggles they endure. The black and white picture make the story seem that much more intimate and unrefined. The movie’s rawness can also make it feel choppy and uneven, yet the portrayal has an ability to pull a person into the story. You almost feel as if you were there and looking back on the event and you get caught in the emotion of the film. Through the truthful rendering of this film, we gain new light on what it really means to be an instant celebrity and all the trials that ensue. This film will be loved by all those who love the couple and understand the background of the movie. It also gives a fair warning to all those who are chasing this lifestyle in the spotlight. Look forward to a movie of startling truthfulness and relatability. The Swell Season Through November 23 SIFF Cinema

Review of Hell and Back Again @ SIFF Cinema by Monet C.Opening at the SIFF on November 18th, 2011, this gut-wrenching documentary-turned-action film hooked me from the start. FYI – don’t watch this if you are sensitive to blood or language. I traveled from my comfy chair in Everett, to a place where the incongruity of fully-suited soldiers running through freshly plowed fields and fruit trees didn’t strike me as funny, but as scary. I went into Afghanistan with 25 year-old Marine Nathan Harris, and saw the horrors of war. I never realized how little is actually left over there. My heart stopped when a boy is killed by a missile and I saw him held together by a few threads of muscle. I feared for the men currently over there, as that can happen to them, and has, time and time again. I can’t think of much to say about this movie, except that I feel honored to be protected by men like Harris and my uncle, yet, at the same time, I feel amazed that other men and women would willingly lay down their lives on a routine basis to keep me safe, and the flag flying free. Thank you to all our armed forces and to the veterans and wounded soldiers here at home. NOTE: Contains mature material. Recommended for ages 17+.Hell and Back AgainThrough Nov 23SIFF Cinema