TeenTix Blog by TeenTix

Director's Choice @ Pacific Northwest Ballet

A dispatch from YCW '10 grad, Emma Kelley.Hello Seattle! Since completing YCW this spring, I’ve landed a disturbing 3,000 miles away from my mother-ship, the Emerald City. Currently, I am a freshman at Smith College in Massachusetts, pursuing a double major in theatre and English. Writing and the arts have always been my drugs of choice, but YCW absolutely solidified my intention to study them here. Getting the chance to write about the arts, with the best mentors ever, and other teenagers who felt the same way I do was truly unique. My critical skills as a reviewer and observer increased ten-fold, and really, how cool was it to schmooze with THE STRANGER’s staff? Also, the benefits of YCW didn’t stop for me in April. This August, I had an article published along with some other YCW grads in THE STRANGER (every hipster’s dream). I fully credit the awesomeness of Teen Tix and Brendan Kiley for the opportunity, and caution future YCW-ers not to doubt the impact of this RADICAL PROGRAM! It’s the perfect way to take advantage of the rich creative environment in Seattle - do it while you can! Because really, Massachusetts is cool and all, but I have yet to find a city with such a vibrant and eccentric creative environment... And thanks to Teen Tix, you can get all this for free in a neat little package with some thoughtfulness and humor on the side.Young Critics Workshopa writing seminar for 11th & 12th graders taught by Stranger Theater Editor Brendan KileyNovember - April, 2010 - 2011Applications due October 15, 2010More info here.

How to Make Body Parts with ACT TheatreACT is getting ready for their bloody, bloody show, Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Here, see how they are recreating actor Tim Hyland's head...in order to destroy it. The Lieutenant of InishmoreACT TheatreOctober 15 - November 14Ages 16+ for violence, coarse language, adult themes

Playwright Tommy Smith on his new play, Sextet (about the love lives of composers Gesualdo, Tchaikovsky, and Schoenberg), which opens October 8 at Washington Ensemble Theatre. Favorite quote: "...if you're alone in a dark room and you watch somebody else pretending to suffer, you feel better."Note: Sadly, we can't recommend this play to all Teen Tixers, due to adult material (it's got - as the title suggests - a lot of sex in it), but we happily recommend this video to everyone, as Tommy Smith is a playwright of the highly smart and interesting variety.

SextetWashington Ensemble TheatreOctober 8 - November 15Recommended for ages 17+

Hooray! It's the return of datebook, because teenagers actually *don't* make all of their decisions at the last possible minute.Here's what you'll want to be putting in your planner for October:First and foremost, October is ARTSCrush month, and that means that over a hundred local arts organizations will be offering free tickets, tours, chances to meet artists and other great stuff all month long. It also means that the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest is ON! The Adventure Quest is your chance to see a ton of art, win fabulous (seriously, FABULOUS) prizes, and perhaps get crowed Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer (TM). All you have to do to win is go to an arts venue that you've never been to before and write us a little note about it. Your note goes on the blog, your name goes in the hat, and, at the end of the month, somebody will WIN BIG PRIZES, including free tickets and memberships to keep you arting it up all year long! Get all the deets here.Okay, here's what's on:theatreThe Scarlet Letter @ Intiman TheatreEvil Dead: The Musical @ ArtsWestdancePeering in the Ballroom @ Spectrum Dance TheatrePat Graney Company: Faith Triptych @ On the BoardsmusicGershwin's Rhapsody in Blue @ Seattle SymphonymoviesAlfred Hitchcock Presents @ SIFF Cinemavisual artSuttonBeresCuller: Panoptos @ Henry Art Gallery

...and we know that's a lot of you, we heartily recommend getting yourselves down to the ol' ACT Theatre to check out the incomparable Julie Briskman as Ann Landers in The Lady With All The Answers. Now, you might be thinking, Julie who? Ann whatnow? Never you mind. Just trust us. A good story's a good story, and amazing acting is amazing acting, and this has got both.

A dispatch from YCW '10 grad Charlotte Z:YCW is the only reason I would have put myself through a grueling 1+ hour bus ride after a long day of school from Woodinville to Seattle twice a month. Seeing plays, movies and going to other artsy things is something I truly dig, and YCW was offering all this to me…for free. Oh-ho-ho, I thought to myself, how clever I will be! I will attend this and write some reviews about lovely things and everything will be excellent.I never actually expected YCW to affect me as much as it did. I think it’s really only possible to find yourself as a writer if you attempt different types of writing. YCW forced me to do that. Additionally, having peers and mentors helps you realize how your writing comes across to others. Brendan and Holly constantly pushed us to develop, to express ourselves in new ways, to find our voices. Our wee trips were also great fun…especially, urm, when I set off the fire alarm at the Seattle Art Museum…but take my advice - try not to do that.Really, YCW just made me change so much as a person. It made me less hesitant to share my writing. It presented me with a wonderful group of peers (some of whom I’m still in touch with) and the best teachers one could ask for. Going into my second year at my school’s newspaper as Graphics Editor, YCW has given me much more confidence.Young Critics Workshopa writing seminar for 11th & 12th graders taught by Stranger Theater Editor Brendan KileyNovember - April, 2010 - 2011Applications due October 15, 2010More info here.

Review of A Doctor in Spite of Himself at Intiman Theatre by Ehrik A.Laughter is the best medicine and A Doctor in Spite of Himself prescribes enough laughter to keep you healthy for a very long time. A retelling of the original play by the French playwright (and satirist), Molière, the Intiman’s Doctor avoids the temptation of indulging in satirizing the problems and debates of today’s healthcare system. Instead, co-adaptors Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp focus their efforts on creating what an audience comes to a comedy for in the first place: laughter.Steven Epp, Don Darryl Rivera, Allen Gilmore and Daniel Breaker in A Doctor in Spite of Himself at Intiman TheatrePhoto by Chris BennionA brief outline of the plot is as follows: Sgnarelle, an alcoholic woodcutter, has a fight with his wife, Martine. In revenge, Martine convinces two servants, Lucas and Valere, that her husband is a brilliant doctor-genius who can cure any ailment known to man. Luckily for the servants, their master’s daughter has mysteriously become mute after her father forbade her from marrying the love of her life, Leandre. Sgnarelle subsequently finds himself carried off to the master’s house to cure his daughter. And the rest is pure comedy.Immediately, you realize what your ticket has bought you when the play opens with an ABBA reference that has Sgnarelle dancing around a Punch-and-Judy puppet booth that is as random as it is hilarious. The play is riddled with these types of non-sequiturs and pop-culture references that make it a brilliant and unique amalgam of traditional Italian commedia dell’arte and modern comedy.The cast is keen to highlight this, as the actors each appropriately give excellent over-the-top performances that even leave each other breaking character and cracking up at the funniest points in the play. Particularly noteworthy is the cast’s leader, Seattle debutant Daniel Breaker, who I recently came to be familiar with through his Tony-nominated performance in Passing Strange. His Sgnarelle perfectly executes both sidesplitting deadpan and riotous slapstick. Think: “Old Spice guy meets SpongeBob.”Daniel BreakerPhoto by Mark Harrison/Seattle TimesThe last thing I’d like to note in the play is the music, whose presence likens it to being a character all on its own. Often times you’ll find a well-timed drumbeat or a carnival-esque chord from the accordion serving as the punch line to a well-punctuated joke.Laughter creates a sense of escape from all the bad parts of life: the real problems, the real conflicts, the breakups, the tests, the college apps… And that’s just what this play brings: a coruscating silver lining to the dimness of the real world. Kind of like the ice cream you get after a tonsillectomy or wisdom tooth extraction. What A Doctor in Spite of Himself boils down to is an hour and a half of laughter and enjoyment. The jokes are so fast (maybe a bit too fast) and plentiful that I honestly don’t believe that there was any point in the play the audience was silent. The energy that this show’s writing, set, costumes, cast, and audience brings to the stage is a warm reminder of why you come to the theatre in the first place. Be sure to bring your friends.A Doctor in Spite of HimselfIntiman TheatreThrough October 10thRecommended for ages 13+ due to adult language and situations

Hi, this is VCN2 Project blog here! We love your work too. Actually my name is Caz and I work at the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia. I'm a curator currently working on a series of collaborative digital projects for schools drawing on the Centre's Performing Arts Collection. At the moment we are working on an interactive Australian music timeline for teens and a circus activity matrix for primary/ elementary level kids. VCN stands for Victorian Cultural Network which is funding the project.Now that I know people outside our team are visiting I'll try and post more often!

A dispatch from Young Critics Workshop grad Joshua Gregory:I'll be attending UW in the fall, and I believe YCW has expanded my writing tools. Before YCW, I utilized a basic set of tools in my writing. This class has taught me through experimentation how to use a broader technique and styles. More importantly however, YCW is fun. So enjoyable in fact that I found myself looking forward to combating Seattle traffic every other week. That, my recruits, is how memorable YCW was to me.Young Critics Workshopa writing seminar for 11th & 12th graders taught by Stranger Theater Editor Brendan KileyNovember - April, 2010 - 2011Applications due October 15, 2010More info here.

The French Project: The New New Wave live @ Northwest Film ForumLet us just break this down for you: four (or five, or sometimes six) unbelievably talented and attractive musicians play everything from Debussy to ZZ Top to Pat Benatar, translated into (dubious) French, backed with short films. It doesn't need to make sense: it's magical. It's tonight's Stranger Suggests, and they say:"Erin Jorgensen is Seattle's sweetest songbird, a tiny tattooed woman with an enormous marimba whose French renditions of anything from Serge Gainsbourg to Johnny Thunders have a satisfyingly narcotic sweetness. Her band the French Project—Charles Smith and his zither, Basil Harris (of "Awesome") and his bass, Sarah Edwards and her guitar—is as witty, pretty, and arch as you could want."Oh, P.S. this band contains TWO Crushes of the Month: our current Crush, marimba rockstar Erin Jorgensen, and Basil Harris, of "Awesome" the band, our April, 2010 Crush(es) of the Month!The French Project: The New New WaveNorthwest Film ForumTHIS WEEKEND ONLY: Thurs - Sat Sept 16 - 18

So, um, I guess you didn't notice the video?

dude!!!! you didn't tell me anything!!! Yes he's crush-worthy, yes he is probably so freaking awesome - but only for you, you hot guy hog!!! I wanted to know what witty answers he gave, what funny witticisms he had. Tape it next time! Please please please. word for word account is much better than a "I got lost and then I met this cool dude and he was totally dreamy" summarization!!!!!! -From an unsatisfied customer.

A dispatch from Young Critics Workshop grad Laura Valiente:Speak of the devil, I was just telling a friend about what a great experience Young Critics Workshop was for me over the year. It helped me improve my writing, and use the English language more creatively, not to mention meet folks from The Stranger (aka Brendan Kiley). YCW will give you some cool bragging rights, that trust me, you’ll find useful (everything from telling your family friends you were able to go see plays, movies, and museums and get reviewed and sometimes published, you get the idea).Since YCW and graduating high school, I find myself reading more publications, reviews, and further developing my style of writing. I’ve learned that I definitely want to major or minor in some type of journalism - specifically fashion writing, thus making my life revolve around the world of fancy clothing.I think that one of the coolest things I did this year was taking YCW instead of sitting at home. If you like to be productive and are interested in writing of some sort, take Young Critics Workshop, it’s a neat way to meet new faces and learn something cool that’s FREE.Young Critics Workshopa writing seminar for 11th & 12th graders taught by Stranger Theater Editor Brendan KileyNovember - April, 2010 - 2011Applications due October 15, 2010More info here.

I'm really scared that there were subliminal messages in that and now in the middle of the night i will have a craving for polish hot dogs with mickey mouse ears onit

The Peace Tape by Jacob Ciocci and David Wightman. It's...uh...it's, like...uh...okay...it's like...uh...DOG IN A DOG COSTUME!!!!1111!!!Want more? Go here:An Evening with David & Jacoban evening of performance and live musicTONIGHT! Saturday, September 11 @ 7 pmNorthwest Film ForumJacob Ciocci and David Wightman (Extreme Animals, Paper Rad, You Can't Do That on Television) present a mash-up of live music, video, staged theatrics and global meltdowns. They choreograph a disjunctive array of live shredding, extreme feedback, YouTube bombardment, ecstatic dance moves and Sunday morning cartoons. Their newest performance delves into the world of "tween" culture, the vampire fad and the current obsession with the infinite hall of mirrors known as "forever young."

Marimba Rockstar Erin Jorgensen by Alyssa T. A minute into Erin Jorgensen’s Teen Tix interview performance, I was completely shocked—partly by the magnificence of her playing, but more by the fact that I previously had no idea what a marimba was. I’ve been playing classical music for years now, yet I have never before seen an instrument that can be mystical, mellow, rich, eerie, and soothing at the same time. I can’t even imagine the amount of skill, determination, and talent it takes to create that kind of sound by a single instrument, especially one that appears to be the lovechild of a xylophone and an organ. Miss Erin Jorgensen, the marvelous Seattleite who gives breath to this wonderful instrument, has to be one of the most unconventional and skilled musicians I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Erin composes her own music, listening to each resonating note of the marimba, and treating it as more than just another percussion instrument. If controlling four different mallets isn’t already hard enough, she also simultaneously sings—in French. As a person whose only knowledge of French comes from the cartoon “Dexter’s Lab,” I was surprised at how not knowing the language drew my attention more towards the musicality of Jorgensen’s sweet and airy voice. Applying her remarkable vocal and instrumental skills, Erin currently dedicates her time towards The French Project, which according to Brown Paper Tickets is “Seattle’s neo-French all-star music collective.” With a few other talented band members, Jorgensen surfs several diverse musical genres while singing in French to her heart’s content. Watch Alyssa's interview with Erin: Apart from that, Erin also has a cool and laidback personality. She wasn’t afraid to leave her musical studies when she felt they weren’t right for her, and is comfortable enough with her body to tattoo her arms. After meeting Erin Jorgensen and seeing her play, I have a feeling that regardless of what kind of music you’re into, The French Project will please you. For an awesome musical experience, and completely Crush-worthy marimba player, check out Erin Jorgensen as a part of The French Project. To listen to Erin’s original compositions, visit erinjorgensen.com. The French Project: The New New Wave Live at Northwest Film Forum September 16 - 18 @ 8 pm See uncut versions of the two songs that Erin performed during our interview on our YouTube.

When I start to realize that the person I'm talking to is a hardcore twilight fan I get the same squirmies that I get with those people who are oh-so-into-their-religion when I am so not. So I need to smile blandly and mm-hmm my way out of there or else I'll start telling them off about all the fallacies they are ignoring in their ignorant ignorance and make an enemy for life. Also, I've read it, so I know that the reason so many people like Jacob is because he's the one 3-D character in a bad bit of writing. He may be hollow, but he's better than all the cardboard cut-outs that fill up the rest of the books.

We got a shout out last week from the VCN2 Project blog. Honestly, I had a bit of a hard time figuring out what the VCN2 Project is, but I've nevertheless been enjoying the blog, which contains lots of interesting posts about young audience engagement (hey VCN2 people, what are you?)Anyway, here's what they said about our humble blog:"Many teenagers feel happier 'geeking out' with people online who share their own interests. A great example of this is the participatory blog run by Teen Tix, an arts access program based in Seattle for kids aged 13 -19. A Teen Tix pass entitles the holder to purchase $5 tickets to 36 different theatre companies and many museums in and around Seattle. Kids can also access free tickets through the Teen Tix site if they agree to write a review for the blog. The calibre of writing is very high and puts paid to those nay-sayers who think that such sites just end up full of crap."YAY! We are not full of crap! Thanks VCN2. We don't know who you are, but we love you anyway (this is the internet, after all.)- Holly