Seattle Blog

We're continuing to roll out the submissions to our Be The Hand of Teen Tix contest. One lucky Teen Tix member's hand will be featured on our new poster! Do you have a favorite?

Review of Seattle Shakespeare Company's Pygmalion by Olivia M.Mark Anders as Professor Higgins and Jennifer Lee Taylor as Eliza DoolittlePhoto by John UlmanOne of the potential biggest disappointments is seeing the adapted version of an original work. Everything seems wrong: all the characters in your head don’t look how they should, the plot is changed or worst of all: that one scene is missing. It seems logical that seeing adaptation, then original would be a step in the right direction. My first attempt at this was seeing George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, after the musical adaptation My Fair Lady. Expecting some version of “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain,” was ill fated, but the rest of the play quickly makes up for this small disappointment. Jennifer Lee Taylor may not talk about precipitation much but she does a pretty fantastic job of showing her transition as Eliza Doolittle from the cockney English accent gutter wench to a high society beauty, a self proclaimed “good girl.” She’s stuck as a lowly flower seller, lacking the ability to speak without often emitting hybrid squeal-screams that characterize her as unintelligent. Taylor has great chemistry with Mark Anders, who plays the awkward, phonetics-obsessed Professor Henry Higgins. R. Hamilton Wright as Colonel Pickering, Mark Anders as Henry Higgins, and Jennifer Lee Taylor as Eliza DoolittlePhoto by John UlmanPlaying an equally important third fiddle is A. Bryan Humphrey, continually popping up with the necessary snarky remarks as both a narrator Shaw and as Eliza’s father, Alfred Doolittle. He is the role that truly connects play to audience, drawing us in with his wit. As one who recoils from musicals, there may be some bias in my conclusion that the lack of singing and dancing in this play make it hugely better than the movie version seen years past. It’s understood that people of all ages can enjoy musicals, but lacking song this version seems to be more grown up, even a bit modernized, this tone reinforced with a digital background switching between collages for each setting. The play is what I expected it to be: executed well by a whole slew of talented, solid actors, and yet I left wanting. In the namesake myth, Pygmalion is a sculptor who ends up marrying a statue who was the ultimate vision of perfection that he created, similar to Professor Higgins using his phonetic skill to make a perfect lady, minus the marriage. In a perfect world Eliza and the Professor would settle into high society as creator and creation, but that would probably require both characters to be more one-dimensional, a sacrifice that is most likely not worth it. Professor Higgins sings in the movie version that he has “grown accustomed to her face,” and I have done the same, now grown accustomed to a face that will never kiss its obviously destined husband. Some love stories just won’t work out, no matter how much of a “good girl” any of us are. Pygmalion FINAL WEEKEND: Thursday, March 8 @ 7:30Friday, March 9 @ 7:30Saturday, March 10 @ 2:00 & 7:30Sunday, March 11 @ 2:00 More info at seattleshakespeare.org

Here's the best three minutes of your day, we promise:It's a BEAUTIFUL video of PNB dancers dancing Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Cylindrical Shadows all around Seattle. Three reasons to love it:1. It will remind you how beautiful this city can be in the sunshine2. The music is the Adagio from Concerto in D Minor composed by J.S. Bach, and it makes you feel all dreamy-like3. It features March, 2010 Teen Tix Crush of the Month Laura Gilbreath! (Look for her around the 2:48 mark)NEW WORKSPacific Northwest BalletMarch 16-24, 2012

Teen Tixers: A new project called Arts on the Waterfront that brings, y'know...arts to the, uh, waterfront, is seeking submissions from teen visual artists and bands! They write:"We would love to let your teen artists know that we would LOVE to show their work!"They are working with the wonderful Trevor Project, and all proceeds of the event go to help end suicide among LGBT teens.Learn more about Arts on the Waterfront here.Find them on facebook hereIf you want to submit work, shoot them an email.And check out their production of Romeo & Juliet, June 15 - July 1, and totally FREE!

Review of From the Back of the Room at Northwest Film Forum by Olivia M.Thinking of the punk music scene, instantly, spikes, crazy hair colors, and lots of screaming come to mind. While occasionally that is exactly the case, from watching From the Back of the Room it is now clear just how many different kinds of punk, hardcore, fashion punk, and DIY there really are. Some people may know exactly what is referenced when talking about Riot Grrrl, but many, present company included, had never heard of it. Essentially, it was a time in the 1990’s where the female voice in DIY punk was finally, and loudly, heard. Before and after that time, the female role in that scene is being largely forgotten or ignored, and this documentary explores how it feels to be in such a male dominated sub-culture and how some are trying to change it.This documentary interviews around thirty-five women whose roles range from band member, show promoter, roadie and more, who are all for the most part articulate, intelligent and determined. None of them try to be the ultimate example of women in punk, and it seems they all just want to have equality. One woman is a great example of this: Chris Boarts-Larson of the band Slugs and Lettuce. Running a zine--which she started at the age of fifteen in the height of scene--she experienced a lot of surprise when readers learned she was a woman (she went as Chris instead of Christine.) The reasonable annoyance, and pretty much the entirety of the film is summed up with her quote: “Yes, I’m a girl, damn it, acknowledge it, respect it, and then don’t treat me any different.” It’s a fight to not have the accomplishment of finding a following in the scene, which is hard regardless of sex or gender, simply attributed to their gender, and not to their prowess, creativity and raw power.Watch the trailerWith such a range of women interviewed about so many topics (motherhood, making a name for themselves in the scene, sexuality and sexism,) it seems likely that even those more educated in punk will find themselves seeing a whole new side to those integral to the movement. Personally, never before understanding the draw of the genre, I find this extremely useful as an introductory breakdown to some of the energy and ideals of this kind of music and the community it has around it. Seattle Public Library has a few Bikini Kill cd’s and a book of the feminism of the Riot Grrrl movement waiting for me right now, and I still don’t know if Riot Grrrl is pronounced as if the “girl” contains a growl, but I’m on a mission to find out.From the Back of the RoomNorthwest Film ForumTuesday, Mar 06 at 7:00PMTuesday, Mar 06 at 9:00PMWednesday, Mar 07 at 7:00PMWednesday, Mar 07 at 9:00PMThursday, Mar 08 at 7:00PMThursday, Mar 08 at 9:00PM

Hooray for Nude, winners of EMP's SoundOff! 2012!We just got off the phone with Nude's lead singer, Nathan Mead, who says "We love Teen Tix!" We love you right back, Nude. We love you right back.Stay tuned for Jessika G's review of the Sound Off! finale...

Review of Have You Ever Had A Beard? at Northwest Film Forum by Jessika G.Illustration by Heidi EsteyHave you ever been labeled, “biker chick, hopeless, cross eyed, homeless, tubby, worthless, lesbo, sociopath, high school drop-out, greaser, needle freak, poser, walking abortion, illiterate, antisocial, four eyes, poor, alcoholic, lost, nympho, retard, nerd, insane, skinhead, loser, or shoeless?” Then you’ll fit right in. “Come to the party!” Lyricist Calvin Johnson and journalist Chris Estey meet for the first time in Seattle’s Columbia City Theatre to discuss each others' work in Have You Ever Had A Beard?, a short, documentary-like film, that takes stereotyping to a whole new level.Having a bad day? Deal with it. Estey tells the story of when he was told, “worse things have happened to better people,” after taking his frustrations out on fans of a band because he lost a testicle for unrelated reasons.Take a look at yourself and your problems. Compare yourself to society; what are you? Now look at your problem and rank it on a scale of importance. If it doesn’t prohibit you from continuing life or your career, don’t make a big deal about it! At least you weren’t at the height of your career and shot.Estey then reads to Johnson stories from his past. “Go down with what you love.” Stand up for what you believe in, and don’t let the man shoot you down. Everyone has problems, but there is never a good enough reason to end your life or give up. If you find yourself questioning your predicament, just ask, “Have I ever had a beard?” You may find the answer to be, “Yes, in fact, I have,” though physically you may have not.Have You Ever Had a Beard?ONE NIGHT ONLY: Tonight! Monday, March 5 at 7:00 PMScreens with:All Ages Music and Arts:What happens when thousands of music lovers in a musician’s Mecca can’t go to shows? Seattle and Olympia recount the birth of their famous all-ages scenes. Featuring The Vera Project and The Olympia All Ages Project, with music from Meowtain, Tender Forever, The Hive Dwellers, Knowmads, Lemolo and Twin Sister.

Review of tEEth: Make/Believe at On the Boards by Sandrine G.

TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO SUBMIT YOUR HAND PHOTO. Get it to us by midnight and we might make you famous on our new poster! Our BE THE HAND OF TEEN TIX contest continues. Is your hand THE hand? Does it have the X-factor? There's only one way to find out! Send us a picture of your hand, and we might put it on our new poster. More info here.

Wonderful review! I am definitely going to see it-thank you!!

I haven’t been to SCT in years, and never unless it was a field trip when I was in elementary school. Since then, I’ve been to a handful of plays at more adult theaters, like ACT and the 5th Avenue Theatre, so I know what a professional theater performance looks and feels like. But honestly, when I walked in to SCT to review A Single Shard, I was already mildly impressed. The play’s backdrop looks hand-painted, with a Korean watercolor painting of a river with several mountains in the back, and gives off a feel of authenticity, which is exactly what a historical fiction play like this needs. The lights dim, and A Single Shard starts with a dance with the dancer wearing a very light-looking shawl. It is a nice dance (though the dancer should be more light-footed), and then a chorus of surrounding characters announces the name of the play. From the start, there are very good background sound effects and music, which make it seem more realistic. The lines of the characters sound scripted (but, as was a moral lesson expressed in the play, you never fail if you try your best, as was the case with these actors, who do an okay job of making the lines sound more realistic and portraying their characters). Though there is one member of the cast that who does an amazing job: Mistress Min (Naho Shioya), does a very good job of portraying a very nice, old woman, with hospitable and mother-like qualities.

DRIFTWOOD THEATRE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS The Edmonds Driftwood Players, a non-profit community theatre, will award scholarships ($500 or more) to deserving students who will attend college in the ’12 –’13 school year and who currently reside in or attend school in the South Snohomish or NW King County areas.Applicants shall have demonstrated talent in the theatre arts (performance or technical areas) and intend to study theatre arts in college.Deadline for applications is April 13, 2012.APPLICATION INFORMATION Applicants are required to submit the following pertinent information for consideration for the scholarship awards:1. Applicant name, address, phone number. If a minor- Parent name(s) and address(es)2. Name of your current school and counselor or advisor.3. A list of high school or college extracurricular activities, and any awards or honors received.4. Intended college for fall 2012.5. A letter from your teacher in your school's Theatre Department or other theatre mentor.6. An essay of 300 words about your interest in theatre arts and what you plan to study in college.7. Transcript of grades, including the 1st semester of senior year or latest semester of college.8. Date of awards ceremonies at your high School (if applicable).Winners will be selected by an evaluation of the above information.Send application information postmarked by April 13, 2012 to:Driftwood Scholarship CommitteeP.O. Box 385, Edmonds, WA 98020

Thank you Hello Giggles for this magical compendium of celebrity photo bombs. How psyched was this couple when they downloaded their vacation pictures to discover they had been photo bombed by Michael Cera? CAUTION: some birds are flipped in this slideshow. Do not click if you do not appreciate the middle finger.

Review of A Chorus Line at Seattle Musical Theatre by Rachel D.“One singular sensation, every little step she takes…”The lyrics are familiar to any musical theatre enthusiast, conjuring up images of gold top hats and 70s dancewear, and there is plenty of both in Seattle Musical Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line. While awkward at times, the show definitely proves to be enjoyable.The opening number, “I Hope I Get It,” starts the show off with a bang. The cast’s high energy combined with the music itself is goosebump-inducing. Immediately after, we are introduced to 17 hopefuls as they audition to become part of a musical’s chorus, and we get a peek into each of their lives. Some actors manage really step into their character, while others unfortunately seem to merely recite their lines, adding a hint of attitude here and there. Meanwhile, Sean P O’Bannon gives a mostly convincing performance as Zach, the director, though his voice over the God Mic occasionally wavers into that of a schoolteacher instead of a director.There are many individual highlights throughout the long montage that follows, from the strong vocals of DeSean Halley as Richie and Brandt Sterling as Al, to a wonderfully powerful rendition of “Nothing” by McKenna Turner as Diane. In addition, Christine Riippi as Kristine and Ryan McCabe as Bobby portray their characters perfectly, from comical background facial expressions to strong monologues, and Madison Greenlund sings a sassy (though out-of-breath) performance of “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three.” Later on, Dustyn Moir gives an absolutely incredible monologue as Paul, bringing many in the audience (including myself) to tears. The strengths and weaknesses of each cast member are apparent throughout the show: some are clearly “actors who dance” while others are “dancers who sing.” Regardless, the entire cast balances out well. There are some beautiful harmonies that tie the group together (especially in “What I Did for Love”), and Director/Choreographer Crystal Dawn Munkers does an excellent job choreographing the large group numbers, combining constant movement and formations while integrating iconic moves.Major kudos to spotlight operators David Dietzel and Laurel Smith, who handle the countless followspots’ movements carefully and precisely. There were a couple of bungled light cues in the performance I attended, but overall the lighting is magnificent. Lighting Designer Richard Schaefer does an excellent job expressing the different feelings of each scene with different compositions. Combined with a nearly constant underscore from the orchestra, it’s easy to tell how a scene is supposed to feel, without requiring any dialogue from the characters.While the acting, dancing, and singing skill of every actor in this production varies greatly, I came to realize how much this reflects the characters of the musical themselves. Everyone has his or her own back story, and it’s important to recognize how different upbringings can affect someone’s dreams. Though there are a few weak spots in the production, it’s clear what dance means to each auditionee. That, combined with a cast that looks like it's having a lot of fun onstage, makes A Chorus Line sure to please. A Chorus LineONLY FOUR PERFORMANCES LEFT!Thursday, March 2 @ 7:30Friday, March 3 @ 7:30Saturday, March 3 @ 7:30Sunday, March 4 @ 2:00More info at seattlemusicaltheatre.org

smiley face!Our BE THE HAND OF TEEN TIX contest continues. Is your hand THE hand? Does it have the X-factor? There's only one way to find out! Send us a picture of your hand, and we might put it on our new poster. More info here.

Got an iPhone and want to learn how to make the most of its capacity as an art and photography tool?Come spend a Saturday afternoon with two professional photographers and iPhone-photography experts, Kate Hailey and Zorn Taylor who have a combined 30 years of photography experience. You’ll learn a ton, have a great time, and feel good knowing that your workshop fees are going to support Youth in Focus. No experience necessary!WHAT YOU WILL LEARN AND DO:Photography 101: Composition and PhilosophiesImage Creation: On-location shooting & photography mentoringPhoto Processing: Preview all the best apps out there and learn app stacking and beyondPrinting: How to get your photos out of your iPhoneSharing: Social Media and Networking optionsGoodies: iPhoneography resourcesLOGISTICS:Date: Saturday 3/10/12Time: 10am – 3pm (bring your lunch)Sliding scale: $49-$79*Ages: Teens 13+Location: Youth in Focus, 2100 24th Ave S, Suite 310, Seattle 98144Space is LIMITED and pre-registration required! To reserve your spot in the class, please email Kat at [email protected] or call her at (206)407-2124.*Funds support Youth in Focus’s free photography classes for underserved teens.Read more about the workshop and instructors at the Youth in Focus website here.

Review of Julia Fischer at Seattle Symphony by Naomi T.

Teen Tix, this is some beautiful writing- well done!

Review of Sound Off! Semi-Final #2 at EMP Museum by Alyssa T.

Totally. Totally. Totally.This is from PNB's program for Don QuixotePNB, we love you madly!(In case you can't read it, the text reads: "Wondering who that young ballet-goer is, sitting in the seat next to you? They could very well be a member of Seattle Center's Teen Tix program. Since the inception of this city-run arts access program for teenagers, Pacific Northwest Ballet has been a proud and passionate participant. Now in its sixth year of operation, Teen Tix provides Seattle-area teenagers with access to 37 arts organizations in an effort to engage young people in Seattle's vibrant cultural scene. Teen Tix membership enables teenagers to purchase day-of-show tickets to music, dance, theater, and arts events for only $5.For more information, visit Seattle Center's Teen Tix webpage at www.seattlecenter.com/teentix...or just lean over and ask the teen sitting next to you.")