TeenTix Blog

Some weekend suggestions for all you Adventure Questers:You + WordsTeen Writing Workshops at Richard Hugo House & Elliot Bay Books: This Saturday and Sunday, Arts Crush is doing a bunch of FREE writing and poetry workshops for teens. The teachers they've lined up are really great, and we highly recommend taking advantage of this free opportunity. You do need to RSVP for each of these. More details here.Music + Art (x free!)The Arts Crush Music Launch is this Sunday from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM at the Henry Art Gallery on the UW Campus. It's a great, FREE opportunity to hear music from some of our region's best classical musicians AND check out the new exhibit, Panoptos, which will totally rock your socks off. More info at artscrush.org.Dance + BraverySpectrum Dance Theater opens their fall season with Relationships, a mixed repertory (which means a bunch of short dances) program that includes voluntary audience participation. But you don't have to participate - for you ballet fans, just sitting close to the dancers (Spectrum's space is smaller than, say, McCaw Hall) might be a cool new experience. Baby steps. More info at spectrumdance.org.For a listing of everything you can see and do this week with your Teen Tix pass, read the Teen Tix e-newsletter on our website.Happy weekend!

The prize packages for the winners of our Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest are getting kind of ridiculous. Basically, win one of these and you'll never have to pay for entertainment again (well, at least not for the rest of this year.) Also, please notice that there is BASKETBALL in there. Basketball, people. See how inclusive we can be?Prize pack #1 (for the person who submits the most notes) currently includes:- 2 tickets to All Tharp at Pacific Northwest Ballet- 2 tickets to the special Picasso exhibit at Seattle Art Museum (which is NOT Teen Tix-eligible!)- a year-long membership to Northwest Film Forum- a year-long membership to Bellevue Arts Museum- an exhibit catalog from the Henry Art Gallery- 2 tickets to The K of D at Seattle Repertory Theatre- 2 tickets to The Mother of Us All at Spectrum Dance Theater- 2 tickets to ANYTHING in the season at On the Boards- 4 tickets per game to 5 Seattle U basketball games in KeyArena- 2 tickets to ANYTHING in Intiman Theatre's 2011 season- 2 tickets to A Tuna Christmas at ArtsWestPrize pack #2 (for a randomly selected note-writer) currently includes:- 2 tickets to All Tharp at Pacific Northwest Ballet- 3 admit 2 passes to Northwest Film Forum- 2 tickets to Hamlet at Seattle Shakespeare Company- a year-long membership and exhibit catalog from the Henry Art Gallery- 2 tickets to The Mother of Us All at Spectrum Dance Theater- 2 tickets to Sherlock Holmes and The Case of the Christmas Carol at Taproot Theatre- 4 tickets per game to 5 Seattle U basketball games in KeyArena- 2 tickets to ANYTHING in Intiman Theatre's 2011 season- 2 tickets to Babs the Dodo at Washington Ensemble TheatreAll you have to do to enter is go to an arts venue you've never been to before and write us a short little note about it. Boom! You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again throughout the month of October and you might be crowned Seattle Bravest Young Arts-GoerTM. The entry form and all the details are here. Good luck!

Review of Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris at Seattle Art Museum by Samantha V.“Give me a museum and I will fill it.” ~ Pablo PicassoPicasso Behind a Window, 1952Robert Doisneau, French, 1912–1994Archives Picasso, Courtesy Musée National Picasso, Paris, © atelier Robert Doisneau　Upon learning that Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris would be at the Seattle Art Museum, I watched my Rick Steves videos over and over, memorizing Rick’s personal observations, and the historical accounts of the daily moments of life which provided bits of inspiration for Picasso to personally work through. Tom Petty sings “The waiting is the hardest part,” and I must agree. But now our collective waiting is over…let the joyous exploration of Picasso begin!The picture below makes me think of the 3 witches in Macbeth:　La Celestina, March 1904Pablo Picasso, Spanish, worked in France, 1881-1973Musée National Picasso, Paris© 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Credit: Réunion des Musées Nationaux / ArtResource, New York.A truly delightful painting of Paulo, Pablo Picasso’s son:Paul as a harlequin, 1924Pablo Picasso, Spanish, worked in France, 1881-1973Musée National Picasso, Paris© 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Credit: Jean-Gilles Berizzi / Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Art Resource, New York.Portrait de Dora Maar and La Femme qui pleure are both paintings of the same woman:Portrait de Dora Maar (Portrait of Dora Maar), 1937Pablo Picasso, Spanish, worked in France, 1881-1973Musée National Picasso, Paris© 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Credit: Jean-Gilles Berizzi / Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Art Resource, New York.　La Femme qui pleure (Weeping Woman), October 18, 1937Pablo Picasso, Spanish, worked in France, 1881-1973Musée National Picasso, Paris© 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Credit: Jean-Gilles Berizzi / Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Art Resource, New York.Using simple tools to communicate, the works of Picasso strike a chord which resonates deep within me. It is just as Picasso himself once commented, “Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” Pages of his diary (sketches) on display as part of Picasso reveal the beginnings of Guernica, an enormous painting commissioned for the pavilion of the Spanish Republic at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris, which expresses searing outrage over the bombing of the Basque village of Guernica on April 26, 1937. Guernica reminds me of the words from the song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2…“How long? How long must we sing this song?”Guernica on display at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, SpainAs your faithful Teen Tix reviewer and a volunteer of the Seattle Art Museum, I encourage you to attend this unique exhibition. This is your opportunity to peek into Picasso’s diary. If you choose to attend, please leave a comment below. I‘d love to hear about your experiences with, and responses to Picasso.I would like to thank all of the people who brought Picasso to SAM, who trained me, and provided me the opportunity to participate as a member of the press. I would also like to thank Rick Steves who has made it possible for me to experience the different places, and cultures of our world through his shows…you put a face to the “humans” in Humanities. Thank you.Picassois NOT Teen Tix eligible. Student (w/ID)/youth (13-17) tickets are $18. But, there are a few ways for you to see this exhibit for less:SAMteens present Picasso Teen Night Out, Friday, December 10, 7 - 10 PM: FREE admission for high schoolers (with ID) + live music, art-making, and more! More info at picassoinseattle.orgFREE admission this weekend, October 8, 9, 10 & 11 to the first 100 people in line wearing blue! SAM opens at 10 AM - get there early!Thursdays November 4, December 2 & January 6, student/youth tickets are $8 all day (10 AM - midnight)Thursdays & Fridays from 5 PM - 9 PM student/youth tickets are $15OR, grab 9 of your closest friends! Student/youth tickets for groups of 10 - 29 are $14.For more information about this exhibit, including a full calendar of special events, visit picassoinseattle.org.Going to Seattle Art Museum for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

First Thursday!Thursday, October 7Galleries and Art Museums ALL OVER!photo by pdgibson on flickrYay! It's first Thursday, the day when Seattle's art museums and galleries fling open their doors and invite you in FOR FREE.First and foremost is the famous First Thursday gallery walk in Pioneer Square. Get the lowdown on that at firstthursdayseattle.comWe'd like to point out that every one of these museums and galleries counts as a new-to-you venue (if you've never gone there before). Why, in one evening, you could get 20 different (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest entries! Here's a helpful list of other museums and galleries offering free admission to assist you in your arting:Teen Tix Participating Organizations:Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture 10:00 am - 8:00 pm washington.edu/burkemuseumExperience Music Project 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm empsfm.orgHenry Art Gallery 11:00 am - 8:00 pm henryart.orgSeattle Asian Art Museum 10:00 am - 9:00 pm seattleartmuseum.orgSeattle Art Museum 10:00 am - 9:00 pm seattleartmuseum.orgScience Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm empsfm.org**************************************************And, everybody else:Museum of Flight 10:00 am - 9:00 pm museumofflight.orgMuseum of History and Industry 10:00 am - 8:00 pm seattlehistory.orgNorthwest African American Museum 11:00 am - 7:00 pm naamnw.orgWing Luke 10:00 am - 8:00 pm wingluke.orgAlso the Museum of Glass in Tacoma also has free admission on the third Thursday of each month from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm museumofglass.orgAnd the Bellevue Arts Museum is free the first Friday of each month from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm bellevuearts.orgGoing to a museum or art gallery for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Review of The Borrowers at Seattle Children's Theatre by Samantha V.　As the black curtains part, I am transported into a dollhouse-sized world of people I find I have a lot in common with. Seattle Children’s Theatre’s latest production, The Borrowers is based upon the books by Mary Norton, and has been adapted for the stage by Charles Way. Under the direction of Rita Giomi with a talented array of artists, magnificent sets designed by Carey Wong, and costumes by Deane Middleton, SCT’s The Borrowers enthusiastically brings the realities of the Clock family to life.Click image to enlargeEmily Chisholm as Arrietty, Marianne Owen as Homily and Ian Bell as Pod ClockPhoto by Chris BennionIn the Clock’s home of borrowed things where a spool of thread makes a perfect stool, and a thimble can be used as a soup pot, Arrietty Clock (played by Emily Chisolm) is a 14 year old who wants more independence. Arrietty longs to get out there to feel the fresh air on her face, which is understandable considering that she has been living under a home's floorboards her whole life. Like many parents, Homily and Pod Clock (played by Marianne Owen and Ian Bell, respectively) protect their daughter, and want to keep her safe from all of the perceived threats of the world above their ceiling.Rio Codda as Boy and Emily Chisholm as Arrietty ClockPhoto by Chris BennionWhen Arrietty does venture into the space above the floorboards, she meets Boy (played by Rio Codda). They share a curiously intriguing relationship, each wanting to know and understand more about each other, and their respective worlds. I enjoy this aspect of The Borrowers very much. I firmly believe that all people have equal value. I believe that it is through our questioning of the status quo, and truly hearing what each other is really saying, that we gain the insight necessary to bring about life-altering action guided by compassion and respect. The empathy and the resulting action of Boy toward the Clock family is admirable…I know I would do the same.Emily Chisholm as Arrietty, Marianne Owen as Homily and Ian Bell as Pod ClockPhoto by Chris BennionIn closing, Seattle Children’s Theatre‘s The Borrowers runs through October 31st, 2010. Recommended for ages 8 and up, it is a great play. I heartily encourage you to attend a performance, and bring a sibling or a friend to share this theatrical experience with. May you never look at the floor beneath your feet the same way.The BorrowersSeattle Children's TheatreThrough October 31Going to Seattle Children's Theatre for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

A Doctor in Spite of Himself at Intiman TheatreTues, October 57:30 PMMAPIf you hate laughing, DON'T go see A Doctor in Spite of Himself. All the rest of you: go! Our reviewer, Ehrik A. says "Laughter is the best medicine and A Doctor in Spite of Himself prescribes enough laughter to keep you healthy for a very long time." (Ehrik also calls lead actor - an Tony winner - Daniel Breaker "a cross between The Old Spice Guy and SpongeBob" which is weirdly accurate.) Other teens say: "It was absolutly hilarious. in fact, I would go see it again. :D" - Erin J. "Absolutely awesome and terrific!" - anonymous teenIf you can't go tonight, there are 6 more chances to see Doctor before it closes October 10th. Go to intiman.org for more info. This show is recommended for people ages 13 and up for adult language and themes.Going to Intiman Theatre for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

I've never been to a show at PNB before, but Director's Choice sounded much more interesting to me than your standard ballet. There were four separate dances. The first was probably my favorite, it was super intimate and intense. The second was much more ridiculous, but the dancing was still unbelievable and went perfectly with the music. I enjoyed the music from the third the best, the dancers made awkward triangles with their elbows to match this very birdlike call in the song. The fourth was ehhhh. Too much group choreography, which to me doesn't have the same emotional quality as two people working so fluidly as one. Plus getting a $170 dollar ticket for $5 bucks? Definitely makes me giddy.- Zoe BAge 1910/3/2010What is this? It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest, a month-long contest where you can win prizes for going to see art. All you have to do is go to an arts venues you've never been to before, write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! To enter, go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Hey guys, This is Holly. I'm one of the people in charge of the Teen Tix program. As you know, we ran a survey in the month of September, asking you to tell us about your experience with Teen Tix. A lot of you took it, and a lot of you had very nice things to say about us. Thank you! We love you, too. We're also glad to see that so many of you are using your Teen Tix passes frequently and without problems. Hooray! There were a few questions, comments, and confusions that came up over and over again in the survey, so we thought we'd address them here. Here we go: 1. "Teen Tix should go to 19!" It DOES! We know, we know. The Teen Tix website still says 18. Forgive us. But Teen Tix works for people 13 - 19 years old. We swear! 2. "Teen Tix should go to 21!" We understand how you feel, but we can only do so much. Teen Tix is for teens, and in order to best serve our teen members, we have to stay focused on that mission. However, there's no need to despair if you're turning 20. Most of our participating organizations offer substantial discounts to students and/or to people 25 and under. Oftentimes, those tickets are as cheap as $10, and you can buy them in advance! Check out their websites for offers, and keep seeing art. 3. "We should be able to buy Teen Tix in advance," "Buying tickets on the day-of-show is too inconvenient." Again, we know how you feel, but here's the thing: $5 is an incredibly cheap price to pay for most of what we make available to you. In a lot of cases, the person sitting next to you might have paid $100 or more for their ticket (and that still only covers a fraction of what it actually costs to produce the art). So, with that incredible ticket price comes some compromise. Our participating organizations are able to make $5 tickets available to you *because* you're buying them at the last minute (and we love them for it!) But if you do need advance tickets, you can still get them at a discounted price. Most of our participating organizations offer discounted tickets (sometimes as cheap as $10) to people under 25 and/or to students that you can buy in advance. So, the next time you are wishing you could plan ahead, check out the organization's website and see what kinds of youth discounts they offer other than Teen Tix. 4. "More music events!" We heard this a lot this year - more than we ever have before. So we just want to let you know that we're listening, and we'll work on it. In the meantime, remember that Teen Tix is good for Seattle Symphony's entire season, and all of the music events at Cornish College of the Arts, which include performances by top national and international musicians in Jazz, World Music, Chamber Music, and Classical Music. Also, if you're not going to The Vera Project, you're really missing out on one of the best things for teens in the history of the universe. Vera is a volunteer-fueled all-ages music and arts venue that focuses on people 14 - 24. The shows that they bring in include a lot of the pop, rock, alternative, and hip-hop music that we know you crazy kids are into these days. Their shows are not Teen Tix eligible, but the tickets are only $11 (or $10 if you're a Vera member.) 5. "Better website!" "Better calendar." All we can say is we know, and we're on it. We really appreciate your feedback, and we've tried to incorporate all of it into our new website design, which we hope to launch in the New Year. Also, note that, with the exception of the calendar and the sign-up form, pretty much all of the info from the website can also be found here on the blog. We also heard a wide range of responses to our question about how to make the arts more teen-friendly: everything from Choose Your Own Adventure theatre where the audience decides what's going to happen via text message (we'll definitely pass that one along,) to pleas for less technology and more sitting quietly appreciating the art. Which just goes to show that teens don't all think the same way, and what's "teen-friendly" to one person might be highly "teen-unfriendly" to another. Which is why we have to keep talking to you guys and trying new things. Which we will. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your time and your considerate, thoughtful, funny responses to our questions. If you have a specific question that we didn't address but you'd like answered, BY ALL MEANS, send us an email ([email protected]) or leave your question in the comments on this post. We will answer it. We promise. Now, go get some art. Holly

Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays: A Cottage on Dartmoor @ The Paramount Theatre presented by Northwest Film Forum & Seattle Theatre GroupMonday, October 47:00 PMMAPHitchcock wasn't the only silent-era British director to make audiences claw their seats in suspense; Anthony Asquith, later known for classics like The Importance of Being Earnest, whips up a psycho-noir to make the master smile. A lovelorn barber's assistant tries to court the shop manicurist, but he quickly devolves into obsessive rage. Asquith tosses in bomb-bursts of rapid-fire editing and off-kilter cinematography, and the pay-off will stop you dead. The British film critic Raymond Durgnat declared that Asquith, with this film had "out-Hitchcocks Hitchcock, before Hitchcock became Hitchcock." Hang onto your seats!Going to the Paramount Theatre or to a Northwest Film Forum movie for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Arts Crush Kick-Off Fair!Sunday, October 311 AM - 2 PMFisher Pavilion at Seattle CenterHelp celebrate the launch of the inaugural Arts Crush! Be the first to reserve Free Night tickets, take advantage of amazing one-day-only special offers from over 80 regional arts organizations, enter to win raffles, play in the Arts Crush Photo Booth, become an instant poet in AK Mimi Allin’s amazing Poetry Chair, participate in a community art project and catch free performances by Titanium Sporkestra, Caspar Babypants, Stimulate Dance and Split Second Improv! Don't forget to stop by the Teen Tix booth and say hi to our intern, Leah!Kick-Off attendees are the first to get access to the hundreds of free tickets offered through Arts Crush. Everyone else has to wait until online reservations begin on October 4.Going to the Arts Crush Kick-Off Fair? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Absolutely awesome and terrific! The place itself had a classic and mature demeanor while the actors [in A Doctor in Spite of Himself] had very convincing parts. The fountain seating area was soothing and the restroom area was a great place to rest during intermission. Im definitely going back!- AnonymousAge 1410/2/2010What is this? It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest, a month-long contest where you can win prizes for going to see art. All you have to do is go to an arts venues you've never been to before, write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! To enter, go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Sex in Seattle Episode 18: An Everyday Kind of LoveSee it for FREE as part of the Arts Crush festival!Date: Saturday, October 2Time: 10 pmLocation: Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave on Capitol HillMAPSIS Productions celebrates its 10th Anniversary with another new show (starring August Crush of the Month Moses Yim!) Romance is great, but is true love the grand sweeping gestures of passion we fantasize about? Or is it those everyday moments that bring people closer together over time? Join Tess, Jenna, Elizabeth and Chloe as they discover their own answers in Seattle's longest-running quirky romantic comedy about contemporary Asian American women, their lives and their loves. Newcomers and long-time fans won't want to miss Sex in Seattle 18: An Everyday Kind of Love. Rated PG-13 for sexual innuendo and saucy situations.RSVP required for this special free performance. Call 206-323-9443 to RSVP. OR, see this show for $5.00 with your Teen Tix pass Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM & 10 PM through October 9.Going to SiS Productions for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Whoah! This was ballet like youve never seen before. It was great! The audience clapped for what seemed like over 15 seconds! The dancers were fabulous and super strong! I went with my friend but before we went we stopped off at Falafel King and got some great food. Then we saw this awesome show. What a night. I even want to go again! this sure was directors choice!- Arden C.Age 1610/1/2010What is this? It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest, a month-long contest where you can win prizes for going to see art. All you have to do is go to an arts venues you've never been to before, write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! To enter, go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Actor Connor Toms talks with Tucker C about playing the lead in the epic drama The Cider House Rules at Book-It Repertory Theatre, what he's been up to since his star turn as our first-ever interview subject, and what you have to forget when you're carrying 5 hours worth of dialogue around in your head. The Cider House Rules Parts 1 & 2 Through October 16 Book-It Repertory Theatre

Review of Director's Choice at Pacific Northwest Ballet by Julie H.When the lights come on, you are staring at a huge piece of graph paper as the background. Then people start coming in to a New York City metro station. They do not seem to notice one another, just crossing the stage. Suddenly they all stop at the exact same time, like someone just hit the pause button. Then the play button is pushed and they are back in action. Just like that.Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Carla Körbes and Batkhurel Bold in Jerome Robbins’ Glass PiecesPhoto by Angela SterlingThis happens over and over, getting you wondering when it is going to happen next. Then, in the background, a line of dancers weave perfectly to the music, taking their time to cross the stage, starting with just one person. It feels so real that you have to resist the urge to go up there and start dancing with them. The music becomes louder and the dancing intensifies, then they just…well you will have to wait and see.This is Glass Pieces, choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with music by Phillip Glass, the final of four astounding dances included in this year’s season-opening Director’s Choice program at Pacific Northwest Ballet.(L-R) Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers Josh Spell, Kylee Kitchens, James Moore and Chalnessa Eames in Jiri Kylian’s Sechs Tänze (Six Dances)Photo by Angela SterlingIn Six Dances, which is choreographed by Jiri Kylian to the music of Mozart, we travel back in time to two centuries ago, where all we live for are powdered wigs and the comedy within them. You may think that ballet+Mozart=boring, but that does not seem to be the case in Six Dances. The music and dancing start off slow, and as they get faster, the comedy intensifies. The dancers feel the music and are matched beautifully by the orchestra in the pit. The dance finishes up with a bubble shower that reminded me of the wackiness and wonder of being little. It can’t help but put a smile on your face.Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Carrie Imler and Olivier Wevers in Nacho Duato’s Jardí TancatPhoto by Angela Sterling The dance that follows intermission, Jardí Tancat, choreographed by Nacho Duanto, starts off with no music. The dancers have to be in sync with only the beats in their head; there are no musical cues to help them. This I found pretty amazing. The dance is a story about the people who work on the land praying to God for rain to come. Choosing this style of inspiration for a dance tends to be a hit or miss but, in this case, the clever choreography communicates the story clearly.Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in Jiri Kylian’s Petite MortPhoto by Angela SterlingDirector’s Choice is fun for all ages and will please lovers of all different dance styles of dance, from theatre to ballet to contemporary.Director's ChoicePacific Northwest BalletThrough October 3Going to Pacific Northwest Ballet for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

Review of Wedding Belles at Taproot Theatre by Emma Me.Once again, Taproot Theatre fails to disappoint, this time with a vivid and comedic performance about life in the southern United States during World War II.Wedding Belles takes place over the course of a day in the life of four older women in Eufala Springs, Texas, 1942. As many women of their time, these four close friends are very involved with the war. By baking for soldiers, donating supplies such as newspaper and aluminum to be recycled in times of hardship, and raising money through town functions, the ladies do their part to help their country during wartime. Filled with laughs, accurate costumes, and an outstanding set, Wedding Belles is a return to the past for many who were alive in the mid-1900s.Karen Nelsen, Charissa Adams and Kim MorrisPhoto by Erik StuhaugAs the show begins, the day starts off as an ordinary one, with three of the ladies searching for the other, Laura Lee, at her house. The three are introduced as Glendine, Bobrita, and Violet, the last two being sisters. While they gripe and present their problems in strong southern accents, Laura Lee walks in with a surprise. Trailing behind her is a young teenage girl named Ima Jean whom she found alone at the bus station. It is quickly discovered that this young, meek girl is to be married to her sweetheart, an infantryman. After she meets him at the bus station later in the day, the two will be wed at the courthouse. Upon hearing the story, the enthusiastic and independent women quickly take Ima Jean under their collective wing and begin to plan a grand wedding for her.Setting the scene and dominating an entire wall is the façade of the back of Laura Lee’s house, which places the bulk of the action in her backyard. A porch, table, and flowers all become incredibly versatile props, seamlessly integrating themselves into the characters’ actions. The telephone ringing constantly in the window completes the setting, becoming a vital information hotline between the women and the rest of the small town. However, the incredible scenery is nothing without the impressive acting done by everyone involved. Each one of the five southern ladies has a bold and unique nature, and all of their unique personalities are definitely done justice in this show.Karen Nelsen, front, with Gretchen Douma, backPhoto by Erik StuhaugAfter the lights dim and country music filters throughout the room, the audience truly comes to know the characters. It is easy to fall in love with young Ima Jean, waiting for her beloved. The four ladies with their sweet, caring personalities and different, relatable struggles are the epitome of the average women of the time period. The bonds formed by the promise of a wedding and the sense of urgency only brought about by wartime become both enjoyable and comical when experienced through Wedding Belles.Wedding BellesTaproot TheatreThrough October 23rdGoing to Taproot Theatre for the first time? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

They're not just for kids anymore.Y'know. You grow up. You enjoy things like groceries and shoes and someplace to put your groceries and shoes. So, you get a job.

ArtsCrush, Seattle's mammoth month-long arts festival, kindly informs you of the following FREE teen arts workshops:WRITING YOUR TRUTHAGE: High SchoolTEACHER: Eli HastingsDATE: Saturday, October 9, 1:00 - 3:00 PMLOCATION: Richard Hugo House, Capitol HillDESCRIPTION: What's cool? There are a lot of answers. But way too often, being 'cool' gets mixed up with not speaking your own truth. That's what we'll do in this special workshop: find a way to start telling our stories and redefining cool through spoken word, hip hop, poetry, letters to important people, or just good old rants.This workshop is FREE, but a reservation is required. Click here to learn more and to RSVP. POETIC MASHUPSAGE: Middle SchoolTEACHER: Emily BerardDATE: Sunday, October 10, 1:00 - 2:00 PMLOCATION: Elliot Bay Book Company, Capitol HillDESCRIPTION: Dig into a selection of beautiful, weird, and thought-provoking poems for words or phrases that ignite your brain. Then mash these mined gems together into a fantastic new mutant hybrid of your own.This workshop is FREE, but a reservation is required. Click here to learn more and to RSVP.HIP HOP POETRY REMIXAGE: High SchoolTEACHER: Aaron CountsDATE: Sunday, October 10, 2:00 - 3:00 PMLOCATION: Elliot Bay Book Company, Capitol HillDESCRIPTION: Are you ready to flip the script on some of hip hop’s classic tracks? Rap music is known to be home for some of this generation’s great storytellers, and in this class we’ll insert ourselves into those stories, breaking free of the music’s rhyme and meter to see where the lyrics take us. We’ll use some of hip hop’s anthems as well as lesser known songs as source material to scratch, cut and riff our way to new and original poetry.This workshop is FREE, but a reservation is required. Click here to learn more and to RSVP.THE IDEA JARAGE: High SchoolTEACHER: Karen FinneyrockDATE: Sunday, October 10, 3:00 - 4:00 PMLOCATION: Elliot Bay Book Company, Capitol HillDESCRIPTION: Jack London said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." In this hands-on workshop, we will create jars full of inspiration in the form of writing prompts. After brainstorming on the qualities of a good prompt, students will create a piece of text from one of the suggestions provided. Then, we will decorate jars and make enough writing prompts to fill them up. We provide the jars, you provide the ideas!This workshop is FREE, but a reservation is required. Click here to learn more and to RSVP.GET BLOODY! HOW TO MAKE STAGE BLOODAGE: 12 - adultTEACHER: Seattle Opera Props Guru Pete OldsDATE: Saturday, October 23, 10:00 AMLOCATION: McCaw Hall, Seattle CenterDESCRIPTION: Seattle Opera Props Guru Pete Olds teaches you all the tricks in this bloody workshop! Pete has been in the Seattle Opera blood-making business for more than 20 years and has made blood for operas such as Lucia di Lammermoor, Macbeth, and Bluebeard’s Castle to name a few. This workshop is geared for adults or teens over age 12 and is limited to 25 people. Everyone will get a chance to make blood of different varieties and for different uses (thick, thin, spray-able, ooze-able). Everything is provided but beware: you’ll get bloody yourself so be sure to come prepared to get messy (this blood stains clothes).This workshop is FREE, but a reservation is required. Click here to learn more and to RSVP.Going to one of these workshops? Write us a note about it, and you might win a fabulous prize pack including tons of tickets and memberships to local arts venues. It's the Teen Tix (he)ARTSCrush Adventure Quest! All you have to do is go to this form, write a note (150 words or less) about your experience at a new-to-you arts venue, and hit "Submit." Boom. You're entered to win. Do it over and over and over again and you might get crowned Seattle's Bravest Young Arts-Goer TM. More details here. Good luck!

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.