Entertainment

<< Previous   of   Next >> Joan Marcus photo  (click to enlarge) Eric Kunze as The Man and the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Whistle Down the Wind." WICA photo  (click to enlarge) Christian Swenson stars in "Human Jazz" at Whidbey Center for the Arts.   ADVERTISEMENT   Where to see it "Whistle Down the Wind": Opens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Shows at 7 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with matinees at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 2. $20 to $77, 206-625-1900, 888-5TH-4TIX, www.5thavenue.org. "Birdie Blue": Opens at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St., Seattle. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 16. $26 to 40, 206-443-2222, 877-900-9285, www.seattlerep.org. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever": Opens at 7:30 tonight, Snohomish County PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 16 and 17 with a 3 p.m. matinee Nov. 17. $20, $15 seniors and children under 12, 800-838-3006, www.BrownPaperTickets.com. "Human Jazz with Christian Swenson": 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley. $12, $8 youth. 360-221-8268, 800-638-7631, www.WICAonline.com. "Metamorphoses": Opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Everett Community College's Baker Hall Room 120, 2000 Tower St., Everett. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1. Admission by donation at the door.   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, November 9, 2007 'Whistle Down the Wind' tour opens at The 5th Avenue Herald staff "Whistle Down the Wind" is a primal tale about salvation and forgiveness that focuses on the innocence of children and how love has the power to transform. This inspirational musical opens Tuesday and runs through Dec. 2 at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. The 5th Avenue is presenting the U.S. premiere touring production with the goal of providing just about everything to audiences in one show: great songs -- one of them the Boyzone hit "No Matter What" -- exciting narrative and a classic storyline. The story is of a young Louisiana girl who finds a mysterious stranger hiding in her barn. She asks his name and he tells her "Jesus Christ." For her, it's as if all her prayers have been answered. The townspeople, however, are determined to find an escaped felon in their midst. All the while, she and her friends vow to protect the stranger from the outside world. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber paired with rock lyricist Jim Steinman, of Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" fame, to create the score that encompasses blues, gospel, country and rock 'n' roll. "Birdie Blue": This is an exploration of African-American history as seen through the life of one Birdie Blue, who has lived a long time and seen a lot. The show is presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre starting Thursday and running through Dec. 16 at the Leo K. Theatre. The story, written by Cheryl L. West, is sewn around the simple moment of Birdie Blue preparing her husband, Jackson, for a journey, while she also bakes a cake for her son's birthday. This tranquil scene belies Birdie's state of mind, and she begins to welcome the audience into her world, taking us on a journey from the fields of Mississippi to the gritty streets of Chicago. The stories of her life reveal hardship and joy and deliver a frank reflection on love, marriage and the passage of time. Playwright West is the author of several works including "Play on!," "Holiday Heart," "Puddin 'n Pete," "Jar the Floor" and "Before It Hits Home." "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever": Begin to celebrate the holidays early with this Christmas classic presented by Woodinville Repertory Theatre & Safe Place for Newborns. The show opens tonight for five performances through Nov. 17 at Snohomish County PUD Audtiorium. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" will introduce audiences to the six Herdmans, the meanest kids in town and every church lady's nightmare. They try to take over the Christmas pageant with hilarious results. The book, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," will be on sale at all performances. "Human Jazz with Christian Swenson": It's hard to pigeonhole this production because it's not a dance, or a play or a concert, sacred ritual or comedy. Yet the show -- coming Nov. 16 -- contains elements of all these. Christian Swenson's performance involves "playing" the body and voice simultaneously. Using sound and movement, the show is rooted in rhythm, tone and shape and moves through improvisation and exploration. Swenson's inspiration for "Human Jazz" comes from people such as singers Bobby McFerrin and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, but also from various sculptures, Balinese dance and drama, slide guitar, the African "talking drum" and the speaking, singing and dancing of other cultures. Swenson has an extensive background in dance, mime, voice and improvisation. He is known for his pioneering work in what he has coined "human jazz," a fusion of dance, drama and music. He has performed with Bill Irwin, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Jay Clayton/Jim Knapp Collective. He teaches in the drama departments at Seattle University and Bellevue Community College. This show is part of the WICA Family Series, which was created to help families make the arts a priority in their lives by providing cultural and entertainment events suitable for all ages. "Metamorphoses": This play is written by Mary Zimmerman as a post-modern adaptation of the series of poems by the Roman poet Ovid. The narrative poems describe the creation and history of the world, drawing from Greek and Roman mythological traditions. The play, directed by Everett Community College theater instructor Beth Peterson and featuring EvCC student actors, opens Thursday at Everett Community College. It will be performed at various times through Dec. 1. Admission is by donation. The play includes mature subject matter, so it's not recommended for children 6 and younger.

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