Upcoming theater and ballet events
Published 6:35 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Snohomish County
Theater
Edmonds Driftwood Players: The folks at the Wade James Theatre are gearing up for the season with a production for the entire family. Barbara Robinson’s classic tale about the trouble-making Herdman kids, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” will remind audiences about the true meaning of Christmas. And Driftwood also offers the premiere of the original one-act musical by Paul Lewis and Carissa Meisner Smit, “Timmy Perlmutter’s Extraordinary Hanukkah,” the story about how a young boy comes to realize that his family is the greatest gift of all. Performances will run Nov. 27 to Dec. 20. Director Andrew Coopman’s desire is for the audience to discover that what is at the core of both shows is that there is more to the holidays and to the people around us than meets the eye. Performances are Thursdays through Sundays, with some matinees, 950 Main St., Edmonds. For tickets go to www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org or call 425-774-9600, option 3.
“It’s A Wonderful Life”: Red Curtain presents the stage version of Frank Capra’s iconic film for nine performances, Nov. 27 through Dec. 13 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 1410 Grove St. in Marysville. The story of George Bailey and the town of Bedford Falls reminds us that self-sacrifice and love for our neighbors can triumph over greed, war and personal setbacks. The cast includes 26 local actors under the direction of Beckye Randall. Shows are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, students and military personnel, and $5 for kids 12 and under, available at brownpapertickets.com, or by calling 360-322-7402 or visiting the box office.
“This Wonderful Life”: Aurora Theatre Company presents one actor playing 36 characters in this adaptation of the Frank Capra film, through Nov. 28. Shows are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In addition to playing all the people in Bedford Falls, actor Chris Carwithen provides amusing commentary on George Bailey’s journey to discover that the actions of one person really can make a difference in the world. Performed at Phoenix Theater in Firdale Village, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Tickets are $25, available at www.brownpapertickets.com.
Everett Community College: Student actors will perform four one-act plays at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 4 and 5 in EvCC’s Baker Hall, Room 120. The plays include two comedies by A.A. Milne, best known for his Winnie-the-Pooh books. In the political skit “Wurzel-Flummery” Milne pokes fun at liberal and conservative members of British Parliament. In “The Boy Comes Home,” a play written during Milne’s service in World War I, an uncle and his nephew have a lighthearted post-war generational conflict. Next up is the comic thriller “Curtains for the Gentleman” and the sketch comedy “In Our Profession,” which features an over-the-top actress. Cast members include Sean Costello, Tyler Hamilton, Kaitlyn McKinney, Nathan Parkhurst, Josh Read and Jesse Rutgers. Carl Rodriguez and Noah Holland are crew members for the show. The plays include mature content. Children should not attend. Admission is by donation.
“Expressing Willie”: The comedy by Rachel Crothers, directed by Christine Mosere, plays Phoenix Theatre Dec. 4 through 20, with performances 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $19 general or $16 for seniors, military and students. Call 206-533-200 or go to phoenixtheatreedmonds.org. The clever comedy involves a young man who finds himself obscenely rich and becomes involved with the wealthy of New York. His unsophisticated former girlfriend arrives to attend his Christmas party and hilarity ensues. The cast includes J. Woody Lotts, Alyssa Kay, Mary Bayley, Larry Albert, Susan Connors, Madison Rengli, Caitlin Frances, Melanie Calderwood, Arin Larson and Jim Thompson.
Village Theatre: The rest of the 2015-2016 season in Everett includes “My Fair Lady,” the classic Lerner and Loewe musical, Jan. 8 through 31; “Crimes of the Heart,” Beth Henley’s Southern Gothic comedy, March 4 through 27; “My Heart is the Drum,” an inspiring new musical, April 29 to May 22; and “Billy Elliot,” the Broadway sensation with music by Elton John, July 8 through 31, all at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. Tickets and more information are available by calling 425-257-8600 or online at www.villagetheatre.org/everett.
Red Curtain: The Marysville foundation’s 2015-2016 theater season of classics includes “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Jan. 29 to Feb. 14; “You Can’t Take It With You,” March 25 to April 10; and “The Fantasticks,” June 3 to 19. More information is available at www.redcurtainfoundation.org. Red Curtain is at 1410 Grove St., Marysville.
Edmonds Driftwood Players: The 57th main stage season at Driftwood continues with Neil Simon’s comedy “Proposal’s,” Feb. 19 through March 6; “The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” musical comedy, April 22 to May 8; “Suite Surrender,” an homage to the farces of the 1930s and ’40s. Driftwood also produces short runs of new plays, Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities, throughout the year. All at Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. For tickets and information, go to www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org or call 425-774-9600, option 3.
Phoenix Theatre: The comedy theater company has listed its 2015-2016 shows. See “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn, Feb. 5 through 28; “The Dixie Swim Club,” April 8 through May 1; “Becky’s New Car” by Steven Dietz, June 2 through 26. The theater is at 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Call 206-533-2000 or go to www.phoenixtheatreedmonds.org.
High Schools
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Everett High School, 2416 Colby Ave., presents the musical comedy Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 in the school’s theater. For information, 425-385-4400.
“Stand and Deliver”: Students at Mariner High School will perform the compelling true story of a dedicated East Los Angeles teacher who surmounts overwhelming odds in her quest to turn inner-city students into whiz kids. Performances are 7 p.m. November 20 and 21 in the school’s Little Theatre. Ticket, available at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students, children and senior citizens.
“Street Scene”: Edmonds-Woodway High’s drama department presents the Elmer Rice play at 7 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the school’s theater, 7600 212th St. SW, Edmonds. Tickets are $7 or $5 for children, seniors and students with ASB ID. Directed by Bruce Mindt, the play takes a look inside an old brownstone apartment in New York during the early 1900s. The characters struggle with life’s adversities.
Dance
“The Nutcracker”: Olympic Ballet Theatre presents the Christmas classic at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave.; and 7 p.m. Dec. 18, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 5 p.m. Dec. 20 at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N. Tickets are available at olympicballet.com.
“Christmas Spectacular”: The 15th annual event by the Dorothy Jayne Foundation features the Pacific Ballroom Dance Company and lots of music, 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave. Tickets are $15 and donations to local food banks.
Seattle
Theater
“Come From Away”: Seattle Repertory Theatre presents this original, rock-infused world-premiere musical through Dec. 13, Bagley Wright Theatre, Seattle Center. More at www.seattlerep.org. The story is based on true events from Sept. 11, 2001.
Rodgers &Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music”: The blockbuster musical plays the 5th Avenue Theatre Nov. 24 through Jan. 3. The cast includes Anne Allgood as the Mother Abbess, David Pichette as Max Detweiler, Jessica Skerritt as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder, Hans Altwies as Capt. Georg von Trapp and Kirsten deLohr Helland as Maria. Tickets start at $29. For information, go to www.5thavenue.org, call the box office at 206-625-1900 or visit the theater at 1308 5th Ave., Seattle.
“A Christmas Carol”: A Contemporary Theatre presents its 40th anniversary production of this 90-minute holiday tradition, by Charles Dickens, adapted by Gregory A. Falls and Adam Stern, Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, ACT’s Allen Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle. Tickets start at $37 for adults and $27 for children. Call 206-292-7676 or go to www.acttheatre.org. Kurt Beattie and Charles Leggett will alternate in the role of Scrooge.
Dance
Pacific Northwest Ballet: Season tickets to productions by Pacific Northwest Ballet are on sale now. For information, see www.pnb.org/Season/15-16. Productions include “Roméo et Juliette” and “Coppélia.” Also, tickets are available now for the new Nutcracker, featuring choreography by George Balanchine and set design and costumes by children’s author Ian Falconer, Nov. 28 through Dec. 28. For information and tickets, go to www.pnb.org or call 206-441-2424.
Mark Morris Dance Group: The Seattleite and his dancers return for performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle Tickets are $31 to $75. Call 877-784-4849 or go to stgpresents.org.
