Most people currently living in Seattle are not from Seattle. One of the ways this plays itself out is in Seattle's landscape, where it seems that developers can write policy directly without the need for actual legislation. The city is their playground, to graft, raze and recreate as they see fit, largely because no one cares. So it is somewhat heartening to see Mayor Mike McGinn sign the new resolution creating a Downtown Historic Theatre District. more ›

We are a mere eight hours away from the start of the big holiday season, and you'd think that Seattle's theatrical contingent would take the weekend off, or something. You seriously underestimate the dedication of the local talent pool. Jose Amador brings you the latest on this week's offerings. more ›

Wednesdays are always the slowest around the Sound. But if you've accidentally scheduled a date tonight and need an impressive activity, never fear--we've fished a few good ones out for you. more ›

Since its 2004 off-broadway premier, Bert V. Royal's Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead has become a popular production among regional theaters. more ›

Tonight, a large portion of Seattle's Theater community, dressed in their finest regalia, will gather inside the Allen Theater at ACT in order to celebrate the 2011 Gregory Awards, which is the community's way to honor individuals whose contributions to the local theater scene have helped to strengthen the scene and the work done within. more ›

A new month, and a whole slew of new productions. From the only North American showing by an internationally renown performance artist and the premiere production in a new Downtown theater space, to this year's festival of sketch comedy with everything in between; Seattle, once again, has it all. more ›

Collektor's production of A Lie of the Mind, running at ACT through October 1st, is a dark, and darkly humorous play from Sam Shephard at his creative peak. Though many aspects of the production show plenty of promise, José Amador had a fitful time rooting out his issues with it. more ›

Perhaps you thought last week’s roster couldn’t be topped in terms of breadth; we wouldn’t blame you really, but a quick glance at what’s on offer this week will put that notion to rest. There’s not just one, but two experimental pieces making their way into the world; two Seattle premieres, one world premiere of a local work, the latest offerings from a couple of the bigger houses AND an enormous undertaking happening down in Portland. Once again, our region’s ambitious nature shows its true colors, and it’s all enticing enough to take a gamble on. more ›

Prior to last weekend's shmorgasbord at Bumbershoot, we'd been experiencing something of a light sprinkling of new productions. All of that comes to an end starting this week, as Seattle's Theater companies, big and small, start bringing out their end of year big guns. Come check out this week's sample platter of new productions. more ›

From the perspective of these last days of summer, there is no fall, which means that events lying in the rain shadow of Labor Day are easily missed. That would be a tragedy in the case of Short Stories Live: The Jewish Imagination, Part 2 at Town Hall. more ›

What're you up to tonight? How about getting gritty with Rooster, or raw with ACT? Or maybe you'd rather delve deeply into the history of the Pacific Northwest? Whatever you choose to do, make sure you check out our calendar first. more ›

Tonight: ACT threatens to drive us into hysterics with the "vibrator play." Ghosts and their busters invade Magnuson Park. And the Seahawks attempt a first flight in San Diego. more ›

Tonight in Seattle, you could watch the Mariners develop future talent for other ball teams, potentially witness the innermost secrets of the person next to you, and see the cartoons that have gathered accolades across the globe. more ›

A pretty varied programming palette as theater companies reach to the distant past to get experimental; sarcastically explore race; take the piss out of Catholic clergy; and see what happens when the female orgasm takes the world by storm. more ›

Tonight you could see the darker side of Jim Henson, find out more about sharks than footage of them jumping through the air could teach you, or watch a televangelist match wits with a British estate owner. Who knew Mondays could be so action-packed? more ›

Arts Editor Jose Amador's weekly tour of the Theater companies who are beginning their production's run during the week ahead. This week features new solo work from an experimental performance artist, a sketch show from one of Seattle's newer groups, and the world's quickest theater festival, 14/48, who have decided to make this summer's offering a battle of the sexes. more ›

Psychologically speaking, there's a certain euphoria that comes with surviving a near death situation; eight years after their near collapse, ACT seems to have taken the axiom "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" to heart. more ›

We know you're kind of a cheap date, so we've put together three very inexpensive options for your Monday evening. On tap, we've got a couple of films for your enjoyment, as well as a picture-perfect performance reading of a most excellent playwright. You don't have to blow your wad to step out tonight. more ›

It has been a relatively quiet couple of weeks in terms of the opening of new productions, but that comes to a crashing halt this week, as we get an even dozen productions all opening this weekend. Thankfully, most of these productions will be conveniently located in one handy location, and the other two either feature or is the product of one of Seattle's prominent talents...Find out more within. more ›

One of the recognizable traits of the world created in the plays written by Seattle playwright Yussef El Guindi is that of a subtle verisimilitude. While the situations, in and of themselves, may be given to some exaggeration (depending on the individual scene, and usually corresponding with the genre of the piece), the place they exist in is quite nearly our own. Given these parameters, El Guindi explores the general realities of immigrants in these United States who strive to become one with the melting pot while maintaining aspects of their original culture. Specifically, he speaks about the Arab American perspective, and does so with none of the blatant pathos such themes usually draw from our playwrights. more ›

The Summer months are here; generally, what that means is that companies are focusing on shorter runs, or on park shows, and Dance becomes a more prominent fixture on the performance calendar. There will also be a marked uptick in variety shows, burlesque and vaudevillian types of entertainment. This week is no exception. more ›

It's only fitting that as we reach 2011's midway point, there wouldn't be any new shows opening this week. Instead we point you to shows about to close, and remind you about OtB's NW New Works Festival among other items. more ›

Looking at the week ahead, Jose Amador finds a healthy mix of experimental, new and familiar work from companies small, large, and renown, including a web experiment created by a company you should know about, but probably don't. more ›

The last time Mike Daisey performed How Theater Failed America in Seattle, it seemed to arrive just in time to address the then recent near collapse of the ACT...Such uncanny timing is part and parcel with Daisey's resume and increasing stature on the national theater scene, as evidenced by the emergence of The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs at a time when the horrible work conditions and corporate practices in China are coming to light. more ›

Just as surely as the season finally crosses over, this week's openings also concentrate on crossing over, between boundaries of theater and dance and visual arts. more ›

Seattle theater's landscape is filled with organizations that have a national reputation for excellence, yet, locally, they do not receive the kind of reception that one would expect for those of their stature. UMO Ensemble is one of those organizations. Granted, for a time it seemed as if they had gone terminally dormant, but there was a period in the not too distant past where it seemed one couldn't go three months without hearing about a new production from either UMO, or 33 Fainting Spells, the other prominent movement/theater hybrid found in Seattle during the 90s. more ›

"I work for a company in Seattle that purchases tickets for a few events in town, and raffles them off to it’s employees. These tickets are a mix of Sports and Arts events - Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders and T-Birds for sports, and the 5th Avenue and Seattle Symphony for the arts side. But when they gave away tickets for Legally Blonde: The Musical, a few feathers somewhere in my mind got ruffled. Why was my employer supporting the Teamsters and pretending to encourage local arts?" more ›

Culture wars are often waged by incompetent generals. Vivarium Studio from France have won their latest skirmish with the incompetent generals of the United States' wonderful woeful US Customs and Immigration Services. more ›

As America expands its relations with South Asia nations, how will the country handle it all? If Mother in Another Language is any indication, America is in for a rough ride. The good news is that it will be a carnival ride. more ›

Theater artists are notoriously slow to create. A single production from the page to the stage often takes years, if it happens at all. The purpose of 14/48: The World's Quickest Theater Festival is, in some sense, to pose the question to theater artists: Can you put aside all your clichés; suspend all your perceived limitations of subject, ability and style; search beyond all your usual habits and resources—and just create something? Now? more ›