In case you didn't know it, Seattle's theater companies would like to remind you that Christmas is indeed just around the corner. As a result, just about everyone is trotting out their traditional Christmas productions, traditional or cynical or perverse depending on the company. To put it simply, the big holiday is here. more ›

As we had discussed last week, this week sees an increase in horror and Halloween themed shows, but not to the exclusion of other productions. This week, we see a Fringe Theater stalwart bring the self-generative to the forefront, a classic tale presented for kids, a condensed operetta and the big Shakespeare company making with the shakey shake, and three can't miss productions that are perfectly in spirit with the coming holiday. more ›

Ah, bless the Brits. Were it not for their entrenched habit of regularly going to the Theater, holding a cultural spot in their lives as normal as TV and the movies, we wouldn't have things like David Hare's Amy's View, a distinctly British beast, not simply because everyone speaks with an accent, but because of the way it approaches its subject matter -- because of what it is, in other words. 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 ›

We love our West Seattle neighbors, and thought they deserved more attention. Every Friday at 3 p.m., we'll post the week's happenings in Seattle's island town. Highlights this week? Hi-Yu, Seafair, new leads in the death of Jeremy Peck and this morning's standoff. more ›

Summer's here, time for theaters to get madcap or experimental...From Agatha Christie spoofs, to explorations of children's literature author EB White, pretty much anything goes. more ›

What are you doing tonight? More importantly, what are you doing for lunch? From noon 'til night, we've got something to keep you busy. more ›

Black Friday is two days away, huzzah, bringing with it hordes of extraordinary deals for Seattle's savviest shoppers. Planning to shiver on the sidewalk in front of Old Navy on 12 a.m. Friday morning? Well class it up, Charlie! Seattle's arts groups are running special Black Friday deals, too. Contact the individual arts organizations for full details about each offer. more ›

A TOAST TO EXOTIC: Teatro Zinzanni is hosting The "Exotic Wine Festival" tonight and it's for a good cause. Proceeds will go to benefit non-profit organization Art with a Heart, which "focuses on improving the lives of high-risk youth with therapeutic tools that promote mental health and well-being." Only "crazy" blends are being featured such as Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Viognier, Gruner, and more. And what's crazier than getting tipsy on a bunch of varietals? Gettin' tipsy for a good cause. more ›

IS THAT FUNK I SMELL?: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, objectively speaking the best funk band in the world, play the Showbox SoDo tonight. We can’t think of anything to say about this that hasn’t been said, except that you owe it to yourself to see Clinton perform--after 50 years in the industry, he still brings it. more ›

The wonderful thing about attending even a student production of Steven Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, like the one playing Wednesday-Saturday at ArtsWest in West Seattle (tix), is that you know the singing will be better than in the movie version. more ›

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Gutenberg, Johann. "German printer born around the year 1400. Detailed records of his life and work are scant." Or so the audience is told by the fictional playwrights Doug Simon and Bud Davenport, based on their internet research. With what little info they do know about the inventor of the printing press, the fictional friends write and compose Gutenberg! The Musical! (through May 17th at ArtsWest, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 3 p.m. [no show on Mother’s Day, May 10] tix $32, $10 under 25), filling in the missing details of his life with what they charitably call "historical fiction." Scott Brown and Anthony King originally developed the show in 2005 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. more ›

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A hit on the London and Broadway stage, as well as a 2006 movie, Alan Bennett's The History Boys (ArtsWest, Wed.-Sat., 7:30, Sat., Sun. 3 p.m. through March 29, Tix $10-$32) is making its Seattle premiere at West Seattle's favorite playhouse, ArtsWest. Christopher Zinovitch directs this nearly three-hour play. more ›

Every once in a while, we reward someone who writes in with a long, but comprehensible rant comment by giving them their own post. This, readers, is one of those times. Behold, a guest review by someone who really, really like ArtsWest. more ›

TEXAS TEA: For legal reasons we never visit West Seattle, but ArtsWest is putting on the political satire Black Gold, winner of the 2008 Smith Prize for Best New Play, and it sounds like something to see. It opens tonight, so tell us how it is. more ›

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