Seattle’s first musical of the spring, Billy Elliot, opened at the Paramount Theatre last night to an enthusiastic crowd. Not only is the score done by Sir Elton John, and the words written by Lee Hall, but the sweeping choreography and joyous cast performances tell an inspiring story that makes Billy Elliot one of the greatest musicals in recent memory. more ›

One of Broadway's funniest, most heartwarming musicals is making its way to Seattle, and you absolutely won't want to miss it. As you most likely already know, Billy Elliot is a comedy musical based on the same-titled film about a boy who decides to take up ballet rather than boxing. With music by Sir Elton John, and lyrics by Lee Hall, this is a musical with a stellar soundtrack, witty dialogue and some impressive dancing. Since Billy Elliot the Musical debuted in London in 2005, it has been running strong in performances by various productions worldwide. more ›

Last night at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, TONY Award-winning musical "Ain't Misbehavin'" made its weeklong debut to the delight of what turned into a hootin' and hollerin' audience. The musical takes its name from a song of the same title written by Thomas "Fats" Waller, and is a tribute to black musicians of the Harlem Renaissance. The lively cast of five bring this delightful musical to Seattle from New York, and they had the snazzy on-stage costumes and personalities to match. Backed by a three-piece band (piano, drums, bass), the show takes its audience through thirty musical numbers that encapsulate the various moods of the Harlem era. more ›

A family emergency affecting one of the stars of the new musical has led 5th Avenue Theatre to cancel the first two previews this Thurs. and Fri. If you have tickets for one of those performances, you can reschedule by calling the box office at (206) 625-1900. The musical, an adaptation of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film of the same title, is debuting here in Seattle. more ›

ALL THAT JAZZ!: If your musical soul isn't daring enough to venture to Sasquatch or hippy-dippy enough for the Folklife Festival, you can check out the smooth tunes at the--air conditioned--Bellevue Jazz Festival. Curtains open tonight with the preeminent young male jazz singer Kurt Elling and Grammy winner, Dianne Reeves. Weekend performances include: Mingus Big Band, Mose Allison Trio and the Seattle Rep. Jazz Orchestra. On a budget? The festival has a few free shows, featuring our very own local talented pool of rising jazz stars. Performance times and locations vary, Friday-Sunday // Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St. // Tickets: Packages $59-149 more ›

If you just want a sing-along, Grease (at 5th Avenue Theatre through May 30, Tickets $22-83) will suit you fine. However, if you're looking for the character development or chemistry of the movie, this production will disappoint. Oh, and this Taylor Hicks guy (American Idol Season 6 winner), who's almost being touted as the show's star, makes nothing more than a glittery cameo. more ›

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The theatre is considered so negligible in American culture (and in many ways : Bartlett Sher, the artistic director of the Intiman, is the first white director in decades to helm a major production of an August Wilson play, outraging some African-American theatre artists. Wilson, who spent the last 15 years of his life in Seattle, had limited productions of his work to companies that hired African-Americans as directors and designers; since his death in 2005, his widow has overturned that prohibition. more ›

, you can get in for $20. All you have to do is head to the box office, which is already open, and tell them the special discount code "downtown" when buying your ticket. It's one ticket per customer, cash-only, in-person, so bring your date and $40 if you don't want to go alone. more ›

Loosely based on the life of "Daddy-O" Dewey Phillips, the new musical (at the 5th Avenue Theatre; Tues.-Wed. 7:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. & Sun. 1:30 p.m., through Feb. 15; tix $29-$81) tells the story of dj Huey Calhoun, who faces down segregation and racism in 1950s Tennessee to become one of the progenitors of rock and roll and rhythm and blues by crossing over the racial barrier and putting black musicians on white radio. more ›

as a prime example of the sort of show artists should be putting their efforts into. more ›

The Paramount Theatre's next touring musical is called Spring Awakening (October 14-19, tickets $22-$70). It was nominated for eleven 2007 Tony Awards, won eight--notably best musical, direction, book, score, and featured actor. more ›

If, even after a stroke, you'd still be able to sing the entire score of Assassins, or if you think God looks something like Elaine Stritch, Shrek the Musical (through September 21 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, tickets $28-$90) is probably not your cup of tea. We expected to be solidly in that camp at the opening night world premiere of the DreamWorks-based musical. Imagine our surprise when we loved it--and loved the bad guy the most. more ›

WHAT THE...?: Apparently you shouldn't go to Seattle School's Strikethough #7 Jennifer Zwick's performance of . It's at the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theatre. more ›

For those of you without tweens, HSM is the story of smart Gabriella and jock Troy, teens from different high schools who meet during their winter break, sing some karaoke together at a ski lodge, exchange cell numbers, and go back to their respective lives. Gabriella moves to Albuquerque's East High School, home of the Wildcats...and--completely coincidentally!--Troy. The show begins with a he-said/she-said recounting of their meeting (think "Summer Lovin'" from Grease) with their friends from the Archetype Depot. Troy's the basketball star, Gabriella's the academic decathelon star, and they both wind up trying out for the high school musical, Juliet and Romeo, written by Shy Asian Musician Girl. In matching teal, the high school drama queen, Sharpay, and her twin brother Ryan (sort of an understudy for Ugly Betty's Marc St. James) conspire against our two star-crossed lovers for the leads in the musical. Throw in the must-win brain brawl and the big game--both in conflict with the musical call-backs--and, well, you get the idea. It all works out, and all main characters (except Ryan, 'cause this is Disney...) pair up in the end. more ›

Straight outta London's West End (video trailer) where it ran for two years at Drury Lane, this revival of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady is only at the Paramount through Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $25-$72. Anglophiles, if you have the slightest inclination, we advise you to hoof it on over; this one's as English as a tea, fried tomato and egg breakfast--as befits a Cameron Mackintosh and the National Theatre of Great Britain production. Musical fans, you won't believe the number of hit songs. Patriots, there's a good joke about the French. Talk about crowd-pleasing. more ›

Shrek: And not everyone likes musicals. more ›

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A loud, garish co-production with American Musical Theatre of San Jose and St. Paul’s Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, this Cabaret steers clear of good taste in more ways than one. Its Kit Kat Klub has an authentically German, middlebrow's-night-on-the-town feel. As directed by Billy Berry and choreographed by Bob Richard, the show is miles away from the seventies sleaze of the Bob Fosse film or the sexual apocalypse of the show emceed by Alan Cumming, yet borrows touches from both. (We also liked the faux Burberry outfits for the English schoolgirl skit.) more ›

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At last, Patrick and Agnes find the decadent apartment of his only living relative, Auntie Mame Dennis and, well, this is where it gets good. Did we say good? We meant marvelous, fabulous, breathtaking, spectacular and any number of other big words meant to convey a sense of awe and grandeur. more ›

For the tour, Ted Neeley is Jesus, as he was in the 1973 film. That means he's been playing Jesus for longer than Jesus did -- and, no disrespect intended, with more of a vocal range. (We don't recall any of the Gospels remarking on Jesus's top notes.) He's matched up against Corey Glover's Judas, who knows all about cults of personality. more ›