Tacoma native and former Seattle theater stalwart Louis Hobson scored his first Broadway role this year, and it's a great one. Not just a great role, with turns comedic and dramatic, but one that's in a terrific and affecting show. Hobson plays Dr. Madden in the musical Next to Normal, which concerns a woman's struggle with mental illness. (We know, sounds odd, but it's amazing, trust us. Or trust Ben Brantley. Or Peter Travers.) We first interviewed Louis two years ago over e-mail, when he was starring in the 5th Avenue's production of West Side Story. This time we met him in the lobby of New York's Booth Theater, about 90 minutes before he was to take the stage. more ›

For the first time ever, we paid attention to the Tony Awards, where artists with ties to the Puget Sound region were winning all over the place. Bartlett Sher, artistic director down at the Intiman, didn't win for , and was developed for the stage as part of the "Village Originals workshop" in 2005, is a fine reminder that Seattle isn't just a stop for big musicals on their way to Broadway, but a place where talented artists actually generate the work that becomes the toast of New York. Congrats all! more ›