A dazzling string of attractions are waiting in the wings for Edmonds theatre lovers and performing arts patrons in the upcoming weeks. And within just days both playhouses will be showcasing their newest productions.
In addition, the drama departments of area high schools will open their doors to the whole family – kids to grandparents – with classic productions like “Arsenic & Old Lace” and “Pageant: The Musical,” both of which had their beginnings in New York’s theatre district.
It is through the efforts of drama coaches, teachers, dedicated parents – and community theatre volunteers – that Edmonds is able to enjoy such a rollicking line-up month after month.
So light the marquees! Turn down the house lights. Strike the music – Places everyone!
Let’s begin this week at Edmonds’ main stage – Edmonds Center for the Arts:
~ ~ ~ ~
Thursday, April 9
7:30 pm
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.
One Night of Queen
Performed by Gary Mullen & The Works, One Night of Queen is an extravaganza event, recreating the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of the British rock band formed in London 1970.
Gary Mullen & The Works have been hailed as the “World’s Premiere Queen Tribute Band” and have received rave reviews from over 500 Performing Arts Centers in the USA since 2008.
Ticket information is available here.
~ ~ ~ ~
Reminder!
Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 at 2 pm.
Pageant: The Musical
Director: Shileah Corey
Ballyhoo Theatre at Edmonds Heights K-12
23200 100th Ave W.
“Pageant: The Musical” with book and lyrics by Bill Russell and Frank Kelly, and music by local composer Albert Evans, is directed by Shileah Corey.
Caleb Corey conducts the band, and the cast is made up of alumni from the Ballyhoo Theatre and Edmonds Heights programs.
Artfully Edmonds contacted Shileah, who said of the production: Our cast is comprised of former students of the Ballyhoo program, ages 18-23; plus one of our eldest graduates (at age 30) playing the only “male” role.
We asked her how “Pageant: The Musical” won out among all of the scripts being considered by Ballyhoo Theatre: “I’ve always wanted to direct this musical, because it’s just a lot of fun. I read the script about 10 years ago and only now had opportunity to work on it. I love working with former students – some are perusing theater in college or professionally and some just as a hobby, but all are enthusiastic!”
Tickets revenue from this fund-raiser will send high school students to the National Thespian Festival. Tickets are $10 (with 5 “judges” tickets per show at $25.00) and can be purchased at the door. Please call 425-345-0991 for more information.
~ ~ ~ ~
Friday, April 10
8 p.m.
Over The River and Through the Woods
By Joe DiPietro
Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.
This is the week we’ve been waiting for as the Phoenix Theatre cast, supported by an amazing crew, dashes on to the stage to perform Joe DiPietro’s off-Broadway 1998 production, “Over the River and Through the Woods.”
DiPietro’s antics-rich productions enjoyed 800 performances at Manhattan’s John Houseman Theatre during its two-year run.
DiPietro has enjoyed an expansive career as a playwright with his most recent production being “Nice Work If You Can Get It” which was work-shopped by Harry Connick, Jr. under the title, “Heaven On Earth”. DiPietro has earned a notable number of Tony nominations, and several Tony Awards including one for his and David Bryan’s “Memphis”, which won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Musical.
The storyline goes like this: Nick, a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey, sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he’s been offered a dream job in Seattle and the antics start to keep him in town!
Let Artfully Edmonds remind you of the Phoenix Theatre amenities: intimate setting, laugh-with-the-person closest to you, whom you may not know – wine bar in the lobby in case you’re the one with pre-show jitters!
Tickets for reserved seating? Step right up!
~ ~ ~ ~
Happening Nearby
April 9, 10, 11
7:30 p.m.
Arsenic & Old Lace
Joseph Kesselring
Shorewood Theatre
Shorewood High School
17300 Fremont Ave. No.
Hollywood introduced “Arsenic & Old Lace” in 1944, starting it on its way to becoming a huge screen and stage classic. Imagine getting married on Halloween – well, I can see it – can’t you?
It only gets more far-fetched and completely zany from there.
Now Shorewood High School Drama and Thespian Troupe #640, under the direction of drama teacher Mr. Gill, proudly presents Joseph Kesselring’s hilarious and – dare we say – deadly classic, “Arsenic and Old Lace. “Beware the Brewster household, where nothing is as it seems.
This farcical dark comedy revolves around a crazy, unique and often-homicidal family and the less-than inspiring local police in Brooklyn, N.Y. Don’t be deluded into thinking in terms of “sweet and charitable” of the Brewster sisters when in actuality they just may be busy hiding 12 sickening secrets in their basement, while celebrities, politicians, and world-renown intellectuals haunt the Brewster’s old Brooklyn home.
The two sisters, Abby and Martha, have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of homemade elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and “just a pinch” of cyanide.
Perfect for the whole family!
Tickets: $10 at Brown Paper Tickets or $12 at the door. Additional information here.
~ ~ ~ ~
A Select Weekend Getaway from the pages of Lynnwood Today
Saturday, April 11 ~ 11 a.m.
And Sunday, April 12 ~ Demonstration at 1:30 p.m.
Sogetsu Ikebana 25th Anniversary Exhibition
United Methodist Church
7070 – SE 24th St. ~ Mercer Island
The Sogetsu Ikebana Mercer Island Branch invites the Puget Sound community to its 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Ikebana. Ikebana is the ancient art of Japanese art of flower arranging.
This is such a rare opportunity to review one of the most beautiful cultural art forms, that Artfully Edmonds felt compelled to include it in this week’s column.
For additional information about this exhibition, contact shirleyhill@live.com.
~ ~ ~ ~
Ready to take a break from evening performances and go for a stroll through downtown Edmonds? Gallery North has just the event for you.
Sunday, April 12
1-4 p.m.
Trails and Tails
Art by Susan Swapp
Gallery North
401 Main St.
Gallery North invites you to its April featured exhibit: “Trails and Tails” Featuring art by Susan Swapp who paints natural scenes and animals from her travels.
Swapp’s uses the media of pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors to bring to life vibrant and exciting life subjects. Meet the artist and enjoy refreshments at the Edmonds-area’s most venerable gallery.
This exhibit runs through April 30. More information about Gallery North is available here.
~ ~ ~ ~
Sunday, April 12
3 p.m.
Edmonds United Methodist Church
828 Caspers St.
Cascade Symphony Orchestra Presents . . .
Chamber music! Imagine enjoying classical music as it was played for royalty in the chambers and salons of European palaces.
This Ensemble Concert is a wonderful opportunity to hear great music from the ensemble repertoire including string quartets, rousing works for brass, woodwind groups and the ever popular Cascade Percussion Ensemble.
The program includes – in part – Sonnerie by Erik Satie; Rossini’s String Sonata No. 2; It Isn’t Easy Being a Cuckoo, (from Cuc-cu Music of the Ages) transcribed by John Gibson; Dialogue by Eugene Bozza; and Vignettes for Trumpet and Percussion by James M/ Stephenson.
And that is only the glorious first-portion of the show. Tickets for this very special show will be available at the door.
~ ~ ~ ~
Summer Performing Arts for Kids!
Artfully Edmonds is realizing how many of our dance, stage, music studios are making their sign-up sheets available for Summer 2015 – right now!
Here are just a few of the offerings from this week:
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.
Summer Arts Enrichment Camp
Dates: July 6 – July 10
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
More information, including scholarship details, are here or contact Gillian Jones at gillian@ec4arts.org or 425-275-9483. You can also visit the website.
– – – –
Roy’s Place Studios
4926 196th St. S.W.
Summer Jazz Camp
Dates: July 27 thru Aug. 7
Monday – Friday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call: 425-771-7020 or 800-426-6409
– – –
Malya Muth, Singing Teacher
Have you been keeping up with the tips and tutorials that Malya Muth has been offering our readers? There’s so much that she can teach us – whether we’re going straight to the stage, or not.
Artfully Edmonds chatted this week with Malya who says of her class schedules: “My voice studio never closes! And Spring is an awesome time to expand your singing skills because the extra sunshine and longer days gives us more energy . . . and our brains are perkier too!”
What age clients fit best with Malya? “A lot of my students are either in business for themselves or retired, and they find that working on a skill like singing helps keep them mentally alert and flexible.”
Bookmark her website and as you are helping your young thespian, or stage performer with their career Malya would be a wonderful resource.
Her website is here.
Mark Your Calendars!
Friday, April 17
8 p.m.
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbert
Directed by Martin J Mackenzie
Driftwood Players
950 Main St.
Sondheim’s joyous, musical romp through Rome has desperate lovers, scheming neighbors and secrets behind every toga.
Tickets are available at the Driftwood’s online ticket office.
– – – – –
Monday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m.
Free!
No reservation necessary.
Edmonds Community College
Black Box Theatre
20000 68th Ave. S.W.
Attorney Moe Spencer Talks Marijuana
As he tells his personal story and legal history, attorney Moe Spencer also sheds light on how politics have created today’s image of marijuana and what legalization is doing to shape future perceptions.
This lecture is sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership and Wellness and Health Promotion. Call 425-640-1581 for additional information.
— By Emily Hill
Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She also writes the “Lynnwood Lifestyle” column for Lynnwood Today. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com.
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.
By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.