Opening with a striptease while the theatre space resounds from the audience’s gales of laughter, Vanya and Sonia and Masha & Spike, (2013 Tony winner by Steven Durang) revealed precisely what The Phoenix Theatre (TPT) has in mind for audiences as it celebrates its 10th Season. How many times has Artfully Edmonds told readers how…
Michael Gene McFadden
Edmonds theatre ‘takes off the gloves’ in Season opener
It’s Opening Weekend for The Phoenix Theatre‘s 11th season and the cast of 2013 Tony winner Vanya and Sonia and Masha & Spike is revealing their talent — no, really! “Reveal” is the operative word here! Tongues are wagging on this one as the hilariously edgy theatre troupe stages this Christopher Durang production, directed by the…
Artfully Edmonds: Young people who make a community proud
Jazz performance education for young people is exploding in Edmonds right now, and many Edmonds-area students are preparing for the moments in their lives when they take the stage. With Unathi Machyo (Edmonds-Woodway High School) winning the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival “Solo Vocalist” award this past month; the DeMiero Jazz Fest for K-12 vocal jazz…
Artfully Edmonds: ‘Enchanted April’ and garden shows herald a lovely spring
The Driftwood Players production, Enchanted April by Matthew Barber (now playing at Wade James Theatre), has enjoyed many adaptations since first being published as a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim. The storyline centers on four women – mismatched strangers – who escape their London lives hoping for a “geographic cure” to what ails each of…
Artfully Edmonds: Foreground/background – the forces of a community’s arts effort
Foreground, background: These two complementary forces bring art into being. Whether it’s the artist, complemented by the gallery owner; the singer, complemented by a studio; or an actor, supported by their director; volunteers of museums, playhouses and arts festivals, no foreground artist can reach star power success without curators, teachers, mentors, directors and volunteers. This…
Review: Phoenix Theatre offers loyal fans a poignant look at love for Valentine’s Day
The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro Directed by Eric Lewis The Phoenix Theatre Upper Level of the Firdale Shopping Plaza 9673 Firdale Ave. Joe DiPietro’s The Last Romance about two people looking for love in their later years is The Phoenix Theatre’s choice for Valentine’s Day. Before I sat down and settled myself into The…
Artfully Edmonds: Exhilarating updates from the theatre district
From the 8th Annual Festival of Shorts and generous audition calls from The Driftwood Players (The Players/Players), to inclusion into the Seattle Fringe Festival 2017 for the Phoenix Theatre; and Ballyhoo Theatre on the move – there are acting and stage-hand openings galore for volunteers, young people, opportunities to join strong well-established companies, and a welcoming theatre…
Artfully Edmonds: Lots of exciting possibilities for 2017
If you are a regular reader of Artfully Edmonds you’ve probably noticed that we don’t do retrospectives; no reviews after a show has left town, nor write ups regarding performances for which the curtain has gone down. There is so much going on – and coming up – in our community that Artfully Edmonds can easily…
Artfully Edmonds: ‘Twas the (busy) week before Christmas
Just a few more days of pre-Christmas partying before the marquee lights at Edmonds’ arts venues begin to dim, the confetti is swept up and performers, artists, and musicians head toward home to celebrate the season with their families. If this week’s lineup of shows is any indication, performers seem willing to make it a spectacular…