REMINDER: Breeders Theater’s ‘Helpdesk’ continues to help close out Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery with some laughs (and sips) tonight as well as Saturday, July 23rd, starting at 7 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, July 24th starting at 2 p.m.

Helpdesk is about a group of women working in an office. Across the street, a young man stares at them almost every day. What does he want? Can the women of the Cox & Berman Helpdesk help someone whose troubles aren’t computer-related?

Helpdesk is directed by Scott Green, and features of the acting talents of Laura Smith, Marianne Everett, Emily Fairbrook Shuel, Mari Geasair, Melissa Malloy, and Andrew Galteland.

The show runs July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. One Sunday matinee will be performed July 24, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include wine tasting.

E.B. Foote, one of Washington’s oldest wineries, will close in August with the retirement of winemaker Sherrill Miller (read our previous coverage here).

Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

Mari Geasair, left, Melissa Malloy, Marianne Everett and Laura Smith confront a stranger in 'Helpdesk.' Photo by Michael Brunk/NW Lens.

Breeders Theater will help close out Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery with some laughs (and sips) with its 21st production, called ‘Helpdesk,’ a new comedy by T.M. Sell that opens on Friday, July 15th.

Helpdesk is about a group of women working in an office. Across the street, a young man stares at them almost every day. What does he want? Can the women of the Cox & Berman Helpdesk help someone whose troubles aren’t computer-related?

Helpdesk is directed by Scott Green, and features of the acting talents of Laura Smith, Marianne Everett, Emily Fairbrook Shuel, Mari Geasair, Melissa Malloy, and Andrew Galteland.

The show runs July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. One Sunday matinee will be performed July 24, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include wine tasting.

E.B. Foote, one of Washington’s oldest wineries, will close in August with the retirement of winemaker Sherrill Miller (read our previous coverage here).

Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

Mari Geasair, left, Melissa Malloy, Marianne Everett and Laura Smith confront a stranger in 'Helpdesk.' Photo by Michael Brunk/NW Lens.

Breeders Theater, “South King County’s premier professional theater company,” will be returning to Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery this July with a new show called ‘Helpdesk.’

The pending sale of E.B. Foote Winery in Burien, home to Breeders and a lot of award-winning wine, seemed ready to end BT’s 10-year run at the winery. However, as the sale fell through, the winery now will be open through August as winemaker Sherrill Miller sells off the last of her stock.

And so Breeders Theater is back with a new show, Helpdesk, by company founder T.M. Sell.

Helpdesk is about five women who work at the customer service desk of an office computer equipment company. Across the street, a young man has been watching them, and may be about to confront the women. Who is he, and what does he want?

“It’s a play about how people relate to each other, both as co-workers and as strangers,” said Sell.

Scott Green directs the show, which features the acting talents of Teresa Widner, Laura Smith, Melissa Malloy, Marianne Everett, Emily Faibrook Shuel, and Andrew Galteland.

Show dates are July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and July 24 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are still only $20, including wine tasting.

Doors open at 6:30 for evening performances and 1:30 p.m. on July 24.

All performances are at E.B. Foote Winery, 127B SW 153rd St., Burien.

Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at CorkyCellars, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

For more information, visit www.breederstheater.com.

West; Directed By Alan Wilkie: Starring Eric Hartley, Adrienne Grieco, David Roby, Amber Rack, Doug Knoop, Stephen R. Scheide, Erika Zabelle and Nancy Warren. Written by T.M. Sell. Music by Nancy Warren.

In my time as a critic, it seems certain patterns have emerged more distinctly than others. So when I was commissioned to see West at Breeders Theater I decided to follow my usual pattern of not researching the play before I saw it. So far, this pattern has led to many pleasant surprises but I think West may be among the most pleasant of the bunch. Right off the success of Casting Call, the cast and crew of Breeders Theater strikes gold again with a production that’s at once a throwback to classic Hollywood romance stories of the 30’s – 50’s and a new entry in the genre; except as a play.

The story follows the tale of two families, the Olsons and the Dokkens whose lives are more connected than they first seem. Olie Olson (Eric Hartley) is the head of a farming family, having immigrated to America at the height of homesteading with nothing but an extra shirt. Harald Dokken (Doug Knoop) is a banker, a steadfast man who believes in hard work and discipline. On one fateful day, Glenda Olson (Adrienne Grieco) and George Dokken (David Roby), meet. What at first seems like annoyance at first sight blossoms into something they never though possible. Throughout the course of the play we follow George and Glenda as they succeed and fail, struggle and sacrifice, all in a story that has as many laughs as it does genuine drama. This is a story that will warm your heart and tug at your heart strings, but most importantly, it’ll make you want to sing half as well as the actors do.

The most striking aspect of West is how well all of the individual parts combine into a whole; the wonderful music, the terrific performances, the stellar writing all combined to form something that is nostalgic but level headed, sentimental but grounded in reality. It’s crucial spiritual nourishment for the inner romantic in all of us and by the end, I guarantee you’ll want more. It’s not just that the characters are fully realized by great actors who obviously care about the audience. It’s not just that the music will have you stirring in your seat and humming the tunes the morning after. It’s not just that the writing has shades of some of the greatest romance stories of all time. It’s ultimately how all of these elements manage to be as great as you’d think and so much more. West gets my highest recommendation. If you’re looking for a romantic evening out at the theater or just feel like you could use a real love story and not the nonsense they’re peddling today try heading to a showing of West. You’ll love every minute of it.

Breeders Theater’s “West” opens at 7pm this Friday night, March 11th at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127B SW 153rd St., Burien, and continues through:

• Saturday, March 12
• Sunday, March 13 (2 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 16
• Thursday, March 17
• Friday, March 18
• Saturday, March 19
• Sunday, March 20 (2 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 23
• Thursday, March 24
• Friday, March 25
• Saturday, March 26

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinees are March 13 and 20, with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and showtime at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 (includes wine tasting), and are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462. Cash or check only. For more information on tickets, click here.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Philip Benais is our newest Intern, a 16-year old student at Big Picture High School in SeaTac. He's an aspiring Writer who loves movies, so we let him write reviews for us.

Read more of his work here.]

Breeders Theater’s latest play, simply called ‘West,’ will be moseying into Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery starting Friday, March 11th and continuing until March 26th.

After performing for 10 years at this location, unless owner Sherrill Miller can find a buyer, this may be the final play performed at E.B. Foote (read our previous coverage here).

‘West‘ follows the story of two families of immigrants across history in the sequel to ‘Prairie Heart,’ BT’s critically-acclaimed production from January 2009.

Prairie Heart followed the story of Norwegian immigrant farmer Ole Olson and the woman he loves, Ingrid Thorgrimsdottir.  At the end of that play, Ole and Ingrid finally get together.

Fast forward 25 years. Ole and Ingrid’s youngest daughter, Glenda, is ready to make her own way.  But times have changed in North Dakota.  She could get married and start a farm of her own, but will history intervene?

West follows the fortunes of the Olson and Dokken families from World War I to the start of the Great Depression.

West was written by T.M. Sell, based on the stories of his own ancestors, who also, over time, made their way west.

“It’s loosely based on my ancestors, but this could be anybody’s story, really,” says Sell.

West runs March 11-26 at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien. This will be the company’s 20th production at the winery.

The show is directed by Alan Wilkie, who also directed Prairie Heart. Music is by Nancy Warren, with choreographed by Teresa Widner, and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• David Roby
• Eric Hartley
• Amber Rack
• Doug Knoop
• Steve Scheide
• Erika Zabelle

Show dates are March 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, with doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinees are March 13 and 20, with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and showtime at 2 p.m.

Performances will be at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127B SW 153rd St., Burien.

Tickets are still only $20, including wine tasting, and are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462. Cash or check only. For more information on tickets, click here.

Recently, a non-Burien based media outlet reported some misinformation that E.B. Foote Winery will be “closing its doors” in a little over a week – on March 1st – if it doesn’t find a buyer (read our original story from July, 2010 here).

“We’re aren’t hanging it up quite yet!” said owner Sherrill Miller. “They misunderstood that I had to have a buyer by March 1st or I would start selling equipment and the remaining wine and dissolve the business. We still have the March play (Breeders Theater’s “West”), and I have been booking private tastings through April 30th. Once I know if I have a buyer or not, that will determine what happens next and what the timeline will be.”

Miller adds that if a buyer is found, that “it would take at least two months for all of the paperwork to be completed for the transfer of ownership.”

However, if a buyer does not come forward, the winery will remain open beyond April, as Miller would sell off production equipment and the remaining wine inventory.

“I have several potential buyers after the press coverage – three meetings just today (Monday, Feb. 21),” Miller said. ”The asking price is $400,000 which includes the brand name, production equipment and remaining bottled wine (about 1800 cases) and bulk wine (about 2000 gallons of red).”

So, if any of our Readers want to buy this historic Burien-based winery, which has been operating since 1978, it’s yours for just $400,000, and that includes all the equipment and wine. Just give Sherrill a call at 206-242-3852 or email winemaker@ebfootewinery.com.

Also, Breeders Theater has their final run of shows at the winery in March, and tickets are on sale now. This production, called “West,” is a sequel to “Prairie Heart” from a couple of years ago. ”Prairie Heart” was the story of Norwegian immigrant farmer Ole Olson and Ingrid, the woman he loved.  They got together and became farmers in North Dakota. ”West” is about their daughter Glenda who is ready to make her own way. But times have changed in North Dakota. The show follows the fortunes of two families from World War I to the start of the Great Depression. ”West” was written by T.M. Sell and is based on the stories of his own ancestors who also, over time, made their way west. Tickets are still only $20 and include the show and a sample of four red wines. The show opens March 11th and runs for three weekends. Show dates are March 11 – 13, 16 – 20, 23 – 26.  On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday the door opens at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 7:00 pm. On Sunday the door opens at 1:30 pm and the show starts at 2:00 pm.  You can get tickets by visiting or calling the winery (206) 242-3852, visiting or calling Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206) 824-9462, or on the Current Releases page of the winery website.  Since this is the final show at the winery, we expect most if not all of the shows to sell out.  Don’t wait to get your tickets or you may miss out!

NOTE: This show is performed in the middle of the winery with chairs on two sides. The winery is chilly so dress warmly. We have two wine samples before the show with wine available by the glass for $5 cash. We have two wine samples during intermission with wine available by the glass for $5 cash.  After the show you can purchase bottles of wine to take home with you. Food will be simply cheese and crackers, just a little something to go with the wines. We hope you’ll enjoy dinner at one of Burien’s fine eating establishments before you come to the winery for the show and wine tasting.

For more information on Breeders Theater’s “West,” check out their website here: www.breederstheater.com.

Miller adds:

“When you purchase wine to take home with you, we are still offering Retirement Prices. All red wines are just $12 a bottle or $120 a case.  Sweet Sherrill is $10 a bottle or $100 a case. Our wines will age for another 5 – 8 years so stock up on your favorites while you can.”

E.B. Foote’s winery hours for wine tasting, wine purchases, ticket purchases, etc. are:

• Tuesday & Thursday: 5 pm – 8 pm
• Friday & Saturday: Noon – 4 pm

For more information, visit www.ebfootewinery.com.

"Casting Call" opens Friday, Jan. 14th at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien. Photo by Michael Brunk.

Breeders Theater opens its 10th season with a new show, “Casting Call,” beginning Friday, Jan. 14 and running through Feb. 5 at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien.

“‘Casting Call’ takes place at a major theater festival, where they are about to launch a production of a major new play that already has been optioned to Hollywood,” said Writer and Breeders Theater Founder Dr. T.M. Sell in a statement. “With the film director scheduled to attend — in search of someone to play the lead in the film — three actors are vying for this potential role of a lifetime and might be willing to do anything to get it.”

‘Casting Call’ is directed by Doug Knoop, with music by Nancy Warren and choreography by Teresa Widner.

“Having worked with good actors for a while now, it occurred to me that if an actor put her or his mind to it, you really wouldn’t know what they were thinking,” said Sell. “So this is a play where things may not be what they seem.”

The cast includes Andrew Smith, Teresa Widner, Laura Smith, Ericka Zabelle, Eric Hartley and Stephen Scheide.

Casting Call runs Jan. 14, 15, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, Feb. 2, 3, 4, 5 at 7 p.m., with doors open at 6:30 p.m.; with matinees Jan. 16, 23, 30 at 2 p.m., with doors open at 1:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the Jan. 26 show benefit performing arts scholarships at Highline College (read our previous coverage here).

Tickets are still only $20, including tasting of E.B. Foote wines.

Performances will be at E.B. Foote Winery, which is located at 127-B SW 153rd St., in Burien (map here). As this is a working winery, patrons are advised to dress warmly for performances.

Tickets are available at the winery and at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr., 206-824-9462.

For more information, contact the winery at 206-242-3852, or visit Breeders Theater’s website here.

Breeders Theater will be holding a special performance of ‘Casting Call’ on Wednesday, Jan. 26th, as a fundraiser for the Highline Community College Foundation’s Breeders Theater Performing Arts Scholarship.

This special performance of this new play, written by Highline Professor Dr. T.M. Sell, will benefit the Highline Community College Foundation’s Breeders Theater Performing Arts Scholarship, an organization dedicated to raising funds that help provide quality education at Highline.

“Casting Call” centers around three actors vying for what could be the role of a lifetime. While performing a death scene in a play, one of them appears to actually die. Was it an accident, suicide or murder?

Tickets, which cost $20 each, also include tasting of four wines from the E.B. Foote Winery. Bottles of E.B. Foote’s wines will also be available to purchase.

Tickets are available from the HCC Foundation and at E.B. Foote Winery and Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Dr. S. in Des Moines.

WHAT: Special performance of the new play “Casting Call”

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011; doors open at 6:30pm; show starts at 7pm.

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127 S.W. 153rd St., Suite B in Burien.

COST: $20 per ticket; available from the HCC Foundation and at E.B. Foote Winery and Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Dr. S. in Des Moines.

For more information:

• www.funds4highline.org
• www.breederstheater.com

Now going into its second weekend at the E.B. Foote Winery is “Withering Heights,” the latest production from Burien’s Breeders Theater. The new show is the theater company’s eighteenth production at the winery and is another humorous and entertaining story from the mind of local playwright T.M. Sell.

The lights have barely come up when poor Clarity Fugue (Adrienne Grieco) is faced with the dying gasps of her dear father (Martin Mackenzie). A series of gasps in fact. Not to worry though, he’s left a legacy behind for Miss Clarity. The down side? There are bankers involved, two of them. Kneckerbreaker (Eric Hartley) and Sponge (Doug Knoop). And the inheritance isn’t exactly what Clarity had in mind.

Those are just the opening minutes of “Withering Heights.” From here the story sends Clarity careening madly into a society scene populated by off-kilter characters, with her loyal friend Darcy (Amber Rack) at her side.

Adrienne Grieco and David Roby

Together with the hopeless Fedora (Laura Smith) the three young women will dance and spar with the dashing Dashwood (Steven Schenck), the dour Janeway (David Roby) and Eustace (Brenan Grant), who can never get a word in edgewise. Sparks will fly, but they may not land where you expect.

Did I mention the all too brief side trip to meet Clarity’s inbred cousins, Mansfield (Martin Mackenzie) and Emma (Melissa Malloy) and their serving girl Abby (Megan Krogstadt)?

Back at the helm for “Withering Heights” is veteran J Howard Boyd, who ably directs the cast through this rollicking Victorian parody with a deft touch.

Breeders Theater fans will be happy to know that the musical numbers return for this show, courtesy of the talented Nancy Warren. Besides playing the piano she’s joined onstage by J Howard Boyd, Doug Knoop and Megan Krogstadt for several a capella performances as the “Jane Austen City Limits Quartet.” The show also features dance numbers choreographed by Teresa Widner.

Of special note in “Withering Heights” is the costuming by Melissa Sell. In a period piece like this, the costuming can make or break a show and her achievements here deliver the goods without going overboard.

Eric Hartley and Doug Knoop

The cast does such a fine job that it’s really hard to pick out highlights; there really isn’t a weak performance among them. Still, I greatly enjoyed Adrienne Grieco as the spunky and persistent Clarity and new-comer David Roby who really sold me on the character Janeway.

It was also very entertaining seeing long-time Breeders Theater players Eric Hartley and Doug Knoop together as Kneckerbreaker and Sponge. I imagine they had as much fun playing the roles as I did watching.

Finally, kudos to Brenan Grant as the long-suffering Eustace. Verbally cut off and stepped on by the other characters for most of the show, he still plays the role to the hilt through his expressions and body language. When he finally got a chance to say what was on his mind, we in the audience were thoroughly ready to hear it!

A last note here about the material. Audiences sometimes have to warm up to humor but the crowd at the performance I attended was busy laughing within minutes of the show opening. I think that’s a testament to T.M. Sell’s writing in “Withering Heights.” It’s easily one of the funniest things I’ve watched in quite some time.

Brenan Grant

Oh, and can I just say that the introduction to Act II is brilliant. We’re talking a wildly hilarious bit of sketch comedy that could stand well all on its own. You won’t regret for one moment that the intermission is over, trust me on this!

“Withering Heights” runs through August 1. Show times are 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays with 2:00 PM matinées on Sunday July 25 and August 1. Additional evening shows are at 7:00 PM on July 28 and 29. Tickets are still available for all shows.

Performances are at the E.B. Foote Winery, 127B SW 153rd Street, Burien. The show includes hors d’oeuvres and several tastings of E.B. Foote’s award-winning wines, all for only $20! Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852 and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

The show is directed by J. Howard Boyd, with music by Nancy Warren, choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell. The cast includes Adrienne Grieco, Amber Rack, Martin J. Mackenzie, Eric Hartley, Doug Knoop, Brenan Grant, David Roby, Steve Schenk, Melissa Malloy, and Megan Krogstadt.

“Withering Heights” opens on Friday, July 16 and runs through August 1. Show times are 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays with 2:00 PM matinées on Sunday July 25 and August 1. Additional evening shows are at 7:00 PM on July 21, 28 and 29.

Performances will be at the E.B. Foote Winery, 127B SW 153rd St., Burien. The show includes hors d’oeuvres and several tastings of E.B. Foote’s award-winning wines, all for only $20! Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852 and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

Photographer Michael Brunk attended a recent rehearsal, and between fits of laughter, shot these photos. Click the images to advance through the slideshow.

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow