BTB Advertiser E. B. Foote Winery will be holding a special “Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease” event the weekend of March 18 – 21st.

Ten percent of all sales donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Rich Higginbotham, co-owner/winemaker who died of the disease in 2008 (read our coverage here).

Envelopes will also be available so visitors can make a donation directly to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To further honor Rich, his wife Sherrill Miller has made a special wine called “Remembrance” and she donates 50% of the purchase price to the Alzheimer’s Association for a particular research project being headed by Dr. Brian Kraemer. Remembrance is a 2007 vintage blend of 60% Cabernet, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with grapes from three different Columbia Valley vineyards, including Milbrandt, Graves and Arianses. When all of this wine is sold, more than $100,000 will be raised for research on Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and a new case of Alzheimer’s is diagnosed every 70 seconds. More than 5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s and that number continues to grow.

Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease, featuring wine tasting of six current releases including Remembrance along with snacks, will be held on:

• Thursday, March 18: 5-8 p.m.
• Friday, March 19: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Saturday, March 20: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday, March 21: Noon – 6 p.m.

The event has a $5 tasting fee, which is applied toward a purchase of a bottle of wine. Sherrill reminds customers to dress warmly, as E.B. Foote is a working (and cool…literally) winery.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd St. in Burien, and is open for tasting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Sherrill Miller at E.B. Foote Winery:

• Phone: 206-242-3852
• Email: winemaker@ebfootewinery.com
• Website: www.ebfootewinery.com
  

Story & Photos by Gina Bourdage

Community members and local business owners stepped up to raise $1,675 for the completion of Highline Medical Center’s new ER at the “Red Wine & Decadent Dessert” event Wednesday night, Feb. 10th.

This event was the brainchild of local business owners from Mark Restaurant, BTB Advertiser E.B Foote Winery and OptiMark Eye Care. This event allowed attendees to sample some of the great things our community has to offer as well as enjoy an evening among friends.

“We are glad to see such a great turn out, especially in this economy.” said Renee Klein, Executive Director, Highline Medical Center Foundation. “There is really something to be said about the energy in this room and seeing people enjoying themselves. This event speaks to the character and uniqueness of our community to see people come together, showing that this community is truly unlike any other.”

Amongst the warm candlelit setting of the Mark Restaurant, the evening highlighted a raffle drawing for a table full of generous community items including everything from baskets of gardening supplies, a romantic valentine inspired package and art work and more. Guests also were treated to a number of wines from the E.B. Foote Winery and a plate of indulgent sweet treats brought by Mark Restaurant and OptiMark Eye Care.

Originally built to serve 12,000 patients per year, Highline’s Main Campus ER now serves nearly 47,000 –– making it one of the busiest in the state. According to their website:

When a health emergency strikes, you need advanced care. And you need it fast, which is why a new ER is so critical. While we have made significant investments in expert staff and advanced technology over the years, there are simply too few treatment rooms for the number of patients. Ambulances are sometimes diverted to other hospitals farther away, because we simply don’t have enough capacity, according to www. lifedependsonit.org.

“…Highline Medical Center receives no tax support, i.e., we are not publicly funded. Yet, we are a not-for-profit hospital. The new Emergency Room and Patient Care Unit is a $60 million project, most of which is funded through bonds and reserves. But a $10 million capital campaign is needed to help complete the funding. The community has responded, and to date we have raised $5.4 million. But we still need more to reach our goal, and are so thankful for those individuals and businesses who have stepped up!” – Renee Klein

“We are truly grateful for the Mark Restaurant, OptiMark and EB Foote Winery. This was truly all their idea,” added Klein.

In addition to the three businesses that planned the event, many others donated time, products and/or gift certificates, and those businesses include:

• Market Place Salon (BTB Advertiser)
• Levich Agency
• Archery Bistro
• Bison Creek Pizza (BTB Advertiser)
• La Costa
• Purple Café’ & Wine Bar
• Artist Warren Knapp

Here are some photos shot at the event by Gina:

Click to View Gina Bourdage’s Photo Slideshow

Enjoy an early Valentine’s Day by drinking red wine and eating decadent desserts at Mark Restaurant this Wednesday, Feb. 10th from 7pm to 9pm, and all for a good cause – to raise money for Highline Medical Center’s new E.R..

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery, along with Mark Restaurant and Optimark have partnered to bring this first-time event to the area to help raise money for the new medical facility, which is set to open in April.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Red Wine & Decadent Desserts fundraiser for Highline Medical Center’s new ER.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 10th from 7pm to 9pm.

WHERE: Mark Restaurant, located at 918 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.

COST: Donations for the evening are $30 per person, $50 for couple for advance sales and $35/$60 at the door.

CONTACT: Call 206-242-3852 for reservations or more information.

100% of the proceeds will go to fund Highline’s New Emergency Room.

by Ralph Nichols

Local groups and projects that receive financial support from the Exchange Club of Highline can look forward to a good year despite the lingering recession.

The Exchange Club’s annual spaghetti dinner and auction at St. Bernadette’s School on Jan. 30 “was a huge success!” member Sherrill Miller of BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery told The B-Town Blog.

“Attendance was up over last year,” Miller said, with about 280 people attended the evening event. “Preliminary numbers indicate we made over $30,000” from the dinner with wine, a dessert auction, a raffle, and both silent and live auctions, which also “is more than last year!”

Miller added, “With our annual spaghetti dinner and auction, the funds generated are used to meet the ongoing needs of various community organizations.”

All money raised goes right back into the community, and “will be used to support more than 30 community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, area food banks, WestSide Baby, Ruth Dykeman Center, local schools, backpacks and school supplies for kids, Crisis Clinic, and many more.”

At their regular meeting on Feb. 3, Exchange Club members said they were pleased with the “festive appearance” of the dining hall, adding that “the food was fantastic” and everyone “had all they wanted to eat.” They reserved special praise for the students who waited on tables.

“Donations (for the auctions) in this down economy were up,” it was reported, and “people already are talking about donating” for next year’s event. The Exchange Club got 285 items for the silent auction and anothe4 38 for the live auction.

The Exchange Club is a national service organization. The Exchange Club of Highline was established in 1961 with the goal of bringing business and community leaders together to support the needs of the Highline community.

Members also volunteer their time to community projects such as working at the White Center Food Bank one Saturday each month.

More information on The Exchange Club of Highline is available at its website here.

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery wants our Readers to know that this is the final week for Breeder Theater’s “Snowbound,” which ends its run Sunday, Jan. 31st.

The only shows with tickets available are this Wednesday (Jan. 27th) and Thursday (Jan. 28th), so you’d better act fast (you can order online here).

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell and directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk, the story is set at a lodge in the Washington mountains (see our Review here and our Non-Review here). As winter snows block the passes stranding the guests, the local sheriff stops by with troubling news about an escaped convict:

• Could one of the guests be the suspected killer?
• Can any of them really be trusted?
• And just how many references to Alfred Hitchcock titles are in the show anyway?

“Snowbound” also features music by Nancy Warren. The stage manager is Andrew Pogue. The cast includes Andrew Smith, Laura Smith, Teresa Widner, Steve Scheide, Kelly Johnson, Scott Green, Martin J. McKenzie and Brenan Grant.

Here’s the schedule:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27 – TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
  
• Thursday Jan. 28 – TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
• Friday Jan. 29 – SOLD OUT!
• Saturday Jan. 30 – SOLD OUT!
• Sunday Jan. 31 – SOLD OUT!

Tickets are just $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote.

You can purchase them at the winery (127-B SW 153rd in Burien; 206-242-3852), at CorkyCellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or online here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• And Now, Our Actual Reviewer Reviews “Snowbound”
• Non-Reviewer Doesn’t Review Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery wants all our loving Readers to know about their upcoming “Red Wine and Chocolate” event, which begins Thursday, Feb. 4th.

Nothing says looooove much better than red wine and chocolates, doncha think?

Here are the tasty details:

WHAT: “Red Wine and Chocolate” at E. B. Foote Winery

WHEN: Dates and times are:

• Thursday, Feb. 4, 5 pm – 8 pm
• Friday, Feb. 5, 11 am – 8 pm
• Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 am – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 7, Noon – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, Noon – 6 pm

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127 SW 153rd St. lower level, Burien; (206) 242-3852; www.ebfootewinery.com

COST: $10 tasting fee, applied toward bottle purchase (No tasting fee for Wine Club members)

INFO: “Enjoy dozens of chocolates along with our current and newly released red wines.  We will be sampling red wines including the new releases. No reservations needed! Get a friend or two and drop in during these hours.”

Scheduled for release:

• 2006 Merlot
• 2007 Northwest Duet
• 2006 Perfect à Trois

More information available at E.B. Foote’s website here.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

by Gina Bourdage

Set in the familiar location of Snoqualmie Pass, an unlikely group of travelers find themselves trapped by the snow-closed passes in “Snowbound,” which opens Friday, Jan. 15th at BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery.

In the solitude of a quaint local inn, each guest is faced with conflicting personal struggles, not only with themselves but with the other guests as well. Learning that the local sheriff (a guy reminiscent of Barney Fife, played by Scott Green) is looking for an escaped convict only adds to their heightened sense of self preservation and sends each person seeking answers about who they can trust and what they are really looking for.

The cast of this Breeders Theater production showcases an array of experienced talent, all of whom holds your attention and keeps you guessing. Each actor brings a unique perspective to their role, including:

• Binky (played by Brenan Grant) the “emo” young man who relishes in his own misery.
• Lovely (played by Teresa Widner) whose out of control hormones seem to be too much for even her to handle at times let alone her trail of conquests.
• Ike (played by Martin J. Mackenzie) the innkeeper who had such a convincing of role of the friendly small town fellow whose trustworthy and friendly nature draws people to him.
• Glenda (played by Kelly Johnson), Binky’s mother, shows hints of a 50s sitcom housewife whose traditional values are challenged by raising a rebellious young man.
• Hank Thompson (played by Andrew Smith) the seemingly sincere, reliable and at times dryly sarcastic chef finds himself thrown into uncomfortable positions of his fellow traveler’s dilemmas.
• The young couple “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (played by Stephen Scheide and Laura Smith) who find themselves in a suspicious bind that even they are unsure of how to resolve.

Each guest is presented with the overwhelming concern of not only wanting to avoid an encounter with the escaped convict, they have to question; could the convict be among them? Distracted by only their own egotistical veils, each person reveals humorous and deeper struggles among each other.

While I found each performance to be well played, I struggled with the level of general air-headedness that most of the women and at times the men possessed. Being confused is one thing, but as the script rolled along the naivety prevailed leaving me to question the characters’ intended intelligence.

The lack of an actual set was at first distracting for me; however the actors/characters got and kept my attention quickly enough for me to get past it. The theater in the round, or more like “audience as bookends,” might be new for some viewers, but brings a complete perspective to the show and allows you to see each scene as if you were actually there.

All in all this TM Sell play directed by Michael Brunk was humorous, charming and engaging while bringing a level of the traditional whodunnit to an unsuspecting ending that I can only say was jarringly layered and thought-provoking.

I would recommend not missing this performance of “Snowbound,” especially for Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone fans, as the references are abundant…just be sure to bring a coat.

No, seriously – it can get a little chilly at E.B. Foote Winery this time of year.

Tickets are $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote.

You can purchase them at the winery (127-B SW 153rd in Burien; 206-242-3852), at CorkyCellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or online here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Non-Reviewer Doesn’t Review Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

by Mark Neuman

We had a regularly scheduled staff meeting at The B-Town Blog’s dorm room-like offices Wednesday morning, where a non-regularly scheduled question was asked.

“Hey Neuman. Can you do a review of the dress rehearsal of the comedy ‘Snowbound’ at E.B. Foote Winery (BTB Advertiser) tonight?”

“Well, uh, I’ve never actually reviewed an actual play before,” I stammered.

“Good,” said Blog Editor Scott Schaefer. “I’ll expect your review in the morning.”

Great. What do I do now?

Honesty is the best policy I reminded myself, so hours before I arrived at the winery, home of many Breeder Theater’s productions over the past several years, I “pre-wrote” my opening review paragraphs, which I now present, for the reader’s approval:

In the spirit of full disclosure it should be noted that, first of all, in addition to never having reviewed a play before, I met ‘Snowbound’s’ author, playwright T.M. Sell, almost a third of a century ago, while hanging out at the Highline Community College newsroom, where my pals would, late at night, put the school newspaper, The Thunderword, to bed, as they say in the biz.

Second, I intended the above paragraph to be as run-on-ish as it appears.

Third, I was lucky enough to have made the pleasant acquaintance of ‘Snowbound’s’ director, Michael Brunk, last year. He is a brilliant Photographer, and we work together with Schaefer on the blog.

Michael’s skill with the camera is amazing. He reaches the summit on his photographic mountain climbs so amazingly frequently that we blog staffers just stare skyward and declare: ‘Good Brunksmanship!’

And fourth, speaking of E.B. Foote Winery, I actually know THE E.B. Foote. The Footes were among my best friends growing up, going way back to first grade. Chris Foote and I visited his parents as they were just finishing building out their first winery, in South Park, also about a third of a century ago.

Okay. Full disclosure is out of the way.

At the winery Wednesday night, minutes before the house lights did what house lights do just before a play is about to start, I looked over and Thank Goodness there was my blog colleague Gina Bourdage, with her friend Jack, who reminds one of a quiet and calm Jack Black.

“I’ll be doing the review of the play tonight,” said Gina, confidently. Wisely, Schaefer had recalculated the assignment.

“And I’ll just tell the story of a Regular Joe such as myself who never sees theater,” I responded.

“Fine,” smiled Gina as she and Mr. Black moved on.

Relieved, to say the least, that Ms. Bourdage would handle the rough stuff, I felt free to muse over and note such things as the jar full of multicolored M&M’s at the table of hors d’oeuvres.

“M&M’s at the hors d’oeuvres table!” I said to myself, because, well, no one else was within earshot. “Clearly Sell’s and Brunk’s contracts demanded the confection. And just as clearly, the winery refused to be limited to just one color, Led Zeppelin style. Or was it The Who? Lynyrd Skynyrd? Well, anyway.”

Gina will provide details of the play under a different headline, but let me give you a thumbnail of “Snowbound”:

Dean Martin plays an airline pilot who has an affair with a beautiful flight attendant, played by Jacqueline Bisset…

Then…oops, sorry…those are my notes from the first film I reviewed, “Airport,” for the Lafayette Elementary School Gazette back in 1970.

Let’s see here. Lemme get a little better organized. Okay. Here we go:

“Snowbound” is a mirthful production that concerns a group of unique personalities stuck in a lodge near the pass, just off I-90, in a wicked snow storm. The roads are all closed for the foreseeable future. And wouldn’t you know it? An inmate has escaped from the state pen in Monroe. A killer, perhaps? Is he among those stuck in the lodge?

What will T.M Sell think of next? See the play (it starts this Friday, Jan. 15th), and find out. It’s terrific, especially for the $20 price, which includes wine tastings, hors d’ouevres and of course, a great and entertaining play chock full of lots of Sellishness and Brunksmanship (you can buy tickets online here).

Stage Manager, Andrew Pogue, when asked before the show what advice he gives to anyone about to stage manage their first play, said: “Don’t start out with ‘Annie.’ And use checklists. Lots and lots of checklists.”

When asked after the dress rehearsal by this reporter what advice he had for anyone wanting to write their first play, T.M. Sell said “Know what you want to write, and stick with it. The initial writing part is relatively easy. It’s the rewriting process that can be difficult.”

He then said “Now Neuman, please go away and don’t contact me again for another third of a century.” (Just kidding, folks.)

Nancy Warren arranged the music and sang beautifully. Word is that regular Breeder Theater goers complain if Nancy does not sing somewhere during a performance.

An audience member, who I will refer to as “Becky” because, well, her name IS Becky, said “Of the four Breeder Theater plays I’ve seen, ‘Snowbound’ is the funniest. I laughed repeatedly.”

Kelly Johnson, who plays Glenda, the mother of Binky, has been acting since childhood. She has advice for prospective actors about to read for their first part: “Go bravely,” said the auburn beauty.

Go, ready to enjoy yourself, to “Snowbound.” I heartily recommend it. It runs through January 31st.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

B-Town Blog Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery is having their Christmas Open House this weekend, beginning Thursday, Dec. 3rd and continuing through Sunday, Dec. 6th.

From their Footenotes:

While you sample six wines you can check out the new gift items in the gift shop.  We have some great stocking stuffers like coasters, candles, kitchen towels, wine-scented bath salts and shower gel, wine openers, wine stoppers, wine sayings, jewelry, wine-flavored pretzels, sugar cookie mix, wine cake mix, and more.  We also have larger items like banners with wine sayings, shirts, aprons, wine-themed tree ornaments, and….of course WINE!
Join us:

• Thursday, Dec. 3rd: 5 pm – 8 pm
• Friday, Dec. 4th: 11 am – 8 pm
• Saturday, Dec. 5th: 11 am – 6 pm
• Sunday, Dec. 6th: Noon – 6 pm

There is a $5 tasting fee (cash only) which is applied toward a bottle purchase. No tasting fee for Wine Club members or Volunteer Vintners.

Our tasting order will be:

• 2008 Chardonnay
• ETC.  (Bronze Medal winner)
• Rainy Day Red V (Syrah-Cabernet, Silver Medal winner)
• Founder’s Red (Cabernet Franc, Silver Medal winner)
• 2005 Merlot (Gold Medal winner)
• Remembrance  (89 Points from Wine Spectator)

Remembrance was made in tribute to owner/winemaker Rich Higginbotham, who passed away last year from Alzheimer’s.  The wine is a 2007 Cabernet-Merlot-Cab Franc blend.  It has already earned two Silver Medals, and Wine Spectator recently awarded it 89 points.   60% of the purchase price is donated to Alzheimer’s for research.  So far more than $24,000 has been donated!  Thank you for your support of Alzheimer’s research!

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien; Tel: 206-242-3852.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery is having a party! And not just any party, they’ve invited Wayne Miller and Friends over to the winery to entertain you and your friends with some jazz and wine tasting on Sunday, Nov. 22nd from 6pm – 8pm (doors open at 5:30) at this area’s only winery.

Wayne is the brother of E.B. Foote Winery’s owner/winemaker Sherrill Miller. A Des Moines native, Wayne plays guitar and keyboard and does the computer backup; Mike Conner plays sax and a drummer, Peter Boardway join him as his Friends.

Tickets are just $10 each and will include music, wine sampling and snacks. Advance purchase is recommended. Tickets are available by visiting or calling the winery or by clicking here. As this is a working winery, you may find it a little chilly, so dress warmly.

You can find E.B. Foote at 127-B SW 153rd St in the cellar of a retail strip mall in Burien. Call for reservations at 206-242-3852.

The winery is open for free wine tasting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5pm to 8pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Both white and red wines may be available for tasting and purchase in the winery gift shop.

Owner Sherrill Miller has a whole line up of events planned for the holiday season and beyond, so stay tuned to the BTB for further updates.

Here’s a taste of music from Wayne and Friends (website here; MySpace page here)

Now playing: The Wayne Show with Friends

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of Wayne and Friends by Michael Brunk when they played at E.B. Foote back in June:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Breeders Theater’s newest production is “Snowbound,” where the pass is closed (both ways), and the guy in the next room might be a killer.

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell, Directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk, with music by Nancy Warren, Breeders’ latest comedy premieres Friday, Jan. 15th at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Snowbound. The pass is closed. Both ways. And the guy in the next room might be a killer.

WHEN: Premieres Friday, Jan. 15th; Doors open Fri/Sat/Wed/Thur at 6:30 p.m./show starts at 7 p.m.; 1:30 p.m./2 p.m. Sundays:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27
• Thursday Jan. 28
• Friday Jan. 29
• Saturday Jan. 30
• Sunday Jan. 31

*Jan. 20 show benefits Highline College Foundation

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, 127-B SW 153rd St., Burien 206-242-3852

INFO: Written by T.M. Sell. Music by Nancy Warren. Directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk.

TICKETS: Just $20, including hors d’oeuvres and tasting of E.B. Foote wines.

Tickets available at E.B. Foote Winery (127-B SW 153rd St., Burien; 206-242-3852) and at CorkyCellars (22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines; 206-824-9462)

More information available at www.breederstheater.com.

Payment options: Cash, check, or credit card* (*Credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket in addition to the $20 ticket price.
OR 
Your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or a check.  
If your card is charged, you will be charged a $5 fee per ticket in addition to the $20 ticket price).

Tickets available:

• E.B. Foote Winery
  127-B SW 153rd St.
  Burien, WA
  206-242-3852
• Corky Cellars
  22511 Marine View Drive
  Des Moines, WA
  206-824-9462

Refund policy: No refunds. Exchanges on availability for the run.

by Gina Bourdage

Wizards, Witches, Demons, a Princess and a King. Lies, deceit, greed, ignorance and kidnapping…yes “The Last Magician” has it all. An important story which begs each viewer to consider in their own terms the potential consequences of the impact they have on situations they may have been too naïve to realize, begging the question:

What would you give up if you could save the world?

Taking a deep subject matter, adding a twist of humor with pop musical numbers interjected gives light to subject matter that could otherwise be taken as mundane.

The Breeders Theater’s production at TM Sell’s play at E.B. Foote Winery has found a way to reach out through a not only entertaining but skilled cast to tell a story of what is being called an “environmental parable about sacrifice and responsibility.”

Each cast member brings a quite unique perspective to the characters, including local references…they were actually able to seamlessly improv a Mariners score update for those of us who missed the game attending the matinee. The King, a strong and noble man (played by The B-Town Blog’s Photog Michael Brunk), the “silly” wizard (J Howard Boyd), a loveable yet wise centerpiece, even demons both friendly and intimidatingly strong to fight for a cause.

The cast also features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• Eric Hartley
• Steve Scheide
• Nathan Hicks
• Laura Smith
• Brenan Grant
• Doug Knoop
• Kelly Johnson
• Pamela Mohn

The show is directed and choreographed by Teresa Widner, with music by Nancy Warren and costumes by Melissa Sell.

If you’re of legal age, accompanying the performance you will receive six wine tastings courtesy E.B. Foote, along with hors d’oeuvres, all for $20.

Please note that there is a special discounted price of just $15 for the Wed., July 22nd and Thurs., July 23rd shows!

The setting for the play is in the charming, working (which means the temp is cool) wine cellar and performed in the round for the audience.

Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Sunday shows start at 2pm and the doors open at 1:30pm.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in downtown Burien.

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

For more information please visit www.breederstheater.com.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the cast in action:

Click to View Slideshow

We’d like to part the curtains and reveal our latest Advertiser: Breeders Theater’s “The Last Magician,” a musical comedy that starts this Friday, July 10th at E.B. Foote Winery (at a bargain price of just $20, which includes the play, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres).

This will be the company’s 16th production at the winery, following on the heels of its critically acclaimed winter show, “Prairie Heart.”

“Prairie Heart was reality, and this is fantasy,” says local playwright T.M. Sell. “It’s a parable, and it will be interesting to see what people take away from it.

“It’s an idea I’ve had for a long time, but I couldn’t write it until I really knew what it was about,” Sell says. “I hope it works in multiple levels.”

The show is directed and choreographed by Teresa Widner, with music by Nancy Warren and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• Eric Hartley
• J Howard Boyd
• Steve Scheide
• Nathan Hicks
• Laura Smith
• Brenan Grant
• Doug Knoop
• Kelly Johnson
• Michael Brunk
• Pamela Mohn

Show dates at E.B. Foote Winery are:

• July 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 24, 26

Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Sunday shows start at 2pm and the doors open at 1:30pm.

Performances will be at E.B. Foote Winery, which is located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in downtown Burien. The show includes tasting of E.B. Foote’s award-winning wines and hors d’oeuvres, still 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.

FEATURED PERFORMER:
J Howard Boyd

J Howard Boyd has been with Breeders Theater almost from the very start — in a staged reading of Malpygion/Piglet at Highline College in 2000.

Since then, he has appeared in Waiting for Merlot; Murder in the Newsroom; Piglet; Arctic Jack Klondike; both episodes of Justin Time, Space Commander; Love’s Painful Itch; Truffles Chantrelle and the Curse of the Singing Mummy; Viva Zavada!; Soap Bubble; Grape Expectations; Out of the Nest; Crazy/Naked; and Prairie Heart.

In addition, he directed Justin Time 2.0; Truffles Chantrelle; Rescues, Inc.; Viva Zavada!; and Grape Expectations.

Boyd first met BT founder T.M. Sell in playwriting class at Western Washington University.

“Howard was the guy everybody wanted to read their work,” Sell recalls. “He had game.”

Some years later, they reconnected through a mutual friend, and when BT was founded, TMS thought of Howard immediately.

“I’m a fourth generation entertainer. I first set foot on stage at the tender age of 5 years as Astayanax in The Trojan Women (and I’ve been dying on stage ever since),” Boyd says.

“God gave me talent and blessed me with a family that nurtured it. It is my duty to use that talent in service to God and community. Art, in all its many variations, is an essential component to human existence. I am not very good at creating art from nothing, but I hope I can play a small part in bringing art into the world as an interpreter through acting, directing and singing.”

Favorite roles over his long career include Allan in Play it Again, Sam; Otto von Bruno in Bullshot Crummond; Doc in Come Back, Little Sheba; Rev. Cannon Chasuble in The Importance of Being Ernest; and Maj. Gen. Stanley in Pirates of Penzance.

Favorite parts for BT have included the other Carbuncle from the Justin Time saga; Scottie the Pressman in Murder in the Newsroom; “the many roles I played in Crazy/Naked;” and Cacciatorre in Out of the Nest.

“And most recently, I am really having fun with Silly Sylvanus in The Last Magician,” Boyd says.

Boyd says the positive experience of working with BT keeps him coming back.

“I like TM and Nancy a lot. They are good people, and I like working with them. I am very impressed that they have been able to make a go of this crazy business we call ‘Show’ without losing their house, day jobs or marriage,” Boyd says.

“Nine years ago they decided to see if they could find a way to showcase TM’s plays, and nearly a decade later they, with the generous assistance of Sherrill at E.B. Foote Winery, have established a well-loved community event in beautiful Burien.”

Please note: to keep ticket prices at an affordable $20, Breeders Theater does not accept credit cards. You can reserve tickets with a credit card, but you will need to pay by cash or check at the door. If you have to charge your credit card, there is a $5 fee per ticket. Otherwise, they do not take credit cards at the door.

Remember, E.B. Foote is a working winery. In winter, that means dress warmly, but in summer, it means think layers. It can get pretty warm in the winery, as we have to turn the air conditioning off during the show (or you wouldn’t be able to hear the actors).

“We’re always thinking ahead, and we’re already thinking about the winter 2010 show. Tentatively, we’ll be doing Snowbound,” Sell said. “It’s a mystery set at a snowed-in inn in the Cascade Mountains. We’ve already had one read-through, and the cast had a lot of suggestions, so there’s some more work to be done.”

For more information on The Last Magician, including where and how to buy tickets, please click here.

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery will host the new T.M. Sell play “The Last Magician,” beginning Friday, July 10th, and here are highlights of a recent rehearsal in a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk, who also happens to be in the play:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Breeders Theater launches its 16th production with a new show, “The Last Magician,” which is a comedy with music.

“The Last Magician“ is an environmental parable about sacrifice and responsibility. Book and lyrics are by T.M. Sell with music by Nancy Warren. Teresa Widner directs, with costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• J Howard Boyd
• Eric Hartley
• Doug Knoop
• Steve Scheide
• Adrienne Grieco
• Michael Brunk
• Nathan Hicks
• Kelly Johnson
• Brenan Grant
• Pamela Mohn

Shows are July 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 at 7 p.m. and July 19 and 26 at 2 p.m.

All performances are at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien, 206-242-3852.

Tickets are available at the winery or at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, located at 22511 Marine View Drive, 206-824-9462.

More information is available online here, and tickets are just $20 and include wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets are available at E.B. Foote Winery (206-242-3852) or at Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462).

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery held a special “$10 Jazz Night” Sunday night (June 28th), and here are highlights in a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

E.B. Foote will hold its next $10 Jazz Night on Sunday, August 30th. Doors open at 5:30 pm, with live music from 6 pm – 8 pm.

And be sure to mark your calendars to see Michael Brunk himself in TM Sell’s “The Last Magician,” which begins its run at E.B. Foote on Friday, July 10th.

Also, be sure to visit E.B. Foote’s new Facebook page and become a “fan” here!

Tickets are now on sale for Breeders Theater’s next show, “The Last Magician,” which starts at 7pm Friday, July 10th and continues through July 26th at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd in Burien.

“The Last Magician” was written by prolific local playwright TM Sell, with music by Nancy Warren, direction by Teresa Widner, costumes by “Magical” Melissa Sell, and starring J Howard Boyd, Eric Hartley, Michael Brunk (yes, our Photog is in this!), Nathan Hicks, Kelly Johnson, Adrienne Grieco, Steve Scheide and Brenan Grant.

According to Mr. Sell, “It’s either an environmental parable or another bit of fun with music: You decide.”

Tickets are still just $20 and include hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings, and are available at E.B. Foote Winery or at CorkyCellars in Des Moines.

Showtimes are:

• Friday July 10 at 7pm
• Saturday July 11th at 7pm
• Wednesday July 15 at 7pm
• Friday July 17 at 7pm
• Saturday July 18 at 7pm
• Wednesday July 22 at 7pm
• Thursday July 23 at 7pm
• Friday July 24 at 7pm
• Saturday July 25 at 7pm
• And matinees on Sunday July 19 and Sunday July 26 at 2 p.m.

More information available at the Breeders Theater website.

Harald (Steve Scheide) dances with Ingrid (Adrienne Grieco) in Prairie Heart, which opens at E.B. Foote Winery Friday, Jan. 16th.

Ingrid (Adrienne Grieco) and Anders (Eric Hartley) dance in Prairie Heart.

Prairie Heart Director Alan Wilkie.

BTB Advertiser “Prairie Heart,” an original musical comedy by area Playwright TM Sell, opens Friday night, Jan. 16th at Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery, with doors opening at 6:30pm and the show starting at 7pm.

Tickets are just $20 per person and include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the play.

The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually.

Tickets are available at E.B. Foote Winery and at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines; phone: 206-824-9462. Visit the winery or call for tickets, 206-242-3852 or check out breederstheater.com.

Tickets can also be ordered online at E.B. Foote’s “Current Releases” page here, and Sherrill will call you to confirm a date and other details (credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket OR your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or check.)

The B-Town Blog is proud to welcome our latest Advertiser: Breeders Theater’s “Prairie Heart,” a new romantic comedy playing at E.B. Foote Winery starting Jan. 16th!

Love blooms unexpectedly in “Prairie Heart,” written by local Playwright T.M. Sell. The plot revolves around Scandinavian pioneers in North Dakota in the 1890s.

“That’s about the time my great-grandparents homesteaded there,” says Sell.  “The story is based on the kinds of stories their descendants used to talk about when I was a kid.  But I think it’s an immigrant experience that a lot of people will be able to relate to.”

The show is directed by Alan Wilkie with music by Nancy Warren, choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• Luke Amundson
• Eric Hartley
• Melissa Grinley
• J Howard Boyd
• Steve Scheide
• Melissa Malloy

Show dates are:

• Friday, Jan. 16
• Saturday, Jan. 17
• Sunday, Jan. 18
• Wednesday, Jan. 21
• Friday, Jan. 23
• Saturday, Jan. 24
• Sunday, Jan. 25
• Wednesday, Jan. 28
• Thursday, Jan. 29
• Friday, Jan. 30
• Saturday, Jan. 31
• Sunday, Feb. 1st

On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday performances, doors open at 6:30pm, and the show starts at 7pm.

Sunday shows start at 2pm and the doors open at 1:30pm.

The annual “Escape from Super Bowl Sunday” show is Sunday, Feb. 1 and starts at 1pm.

Proceeds from the Jan. 29 show go to benefit the Highline College Foundation.

Each performance includes tasting of E.B. Foote’s award winning wines and hors d’oeurves, still for only $20.

Tickets are $20 per person and include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the play. The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually.  Tickets are available at E.B. Foote Winery and at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines; phone: 206-824-9462. Visit the winery or call for tickets, 206-242-3852 or check out breederstheater.com.

Tickets can also be ordered online at E.B. Foote’s “Current Releases” page here, and Sherrill will call you to confirm a date and other details (credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket OR your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or check.)

For more information, contact T.M. Sell at breederstheater@aol.com.

And now, a quick Q & A with T.M. Sell:

Q: What is “Prairie Heart” about?
A: “Prairie Heart” is about Scandinavian immigrant farmers in North Dakota in the 1890s.  From what I’ve heard and read, life was a bit of challenge then, so it’s about what people went through when they got there.  It’s also about the difficulty of romantic life.

Q: How is this different or similar to your previous work?
A: It’s similar in that there’s romance; it’s different in that there’s no mutant aliens, no talking animals, no gods descending from heaven; just fairly normal folks trying to get through life.  But I hope it’s still funny.

Q: Why 1890s in North Dakota?
A: That’s where my great-grandparents homesteaded, near Minot.  We visited there this summer, and it was very interesting.   So parts of the story is based on their stories.

Q: Are there any parallels to modern-day life in the general Burien area?
A: At some level all of our ancestors were immigrants who went through some struggles to get there.  And at some level, most of us have struggled with romance and relationships and trying to figure how to say the right thing to the right person, while hoping that he or she doesn’t laugh in your face.

Q: Tell us about your cast.
A: Luke Amundson plays Ole, a bachelor farmer; he played Tom Monroe in Crazy/Naked last year.  Adrienne Grieco plays Ingrid, a young woman who ends up alone and basically penniless in his town.  Eric Hartley and Melissa Grinley play a more settled, successful farm couple; Steve Scheide plays another young man who is interested in Ingrid; J Howard Boyd plays a narrator who helps explain the story as it unfolds.   It’s a very strong cast and I feel very lucky to get work with them all once again.

Q: I understand you’re doing a benefit show – details please?
A: Jan. 29 is our annual fundraiser for an arts scholarship that we created at Highline College.  We’ve been able to help a dozen students with tuition assistance in the eight years we’ve been doing the scholarship.

Q: Let’s talk about the important stuff now – the wine – what’s on tap for this production? And do the cast members get to imbibe during the show?
A: Sherrill will be tasting six wines, featuring her reds, of course.  I can’t speak for how medicated the cast might be for a show, but they do tend to take their work very seriously.

Q: As 2009 begins, do you have any predictions for Readers of the B-Town Blog?
A: More crazy weather; more timely local news; perhaps more awareness that we really do live in a very nice part of town.

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