Photo montage by Michael Holden http://michaelholden.com

The last time there was any fire on the lot where the Burien Interim Art Space was once located was when candles flickered inside pumpkins in Nov., 2009 – but get ready to burn again B-Town, as the largest Burning Man Community outside of San Francisco will be bringing ‘SeaCompression: Mocktoberfest‘ to that space Oct. 15th!

This will be the group’s 10th annual ‘decompression party,’ and according to a press release, they’ll be “stuffing two acres of downtown Burien with Fire, Music and Art.”

“We invite you to come celebrate with two full acres of theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of,” reads the release. “Imagine one city block of Burning Man being transported – streets and all – to downtown Burien!

SeaCompression is a 21 and over event, because, along with all the fire, performers and grilled cheese(!), there will be five highly decorated theme bars serving a wide range of tasty adult concoctions.

There will also be several local food vendors on site, as well as a variety of special treats throughout the evening.

SeaCompression will have two different sound stages performing a wide variety of musical acts, including a DJ-driven dance hall, with 10 different DJs spinning dance tunes though the night. There is also a performance stage with an amazing lineup of fire spinners, musical acts and other performances.

SeaCompression is an annual fundraising festival for Ignition Northwest, a non-profit, volunteer driven, 501(c)3 community arts board that funds a variety of annual art and educational programs.

Tickets are pre-sale $25 (buy them online here), and $40 at the door.

You can bet your buddies at The B-Town Blog will be there, both covering this event as well as enjoying it!

Here are the details:

WHAT: ‘Seacompression: Mocktoberfest” Celebration with “theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of…”

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15th starting at 6 p.m.

WHERE: The empty lot once occupied by B/ IAS, located at 500 SW 151st Street just north of Burien Town Square.

TICKETS: Tickets are pre-sale $25 / $40 at the door.

INFO: For more info, go to Seacompression.org.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239540092735597

VIDEOS: Here are some videos from previous SeaCompressions:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s even more:

SeaCompression typically features a wide range of art that includes large scale kinetic sculptures, art cars and buses, fire art, and sound & light shows. You might see random oddities such as a 30′ neon rainbow, a remote controlled blimp, a 12′ tall bundle of grapes, or a hydrodynamic science project that mixes fire and water in a 6′ whirlpool.

SeaCompression has been running annually since 2002. It takes place in Autumn, typically in late October or early November. It has been held at the Fremont UnConventional Center, the Ballard Segway, Consolidated Works, and Sand Point Magnusson Park. Ignition Northwest and its event producers have worked closely with City of Seattle Fire Marshals, Parks Department staff, and private property owners, and a professional security team to ensure that our events are managed responsibly with minimal impact on the surrounding community.

SeaCompression is sponsored by Ignition Northwest and is produced by an all-volunteer staff. Proceeds help fund large scale public art projects, an annual scholarship to Pratt art school and other educational projects throughout the year.

The Hi-Liners brings Chicago to Burien. Rehearsals are in full swing at the Annex for the September production. Here the Reporters are perfecting "We Both Reached for the Gun" from act one. Photo: Tina Giesbers

Burien’s Hi-Liners will be presenting ‘Chicago, the Musical’ starting Sept. 10th and continuing through Sept. 25th at the Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S. 152nd Street.

“CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen,” reads a press release – click here for more info.

If you haven’t seen the Oscar-winning movie in a while, or have yet to see the stage version, here’s a synopsis:

In the mid-’20s, Roxie Hart is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos. Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley, a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron “Mama” Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn, Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie’s story — or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxie’s story — all over the press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines.

We’re huge fans of the Hi-Liners, as we’ve seen them perform both on stage (read a review here) and at the Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund Donor’s Party, where they rocked the house by acting as screaming fans as guests entered on a red carpet (some say this was the best party that ‘hood has ever seen). This is a group chock full of youthful talent and energy, so we’re sure this is going to be an excellent production.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien’s Hi-Liner’s ‘Chicago, the Musical’

WHEN: Showtimes are:

• Saturdays: September 10, 17, 24 at 7:30
• Sundays: September 11, 18, 25 at 1:30

WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S. 152nd Street (next to Highline High School).

COST: Tickets are $15-$25, and group rates are available.

INFO: More info at www.hi-liners.org or by calling 206-617-2152.

VIDEOS: Please note that these are NOT scenes from this specific Hi-Liner production, but are great scenes from other versions and/or the film to give you an idea of the kind of music you might hear:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Burien’s Hi-Liners will be presenting ‘Chicago, the Musical’ starting Sept. 10th and continuing through Sept. 25th at the Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S. 152nd Street.

Tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 1st, so mark your calendar to help support this local group and get yourself (and your family/friends) in to what will surely be a great show – click here for more info.

“CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen,” reads a press release.

If you haven’t seen the Oscar-winning movie in a while, or have yet to see the stage version, here’s a synopsis:

In the mid-’20s, Roxie Hart is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos. Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley, a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron “Mama” Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn, Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie’s story — or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxie’s story — all over the press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines.

We’re huge fans of the Hi-Liners, as we’ve seen them perform both on stage (read a review here) and at the Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund Donor’s Party, where they rocked the house by acting as screaming fans as guests entered on a red carpet (some say this was the best party that ‘hood has ever seen). This is a group chock full of youthful talent and energy, so we’re sure this is going to be an excellent production.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien’s Hi-Liner’s ‘Chicago, the Musical’

WHEN: Showtimes are:

• Saturdays: September 10, 17, 24 at 7:30
• Sundays: September 11, 18, 25 at 1:30

WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S. 152nd Street (next to Highline High School).

COST: Tickets are $15-$25, and group rates are available.

INFO: More info at www.hi-liners.org or by calling 206-617-2152.

VIDEOS: Please note that these are NOT scenes from this specific Hi-Liner production, but are great scenes from other versions and/or the film to give you an idea of the kind of music you might hear:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

On June 10, Southern Heights Elementary held their student performance assembly. It was the usual sort of school assembly. Lots of music and singing. Some gymnastics. Even a magic trick or two. That wasn’t the special part.

The thing that made this assembly unique was at the end, when a team of volunteers from the Gene Juarez Academy in Federal Way stepped forward and pulled out their scissors.

Organized by Southern Heights PE teacher Deborah Briscoe, the culmination of the day’s assembly was a donation of hair to the Locks of Love organization. Participating was a group of over 15 students, faculty and family members.

Locks of Love is a non-profit group that provides hair pieces to children in the United States and Canada that have suffered hair loss due to a medical condition. Donated hair must be in good condition and at least ten inches in length.

At Thursday’s event the team from Gene Juarez assisted in cutting off the donated hair, and then spent the afternoon providing free haircuts for each of the donors.

This was the first time Deborah herself had donated hair to Locks of Love, but inspired by the memory of her mother who lost her battle with cancer two and a half years ago, she hopes to make this an annual event at Southern Heights Elementary.

Photographer Michael Brunk was at the event and put together the following slideshow set to music by the Southern Heights Elementary chorus. Be sure to check your volume before playing the slideshow!

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Burien Little Theatre will be performing a free reading of their latest production, “Graceland,” at 2pm on Saturday, May 22nd at BTB Advertiser Burien Nursing & Rehab. The performance is for the patients and residents but is also open to the public.

Prior to the show, Burien Deputy Mayor Rose Clark will be visiting with patients and answering questions. Clark will be meeting with residents and visitors at 1pm in the dining room, and the show is set to begin at 2pm at Burien Nursing & Rehab, located at 1031 SW 130th St.

“Graceland” is a short comedy written by Ellen Byron about two Elvis fanatics vying to be the first person into Elvis’ famous home when it opened to the public in 1982.

Deputy Mayor Rose Clark was first elected to the Burien City Council in November 1999 and has lived in the Burien area for more than four decades. In 2010 she was elected by her fellow Councilmembers to serve her seventh term as Deputy Mayor in 2010. Clark currently participates in Burien Wellness, promoting education, health and wellness in the Burien community.

And according to their website:

Burien Nursing & Rehabilitation is the premier skilled nursing facility in Burien. We provide compassionate and personal 24-hour skilled care and rehabilitation services in a comfortable and friendly environment.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by over 51,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Highlights will include the B-Town Bike Fair, Discover Burien’s Father’s Day Car Show, lots of live music, hands-on booths and games, an all-ages inflatable village, the Rat City Rummage Sale and much more.

And even though the event is moving to Town Square, there will still be a skateboard competition, which is always a huge hit. In addition, there will also be some on-site parkour by notable local athletes – look for them jumping around Town Square’s obstacles.

Musical acts will include Rat City Brass and Underground Swing, Camino Cadillac and the Black Crabs, a Capella singing by Abrace and The Friends Trio, and numerous local performers such as Momentum Dancers, New City Dancers and the Highline Community Symphonic Band.

Visitors can interact by bringing drums and scarves and joining in a drumming and dancing party hosted by Abyssinian Dance Studio to close the event on Sunday. Annunaki Project will be back this year with their incredible trapeze rig on Saturday and on Sunday the Main Stage will be graced with MC Manuela Horn, aka Burien’s own “Yodeling Dominatrix” (see our interview with her here).

As usual, The B-Town Blog will be a sponsor, and we’ll be “blogging live” the entire weekend from our tent.

• Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Sunday, June 20, 2010 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Burien Town Square is located at SW 152nd St & SW 5th Ave in downtown Burien.

We’ll be posting sneak peeks of acts that will appear at the fest, so be sure to check back often. For starters, here’s a video of the Annunaki Project’s Cabiri troupe:

Here’s more info from a press release; more details available at this website:

Burien’s Strawberry Festival Goes Wild!

You are invited to the 2010 Burien Wild Strawberry Festival!  Celebrate art and greenability at our new location in Town Square Park, 152nd SW and 5th!  The festival will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians and performance troupes, the B-Town Bike Fair, Discover Burien’s Fathers Day Car Show, art and green demo’s, hands on booths and games, an amazing inflatable village for all ages, Rat City Rummage and more!

Come to the Main Stage and the Performer Plazarama to catch exciting acts such as jazz by Rat City Brass and Underground Swing, Rock with Camino Cadillac and the Black Crabs, or listen to amazing accapella by Abrace and The Friends Trio.  And you don’t want to miss our talented local performers such as Momentum Dancers, New City Dancers and the Highline Community Symphonic Band (maybe in costume)!  Bring your drums and scarves and join in a drumming and dancing party hosted by Abyssinian Dance Studio to close the event on Sunday!

Annunaki Project will be back this year with their incredible trapeze rig on Saturday and on Sunday the Main Stage will be graced with MC Manuela Horn, aka the Yodeling Dominatrix (come and see what she will be wearing for our event!!). Bring your camera and take a picture with Manuela at her booth near the stage!  Also we will continue the tradition of the skateboard competition with ramps at the new site on Saturday! And speaking of amazing physical action—watch the schedule for the parkour performances and watch athletes jump and climb obstacles with amazing grace!

We have lots of great activities for the kids! On Saturday bring your bike to the B-Town Bike Fair on 152nd.  Participate in a bike rodeo, bike scavenger hunt, helmet fitting and more! A $5 wristband will give you a full day of play in the inflatable village…for big kids too! Make retro hats and glasses at the Art Garage, make chalk art, play games at many of the vendor booths, and play instruments at the Musical Petting Zoo. And don’t miss the fun performers just for kids: Central Services presents The Board of Education and Bryan Vogan on the fest grounds and Jamberry Story Time and Magician Jeff Evans in the Burien Library!

We are wild and green! Learn how to prune a tree, green clean your home, compost and recycle! Pick up some native wild strawberries or Burien Press coffee grounds for your garden from the Sustainable Burien booth.

And of course, lots of great shopping, festival foods and shortcake too! This year Rat City Rummage will bring some young urban crafters and vintage booths along with demos and hands on experiences. Bring down those antique items you always wanted to know more about and have them looked at at the Burien Arts Vintage Booth. Also lots of great arts and craft booths, specialty foods and import vendors!

Chris Ballew is better known as the lead singer of the Seattle-based rock and roll band, The Presidents of the United States of America; however, on Friday, May 21st at 10:30am he will perform for FREE at the Burien Library as his kid-friendly alter-ego “Caspar Babypants.”

This group includes three singers, electric piano, electric guitar and percussion, and the show will feature simple songs families can sing together to reinforce many concepts related to Early Literacy.

Target ages are 2 – 5 with adult.

Please keep in mind though that space is limited, so this will be first come, first seated show.

Here are the full details:

WHAT: Caspar Babypants More Please! FREE show Presented by Chris Ballew and his Band. Ages 2 to 5 with adult.

WHEN: Friday, May 21st at 10:30am.

WHERE: New Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd Street, Burien, 98166; 206-243-3490 .

INFO: From the KCLS website:

Chris Ballew is better known as the lead singer of the Seattle based rock and roll band, The Presidents of the United States of America.

This group includes three singers, electric piano, electric guitar and percussion.

The show will feature simple songs families can sing together to reinforce many concepts related to Early Literacy.

Space is limited, first come, first seated.

For more info on Caspar Babypants, check out their website here.

Here are some videos of Chris/Caspar in action:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Burien’s Hi-Liners “High School Musical 2 On Stage!” wraps up this weekend, with performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Renton Carco Theater.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Hi-Liners’ “High School Musical 2 On Stage!”

WHEN: Final performances:

• Friday April 30~ 7:30pm
• Saturday May 1~ 7:30pm
• Sunday May 2~ 1:30pm

WHERE: All performances will be held at the Renton Carco Theater, 1717 SE Maple Valley Highway in Renton.

COST: Tickets are $15.00 for all seats. All seats are reserved.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online.

INFO: From their website:

What time is it? Summer time! School’s out—and the Wildcats are back for an all new adventure. Join Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the rest of the East High gang as they dive into the enchanted world of Lava Springs Country Club and put their talent to the ultimate test!

• Book by David Simpatico
• Songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil and David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg and Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn and Jamie Houston and Andy Dodd and Adam Watts.

Based on the Disney Channel Original Movie written by Peter Barsocchini. ( Two Acts ~ Rated G )

In 1966 Mr. William A Moeller, a teacher in the Highline School District in Burien, Washington founded a high school summer program he called The Hi-Liners. This group quickly evolved from a summer group into a year ’round district wide performing group. The Hi-Liners performed extensively in the Western United States in the early 1970′s and was widely respected and sought after for performances such as the 737 rollout ceremony, National Governors Conference, NEA National Convention and many other notable events. The group even received very favorable recognition in the prestigious New Yorker Magazine and was compared to other more nationally known groups such as “Up with People”.

Each year we have simple goals: As an organization to learn something new and apply that learning to make our program better, to open at least one young mind to the magic of live musical theater and the unique talents they each possess.

It is a journey of creativity we hope you will all join us on that journey.