<strong><img src=”http://b-townblog.com/wp-content/images/BLTmidsum_thumb.jpg” alt=”" width=”150″ height=”150″ />Although the high school setting may be different than what you remember from the William Shakespeare classic, the story remains the same; and once the 1950s music kicks in, Burien Little Theatre’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” really rocks. </strong>

Burien Little Theatre has teamed up with local business The Jungle Gym to offer a “Kids Night Out” on Friday, March 5th so parents can easily attend a performance of “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”

“Midsummer” is Arne Zaslove’s 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which continues at BLT through Sunday, March 21st (read our previous coverage here).

According to a press release:

Want a night at the theater and can’t find a babysitter? Problem solved! The Jungle Gym has teamed up with Burien Little Theatre to offer a “Kids Night Out” in conjunction with the theater’s performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream on Friday, March 5.

On March 5 before the show drop the kids off for 3 hours of free play, games, snacks and a movie! The Jungle Gym is located at 191 S.W. 152nd Alley, Burien, WA 98166 and the cost is $25 per child from 7:45-11:00 p.m. This place is full of fun and exciting things for kids ages 3 and up to do, like the zip line, tumble track trampoline with pit, beams, bars and much more!  Reservations are required, and kids must be potty-trained to attend.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set in a gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young couples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” A live band and rockin’ tunes make this a treat for all ages!

Show dates & times:

• Feb. 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• Feb. 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.  Sunday Matinee

For $25 per child parents get a three-hour break so they can have a date night to see a great, funny play – to reserve a space at The Jungle Gym on the evening of March 5, call 206-248-3547.

For tickets to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream, go to wwww.burienlittletheatre.com or call (206) 242-5180.

Burien Little Theatre’s classic, 50s-themed rockin’ version of Arne Zaslove’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” continues at the Burien Community Center this weekend, with shows Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets are $7-$20 online (click here to order) and $17-$20 at the box office, with the $10 student ticket price in effect until the end of the month.

The show runs through Sunday, March 21st.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video promo that shows off the production – check out the costumes, slicked back hair and big sideburns:

Read our previous coverage here.

Burien’s St. Francis of Assisi School’s 7th and 8th grade students are presenting “The Pied Piper” musical at the Highline Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26th and Feb. 27th at 7pm.

According to the school’s website, “The Pied Piper” is:

“…the story of a town infested by rats. When the Piper comes to town and offers to get rid of the rats for a nominal fee, the villagers gladly agree.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: St. Francis of Assisi’s 7th & 8th grade students production of “The Pied Piper” musical.

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 26th and Saturday, Feb. 27th at 7pm.

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

TICKETS: Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children, and are on pre-sale at the school, which is located at 15216 21st Avenue SW (206-243-5690); or you can download an Order Form here (PDF file).

INFO: From the school’s website:

PIED PIPER ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

This year, the annual play of St. Francis of Assisi School is “The Pied Piper”. The 7th and 8th grade students and their teachers have been enthusiastically at work to rehearse for this performance.

It is the story of a town infested by rats. When the Piper comes to town and offers to get rid of the rats for a nominal fee, the villagers gladly agree. We invite you to come see for yourself what happens when the villagers refuse to pay the Piper for his service.

This wonderful play will be held at the Highline Performing Art Center in Burien on Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 7:00PM.

Tickets are on pre‐sale at the school. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children.

Thank you for your support of our school!

We are having a contest between all of the classes to see who can sell the most tickets to our school musical, “The Pied Piper”, on February 26th & 27th. Please help them to spread the word and make this the most successful musical ever!

Although the high school setting may be different than what you remember from the William Shakespeare classic, the story remains the same; and once the 1950s music kicks in, Burien Little Theatre’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” really rocks.

“Midsummer” kicks off spring with the right note in Burien Little Theatre’s 2009-2010 “escape” themed season. The classic romantic Shakespeare comedy is retold in a musical adapted by renowned Seattle actor/director Arne Zaslove, and featuring 1950s rock and roll.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens at Burien Little Theatre on Friday, Feb. 12th, and will run through March 21st. Tickets are $7-$20 online and $17-$20 at the box office.

During the month of February all student tickets are available for $10, thanks to a grant from the City of Burien (read our previous coverage here).

In addition, Burien Little Theatre will be hosting free bonus readings of Donald Margulies’ Dinner with Friends, a bittersweet comedy about marriage, during the run.

A performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call the ticket office at 206-242-5180.

The Story and Production
Arne Zaslove opens his 1950s rock and roll adaptation of the Bard’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the gymnasium of Athens High School, on graduation day, 1957. This comedy of magic potions, misled lovers and mistaken identities works well in Zaslove’s high school setting, complete with toe-tapping, finger-snapping numbers from the 1950s that include “Don’t Be Cruel,” “I Will Follow Him,” and Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” among others.

Updated in 2008, Zasloves’ seamless adaptation from Shakespeare’s timeless setting to the more contemporary 1950s allows the audience to experience the characters in familiar roles. In Zaslove’s version, Theseus is the mature high school principal and the lovely Hippolyta is the friendly and well liked drama/gym teacher. Lysander, the hero, is described as “Mister Popularity,” and Hermia is cute, the quintessential homecoming queen. There’s also a knockout, a charmer, a clown: all characters familiar in every high school yearbook. The score, sung by the characters, allows them to tell the story in a contemporary, upbeat way, in a language the audience can relate to – rock ’n’ roll.

Since its premiere in 1968 when Zaslove was teaching theater classes at the University of Washington, this musical version of A Midsummer’s Night Dream has offered audiences a unique, current staging of one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. And, as Lysander so aptly states in the play, while “the course of true love never did run smooth,” in this adaptation it never sounded better!

The Cast
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is directed by Maggie Larrick and features the diverse acting talents of:

• Claire Fernandez (Starveling/Fairy Mustardseed)
• Toni Guidry (Helena)
• Kris Hambrick (Puck)
• Russ Kay (Peter Quince/Egeus)
• John Mallory (Demetrius)
• Kate Moyer (Titania)
• Jennifer Pierce (Snug the Joiner/Fairy Peasblossom)
• Lynne Randall (Hermia)
• Kevin Schilling (Francis Flute)
• Caleb Slavens (Lysander)
• Sara Sorden (Snout/Fairy Cobweb)
• Don Speirs (Nick Bottom)
• James “Tuq” Tucker (Theseus)
• Brad Walker (Oberon)
• Laura York (Hippolyta)

Free readings of Dinner with Friends
During the run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Burien Little Theater will also host free Saturday afternoon readings of Dinner with Friends, a bittersweet comedy about marriage, fidelity, infidelity and friendship written by Donald Margulies. Please join Burien Little Theatre at 2 pm on the following Saturdays to enjoy this unique opportunity:

• Feb. 20
• March 6
• March 20

About Burien Little Theatre
Exciting live theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas.

Burien Little Theatre is committed to being an entertainment leader by producing intriguing professional shows. The company’s mission is to treat audiences to productions of the highest artistic integrity that excite, engage and involve both the local and expanding theatrical communities in the Puget Sound region.

BLT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers.

Schedule for A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m. Friday – Opening Night – Let’s HOP!
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee - $7 Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee – It’s dawn and the dream is over – although you are still humming the tunes!

Theater Location:

The Theater at the Burien Community Center Building
425 SW 144th Street
Burien, WA 98166-1545
(206) 242-5180

The Community Center is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 146th Street in Burien.
Directions available at www.burienlittletheatre.com.

Ticket Prices & Packages:

ONLINE TICKET PRICES: 
Purchase online and save!

• General Senior/Student
First Weekend:        $16.00        $13.00
Middle Weekends:        $18.00        $15.00
Last Weekend:        $20.00        $17.00
• TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE: 

                General        Senior/Student 
All Shows:            $20.00        $17.00
• Special Discount: During the month of February, Student Tickets are just $10 (City of Burien Grant)
• NEW THIS SEASON: SEVEN DOLLAR SUNDAY 
The first Sunday Matinee of every run is just $7.00!
• PLAY with YOUR FOOD DINNER PACKAGE: This package includes a two-course meal at Mark Restaurant & Bar plus a ticket to the show; cost is $35 per person.

To Purchase Tickets:

• Show tickets may be purchased online at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180.
• Fabulous Four-Packs are available for the 2009-2010 Season!

BTB Advertiser West Seattle Montessori School and Academy will be presenting the play “Mulan” this Thursday, Feb. 4th, and Friday, Feb. 5th at West Seattle High School, at 7pm both nights.

Starring in the play will be the schools’ lower and upper elementary students.

Directing is WSM’s faculty member Mary Springer, local founder and artistic director of Twelfth Night Productions.

The tale of Mulan contains universal themes – that often the individual must sacrifice for the greater good, and that the path of personal discovery lies in that sacrifice.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

Since 1985, West Seattle Montessori School has been an integral part of the West Seattle Community. Offering preschool through 8th grade education, WSMS prides itself on fostering independence and intellectual curiosity, stimulating personal growth, and encouraging innovation and a love of learning.

The school and academy are now enrolling for the 2010 – 2011 academic school year.

For more information, please contact the main office at (206) 935-0427, or visit their website here: www.WestSeattleMontessori.com.

Play location:

West Seattle High School
California Avenue SW and SW Stevens Street, in West Seattle

Ticket information: www.westseattlemontessori.com/updates/mulan

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” 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!]

During the month of February, all students are eligible for reduced ticket prices of just $10 for Burien Little Theatre’s production of Arne Zaslove’s 1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Recently the City of Burien and the Arts Commission awarded Burien Little Theatre a grant, which will be used to reduce student ticket prices during the first three weeks of BLT’s latest show. Students can expect to pay just $10 per ticket on the weekends of Feb. 12-14; Feb.19- 21; and Feb. 26-28 (in March student ticket prices go back up to $17 at the door.)

Last fall, BLT applied for and received a 2010 Arts & Culture grant worth $20,000 from the City of Burien.

From the city’s website:

“The purpose of the City’s Arts and Culture Fund is to support both arts and heritage organizations as well as artists who will enhance cultural opportunities for City residents while also attracting regional artists and audiences that can contribute to Burien’s identity as an arts and culture-oriented City.”

Burien Little Theatre applied for funding for its production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This musical comedy with a live rock n’ roll band and 22 fun songs from the 50s is blast for the whole family. No student should miss this very accessible version of a classic romantic comedy!

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set in a 1950s gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young couples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Botched love spells, hilarious characters and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll make this show a treat for young and old, those in love and those between love.

Midsummer opens Feb. 12th and runs through March 21st. Shows are Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Show Dates & Times:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m.     Friday
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m.     Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee - Seven Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.          Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.          Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.          Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.       Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee

Email or call for a reservation at tickets@burienlittletheatre.org, or via phone at (206) 242-5180.

For more information about BLT please visit www.burienlittletheatre.com.

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”

Just in Time for Valentine’s Day fun, and priced at an affordable $14 (for two!), Burien Little Theatre presents Arne Zaslove’s 1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll musical romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Here’s more info from a press release:

This Valentine’s Day do something exciting for your sweetheart and take your honey to a matinee at the Burien Little Theatre for just $14. That’s right, Feb. 14, St. Valentine’s Day, is “Seven Dollar Sunday” at BLT! That means all tickets are just $7 on Feb. 14: Better live theater at a low low price. Add dinner after the show with The Mark Restaurant and Bar’s dinner and a show package, and you have a complete Valentine’s Day event for two for just $54. Valentine’s Day simply can’t get any sweeter. So get out your poodle skirt, find your rotary phone, call up your sweetheart and make a date for Feb. 14th. But hurry, Seven Dollar Sunday is always a sellout and when it falls on St. Valentine’s Day, tickets will be gone before you can eat a box of chocolates.

Directed by Burien Little Theatre’s own Maggie Larrick, this Midsummer will have you singing along with star-crossed lovers during this romantic comedy from Feb. 12 through Mar. 21.

“It’s the most approachable of Shakespeare’s shows,” said Larrick. “And the musical numbers in each scene really tell the story.”

The play is set in a 1950s gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young copuples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Botched love spells, hilarious characters and 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll make this show a treat for young and old, those in love and those between love.

Midsummer opens February 12 and runs through March 21. Shows are Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Show Dates & Times:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m.    Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee - Seven Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.          Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.          Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.          Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.       Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee

Tickets are available online at www.burienlittletheatre.com, by email at tickets@burienlittletheatre.org or by phone at (206) 242-5180.

For more information about BLT, please visit www.burienlittletheatre.com.

Burien Little Theatre is holding open auditions this Monday, Jan. 18th for its upcoming readings of “Dinner with Friends,” a bittersweet comedy about marriage, fidelity, infidelity and friendship written by Donald Margulies.

Male and female actors are sought who can play characters in their early 40s, but keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to be these ages to read the roles.

The time commitment is minimal as three to four rehearsals are planned, and there will three public readings.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Open auditions for Burien Little Theatre’s “Dinner with Friends” readings

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 18th, from 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: Burien Little Theatre, located at the Burien Community Center, located at the intersection of SW 146th St. and 4th Ave SW in Burien

CONTACT: Maggie Larrick, Marketing – email: maggielarrick@earthlink.net; phone: 206-246-0088

INFO: From a press release:

Auditions for readings of Dinner with Friends at Burien Little Theatre

Burien Little Theatre invites actors to audition for readings of “Dinner with Friends,” a bittersweet comedy about marriage, fidelity, infidelity and friendship written by Donald Margulies. Male and female actors are sought who can play characters in their early 40s. You don’t have to be these ages to read the roles. The time commitment is minimal as three to four rehearsals are planned, and there will three public readings.

The readings will be at Burien Little Theatre: Saturdays Feb. 20 and March 6 and 20 at 2 p.m., which are the second, fourth and sixth Saturdays of Burien Little Theatre’s winter production of Arne Zaslove’s 1950s rock & roll musical version of the comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Auditions will consist of cold reading from the script Monday, Jan. 18th, from 7pm to 10pm.

Make audition appointment or just show up. For appointment, contact readings@burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180.

Please also bring resume and headshot if available.

Auditions will be in the conference room at the Burien Community Center, located at the intersection of S.W. 146th St. and 4th Ave. S.W. in Burien. For directions, go to www.burienlittletheatre.com.

Character List:

• Karen – Early 40s. Married to Gabe
• Gabe – Early 40s. Married to Karen
• Beth – Early 40s. Married to Tom
• Tom – Early 40s. Married to Beth

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”

Our good friends at Burien Little Theatre have sent us this video promo for their campy, kitschy production of “Christmas With The Crawfords,” which opened Friday, Nov. 27th, and continues through Dec. 20th (see the full schedule here, including how to buy tickets online).

If you don’t know already, the synopsis of “Christmas With The Crawfords” is:

Featuring Hollywood’s most famous dysfunctional family, this musical comedy pays tribute to and parodies Tinseltown’s “Golden Age.”

To revive her ailing career, Joan Crawford arranges a live radio broadcast in her home on Christmas Eve, 1944, but uninvited celebrity guests hog the spotlight to sing their Holiday favorites.

A surprise hit since 1992.

Here’s the video:

A few months ago, The B-Town Blog posted a request from the Burien Little Theatre for a baby grand piano to be used on stage for “Christmas with the Crawfords,” the campy new musical comedy that opens this Friday, Nov. 27th.

BLT had four people kindly offer their baby grand, and thanks to BTB Reader Kathy Reed, on Monday, Nov. 23rd, her piano was delivered. BLT of course paid for professionals to move the piano in and back out, and BLT will have the piano tuned now that it is in the theater space and again when the piano gives up the stage and returns home.

“This is the first time in BLT’s 29 seasons that a baby grand has graced the stage,” said Eric Dickman, Artistic Director. “We are all very excited.”

Ann Sager, the music director for “Christmas with the Crawfords,” who will play the piano during the run of the show says, “Since the first day of rehearsal I have been looking forward to sitting down at the baby grand and playing my heart out for the audience.”

Managing Director Maggie Larrick adds: “This is Joan Crawford’s house on Christmas eve 1944.  Joan would not have a lowly upright.  The script called for a baby grand, and thanks to our supporters we have a baby grand on stage.”

“Christmas with the Crawfords” opens this Friday, Nov. 27th, and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.

For ticket information, show times and dates, click here.

To purchase tickets quickly and securely online, click here.

DON’T FORGET there are FREE readings of “a Christmas Story” at 2 pm this Saturday, Nov. 28th, as well as Dec.12th.  That’s right, FREE readings!

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.

“Christmas with the Crawfords,” Burien Little Theatre’s holiday production, begins Nov. 27th, and it sounds hilarious – imagine actress Joan Crawford and other assorted (yet highly dysfunctional) Hollywood celebrity guests stuck at Crawford’s home on Christmas Eve doing a radio show.

Now throw in men in drag, funny original music, a great cast and the fact that it’s local and you’ve got this show.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Christmas With The Crawfords” musical comedy

WHEN: Begins Nov. 27th and continues through Dec. 20th; 12 shows total so you’d better order tickets soon!

• November 27 at 8:00 p.m.     Friday
• November 28 at 8:00 p.m.     Saturday
• November 29 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee -  $7 Sunday
• December 4 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• December 5 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• December 6 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• December 11 at 8:00 p.m.      Friday
• December 12 at 8:00 p.m.      Saturday
• December 13 at 2:00 p.m.      Sunday Matinee
• December 18 at 8:00 p.m.      Friday
• December 19 at 8:00 p.m.      Saturday
• December 20 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee

WHERE: Burien Little Theatre, located at the Burien Community Center at the intersection of 4th SW and SW 146th.

INFO: Here’s copy from the BLT press release:

Featuring Hollywood’s most famous dysfunctional family, this musical comedy pays tribute to and parodies Tinseltown’s “Golden Age.”

To revive her ailing career, Joan Crawford arranges a live radio broadcast in her home on Christmas Eve, 1944, but uninvited celebrity guests hog the spotlight to sing their Holiday favorites.

Ticket prices are $20 general admission and $17 for students and seniors.

Click here to order tickets, which are priced better online.

On Sunday, Nov. 29th all tickets are just $7 – but hurry, these tickets sell out fast!

On a personal note, this show was created by Richard Winchester and written by Mark Sargent.

Waaay back in the ’80s, Sargent was lead singer in a campy Seattle band called Mondo Vita. We were big fans of ‘em, and once we saw his name attached to this show we just had to re-live those days – here’s the only video from them we could find, and while Sargent doesn’t sing the lead, he’s the shorter backup singer:

It appears that Sargent continues to do camp, as between writing plays, he’s also the lead singer for The Ethel Merman Experience in San Francisco.

This is the absolute last weekend of “Psycho Beach Party” at Burien Little Theatre, and here are the Top 10 Reasons not to miss “Psycho Beach Party” during its last weekend:

10. Once the tide comes in the beach is gone forever.

9. Let me get this straight – “Psycho,” “Beach” and “Party” with girls in bikinis and buff surf bums and you haven’t seen it yet?

8. The party is nothing without you.

7. Years from now when your grandkids ask, “Did you see get to see ‘Psycho Beach Party’ live?” What will you tell them?

6. Anyone in a Hawaiian shirt gets a free item from concessions.

5. 54 degrees and rain or escape to sunny California for a few hours without having to deal with TSA.

4. Laughter is the best medicine for SADS.

3. The woodie is gassed up and packed, but you can still catch a wave this weekend.

2. All good things must end, and “Psycho Beach Party” must end November 1.

And the number 1 reason to see “Psycho Beach Party” at Burien Little Theatre during its final weekend:

1. Night of the dead or a beach party – Dude, think about it!

Burien’s Hi-Liner’s 2009 Annual Fundraiser will be a Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 10pm at the Normandy Park Cove.

The Hi-Liners is funded from ticket sales, tuitions and donations from a variety of sources. The average MainStage production costs exceed $75,000, and this annual fundraiser will help offset those costs as well as support area youth.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Hi-Liner’s 2009 Fundraiser Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner & Silent Auction

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 10pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Cove, 1500 SW Shorebrook Drive in Normandy Park

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase event tickets and raffle tickets.

COST: Adults 18+ – $30 • Children 7-17 – $20

INFO: From their website:

Join us for a thrilling evening of food, fundraising, entertainment, who-done-it’s and more, that children ages 7-100 will enjoy! (Children must be 7 and up and be accompanied by an adult)

Enjoy a buffet dinner catered by long-time favorite, Sal’s Deli. There will be a silent auction, a cash bar and a raffle or two, along with director/acting coach Tony Curry and Events On The Edge as our fabulous entertainment! All proceeds of this event will go towards supporting The Hi-Liners theatrical programming for students and young adults.

MURDER MYSTERY THEME
Reality Bites: A TV/Film producer and director from L.A. are in town auditioning new talent and looking for new ideas for a new reality television show and film work. They heard that The Hi-Liners organization is bursting with talent and they want to find their next star! Director/ acting coach Tony Curry, Kate Moyer, Lynne Randall and other Hi-Liners will be there to audition for the part. After an unfortunate turn of events, they all become suspects in the murder of a private investigator who was investigating their backgrounds before they get signed. More suspects are discovered as the night unfolds, until eventualy, the murder is revealed.

Want to get even closer to the action? Would you like the opportunity to make your loved one a potential suspect in the evening murder mystery? Here’s your chance to snitch on your spouse, rat out your children, and set-up your friends…all for just $5!

Simply purchase a $5 raffle ticket for each individual that you’d like to incriminate and we’ll take care of the rest. Several suspects will be chosen from all of the raffle ticket purchased.

To purchase event tickets and raffle tickets, click HERE.

The Hi-Liners is independent and has received no financial or material support from the Highline School District since 1987.

For more information, visit www.hi-liners.org.

No, this list didn’t come from Letterman, as he was “too busy with an assistant”…but here are the Top 10 Reasons to see “Psycho Beach Party” at Burien Little Theatre this weekend:

10. Everyone deserves a little Escape this time of year.

9. Everyone cool is doing it.

8. Plenty of free parking.

7. Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic. Psycho Beach Party, it’s neither Psycho, nor a Beach, nor a Party. Discuss.

6. The lighter side of mental health awareness!

5. Girls in Bikinis.

4. See what everyone is talking about!

3. Because “Wicked” already closed.

2. It’s better live theater!

And the #1 reason to see “Psycho Beach Party” at Burien Little Theatre this weekend:

1. They can’t have the Party without You!

Here are the showtimes for this weekend – and remember, you can purchase tickets easily online by clicking here:

• Friday, Oct. 9th – 8pm
• Saturday, Oct. 10th – 8pm [BONUS at 2pm FREE presentation of “Two Wheels North” in conjunction with Book-It Repertory Theater and Highline Historical Society]
• Sunday, Oct. 11th – 2pm Matinee

More info, as well as other showtimes, are available here.

“Two Wheels North,” a commemorative presentation written by Evelyn McDaniel Gib will be performed on Saturday, Oct. 10th for FREE at 2pm at the Burien Community Center, located at 425 SW 144th Street.

The play, a staged reading of a historic non-fiction event, features two fresh high school graduates that set out on their secondhand bicycles from Santa Rosa, CA in August of 1909 to take on the challenge of cycling from their home all the way north to Seattle for the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition.

With less than $6 bucks between them, they pedal, push, and walk 1,000 miles of primitive roads for 54 days. As you can probably imagine what roads were like 100 years ago, the intrepid boys encounter nearly every imaginable natural, mechanical, and human challenge on their one-speed bikes. While adventure is their primary lure, there is a promised purse of $25 from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (when it was still being printed, pre-internet) waiting for them if they can only make it to Seattle before the final day of the AYP.

• This presentation is sponsored by the Highline Historical Society and the Burien Little Theatre.
• Funding has been provided by 4Culture.
• Admission is FREE, and the production is family-friendly.
• The entrance to the community center parking lot closest to the theater is on 4th Ave SW  between SW 144th and 146th Streets.
• Contact Burien Little Theatre to arrange handicapped or special needs seating, please email info@burienlittletheatre.com.

Burien Little Theatre’s latest production, “Psycho Beach Party,” opens this Friday night Oct. 2nd at 8pm at the Burien Community Center, and below are photos taken of a recent rehearsal to give you an idea of what to expect (just be sure to mentally add costumes, great music and a professional production):

Click to View Burien Little Theatre’s Photo Slideshow

“Psycho Beach Party” is described as:

“Gidget” meets “The Three Faces of Eve” in this 1987 comic send-up of those 1960s beach party movies.

Chicklet, a perky Malibu teenager, joins a group of beach bums to learn to surf.

Unfortunately, she has multiple personalities, including that of a sinister vamp out to conquer the world.

Welcome to Malibu Beach 1962 style on the set of Psycho Beach Party, the first play in Burien Little Theatre’s 2009-2010 “escape” themed season. Psycho Beach Party, written by Charles Busch, is a 1987 spoof of those popular and campy 1960s beach party movies. Busch’s send-up blends ”Gidget” with “The Three Faces of Eve” through the story of Chicklet, a perky Malibu teenager, who joins a group of beach bums to learn to surf. Unfortunately, Chicklet has multiple personalities, including that of a sinister vamp out to conquer the world. Watch out, the surf’s up!

Psycho Beach Party will run at BLT from Oct. 2 through Nov. 1. Tickets at the box office are $17 to$20, except on Seven Buck Sunday Oct. 4 when all tickets are just $7. Significant savings are available by buying online at www.burienlittletheatre.com. Shows are Fridays and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., except there will be no performance Oct. 16. As a special bonus, BLT will provide FREE readings on four Saturdays during the run. A full performance schedule is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com/page2.html.

The Story
Playing off the classic beach party theme – Psycho Beach Party features Chicklet, our heroine – a Gidget-like character who adores surfing and abandons her lifelong friend to take surfing lessons with the Great Kanaka, the king of the surf bums. But while she learns to surf odd things happen on the beach. People are knocked out and shaved, and not just their heads end up missing hair! Who wields the razor? And who is Ann Bowman, the seductive dominatrix? At the biggest party of the year, the luau, all is revealed. Join BLT and the fun-loving cast of Psycho Beach Party for bikinis, surfing and madcap mayhem.

The Author and Production
Charles Louis Busch, author of Psycho Beach Party, is an American actor, author, dramatist and female impersonator known for his many appearances on film and in off-Broadway productions. Busch was nominated for a Tony Award in 2001 for his play The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. Busch’s other awards include a Sundance Special Performance Award for Die, Mommie, Die, and in 2006 he won Honorable Mention at the Tribeca Film Festival for A Very Serious Person.

Psycho Beach Party was first performed in 1987, and featured the author in the title role of Chicklet. In 2000 the play was adapted for film by Robert Lee King, and featured Lauren Ambrose as Chicklet and Amy Adams in the role of Marvel Ann.

The Cast
Psycho Beach Party is directed by Zachariah Robinson, with Melissa Malloy as assistant director. The show features the comedic talents of:

• Adam Hegg (Yo Yo)
• Miranda Sita (Dee Dee)
• John Mallory (Nicky)
• Greg Brandell (Provoloney)
• Jon-Erik Hegstad (Start Cat)
• Kris Hamberg (Chicklet)
• Rhys Henley (Kanaka)
• Emily Elkins (Berdine)
• Jackie Greybill (Marvel Ann)
• Anna Richardson (Mrs. Forrest)
• Alex Novotny (Bettina Barnes)

BONUS – Special Performances:
During the run of Psycho Beach Party, Burien Little Theatre is proud to present three free Saturday afternoon readings of The Undescended, a new work by Christopher Bailey. This haunting psychological tale is full of twists and turns. Please join us at 2 p.m. on the following Saturdays to enjoy this unique opportunity: Oct. 3, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. There will be question-and-answer sessions with the author after the readings.

On Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m., Burien Little Theatre, in association with Book-It Repertory Theater and the Highline Historical Society will also host a free performance of the world-premiere adaptation of the book Two Wheels North, by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb. The story has been adapted for the stage and directed by Annie Lareau. Two Wheels North is a timely true tale of two young men and the cycling trek of a lifetime: it’s 1909 and roads are rough as they make their way from their home in Santa Rosa, Calif., to Seattle for the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition. A prize awaits, but the real reward is the adventure!

About Burien Little Theatre:
Theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, the Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. As the company grows in exciting new directions right along with the City of Burien, Burien Little Theatre’s Mission is “to be an entertainment leader by producing intriguing professional shows. Our audience will be treated to productions of the highest artistic integrity, which excite, engage and involve both the local and expanding theatrical communities in the Puget Sound region.”

BLT is a nonprofit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers.

To reserve tickets, email your reservation to tickets@burienlittletheatre.com, call BLT at (206) 242-5180, or purchase them online here. More ticket info available online here, including discounts on group purchase.

You can also “Play With Your Food” (dinner and a show) – for just $35.00 per person you get a fantastic two-course dinner that includes several choices for an entree and either salad or dessert at the Mark Restaurant and Bar and you get a ticket to that night’s performance! (You save on the price of dinner and on the ticket! Double the savings and enjoy a night out. You deserve it!) See BLT’s Play With Your Food web page for full details.

by Scott Schaefer

Burien’s own Hi-Liners’ fall production of the family-friendly “Thoroughly Modern Millie” wraps up this weekend (Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30pm and Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1:30pm) at the Highline Performing Arts Center, and we’d like to encourage all our Readers who haven’t been to go see it.

Not just to support the Hi-Liners, a great non-profit that helps kids channel their passions into pure talent (which you’ll definitely see on display, as this show is professionally produced and is hilarious!), but also because the Hi-Liners need your help.

If you don’t believe our endorsement, here are some others:

“The kids were absolutely AMAZING and I can’t wait to see it again next weekend!”, said one audience member.

“I laughed so hard that I nearly fell out of my seat!” said another.

“It was the most professional student production I’ve ever seen!” raved another audience member.

But don’t just rely on what you hear…go see the show and experience it first hand on its closing weekend – good seats are still available – to purchase a ticket, please visit their website at www.hi-liners.org or by calling 206-617-2152

Kathleen Edwards, our Artistic Director, has said it very well:

“We are not in existence to create professional actors and actresses. The Hi-Liners exist to help produce quality people who become assets to our community and our society in general.”

So far over 4,500 young people have experienced our program since 1994 and I am proud of each one. If our program sounds like a worthwhile addition to our community and you have enjoyed our shows, I hope you will take the time now to insure that we are doing this next year and for many years to come.

The Hi-Liners is a 501 (C) 3 Corporation and all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to make a donation to the Hi-Liners organization, please visit our website at www.hi-liners.org/support.

Thank You so much for your support and I hope to see you at the show!

- Gerry Gilbert
President
The Hi-Liners Inc.

We saw the show last weekend, and we were thoroughly impressed by the acting (especially Alexzandra Gorski as Millie, Kate Moyer as Mrs. Meers, Max Seifert as Mr. Graydon and Taylor Moury as Miss Flannery), the outstanding dancing/choreography, music (there’s a live orchestra in the pit), singing, and of course the hilarious script which includes some knock-out numbers done by local youths.

You should know that we saw this the day after returning from Vegas, where we saw some shows (including Cheap Trick doing Sgt. Peppers!), and we gotta say, this Hi-Liners production rivaled what we saw there.

That my friends is a thorough endorsement from The B-Town Blog, not only of our own Hi-Liners, but of the entire cast as well as Director Kathleen Edwards, Music Director Mara Ostrand, Choreographer Taryn Darr and every single other person involved!

Buy your tickets online, right now, right here (or by calling 206-617-2152) and support local arts and local youth!

Burien Little Theatre has scheduled show dates and times for their upcoming comedy “Psycho Beach Party,” which has been described as:

“Gidget” meets “The Three Faces of Eve” in this 1987 comic send-up of those 1960s beach party movies.

Chicklet, a perky Malibu teenager, joins a group of beach bums to learn to surf.

Unfortunately, she has multiple personalities, including that of a sinister vamp out to conquer the world.

Here are the show dates and times:

• October 2 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• October 3 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – BONUS at 2:00 p.m a free reading of “The Undescended.”
• October 4 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee – Seven Dollar Sunday
• October 9 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• October 10 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – BONUS at 2:00 p.m. a free presentation of “Two Wheels North” in conjunction with Book-It Repertory Theater and Highline Historical Society
• October 11 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• October 16 at 8:00 p.m. Friday – NO SHOW TONIGHT
• October 17 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• October 18 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• October 23 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• October 24 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – BONUS at 2:00 p.m a free reading of “The Undescended.”
• October 25 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• October 30 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• October 31 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – BONUS at 2:00 p.m a free reading of “The Undescended.”
• November 1 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee

Advance ticket prices:

• General Senior/Student
  • First weekend: $16.00 /  $13.00
  • Middle Weekends: $18.00 / $15.00
  • Last Weekend: $20.00 / $17.00
• TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE:
  • All shows: $20.00 / $17.00
• NEW THIS SEASON: $7 SUNDAY – The first Sunday Matinee of every run is just $7.00!!!

To reserve tickets, email your reservation to tickets@burienlittletheatre.com, call BLT at (206) 242-5180, or purchase them online here. More ticket info available online here, including discounts on group purchase.

You can also “Play With Your Food” (dinner and a show) – for just $35.00 per person you get a fantastic two-course dinner that includes several choices for an entree and either salad or dessert at the Mark Restaurant and Bar and you get a ticket to that night’s performance! (You save on the price of dinner and on the ticket! Double the savings and enjoy a night out. You deserve it!) See BLT’s Play With Your Food web page for full details.

Burien Little Theatre is seeking adult actors to play characters ranging from age 2 to 49 (including some cross-dressers) to audition for the musical comedy “Christmas with the Crawfords” on Monday, Aug. 24th and Tuesday, Aug. 25th.

Auditions will be:

• Monday, Aug. 24 from 7pm to 10pm
• Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 7pm 10pm
• Callbacks are Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 7:30pm to 10:30pm

“Christmas with the Crawfords,” was created by Richard Winchester and written by Mark Sargent.

SYNOPSIS:

Featuring Hollywood’s most famous dysfunctional family, this musical comedy pays tribute to and parodies Tinseltown’s “Golden Age.” To revive her ailing career, Joan Crawford arranges a live radio broadcast in her home on Christmas Eve, 1944, but uninvited celebrity guests hog the spotlight to sing their holiday favorites. A surprise hit since 1992.

SCHEDULE:

• Performances will be at Burien Little Theatre in Burien weekends from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20, 2009.
• Rehearsals begin Sunday, Oct. 18.

Stage director is Steve Cooper and music director Ann Sager.

PAY:

• $100 stipend provided.

AUDITION DETAILS:

• For auditioning, please prepare two short contrasting songs (serious/comedy; ballad/patter) and a short comic monologue under two minutes long. Accompanist will be provided.
• Please also bring headshot and resume.
• Actors invited to callbacks will do cold readings from the script and working with music from the show.
• Please make an audition appointment: audition@burienlittletheatre.com or call Burien Little Theatre at 206-242-5180.

LOCATION:

• Auditions and callback will be in Studio 2 at the Burien Community Center, located at the intersection of S.W. 146th St. and 4th Ave. S.W. in Burien. For directions, go to www.burienlittletheatre.com.

CHARACTERS (*Note: Traditionally, many of these are cross-dressing roles, particularly Joan Crawford, but we are open to either gender):

• Joan Crawford – Traditionally, a gender-bending role, but we are open to either gender, age 39, famous movie star, desperate to revive her ailing career
• Christina Crawford – Female role, age 5 (but played by an adult), Joan’s daughter, actress and author, who became best known for writing “Mommie Dearest,” an expose of alleged child abuse by Joan Crawford
• Christopher Crawford – Male role, Joan’s son, age 2 (but played by an adult)
• Shirley Temple – Female role, age 16, famous movie star, she’s a sugar-coated tough cookie
• Jane Crawford – Female role, age 36, Joan’s “sister,” actually a younger version of Baby Jane as played by Bette Davis in “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
• Andrews Sisters – famous singing trio who also appeared in several films
• Laverne – Female role, age 33
• Maxene – Female role, age 28
• Patty – Female role, age 26
• Hedda Hopper – Female role, age 59, film actress and famous Hollywood gossip columnist
• Judy Garland – Female role, age 22, famous movie star and singer
• Gloria Swanson – Female role, age 45, famous movie star on the downside of her career
• Hattie McDaniel – Female role, age 49, African-American signer and film actress, best known for her role as Mammie in the film “Gone with the Wind”
• Carmen Miranda – Female role, age 35, Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer and famous star of stage and screen
• Ethel Merman – Female role, age 36, famous stage actress

And while we’re not in charge of these auditions, we’d recommend NOT bringing any wire hangers…ever!

Burien Little Theatre is looking for a baby grand piano to star in “Christmas with the Crawfords.” The piano would be onstage from November 22nd through December 20th.

Here’s what BLT’s Eric Dickman sent us:

This season BLT is doing two musical productions, “Christmas with the Crawfords” and a 1950’s rock ‘n roll “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” (Theater fans will recognize the latter as Arne Zaslove’s adaptation that ran for years at the Bathhouse and at the Moore. In 2008 Arne updated the show with a few “new” 50s songs.)

BLT audiences seem to love musicals. They are great fun and a great escape, but they are very expensive to produce. They can easily be twice as expensive to produce as a non-musical. (Last season’s “The Rocky Horror Show” set a new budget record for BLT, but was loved by all who came to the show.) At BLT we strive to keep costs down to make every performance affordable to as many people as possible, but we also raise the production values and quality with every new production. To that end we beg and borrow props and set pieces whenever possible. The Seattle Opera, The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and countless other theaters in the Northwest have loaned pieces to BLT. To be fair, BLT returns the favor whenever it can.

But with the Christmas show, BLT is between a rock and a hard place. The show takes place at the legendary film diva Joan Crawford’s home. (Just the idea of Christmas with Joan and kids, should make you smile, even before the curtain goes up.) Joan’s pianist is onstage throughout the show and provides live music for the singers. Let’s face it, the Crawford house would not have an upright piano.

Can you help? BLT will work with you to protect your baby, but it is time for your baby to leave home and become a star! Of course, you will have the honor of being put on BLT’s exclusive “comp list” and you will be forever memorialized in the “special thanks” section of the program for “Christmas with the Crawfords” and maybe most importantly your baby grand will have its day under the lights onstage.

If you can help BLT, please contact Eric at eric@burienlittletheatre.com, or email BLT at info@burienlittletheatre.com, and don’t forget to check out all of BLT’s new season here.

Burien’s Hi-Liners are presenting “Thoroughly Modern Millie” beginning with special weekend “preview” shows Sept. 12th & 13th at Renton’s Carco Theater, then continuing for the two weekends of September 19th/20th and Sept. 26th/27th at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 South 152nd Street.

What do you do after a show like Peter Pan? That was the sixty-four dollar question for The Hi-Liners and their Artistic Director Kathleen Edwards.

“Every year our big fall MainStage show is the highlight of our season. After “flying” Peter Pan all over the Highline Performing Arts Center last year, we were not sure how we were going to top a show like that. Thoroughly Modern Millie is a “newer” Broadway musical that we believe will challenge our kids and our organization to keep moving forward, in other words, just the show we are looking for!”

Taking Broadway by storm in 2002, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is based on the Oscar-winning film starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. This romantic musical is filled with tremendous dancing that captures the style and mood of the roaring twenties. Bring your tap shoes and tap back to Manhattan at the height of the Jazz Age when women were just beginning to enter the workforce, raising their hemlines and rewriting the rules of love.

This feel good performance directed by Kathleen Edwards and choreographed by Taryn Darr, (most recently seen in the 5th Avenue Theater’s production of “Catch Me If You Can”) will have you humming “everything today is thoroughly modern” for weeks!

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” will have a special “preview” weekend performance at the Renton Carco Theater on September 12th and 13th, then will play for just two more weekends – September 19, 20, 26 & 27 at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 South 152nd Street, Burien.

SNEAK PREVIEWS:

• Saturday, Sept. 12 – 7:30pm Renton Carco Theatre
• Sunday, Sept. 13 – 1:30pm Renton Carco Theatre

MAIN PERFORMANCES:

• Saturday, Sept. 19 – 7:30pm Highline PAC
• Sunday, Sept. 20 – 1:30pm Highline PAC
• Saturday, Sept. 26 – 7:30pm Highline PAC
• Sunday, Sept. 27 – 1:30pm Highline PAC

And here’s a special offer from the Hi-Liners:

Introducing, our best discount ticket offer ever… Millie Madness Pricing!
Purchase 4 or more tickets and receive $5.5 off per ticket!
Purchase 12 or more tickets and receive $7.5 off per ticket!
Purchase 20 or more tickets and receive $10 off per ticket!
(discount pricing valid for Highline Performing Arts Center performances only)
Click HERE to purchase tickets!

For tickets and information please visit www.hi-liners.org or phone 206-617-2152.

The Hi-Liners MainStage produces two major Broadway musicals each year featuring a live orchestra and high-end production values. Students ages 9-22 participate in a rigorous audition and rehearsal process based on the Actors Equity Association model. Members of the cast are mentored and supported by local professionals in all fields of the theatre arts. In these productions we strive to meet the highest artistic standards in every way, and to provide our young actors with a truly memorable, quality experience. The Hi-Liners, South King County’s premier youth theatre, is dedicated to the advancement of fine arts opportunities through live, high-quality musical theatre and education for young people.

Burien Little Theatre is seeking male actors to fill two remaining roles in the comedy “Psycho Beach Party,” by Charles Busch.

There is a $100 stipend provided for each, and rehearsals will begin Sunday, Aug. 23rd.

Performances will be at Burien Little Theatre from Oct. 2nd through Nov. 1st, 2009.

Here are the roles in need of some psycho actors:

• Star Cat is a handsome surfer in his early 20s who dropped out of college to stick with his true calling, being a beach bum.
• Kanaka, in his early to mid-20s, is the macho Big Kahuna of the surfers.

Contact Burien Little Theatre to arrange a time to audition: audition@burienlittletheatre.com or 206-242-5180.

Synopsis:

“Psycho Beach Party” is an over-the-top, gender-bending spoof of the beach party movies of the ‘60s. Get down with this sexy, multiple-personality, coming-of-age comedy. Chicklet, a perky Malibu teenager, joins a group of beach bums to learn to surf. The hilarity ensues when her multiple personalities wash up to the surface, including “Anne Bowman,” a sinister vamp out to conquer the world.

The Stage Director is Zachariah Robinson and the Assistant Director is Melissa Malloy.

For more information, visit Burien Little Theatre’s website.

(surf sign photo courtesy Robyn Gallagher)

Our friends at Burien Little Theatre are inviting actors to audition for a reading of a new full-length play, “The Undescended,” by Christopher Bailey on Thursday, Aug. 13th from 7pm to 10pm.

Actors are sought who can play women’s roles ranging in age from mid-20s to late 30s and men’s roles ranging in age from mid-30s to late 40s.

The time commitment is minimal as two to three rehearsals are planned, and there will be three public readings in October at Burien Little Theatre.

SYNOPSIS:

• Mysterious psychological drama with darkly comic moments.

PUBLIC READINGS:

• Saturdays Oct. 3, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.

AUDITION INFO:

• Auditions will consist of cold reading from the scripts on Thursday, Aug. 13th from 7 to 10 p.m.
• Make audition appointment or just show up.
• For appointment, contact readings@burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180.
• Please also bring resume and headshot if available.
• Auditions will be in Room 5 at the Burien Community Center, located at the intersection of S.W. 146th St. and 4th Ave. S.W. in Burien. For directions, go to www.burienlittletheatre.com.

CHARACTER LIST:

• Jim Atwater: Psychiatric resident in his mid to late 30s
• Tom Maser: Jim’s colleague, a psychiatrist in his mid to late 40s
• Diane Atwater: Jim’s wife, an attorney in her mid to late 30s; the couple has no children, which has created an issue
• Lana Devlin: Jim’s psychiatric patient, in her mid to late 20s

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

Have you ever acted? Have you ever dressed in drag? Are you psycho? Love the beach? Like to party?

Well then, you’d better get yourself down to Burien Little Theatre’s open auditions for the over-the-top gender-bending comedy “Psycho Beach Party” on Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th!

BLT is seeking actors to play characters ranging in age from 15 to 45 for this Charles Busch comedy.

Here are the details:

SYNOPSIS:

“Psycho Beach Party” is an over-the-top, gender-bending spoof of the beach party movies of the ‘60s. Get down with this sexy, multiple-personality, coming-of-age comedy. Chicklet, a perky Malibu teenager, joins a group of beach bums to learn to surf. The hilarity ensues when her multiple personalities wash up to the surface, including “Anne Bowman,” a sinister vamp out to conquer the world.

Performances will be at Burien Little Theatre in Burien from Oct. 2nd through Nov. 1st, 2009.

AUDITION SCHEDULE:

• Monday, July 27th from 7pm to 10pm
• Tuesday, July 28th from 7pm to 10pm
• Callbacks are Wednesday, July 29th from 7 to 10 p.m.
• Rehearsals begin on Sunday, Aug. 23rd.

SALARY:

• $100 stipend provided

REQUIREMENTS:

• For auditioning, please prepare a comic monologue.
• Callbacks will consist of cold readings from the script.
• Please also bring resume and headshot.
• Please make an audition appointment: audition@burienlittletheatre.com or call Burien Little Theatre at 206-242-5180.
• Auditions will be in Studio 1 and callbacks in Room 4 at the Burien Community Center, located at the intersection of S.W. 146th St. and 4th Ave. S.W. in Burien. For directions, go to www.burienlittletheatre.com.

CHARACTER LIST:

• Yo-Yo — Male role, age range late teens to early 20s: Handsome male surfer who has a thing for hair stylings and food. Best friends with Provoloney.
• Dee Dee —Female role, age range late teens to early 20s: Sexy chick in a bikini.
• Nicky – Male role, age range late teens to early 20s: Handsome male surfer.
• Provoloney – Male role, age range late teens to early 20s: Scrappy little surfer. Friends with Yo-Yo.
• Star Cat – Male role, age range early 20s: Handsomest of the male surfers. Dropped out of college to stick with his true calling, being a beach bum.
• Chicklet – Traditionally a gender-bending male role, but we’re open to either gender, character is age 15: Perky high school girl determined to learn to surf even though it’s a male-only sport. Also has multiple personalities–including a dominatrix who plans to take over the world, a black grocery store clerk and a psychiatrist—triggered every time she sees the color red.
• Kanaka – Male, age range early to mid 20s: Macho Big Kahuna of the surfers.
• Berdine – Female, age 15: Hopelessly nerdy, but spunky. Chicklet’s best friend.
• Marvel Ann – Female, age range 15 to 16: Gorgeous high school vamp. It’s all about what men can do for her.
• Mrs. Forrest – Female, age range 32 to 45: Spitting image of Joan Crawford. Chicklet’s mother. Harshly protective, controlling of Chicklet.
• Bettina Barnes – Female, age range mid-20s to 35: Incredibly glamorous movie star. Hiding out at the beach after running away from the set of her latest cheesy sexploitation film. Plans to head to New York to study “serious” acting with Lee Strasberg.

So come on all you talented yet psycho gender-bending partyin’ B-Town Blog Readers – get your stuff together and go audition! Maybe if you get the part we’ll even let you write a first-hand experience blog about it…

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).

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.

Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before…BURIEN!

Celebrate the Winners During the Final Weeks of the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival at Burien Little Theater, as they close the 2008-2009 season this weekend beginning tonight (Friday, May 22nd) with the final winning plays, including one of the featured play readings that features a timely “Star Trek” theme.

Since the Festival opened on May 1st, theatre lovers have enjoyed two staged plays and two play readings of award-winning plays written by Washington State writers. In this final week of the Playwright Festival, ticket prices remain an affordable $10 with 50% of the admission benefiting local women’s shelter Hospitality House. Burien Little Theatee’s Festival, sponsored by the City of Burien and the Mark Restaurant & Bar, will also be accepting donations of food for local food banks.

Each remaining performance of the Festival includes two shows.  Running through the final performance of May 24, audiences will be treated to Famous Last Words (one-act) and Man Defeats Nature (full-length). In addition, readings of the Honorable Mention winners will be held this Saturday afternoon, May 23rd at 2 pm. After each play the audience is invited to discuss the show with the actors and, when available, the playwright. These talk-backs provide playwrights with fresh ideas, valuable comments, and honest audience response. Tickets are $10, and the Saturday play readings are free with donations requested.

A performance schedule including dates, times and shows is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call the ticket office at 206-242-5180.

About the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival:
The mission of the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theatre works written by Washington state residents, and stage the winning plays at Burien Little Theater.

The Festival was named to honor Bill and Peggy Hunt’s dedicated service to community-based theater and their devotion to and involvement with Burien Little Theater. Peggy Hunt joined Burien’s theater organization in 1960 with a leading role in the play Harvey. Over the next 35 years both Bill and Peggy appeared in and directed plays, designed and built sets, served on the Board of Directors, and were involved in some aspect of every theater project. Since Burien Little Theatre officially launched the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival in 1999, the company has continued to successfully produce the Festival. This year Burien Little Theatre chose 8 playwrights to be honored with awards including First Place, Second Place, and Honorable Mentions in One-Act and Full-Length categories.

Show Info May 22 – May 24:
Famous Last Words, recipient of the Second Place Award in the One-Act Plays category will be performed. Famous Last Words, written by Michael Wallace, is a sharp-witted drama of two teenagers who are brought together in a graveyard by school bullies where things are not as they appear. Directed by Don MacEllis, the play features Elise Baleto and Jeffrey Myre for the May 15-17 performances and Samantha Hill with Kevin Schilling during the May 22-24 run.

Man Defeats Nature, recipient of the Second Place Award in the Full-Length Plays category, was written by Christopher Bailey and will be directed by Zachariah Robinson. Featuring the acting talents of Russ Kay, Geni Hawkins, Peter Li and Emily Elkins, the play opens on the one-year anniversary of a mountain’s eruption and tells the poignant story of a father who still searches daily for his son, missing in the explosion, and clashes with other family members who want to move on.

The plays that received Honorable Mention awards in the festival will be read aloud by actors this Saturday afternoon beginning at 2 pm. The plays include Freight, a one-act play, written by Freddie Brinster and The Days of Future Passed, a full-length play, written by Sean Walbeck.

Freight tells the story of a strong, crusty captain of an old freighter desperately trying to hold onto her 43 year old son who just as desperately needs to leave in order to “grow up.” The Days of Future Passed, is the story of a Bellingham Star Trek club that comes up with a cockeyed scheme to attract new members by installing a statue at the local museum. The reading will feature Grace Reamer, John Flynn, Doug Cottrill, Kate Carlson, Anna Richardson, John Ruppeck, James “Tuck” Tucker, and Jeri Hein.

ABOUT HOSPITALITY HOUSE:
The mission of Hospitality House is to help women find home, health and hope. Hospitality House is a 9-bed homeless shelter for South King County women and has been operating for the past 8 years at the Lake Burien Presbyterian Church under the sponsorship of 12 local churches. During the performance run of Burien Little Theatre’s Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, 50% of the ticket sales will go to Hospitality House.

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT LOCAL FOOD BANKS:
YOU CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY! Burien Little Theatre will hold a food drive during the entire performance run to benefit the White Center Foodbank and the Highline Area Foodbank. You can help when you come to the performances by bringing in nonperishable food items such as: tuna fish, cereal, canned soups, condensed milk, canned meats, pastas, and peanut butter.

ABOUT BURIEN LITTLE THEATRE:

Community-based theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, The Burien Little Theater (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. Burien Little Theater’s Mission is to make every audience member’s experience at BLT a welcoming, lively and fun escape from the everyday world, beginning the moment they walk in the door, by providing high-quality, accessible and exciting theater. 
BLT is a nonprofit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships, and volunteers. BLT is a nonprofit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships, and volunteers.

Schedule for the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival:

• Friday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. – Matinee

Burien Little Theater is located at the Burien Community Center Building at 425 SW 144th Street in 
Burien; 
(206) 242-5180. The Community Center is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 146th Street in Burien (map below).

Ticket Prices & Packages:

• General admission: $10.
• Senior and student admission: $10.
• 50% of all tickets sold will benefit Hospitality House
• Play Readings (held on Saturdays at 2 p.m.) are no charge, although donations are appreciated.
• Dinner and a Show Package: This package includes a two-course meal at Mark Restaurant & Bar plus a ticket to the show; cost is $30 per person.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Show tickets may be purchased safely and securely online here on via phone at 206-242-5180.

Support the arts and our community!

8 Brand New Plays 
by Washington State Playwrights 
to Benefit Hospitality House

Burien Little Theatre presents the
 Winners of the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwright Festival

In this economic climate with nonprofits losing funding, and people looking for affordable and accessible entertainment, Burien Little Theater has just the ticket with 16 opportunities to enjoy local talent while benefiting several local nonprofit organizations. The Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, opening May 1st, offers 4 weekends of plays and readings featuring award-winning entries by Washington State writers. Fifty percent of the very affordable ticket price — all staged performances $10 — benefit local women’s shelter Hospitality House. Burien Little Theater’s Festival, sponsored by the City of Burien and the Mark Restaurant & Bar, will also be accepting donations of food for local food banks.

The Festival is staging a total of four shows: two one-act and two full-length plays. Each performance will feature two plays, a one-act and a full-length. From May 1 – May 10 the plays staged include First Place winners The Reprieve (one-act) and If Spiders Made Honey (full-length). From May 15 – May 24 audiences will be treated to Famous Last Words (one-act) and Man Defeats Nature (full-length). In addition, readings of the Honorable Mention winners will be held on Saturday afternoons at 2 pm.

The Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival will run at the Little Theatre from May 1 – May 24 (opening night is May 1). After each play the audience is invited to discuss the show with the actors and, when available, the playwright. These talk-backs provide playwrights with fresh ideas, valuable comments, and honest audience response. Tickets are $10, and the Saturday play readings are free with donations requested. A performance schedule including dates, times and shows is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call the ticket office at 206-242-5180.

ABOUT THE BILL AND PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL:
The mission of the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theatre works written by Washington state residents, and stage the winning plays at Burien Little Theatre.

The Festival was named to honor Bill and Peggy Hunt’s dedicated service to community-based theater and their devotion to and involvement with Burien Little Theatre. Peggy Hunt joined Burien’s theater organization in 1960 with a leading role in the play Harvey. Over the next 35 years both Bill and Peggy appeared in and directed plays, designed and built sets, served on the Board of Directors, and were involved in some aspect of every theater project. Since Burien Little Theatre officially launched the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival in 1999, the company has continued to successfully produce the Festival. This year Burien Little Theatre chose 8 playwrights to be honored with awards including First Place, Second Place, and Honorable Mentions in One-Act and Full-Length categories.

Show Info May 1 – May 10:
The First Place Award-winning plays will be performed the first two weekends of the Festival, May 1 – 10. The Reprieve, recipient of the First Place Award in the One-Act Plays category was written by Judith A. Jacobs and is a poignant comedy about sisterly relations and what happens when the family peacemaker, after a brush with cancer, starts speaking her mind. The play is directed by Melissa Malloy and features the acting talents of Lee Ryan, Petra Huntington, and Kirsten McCory.

If Spiders Made Honey, recipient of the First Place Award in the Full-Length Plays category, was written by Dave Tucker and addresses issues of connection in a modern society. With her brother Derek dying of cancer, Camille is searching for Joanie Huneycutt, an internet icon who has inspired Derek with a blog about her own bout with cancer. Fortunately, Camille’s job takes her to Joanie’s hometown, to meet the next winner of a literary award. As Camille’s professional and personal lives collide, things turn out to be different than they seem, raising some poignant questions about the value of our own contributions to society. Directed by Holly Rose, the cast includes Loren Walton, Julie Smith, Brittany Henderson, Stephen Scheide, Jerusha Warner, Dan Gomez, and Jackie Graybill.

The plays that received Honorable Mention awards in the festival will be read aloud by actors Saturday afternoon beginning at 2 pm. The readings are free and each reading includes both a one-act and a full-length play. The plays featured on May 2 include Penny Loves Butchie Hartog, recipient of an Honorable Mention award in the One-Act Plays category written by Ann Teplick, which will be read by Anna Richardson. The play details how obsession with fire and a boy named Butchie Hartog lands a 16-year-old girl in juvenile detention. Sinking Bass Turds, recipient of an Honorable Mention award in the Full-Length Plays category was written by Russell Weeks. This award winner tells the story of a blind writer, Ar Carey, who is out to expose Wall Street greed and corruption under the guise of writing a biography about one of its rising stars. Sinking Bass Turds will be read by actors Clyde Hill, Anna Richardson, Kate Carlson, John Ruppeck, and Grace Reamer.

Show Info May 15 – May 23:
Starting May 15, Famous Last Words, recipient of the Second Place Award in the One-Act Plays category will be performed. Famous Last Words, written by Michael Wallace, is a sharp-witted drama of two teenagers who are brought together in a graveyard by school bullies where things are not as they appear. Directed by Don MacEllis, the play features Elise Baleto and Jeffrey Myre for the May 15-17 performances and Samantha Hill with Kevin Schilling during the May 22-24 run.

Man Defeats Nature, recipient of the Second Place Award in the Full-Length Plays category, was written by Christopher Bailey and will be directed by Zachariah Robinson. Featuring the acting talents of Russ Kay, Geni Hawkins, Peter Li and Emily Elkins, the play opens on the one-year anniversary of a mountain’s eruption and tells the poignant story of a father who still searches daily for his son, missing in the explosion, and clashes with other family members who want to move on.

The plays that received Honorable Mention awards in the festival will be read aloud by actors Saturday afternoon beginning at 2 pm. The plays featured on May 16 include Freight, recipient of an Honorable Mention in the One-Act Plays category written by Freddie Brinster, and will be read by Anna Denton, Robert Stephens, and Doug Cottrill. Freight tells the story of a strong, crusty captain of an old freighter desperately trying to hold onto her 43 year old son who just as desperately needs to leave in order to “grow up.” The Days of Future Passed, recipient of an Honorable Mention Award in the Full-Length Plays category and written by Sean Walbeck, is the story of a Bellingham Star Trek club that comes up with a cockeyed scheme to attract new members by installing a statue at the local museum. The reading will feature Grace Reamer, John Flynn, Doug Cottrill, Kate Carlson, Anna Richardson, John Ruppeck, James “Tuck” Tucker, and Jeri Hein.

ABOUT HOSPITALITY HOUSE:
The mission of Hospitality House is to help women find home, health and hope. Hospitality House is a 9-bed homeless shelter for South King County women and has been operating for the past 8 years at the Lake Burien Presbyterian Church under the sponsorship of 12 local churches. During the performance run of Burien Little Theatre’s Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, 50% of the ticket sales will go to Hospitality House.

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT LOCAL FOOD BANKS:
YOU CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY! Burien Little Theatre will hold a food drive during the entire performance run to benefit the White Center Foodbank and the Highline Area Foodbank. You can help when you come to the performances by bringing in nonperishable food items such as: tuna fish, cereal, canned soups, condensed milk, canned meats, pastas, and peanut butter.

ABOUT BURIEN LITTLE THEATRE:
Community-based theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, The Burien Little Theater (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. Burien Little Theater’s Mission is to make every audience member’s experience at BLT a welcoming, lively and fun escape from the everyday world, beginning the moment they walk in the door, by providing high-quality, accessible and exciting theater. 
BLT is a nonprofit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships, and volunteers.

Schedule for the Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival:

• May 1 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday – Opening Night 
May 2 at 8:00 p.m.  Saturday
• May 3 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• May 2 at 2:00 p.m. Complimentary Play Reading
• May 8 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• May 9 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• May 10 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• May 9 at 2:00 p.m. Complimentary Play Reading.
• May 15 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• May 16 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• May 17 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• May 16 at 2:00 p.m. Complimentary Play Reading
• May 22 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• May 23 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• May 24 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• May 16 at 2:00 p.m. Complimentary Play Reading

Burien Little Theater is located at the Burien Community Center Building at 425 SW 144th Street in 
Burien; 
(206) 242-5180. The Community Center is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 146th Street in Burien (map below).

Ticket Prices & Packages:

• General admission: $10.
• Senior and student admission: $10.
• 50% of all tickets sold will benefit Hospitality House
• Play Readings (held on Saturdays at 2 p.m.) are no charge, although donations are appreciated.
• Dinner and a Show Package: This package includes a two-course meal at Mark Restaurant & Bar plus a ticket to the show; cost is $30 per person.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Show tickets may be purchased safely and securely online here on via phone at 206-242-5180.

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Burien’s Little Theater announced today that it will be producing the first all-nude musical to ever be performed in Burien.

“Finding Nudo,” is a Dingleberry Award-winning musical about a lost, naked fish and a hungry shark who befriends him. It will be performed entirely naked in a pool by a cast of 45 starting June 31st.

As part of the innovative “show,” the entire BLT auditorium will be flooded during the first act. The audience will be required to not only wear life jackets, but each viewer will have to pass a strenuous Coast Guard-certified swimming test prior to the curtain rising.

It will feature special guest appearances by various local celebrities, similar to what BLT did with “The Rocky Horror Show” last year. BLT informs us that they’ve already secured appearances by the mayor, city manager, the parks director, and three employees of RedFlex, who now run the entire city finance department. All are currently rehearsing and learning how to swim at a pool at a local health club.

They’re also seeking other residents by placing flyers in local gym showers and various “saunas” located on Ambaum Blvd.

Sponsored entirely by Dan the Sausageman, auditions  for “Finding Nudo” begin Thursday night (April 2nd) at 7pm sharp, and thespians who can sing and are comfortable naked in front of uncaring Burienites are encouraged to show up in front of The Tin Room, unannounced, totally nude and ready to sing a showtown using a sausage as a microphone.

Burien’s Hi-Liners are getting ready for spring’s growing season by planting a hilarious man-eating plant on stage in the classic “Little Shop of Horrors,” which begins Friday March 20th at the Renton Carco Theater.

Here are the details:

WHAT: The Hi-Liners production of “Little Shop of Horrors”

WHEN:

Friday, March 20 – 7:30pm
Saturday, March 21 – 7:30pm
Sunday March 22 – 1:30pm
Friday, March 27 – 7:30pm
Saturday, March 28 – 7:30pm
Sunday, March 29 – 1:30pm

WHERE: The Renton Carco Theater, located at 1717 SE Maple Valley Hwy in Renton (map below)

INFO: A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill- tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty And The Beast” and “Aladdin.” Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, “Little Shop Of Horrors” never fails to entertain.

“Little Shop of Horrors” is a story that includes unusual characters, such as a man-eating plant from outer space and a sadistic dentist. The language is mild, and all mature subject matter is dealt with in a humorous, cartoonish manner.

This show is suitable for most audiences and involves cast members as young as 9.

Parental discretion is advised for children under 12.

Please reference the 1986 Frank Oz film of the same name for more insight.

TICKETS:

• Adults: $18.00
• Students/Seniors: $15
• Children 12 and under: $12
• Ask us about our group discounts! Call 206-617-2152.

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

For more information, please visit the Hi-Liners website.

Want a taste of this classic? Check out this clip from the 1986 film featuring Steve Martin:

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When Jacob Ambaum Park (located on Ambaum near SW 128th) opened up last May, we received numerous emails and comments from concerned parents about the lack of a gate or fence to protect little ones from running out into the busy street.

Well, just this last week, a brand new fence and gate was installed by the City of Burien, possibly due to Reader comments like:

Not my personal ideal children’s playground location, nestled in between gas stations there, and right along the busy road, but I hope it can stay kind of nice for a while. – Seashell

Well, it looks like a really fun park for my boys of 4 and 9 months. Unfortunately I won’t be going there until it’s completely fenced in. Ambaum is too busy for an ornamental fence with two exits facing the busy street. Turn your back for a 1/2 second and the kids are in the street. I’m not the only one who feels this way. The Moms group I belong to has also boycotted this park until it’s safer. - burienmom

…we also will not be visiting this park until it is completely fenced in.  No gates + small children + busy street = really bad!  Too bad, we live so close. – jenamarie

Attempting to play a role as neighborhood watchblog, we forwarded all emails and comments onto Michael LaFraniere, Director of Burien Parks, who promised us action.

It took a little while, but at least something happened!

For you local history buffs out there, here some background on Jacon Ambaum Park:

The history of Jacob Ambaum Park includes not only details of Jacob Ambaum’s life and times, but also the story of the roads and streetcar line he helped build – both of which played a vital role in opening up Burien to settlement and development.

In 1870, the Soloman family purchased 319 acres in North Burien from the U.S. Government. The Solomans settled near SW 128th and Ambaum Blvd, an area known as Mayfair and Hermes Depression. Soloman hoped that draining this swamp would yield rich bottomland for farming. After failing to do so, however, he sold off the land. Some of the early buyers included the Jacob Ambaum family.

A skilled jack-of-all-trades, Jacob Ambaum, a German immigrant via Ohio, was a road-builder, realtor, investor, and chicken rancher. In 1902, he brought his wife, Mary, to homestead in Hazel Valley. Ambaum’s thickly timbered property extended from 126th to 128th SW, and from Ambaum Blvd. to 8th Ave. SW, including the present site of St. Bernadette’s School. An existing house, dating to the 1880s, sat on the property. A new house was built in 1916. The Ambaums’ homestead was bordered in the front by a large gate flanked by imported Norway spruce.

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Burien Little Theatre’s next production is The Lady’s Not for Burning – a hilarious romantic comedy about unexpected love and a small 14th-century town in an uproar over a reluctant bride, a falsely accused witch, and a soldier determined to be hanged. Painfully tender and deliciously funny, this modern comedy – sponsored by KUOW and BTB Advertiser The Mark Restaurant & Bar – was written by English playwright Christopher Fry.

The play tells the story of a discharged soldier, Thomas Mendip, who wants to be hanged, but has committed no crime so he confesses to any; and an accused witch, Jennet Jourdemayne, whose alleged crimes are ludicrous, but the Mayor and town are determined to believe Jennet a witch regardless. Hilarity ensues as events and circumstances turn inside out, ending happily for all.

The Lady’s Not for Burning will run at Burien Little Theatre from 
Feb. 13 – March 8 (opening night is Friday, Feb. 13th). Tickets are $5-$18. 
A performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call the ticket office at 
206-242-5180. You can also buy tickets directly online by clicking here.

The play, although set in the Middle Ages, was based on World War I veterans returning back home. In a 2002 interview, Fry describes his play as a comment, told in a comedic voice, about a hypocritical post-war society that has no use for its veterans, marries for money, overlooks crimes when expedient and condemns a girl who lives alone and dabbles in science. Fortunately for the audience this perspective is delivered through Christopher Fry’s witty language ending on a note of hope and love.

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT LOCAL FOOD BANKS
Burien Little Theatre and the City of Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department in partnership with the White Center Food Bank and the Highline Area Food Bank will hold a food drive during the performance run. You can help when you come to the performances by bringing in nonperishable food items such as:

• Tuna fish
• Cereal
• Canned soups
• Condensed milk
• Canned meats
• Pastas
• Peanut butter

Donations will also be accepted on non-performance days at the main Parks office located in the Community Center.

THE CAST
The Lady’s Not for Burning is directed by Ken Holmes and features the talents of:

• Mike Albert (Thomas Mendip)
• Anna Richardson (Jennet Jourdemayne)
• Thomas Maier (Richard)
• Emily Elkins Cochran (Alizon Eliot)
• John Ruppeck (Mayor Hebble Tyson)
• Don Samman (Edward Tappercoom)
• Eli Simons (Humphrey Devize)
• Brooks Farr (Nicholas Devize)
• Laurie Winogrand (Margaret Devize)
• Mike Andrew (the Chaplain)
• Mark McQuinn (Matthew Skipps)

ABOUT BURIEN LITTLE THEATRE
Community-based theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, The Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. Burien Little Theatre’s Mission is to make every audience member’s experience at BLT a welcoming, lively and fun escape from the everyday world, beginning the moment they walk in the door, by providing high-quality, accessible and exciting theater. 
BLT is a nonprofit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, and volunteers.

SCHEDULE FOR “THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING”

• Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Friday – Opening Night
• Feb. 14 at 8:00 p.m Saturday
• Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• Feb. 20 at 8:00 p.m. Friday - $5 Buck Friday
• Feb. 21 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• Feb. 27 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• Feb. 28 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 1 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 7 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 8 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee

THEATRE LOCATION
The Theater at the Burien Community Center Building 425 SW 144th Street
 Burien, WA 98166-1545
 (206) 242-5180

The Community Center is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 146th Street in Burien (see map below, or get directions at www.burienlittletheatre.com)

TICKET PRICES & PACKAGES

• General admission: $18 Fridays and Saturdays, $15 Sundays.
• Senior and student admission: $15
• Five Buck Friday February 20: All seats $5, with audience members welcome to donate more.
• Discounts available for pre-booked groups of 10 or more; call or visit the website for additional information.
• Dinner and a Show Package: This package includes a two-course meal at Mark Restaurant & Bar plus a ticket to the show; cost is $35 per person.
• Buy tickets directly online by clicking here.

PURCHASE TICKETS
Show tickets can be purchased directly online by clicking here, or by calling 206-242-5180.

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