A match made in ...

Pam Nolte as the matchmaker

The Broadway hit, The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, tells the story of a woman determined to win the prize of a rich husband for herself, though she pretends to have the interests of others in mind. It's the hilarious tale of marrying up (finding a mate with money), despite the conventions of culture and expectations of society.

The Taproot Theatre production stars Pam Nolte as the matchmaker; her hapless target is the rich businessman Horace Vandergelder, convincingly played by Robert Gallaher. Directed by Scott Nolte, the play had the audience in stitches. I blinked in amazement a few times at the twists and turns of the plot as the cast frolicked around the simple stage. Once again, the set designers provided just enough furnishings to support the lively acting.

Brad Walker as Barnaby Tucker

I have to say that the spinster aunt, played by Kim Morris, stole the show and upped the energy with her rousing performance in the production last weekend. Our other favorites were the young apprentices, played by Robert Hines and Brad Walker.

The play whirls by with lots of energy: you're never far from the action inside the intimate space of Taproot! I was so engrossed that I was surprised by the intermission. Afterwards on the sidewalk, people continued buzzing and chuckling over the antics of the characters.

Asha Stichter and Natalie Moe watch the action.

This feel-good play is the perfect entertainment after a stressful work-week. I recommend it for girlfriends on a night out, date night for couples, or as a fun family activity with teens and older. College students will easily identify with the break-from-constraints hijinks of the young characters, too. Come prepared to laugh aloud, relax, and walk away feeling good.

Photos are by Erik Stuhaug. Media tickets were provided by Taproot. The show runs until October 19 | For tickets call 206.781.9707 or click here.

Bach at Leipzig

This might be the best play we've seen at Taproot Theatre! It engages the mind and tickles the funny bone. Attendees were buzzing with their favorites one-liners, chuckling as we left the show.

"The more you know, the more you are rewarded," exclaimed my husband as we walked to the car.

Honestly, it didn't sound very exciting from the description and I wasn't sure we'd enjoy it. Were we happily surprised! The 2 1/2 hour play, Bach at Leipzig by Itamar Moses, was a romp through the pretensions of ambition and twists of personality. From accidental drug overdoses to backstabbings to romantic alliances, the playwright had us doubled over.

The story line? A bunch of organists are vying for the prestigious job of playing at church and leading the music school in Leibzig, Germany. It's 1722, the main organist has just died, and six musicians descend to grab for the power and prestige that they hope comes from the post.

• the habitual pickpocket and forger
• the legalist who wants to stick to tradition
• the innovator who wants change
• the playboy who collects and discards his mistresses
• the bumbling diplomat
• the "always-second-in-line" wanna-be

If you've ever been in hot competition for a job or watched others form and undo alliances to get promoted, you'll recognize the funny business satirized in this play. Mind you, a beautiful description of a fugue and lots of other historical snippets are crammed between the hijinks.

We laughed through the shenanigans of political alliances, musical references, religious infighting, and cultural insights. Running gags sped along like a Bach invention, including spoofs on names, satires on stereotypes, and cleverly repeated motivs. (Each musician exclaims, "If only         , I could be the greatest organist ever." Sure. Sure.)

The costumes are wonderful, the lighting and narration superb - this play kept a steady pace; we were leaning forward in our seats to see what on earth the next twists and turns could be. Just when we thought we'd figured it out, off they went again!

The body acting is hilarious: we howled through the sword-fighting scene. You won't know what to expect next! The surprises keep coming.

I especially recommend it to:

• those who love satire or sarcasm (the humor never stops) 
• the ambitious (it will teach you to leave your pretensions behind)
• the academic or historian (the historical fiction is mind-boggling)
• the musician or music student (you'll recognize most of the musical references and maybe learn some new ones). This is one a music teacher could happily recommend to students!
• the playwright or storyteller (for the clever language and compelling tale)
• those who just want a fun night out, this will do it.

The play runs through June 15. Don't miss it! Click here for tickets.

Tickets provided the reviewer by Taproot. All photos by Erik Stuhaug.

PG Wodehouse comes to town

Taproot Theatre put on a fun matinee Saturday. The play Jeeves in Bloom reintroduced me to classic PG Wodehouse characters: the English aristocratic airhead Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves. (The show runs through March 2 and is almost sold out. Click for tickets here.)

Photos by Eric Stuhaug

My husband and I fell in love with PG Wodehouse's satire-filled humor after watching Jeeves and Wooster, a BBC TV show (1990-93) starring Hugh Laurie (House) and Stephen Fry. I was delighted to see that Taproot was putting on a production about the famed duo.

As usual, the cast seemed to enjoy their roles. Starting with "Aunt Dalia's" summons for Wooster to join her at her country house, we were hooked. "Aunt Dalia" (Kim Morris) had us in paroxysms of laughter with her loud guffaws and great body acting. Matt Shimkus played the comic butler-know-it-all and Aaron Lamb had fun with Bertie's part. Highlights included a hilarious scene of lip-synching courtship, satirical comments on dress, values, and relationships, and the unfailingly beautiful vocabulary. (I miss British English since our 6-month stint in Cambridge.)

The show combined the best of Wodehouse's novels, setting the action of upper-crust culture, 1920s slang, and literary references in an English garden. The more literate the audience, the more fun the play!

Audience reception was fervent and enthusiastic. We were laughing within minutes, sometimes astonished at the play's cleverness, sometimes with pure pleasure at the understated satire.

I recommend this for Wodehouse fans as well as those who need a hearty chuckle or two. Take a friend and enjoy the show! (Click here to buy tickets.)

Media tickets provided the reviewer.

Go see this show!

I love going to Taproot Theatre and am looking forward to a show on the weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. Here's the info for all you Wodehouse and Jeeves and Wooster fans:

Photo by Eric Stuhaug

Jeeves in Bloom at Taproot Theatre

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:08 AM PST

The press release said: “Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse’s classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom.” I had to try – you know. January can be the longest month of the year, and I was about done. So, Saturday night, my husband and I kicked off February, used the tickets provided by Taproot...
Read More »

Plain good fun: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol

One of the pleasures of Taproot Theatre is the gift of attention. Sitting in the small theater provides relief from Seattle's culture of auditory and visual bombardment. At Taproot, we strain forward to hear, lean back to laugh, and sit up to watch the actors bring the stories to life.

Last night, W and I visited Taproot for the return of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, two years after the play's debut to an enthusiastic audience. I wasn't sure what to expect though I've found Taproot's choice of plays varied and exciting in the past.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eavesdrop on the past, while truly seeing the present and anticipating the future. What have we forgotten about growing up that has informed today's choices? How are the small decisions of the day shaping the future of those we love and those who love us? Do our lives make a difference?

Sherlock Holmes gets to explore those musings in The Case of the Christmas Carol. Edward Moore convincingly centers the action, drawing us from reservation about Holmes to enjoying his humanity, surprising us with his likeability. Pam Nolte, playing Holmes' landlady, the First Spirit, and the Doctor, transitions easily from one part to another, though I occasionally found her fluttering ghostliness distracting. Stephen Grenley deserves mention for his performances in anchoring roles of Watson, Mycroft, and the Third Spirit.

With a minimal backdrop and no set changes, great costuming, and emphatic lighting, the stage came alive under the direction of Scott Nolte. The story intertwines Dicken's Christmas Carol and a reintroduction of Holmes after his reported death three years earlier. It was great fun to see "Tim" of Dickens' story, interacting with Arthur Doyle's Sherlock characters. Playright John Longenbaugh, sitting right in front of us, must have been delighted with the audience participation on Opening Night. At the end, the audience cheered the cast with two enthusiastic curtain calls.

Need something to get you in the mood for Christmas? Looking for a way to celebrate the season? If you'd relish a date night, a family outing, or just love drama, I highly recommend tickets (click here) to this production. (Save on dinner before the show as we did, started our evening with a fabulous dinner at Gorditas: we split a monstrous burrito -- and wrapped up half for leftover, too -- before heading across the street to Taproot.) HAVE FUN and enjoy the show!

Reviewer tickets provided by Taproot.

Gaudy Night: great fun at the theatre!

W and I enjoyed the Gaudy Night show at Taproot Theatre last night! Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte knows his actors and his space and once again provided an entertaining evening.

The story starts in 1935 with a girls'-night gone wrong. In an era where society questioned the value of educating women, female dons and students tried to minimize any scandal: when one occurred, it was not easily forgiven or forgotten.

Oxford alumni of 1935 have gathered for their annual Gaudy Night celebrations but a cloud hangs over their women's college. Crude notes threaten mayhem and vandalism almost derails a celebration. Who can find the culprit?

Enter detective novelist Harriet Vane, 15-year alumna of Shrewsbury College. FYI for those of you unaware of British university systems: separate "colleges" - what we call universities - are clustered under a single university name. Thus, Oxford University today consists of 38 independent, self-governing colleges with a governing regent, usually someone famous. (Prince Philip is regent of Cambridge, for instance.)

If you like entertaining fun, this who-did-it? surprises the viewer with its twists and turns, delights with cultural insights into British academia, spinsterhood, and the early C20 class system. Don't miss the romantic banter between the female novelist and her suitor and mentor, Sayer's hero and British diplomat, Lord Peter Wimsey. The audience around me sat on the edges of their seats. Sometimes they laughed aloud at the British humor, occasionally they held their breath with suspense, sucked into the story like I was.

As usual, Taproot maximizes its small stage. The audience sits close enough to get intimately involved in the action, which my seat-mates and first-time attendees kept exclaiming about. The set changes, minimal, efficient, and at times resembling a choreographed dance, fired our imaginations as the action traveled between library, guestroom, faculty offices, and punt (a small river boat beloved by students because it requires great balance to pole along). The costuming (by Sarah Burch Gordon) was simple and authentic.

The actors' body acting riveted my attention as much as the script by Frances Limoncelli. Jeff Berryman (Lord Peter Wimsey) and Alyson Scadron Branner (Harriet Vane) were convincingly funny and serious by turn. Overall this show was outstanding, barring small blips in lines that stopped the flow a few times and occasional foul language.

My recommendation (and my guest's): ****+ or 4.5 stars. I'd say, "DON'T miss this one!" Gaudy Night is Taproot's final play of the 2012 season, running through October 20. It's long (2:20) but the story is hilarious and full of adventure. If you'd like to stay behind to discuss the play, purchase Wednesday tickets.

Coming up for 2013: Jeeves in Bloom (if you haven't meet P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster, you'll laugh yourself to bits at the interaction between the silly nobleman and butler); Lopez's The Whipping Man; Moses' Bach at Leipzig; Mills' adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in Illyria; and Wilder comedic The Matchmaker.

Tickets were provided gratis to the reviewer by Taproot.

Close to life - a day out with Tartuffe at Taproot Theatre

We laughed, we moaned. After the first five minutes of dialogue, if I could have, I would have smacked Tartuffe before I even met him on stage.

I took time off from studies for Tartuffe, a play at Taproot Theatre. Tartuffe is a charlatan who worms his ways into the graces of a hot-tempered, not-too-thoughtful nobleman. The chaos he brings to the household had the audience leaning forward on their seats. By the second half, we were groaning, chuckling, and listening to our neighbors' whispers, as they advised the actors on how to deal with Tartuffe.

The satirical morality play, banned by the Church until the playwright's sovereign intervened, felt a little close to reality for me. Especially, after various televangelist scandals, hearing about hucksters who claim to be holy, and the historical parallels I've read about in my studies.

Taproot Theatre, with limited resources and actors, stretches its facility and personnel with great plays and thoughtful performances. Karen Lund produced the show, which had excellent casting. Tartuffe's comedic presence depends on body language as well as verse. We enjoyed watching the actors "standing by," as well as those who were speaking. Their physical comedy engaged us and drew us into the action. In particular, Ruth McRee as Madame Pernelle, and Charity Parenzini as the servant Dorine, captured my attention in the first scene and held it to their last lines.

Oh, the costumes. The costumes. Beautiful, especially in the intimate space that showed off the details of dresses and doublets.

I'd recommend the play for college students and young adults who value integrity (you'll recognize the opposite in the self-serving Tartuffe). Mature adults, who have "seen it all" in religious and political communities, will be shaking your heads, thinking of your own roster of names as you watch the hapless being taken in, the friends and family who advise, and the deceiver who passes as devout. Though the play resolved abruptly, we talked about Tartuffe through dinner and all the way home.

Well worth the price of a ticket (click here), -- especially if you take time to talk afterwards!

Tartuffe, by Molière, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur
Directed by Karen Lund

WHEN: February 1-March 3 (Wednesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday-Saturday, 8 pm; Saturday matinees, 2 pm)

Dates to note:
Pay What You Can: February 8, 7:30 pm
Senior Matinee: February 15, 2 pm
Student Matinee: February 7, 10 am
Post-play Discussions: Wednesday nights, excluding preview

WHERE: Taproot Theatre Company, 204 North 85th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through Taproot Theatre’s box office, in person or by phone at 206.781.9707. Tickets range from $22-37, depending on the performance. Taproot offers a $5 senior/student discount off regular priced tickets. $15 tickets are available for ages 25 and under. Tickets for the senior matinee are $20. Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call 206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office only; contact the box office for details.

Note: Taproot provided complimentary tickets to the reviewer, but we bought an extra to accommodate our party. No regrets!

Need a night out? Ticket announcement for "Tartuffe"

We love Taproot Theatre. We trust their directors and artists to choose uplifting, informative, and entertaining plays. Don't miss the next offering - a funny and enlightening look at life, from a French POV. Here are the details:

Taproot Theatre begins its 2012 season with Molière’s Tartuffe

Follies & fools, charlatans & scoundrels take the stage on February 1

SEATTLE – December 29, 2011 – Taproot Theatre kicks off the 2012 season with Molière’s hilariously clever satire, Tartuffe. Moliere’s comic masterpiece brings us a con artist extraordinaire who oozes piety and charm.  Will Tartuffe’s hypocrisy be discovered before Organ’s household is turned on its head? Enjoy lightning-quick wit, star-crossed lovers, a badgering grandma and a plot that could be ripped from today’s headlines – or a Saturday night comedy show.  Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Tartuffe which opens February 3 and runs through March 3, with previews on February 1 and 2.

Tartuffe scandalized many of Molière’s contemporaries and was banned in 1664. Molière himself believed that, “As the duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them, I believed that in my occupation I could do nothing better than attack the vices of my age by making them ridiculous…” and in his first appeal to the King wrote that, “since hypocrisy is, without doubt, one of the most common, the most harmful, and the most dangerous of these, I thought, Sire, that I would render no small service to all the honorable men of your kingdom if I were to make a comedy that would discredit the hypocrites and present all the artificial gestures that these worthy folk display…”

“The more I read it, the more modern it feels,” director Karen Lund said about this powerful story of grace and hopes the audience will, “take a kernel of truth about life” while falling in love with the stylized absurdity that comes to life on stage through various forms of comedy—the hilarity of physical slapstick to Richard Wilbur’s smart translation of Molière’s play on words. Wilbur’s version stays true to Molière’s rhyming verse, writing the entire play in rhyming couplets.

The production features a talented cast of Charissa Adams, Don Brady, Ryan Childers, Solomon Davis, Nathan Jeffrey, William Hamer, Frank Lawler, Ruth McRee, Jesse Notehelfer and Josh Smyth. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Roberta Russell. Anne L. Hitt serves as stage manager and David Anthony Lewis as dramaturg.

Following Tartuffe, Taproot Theatre presents Freud’s Last Session, running March 21 through April 21 (opening on March 23).

Tartuffe

By Molière, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur

Directed by Karen Lund

WHEN: February 1-March 3
Wed.-Thurs. 7:30 pm
Fri.-Sat. 8 pm
Sat. matinees 2 pm

Dates to note:
Previews:
Feb. 1 & 2@7:30 pm
Opening Feb. 3@8 pm
Pay What You Can: Feb. 8@7:30 pm
Senior Matinee: Feb. 15@2 pm
Student Matinee: Feb. 7@10 am
Post-play Discussions:
Wed. nights, excluding preview

WHERE: Taproot Theatre Company
204 North 85^th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

TICKETS: Tickets available online at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through Taproot Theatre’s box office, in person or by phone at 206.781.9707. Ticket range: 

• $22-37, depending on the performance. 
• $5 senior/student discount off regular priced tickets (excludes previews). 
• $15 tickets are available for ages 25 and under. Tickets for the senior matinee are $20. 
• Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call 206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office only; contact the box office for details.

ABOUT:  Molière’s comic masterpiece brings us the imposter Tartuffe, a con artist extraordinaire who oozes piety and charm.  Will his hypocrisy be discovered before Orgon’s household is turned on its head? This famous farce is a cautionary tale told with lightning-quick wit, complete with star-crossed lovers, a badgering grandma and a plot that could be ripped from the headlines – or a Saturday night comedy show.

ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non‐profit theatre company with a multi‐faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and the Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood‐Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to our opening night sponsor, The Upper Crust. Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2012 Mainstage season is generously provided by The Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, ArtsFund, 4Culture, Fales Foundation Trust and Nesholm Family Foundation.

Who's the Ideal Husband?

"I was wondering why people were hanging around my house the other day," joked a friend when we told him we were going to Taproot Theatre's production of An Ideal Husband. Yeah, well, they would have shown up at our house too, if that were true :-)

The story line, of a husband trying to live up to the impossible ideals of his adoring "perfect" wife, is one of playwright Oscar Wilde's most insightful and compelling. Who hasn't had to admit to past mistakes and imperfections? If you're like me and have had to -fess up more than once or twice, you'll love An Ideal Husband, no question about it!

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” ~ Oscar Wilde

We arrived to the usual buzz in the little theater on 85th. There's not a bad seat in the house, though it's usually full. We were lucky to move over a few seats when the guy next to us propped his foot up to block our view of a corner of the stage. My polite ideal mate wouldn't ask the man to put his foot down, but we didn't want to miss a thing. I appreciated the media tickets and am delighted to present you with this review:

“An acquaintance that begins with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship.” ~ Oscar Wilde

As usual, Taproot does great job of casting. I especially enjoyed the clueless matron, Lady Markby (Pam Nolte), Mabel Chiltern (Anne Kennedy Brady), and Lord Goring (Aaron Lamb). Though Lamb doesn't dazzle in the first bit, he snuck up on us as a convincing rake and ne-er-do-well. Karen Lund's directing continues to showcase her experience and quest for excellence, both with the dramatic material and the theater's space. The actors made full use of the stage, telling us terrible truths about ourselves with wit and humor. How they made us laugh with their characterizations of "beautiful idiots and brilliant lunatics!"

Oscar Wilde's psychological insights into human nature, class, and the culture of his day astonish: he captures his peers' (and our) foibles and efforts at life in conversations filled with hilarity, sarcasm, and irony. Those one-liners kept rolling off the lips with convincing British accents... we perched on the edges of our seats wondering what was coming next. Since we've lived in the UK, the dialogue details jumped out at us with added realism. Sometimes audience chuckles drowned out a line or two - we tried to be good, but the play - and Taproot's portrayal of C19 Victorian life - was too funny to resist a few belly laughs at ourselves.

One of the things I enjoy most about Taproot is its costuming and staging. Since the stage is small, surrounded by people, and visible from three sides, the layout demands uncluttered simplicity and good dramatic support. With a few pieces of furniture, wonderful outfits, and good casting, the play came alive. I've seen Wilde's play a few times, but I can't every remember enjoying it more.

"When the gods want to punish, they answer our prayers." ~ Oscar Wilde

The people sitting next to us were first-timers to Taproot. "We live in the neighborhood," they admitted. "But we've never been here before." The husband was new to Wilde as well, and judging by comments and laughter between the couple, they had a great time. Both promised to return soon. We agree: a thoroughly satisfying and convincing evening out. Don't miss it!

The show runs through October 22. Tickets available here. (My son noticed that "under 25s" tickets are only $10, so why not make it a date?)

If you love drama, would like to support a small local theater, and think it's important to encourage excellence in entertainment, consider a subscription so you can enjoy the whole season. Tickets make great birthday or Christmas gifts, too!

Photo credits: Erik Stuhaug

Good for a laugh and a night out!

Don't miss the new season of Taproot Theatre coming soon... after the end of this one!

Taproot Theatre concludes 35^th Anniversary Season with An Ideal Husband

Oscar Wilde’s comedic classic opens on September 23

SEATTLE – August 16, 2011 – Taproot Theatre brings the work of one of Britain’s wittiest playwrights to the stage this fall with Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. Dandies and diamonds swirl in and out of this comedic classic. Sir Robert appears to be the ideal husband, until a choice from early in his career comes back to haunt him. Can he be restored to his adoring wife or will the truth be everyone’s undoing? This smart satire sparkles with wit and romance. Written by Oscar Wilde and directed by Karen Lund, An Ideal Husband opens on September 23 and runs through October 22, with previews on September 21 and 22.

Although perhaps lesser known than Wilde’s beloved The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband captures all of his wit and sparkle. Wilde was an Irish writer and poet, and one of the great playwrights of the Victorian era. He is known for his short stories, his one novel—The Picture of Dorian Gray—and a number of plays including An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Windermere’s Fan and A Woman of No Importance.

An Ideal Husband premiered at the Haymarket Theatre in January 1895 and ran for 124 performances. In addition to being produced countless times at theatres around the world, it has also been adapted for television, radio and film, including the 1999 film starring Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Rupert Everett.

The production features a talented cast of Ryan Childers, Anne Kennedy, Aaron Lamb, Adrienne Littleton, Joe Monroe, Pam Nolte, Nolan Palmer, Simon Pringle, Candace Vance, Nikki Visel and Sarah Ware. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Nanette Acosta and lighting designer Jody Briggs. Anne L. Hitt serves as stage manager and Sonja Lowe as dramaturg.

Following An Ideal Husband, Taproot Theatre presents Beasley’s Christmas Party, running November 18 through December 30 (opening on November 25).

An Ideal Husband

By Oscar Wilde

Directed by Karen Lund

WHEN: September 21-October 22 (Wednesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday matinees, 2 p.m.)

Dates to note:

·         Previews: September 21 & 22, 7:30 p.m.
·         Opening night: Friday, September 23, 8 p.m.
·         Pay What You Can: September 28, 7:30 p.m.
·         Senior Matinee: October 5, 2 p.m.
·         Student Matinees: October 11
·         Post-play Discussions: Wednesday nights, excluding preview

WHERE: Taproot Theatre Company, 204 North 85^th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through Taproot Theatre’s box office, in person or by phone at 206.781.9707. Tickets range from $20-35, depending on the performance. Taproot offers a $3 senior/student discount off regular priced tickets (excludes previews). $10 tickets are available for ages 25 and under. Tickets for the senior matinee are $20. Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call 206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office only; contact the box office for details.

ABOUT: Dandies and diamonds swirl in and out of this comedic classic.  Sir Chiltern appears to be the ideal husband, until a choice from early in his career comes back to haunt him.  Can he be restored to his adoring wife or will the truth be everyone’s undoing?  This smart satire sparkles with wit and romance.

ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non‐profit theatre company with a multi‐faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and the Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood‐Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to our opening night sponsor, The Upper Crust. Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2011 Mainstage season is generously provided by The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, The Seattle Foundation, ArtsFund, 4Culture, PONCHO and Nesholm Family Foundation.

2012-13 Season - Taproot Theatre

I love this company. Every show has been interesting and has showcased human life and interactions. Can't wait for the new line-up. Thought I'd include their press release below, so all you theatre lovers can get your tickets early. If you've never been to a live show, get ready to be wowed and to step into the story!
------------------------
 

Taproot Theatre Company announces 2012 Season

Season includes two regional premieres, a sparkling musical full of nostalgia, and a heartland comedy that’ll make you relive your family vacations

SEATTLE – June 28, 2011 – Taproot Theatre Company is excited to announce the lineup for its 36^th season, a year packed with comedy, classics and romance. The season features two regional premieres, a comedic road trip with the family, and a musical full of nostalgia and harmony. Taproot Theatre’s Company’s 2012 Season runs from January through October. The resubscription period is currently underway, with subscriptions opening to the general public on October 3.

Taproot Theatre’s 2012 opens with Molière’s Tartuffe (translated by Richard Wilbur), a fast -paced farce that will have audiences rolling with laughter and rhyming in couplets (February 1-March 3).

Next comes the regional premiere of Freud’s Last Session, the off-Broadway hit by Mark St. Germain. Two of the 20^th century’s greatest minds—C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud—spar to the end in this fictional meeting (March 21- April 21).

In the spring, Taproot Theatre gets in vacation mode with Leaving Iowa. By Tim Clue and Spike Manton, this warm and funny celebration of the classic family road trip reminds us that sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination (May 16- June 16). 

Then it’s Chaps, which is perhaps your only chance to see a British cowboy croon at the moon, in this musical by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner, with vocal arrangements by Malcolm Hillgartner and Chip Duford (July 11-August 11).

Finally, Taproot Theatre wraps up its 2012 Season in the fall with the regional premiere of Dorothy Sayer’s Gaudy Night, adapted by Frances Limoncelli. Sayers’ signature wit, insight and charm will delight you in this dazzling mystery (September 19-October 20).

Ticket and Subscription Information:

Performances take place Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with matinees on Saturdays. Taproot Theatre is currently in its resubscription period; subscriptions open to the public on October 3, and single tickets go on sale in January 2011.

Subscribers save up to 18% over single ticket prices, plus enjoy great benefits like priority seating, discounts on additional tickets, free ticket exchanges, a subscriber rewards card and more. Subscribers have a number of packages to choose from, including three- and five-play season subscriptions and a Flex Pass subscription, which gives patrons more flexibility when scheduling their tickets.

For more information about subscriptions and single tickets, visit www.taproottheatre.org or contact the box office at 206.781.9707 or box@taproottheatre.org.  The box office is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m., and until show time on performance nights.

All performances are held at Taproot Theatre, located at 204 N. 85^th St. in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood. The 226-seat theatre is wheelchair accessible and is equipped with assisted listening devices.

ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non‐profit theatre company with a multi‐faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and the Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood‐Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to our opening night sponsor, The Upper Crust. Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2012 Mainstage season is generously provided by The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, The Seattle Foundation, ArtsFund, 4Culture, PONCHO, and the Nesholm Family Foundation.

Wild women in the woods

Take five women of different backgrounds, educational and economic brackets, and marital status. Then mix in ethnicity, diverse worldviews, individual ways of "how things are done," and add a daughter or two for each... and you have a volatile mix. 

Cram the women in a cabin in the woods, let the lights flicker on and off, and add a downpour. Meanwhile, entertain the kids, whose ideas of adventure include watching a video in the van, going to the bathroom in the woods, and other non-camping preferences. Let the fun, shouting, tantrums, and learning begin (among the parents)!

My husband and I loved the play written by Janesse Schaeffer and directed by Karen Lund. We laughed and cried along with the actors who earned "BROWNIE POINTS" with us for their portrayal of honesty and vulnerability.

I spent last weekend at Cannon Beach with my accountability group. We four women have met for almost 18 years. We've formed deep and trusting relationships, but still have moments of adjustment and disagreement. We work hard to include each one and feel included. I kept thinking, sitting at Taproot Theatre, how we four would respond if a stranger with a completely different history and unique expectations tossed her hat into our ring. Sparks might fly!


Go see "Brownie Points" if you can. Take a neighbor or friend - and be prepared to examine your assumptions about people you know. Let your guard down for discussions that follow. Rather than offering relationship solutions, the play opens the door to take an honest look at American culture and friendships. Audience members hung around after the show to talk about what they'd experienced.

Ladies, if you've ever thought you were the only one who struggles to make it through a day, you'll be among friends. Gentlemen, if you ever wondered how women think and what they talk about, you'll get an insider's perspective.

Don't miss it! And be sure to take in the quiz and display in the upper foyer before or after the show. Once again, Taproot hits it out of the park, pulling us into a story, and showing - as well as telling - how sweet and complicated life can be.


Actors: Faith Russell, Karen Ann Daniels, Amy Love, Casi Wilkerson, and Nikki Visel. Photos by Erik Stuhaug. Tickets provided the reviewer by Taproot.

West-coast premiere of award-winning show... almost here!

Here's the scoop for the next award-winning show Brownie Points at Taproot in Seattle. Sounds like great entertainment for the family as motherhood and racial assumptions collide. For more information check the Taproot website.

(Photos by Tanya Barber)

Taproot Theatre presents West Coast premiere of Brownie Points

Opening on May 20, premiere continues Taproot’s 35^th Anniversary Season

SEATTLE – “Brownie Points began with the question, ‘what is more powerful: the shared experience of motherhood or the divisiveness of race?’” says playwright Janece Shaffer of her new dramedy, making its West Coast premiere at Taproot Theatre this spring. Directed by Karen Lund, Brownie Points opens on May 20 and runs through June 18, with previews on May 18 and 19.

The girls' club pledge never promised camping would be easy...for the moms. In the late night mayhem of a backwoods campout a storm rages outside, while a squall builds inside the cabin. Set against tranquil mountains, the close quarters, diverse backgrounds and differing walks of life collide, spurring hilarious but meaningful conversations about race, religion and parenting.

“I love how this play gets to the heart of sensitive issues, by couching them in the comic moments of our everyday lives, making them accessible,” said Lund. “It basically comes down to what’s more important, people’s differences in things like race and religion, or what they have in common, which in the case of these women is the struggle to raise their kids the best way they know how.”

Brownie Points premiered to sold-out crowds at Theatrical Outfit in February 2010. Shaffer won the Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award for Brownie Points in November (she also won the award in 2009 for Managing Maxine). In addition to writing, Shaffer serves as director of communications for the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Shaffer will visit Taproot Theatre for the week of Brownie Points’ opening.

Taproot Theatre’s production includes a talented cast of Karen Ann Daniels, Faith Russell, Nikki Visel and Casi Wilkerson. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Jody Briggs. Anne Hitt serves as stage manager and Sonja Lowe as dramaturg.

Following Brownie Points, Taproot Theatre presents Something’s Afoot, running July 13 through August 13.

 HERE'S MORE info:

Brownie Points

By Janece Shaffer

Directed by Karen Lund

WHEN: 

·         Previews: May 18 & 19, 7:30 p.m.
·         Opening night: May 20, 8 p.m.
·         Pay What You Can: May 25, 7:30 p.m.
·         Senior Matinee: June 1, 2 p.m.
·         Student Matinee: June 7, 10 a.m.
·         Post-play Discussions: Wednesday nights, excluding preview

WHERE: Taproot Theatre Company, 204 North 85^th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through Taproot Theatre’s box office, in person or by phone at 206.781.9707. Tickets range from $20-35, depending on the performance. Taproot offers a $3 senior/student discount off regular priced tickets (excludes previews). $10 tickets are available for ages 25 and under. Tickets for the senior matinee are $20. Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call 206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office only; contact the box office for details.

ABOUT: The girls' club pledge never promised camping would be easy...for the moms. In the late night mayhem of a backwoods campout a storm rages outside, while a squall builds inside the cabin. Set against tranquil mountains, the close quarters, diverse backgrounds and differing walks of life collide, spurring hilarious but meaningful conversations about race, religion and parenting.

                                                                                                                   

ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non‐profit theatre company with a multi‐faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and the Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood‐Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to our title sponsor, Viking Bank, and our opening night sponsor, The Upper Crust. Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2011 Mainstage season is generously provided by The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, The Seattle Foundation, 4Culture, ArtsFund and PONCHO.