Washington State Community Theatre Association

UNKY SEAN’S POST-KALEIDOSCOPE GRAB-BAG SUMMARY

2011-03-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

So here I am, back to my real life, and I says to myself – “Self, you gotta process this experience. If not for yourself, Self, then for those who was there and those who weren’t.” And I said to myself, ”Or I just gotta clarify and pontificate.” Self interrupted, “You did that already; you were an adjudicator.” “Don’t say it like that, like I was a mean, lowly, heart-breakin’ rat.” “Well, then don’t adjudicate next time.” And then I took a swing at myself, and Self dodged and countered with a jab to the place that makes me exhale really quickly, and so here I’m at, still trying to figure out what to say about Kaleidoscope ’11 at the Spokane Civic Theatre while I catch my breath.

The WSCTA awards. Also known as the “member awards”, those are the distinctions bestowed from the WSCTA members unto the festival participants. The adjudicators don’t give them and they are my favorite thing about the festival. The Ralph Eaton New Horizons Award wasn’t given this time – this award is given to a first-time participant at Kaleidoscope that most exemplifies the values of high quality community theater. The “Magic Moment” is a vote for that one special thing that festival-goers most loved about the plays this weekend. This year, it went to the character Olive Ostrovsky singing “The I Love You Song” from The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Betty Wills Washington Treasure Award goes to the theatre that most exemplifies . . . oh, cut to the chase, it’s the member’s choice for best show. The plaque stays at the theatre awarded until the next Kaleidoscope sends it along to the next festival. This year, it went to the Bremerton Community Theater’s production of All My Sons.

These are my favorite awards cuz they almost always come from the heart of the festival and rarely match the adjudicated awards. Which makes them feel good.

Read more about them. Four plays of four differing styles, modes, and genres. So rather than detail what was good about ‘em (you either went or you didn’t – next time GO!), here’s where you can follow up on your favorites.

Dan Zolidis wrote !Artistic Inspiration, a wacky farce intended for high school-aged performers. It’s a specialty of Zolidis who has around 50 other plays like it available through Playscripts.com. (In fact, it’s a specialty of Playscripts.com, the wacky high-school farce. Through direct marketing and making samples of scripts readable on-line, high school students don’t have to go through teacher to find what plays they like.) If you liked this play, you might try Zolidis’ adaptation of Bobby Wilson Can Eat His Own Face; Stephen Gregg’s S.P.A.R (Dramatic Publishing); and Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare (Dramatists Play Service).

Doug Wright wrote Wildwood Park, a daring psychological chiller. Included as part of a creepy evening of one-acts titled Unwrap Your Candy (all Wright’s plays are at Dramatists), which made my must-order pile. Doug Wright’s a Pulitzer Prize winner (for I Am My Own Wife) who focuses on the psychological need, maybe even drive, for transgressive self-delusion. His most well-known work is arguably Quills (stage play made into a feature film with Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine) about the power struggle between an asylum “warden” and his most outrageous and famous patient, the Marquis de Sade. How exactly can you punish a man who enjoys punishment? My personal favorite is The Stonewater Rapture, a heart-breaking two-hander about high school love gone wrong. David Harrower’s Blackbird (Dramatists) is recent full-length play of macabre re-connections, not dissimiliar to Wildwood Park. (Thanks for the suggestion, Sandy.)

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was written by Rachel Sheinkin (sp?), who I don’t know much about, with music and lyrics by William Finn. Super mondo musical theater geeks would be very familiar with Finn’s “Marvin” trilogy, three small musicals that focus on the foibles of, well, Marvin, a man who leapt out of the closet and struggles to be a good father, ex-husband, and lover. The short sung-through musicals (so more like operettas) include In Trousers, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland. (MTI.) Fans of Putnam would like Marvin.

All My Sons by some guy. Some guy who wrote Death of A Salesman, The Crucible, A View From the Bridge, and Resurrection Blues. Arthur Miller’s that guy, and three of those titles are regular combatants in the Greatest American Play arguments. Miller’s tragedies of the common man are arguably his stronger works, and my heart’s fondest of Sons (and Bremerton showed great plays are their own best argument for doing them). That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy re-reading or seeing Salesman, Crucible, and Bridge. (Dramatists AND Samuel French AND lotsa used copies out there – check your used bookstores.) And if Miller gets to you too, try some Lillian Hellman and Robert E. Sherwood.

Join us. The board of the WSCTA could use a few more bodies, especially a treasurer. And it’d be nice if a Westside theatre stepped up to host Kaleidoscope ’13. (We’re looking at you, Bremerton and Tacoma . . .). But mainly, if you’re reading this, we need you. Put up a show, bring in one of us for a workshop or presentation, let us know what you’re doing. I’ll dribble out some more festival-related discoveries (what? You thought I’d blow it all in one blogpost? ) and news as we go along, but the main virtue of this medium is the two-way communication. Tell me what you wanna know.

Thanks to ACT Richland, Richland Players, Spokane Civic and Bremerton Community Theatre for the above plays and the great weekend. And thanks to Civic’s wonderful hosting – and rock the folks in Rochester, Bee’s! (Thanks for the Bee tiara, too. All my wife is jealous.)

Kaleidoscope 2011 Results

2011-03-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

We just completed a wonderful festival hosted by Spokane Civic Theatre! The following awards were presented:

WSCTA MEMBER AWARDS:

These are voted by ballot by WSCTA members present for the festival:

WSCTA Magic Moment Award - "The I Love You Song" - Lacey Bohnet as Olive Ostrovsky - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Betty Wills Washington Treasure Award - All My Sons - Bremerton Community Theatre

ADJUDICATOR AWARDS:

These are selected by the adjudicators:

Outstanding Performance - Mark Pleasant -The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Set Design - Eric Wise-All My Sons

Outstanding Costume Design - Jan Wanless - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Lighting Design - Bret Parker - Wildwood Park

Outstanding Sound Design - Jan Goolsbey -Wildwood Park

Outstanding Ensemble Performance - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Direction - Joyce Bean - Wildwood Park

Outstanding Choreography - Kathie Doyle-Lipe - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Design & Production Team - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Excellence in Company Creativity - ACT Richland !Artistic Inspiration

ADVANCING COMPANIES:

Alternate Company Advancing to the National Festival – Richland Players – Wildwood Park

Company Advancing to the National Festival – Spokane Civic Theatre - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

UNKY SEAN’S PRE-CONVENTION HIT REVIEW

2011-03-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

So, for those of you who don’t know,

{And that’s assuming anyone’s out there reading these. Taptaptap –heeeeh-looooo, anybody on the other side of this screen? Other than you, Ted.}

Unky Sean is an adjudicator for this upcoming Kaleidoscope. And the rules of adjudicating are constrictive, folks. I can’t talk about any of the plays at the festival, for one. No, not even that one. Not a jot or a tittle. I said NO, so kwit askin’! And all forms of theatre are legitimate. Seriously, it’s a rule, I have to swear that I respect all theatrical genres as legitimate expressions deserving their moment on stage.

. . .

Fortunately, I do believe that. Not that everything’s automatically a good example of said theatrical expression, but that at heart, there’s nothing wrong with a pirate story. Or restoration comedy. Or children’s musicals based on gothic literature. Or neo-futuristic political sketch comedy. Or even Christmas plays, despite what you may have read in this blog before, assuming you exist.

So I’m not going to come outta the adjudicator’s gate fish-slapping some hard-working theatrons for heartfelt sincerity. That’s not why I’m there. I’m there to reflect and advise. No fish-slapping required for that, right?

Cue the violins.

Usually I’m at these conventions to talk about plays and theater. I’m a big ol’ script geek, and I’m so busy reading & seeing 120 scripts a year, I barely get a chance to talk plays with like minded folk. So here I come to the big city of Spokane, not for the St. Paddy’s parade (although I’m half-Irish), but for rubbing shoulders with y’all like-minded script geeks, only you’re all warned not to talk about plays and theater with me. (Yeah, it’s a rule.) It’s like a very cruel version of Keep-A-Way where no amount of Free Brunch will ameliorate the pain.

OK, stop the violins, they’re bugging me.

So I know you exist, and also so I don’t feel like John Travolta in a plastic bubble, come up and ask me for a guide to quality playscripts. I will then hand you a single sheet of helpful playscript resources. That will not violate any rules and we don’t talk about the plays we’re watching.
And enjoy this recap of the good plays I’ve read or seen during the first two months of this year. I read and saw more than these, but I’m just talking about the good ones, just for practice.

Six Degrees of Seperation (John Guare). Dramatists Play Service. Always surprised how much I enjoy this work (arguably Guare’s most accessible) and this time struck by how well this would play in a community theatre. Big multi-generational cast, each character distinct, simple and theatrical set demands, fast-moving.

Love Letters (A.R. Gurney). A life-long relationship in letter form. Gurney’s continuing explorations of fading WASP culture sometimes get too Manhattan-centric for me, but the two voices here are dynamic and well-pitched and their journey plays like a rediscovered story shared with friends.

Further Than The Furthest Thing (Zinnie Harris). Dramatists. Loosely based on the evacuation of the entire population of the isolated island Tristan de Cuhna to Southhampton, England, we watch a small family struggle with issues of assimilation and self-definition. Are we defined by our acts, our passions, our successes, our tragedies, or where we’re from? Beautiful language, heart-breaking drama.

The Zoo Story (Edward Albee). Dramatists. Yeah, I’ve read it before. In fact, last year when I read Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, which combined Homelife (about what Peter was doing before Zoo Story) with TZS. Yeah, while it birthed a million bench plays afterward (and there’s nothing wrong with a bench play), it still lands its punches squarely. Jerry’s not going to be comfortable in this world and Peter’s steadfast complacency places him on the wrong bench at the wrong time. Hard to believe, over fifty years later, this was viewed as absurdist, when it sounds like everything now.

7 (x1) Samurai. iDiOM Theatre. David Gaines performs in this one-man retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai. I saw it twice. An award-winning solo performance tour-de-force in clowning and physical performance, if you find him (check his website) performing near you, go see him. Understanding Japanese film theory or reading subtitles not required.
I always thought if I was gonna blog, this was what I’d blog about – plays out there, old and new. Anything to recommend? Just to prove you exist?

See you in Spokane, or we will talk about you behind your back. No rule against that.

UNKY SEAN’s THREE THINGS YOU NEED AT KALEIDOSCOPE

2011-03-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

OK, at this point you’re bringing the show of your dreams or you’re just coming to attend. Either way, it’s vital you get this advice under your belt. Whether you’ve never gone to a state festival or gone to every state festival since Nero staged “A Funny Thing Happened When I Burned Rome in a Day – Kill That Guy For Not Laughing”, there’s three essentials to enhance your experience.

(1) Bring cash. Yeah, yeah, it’s a credit/debit card world and you can pay for your tickets ahead of time. (And you should pay for your tickets ahead of time.) But you’re at a theater for an extended period of time and you’re gonna get noshy, maybe thirsty, maybe see candy and where’s your cash? Yeah, see? Lobbies work by cash, folks, so bring some. As well, there’s usually someone raffling something snazzy as a fundraiser for the event or the adjudicators or the something-official-don’t-ask-so-many-questions. And I see there’s a karaoke event scheduled. You think that’s not gonna suck up some singles? So hit an ATM, and have a little sumthin’ on hand.

(2) Pen/pencil and paper. Back in the olden days, before phones did your taxes while you played Tetris, people took notes on little pieces of paper, sometimes collected for that purpose in what was an actual notepad. So, you’ll be chatting with Suzy Seatmate in-between shows and Roger InFrontofYou mentions a show he liked at his theatre, which reminds Suzy of this great play and Trudy BehindYou loved this delightful musical which would be perfect for this actress you all like and you go to type this all into your phone only it’s turned off cuz you’re polite and in a theater and know better and then the show starts and you forget all that stuff. No rules against Pen and Paper, people. Good for recording phone numbers, e-mail addresses, vendor information, restaurant recommendations and directions too. Conveniently available in pocket or purse sizes. (And if you’re in a hotel, a part of the room you get to keep.) Part of the fun of the festival is the stuff you discover – take notes.

(3) Brunch. Yeah, cuz you gotta pay up front, you don’t think you’ll do brunch. But then, at the festival, you make friends, find out that’s where the awards will be and remember you’re not leaving til later so you try to buy a brunch at the last minute. After the people running the thing have already been told how many to prepare for. If you’re gonna checkout Sunday, buy the brunch now. It’s a great schmooze time, the food is gonna be better nutritionally than anything you’re finding on the road home, and you see the awards given. -- And as further incentive, any bacon you eat at a hotel is fat-free and vegan. (According to the Tranportational Food Ethics Act of 2000-sumthin’, google it, you’ll find it.)

Trust me, these three things are vital to enjoying your festival experience. The shows are pretty good too, but lobby snacks, accurate notation, and pre-purchased hotel bacon will kick it up to turbo. And you want turbo.
See ya there.

Tickets for Kaleidoscope Sessions

2011-02-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

Tickets for the Kaleidoscope Sessions and for the Awards Brunch are now availalbe from our host theatre, Spokane Civic Theatre.

Here's the breakdown:

See both Kaleidoscope sessions (5 plays) and attend the awards brunch for just $50. Or choose one or both sessions. Order form at this link. Or you may call the Spokane Civic Theatre box office at (509-325-2507) Monday-Friday 10-5:30. We'll see you there!

Here's a reminder of the plays in each session:

Session I Friday evening:
Tacoma Musical Playhouse – Drowsy Chaperone
ACT Richland – Artistic Inspiration

Session II Saturday afternoon:
Richland Players – Wildwood Park
Spokane Civic Theatre – 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Bremerton Community Theatre – All My Sons

Sunday morning Awards Brunch at the Red Lion.

Kaleidscope 2011 Schedule

2011-02-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

The entries are in and the schedule is out! Don't miss seeing these great shows from across the state! Audiences may listen to the adjudication for each show immediately following each performance.

More info on accomodations and our host theatre, Spokane Civic Theatre, at the link on the right.

Friday, March 11

Session I - 7:00 P.M. - $15.00 (includes two shows)

Tacoma Musical Playhouse – Drowsy Chaperone
ACT Richland – Artistic Inspiration

**Post-show opening night reception sponsored by Clinkerdagger’s in the Civic Main Stage lobby**

Saturday, March 12

Session II - 2:00 P.M. - $20.00 (includes three shows)

Richland Players – Wildwood Park
Spokane Civic Theatre – 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Bremerton Community Theatre – All My Sons

Dinner on your own in Spokane.

Post-show karaoke party sponsored by Charley’s on Monroe 9:00 P.M. -?

Awards Brunch at Red Lion Hotel – 10:00 A.M.

TICKET TO BOTH SESSIONS - $30.00
AWARDS BRUNCH - $20.00

UNKY SEAN’S NO-MONEY BUDGET FOR AACTFest’11

2010-12-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 2008, at the SHINDIG the WSCTA held at the Bellingham Theatre Guild hosted, I wrote up a no-money budget for attending Kaleidoscope ’09, and with only two additions, it holds up for those thinking about presenting their work at Kaleidoscope ’11 (and beyond). So here it be –some exciting budget structure.

Whoo hoo!

AACTFest’11 BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS

Usual Production Expenses
Royalties, Licenses, and Scripts
Set
Costumes
Sound
FX/Lights?
Props
Admin/House
Fundraising Expenses

Kaleidoscope Expenses
Organization Memberships (WSCTA,AACT)
Scripts for Adjudicators
Convention Memberships
Convention Banquet*
Hotel/Housing
Transportation (Company)
Transportation (Set)

Region IX Festival Expenses (for those that get to go on from Kaleidoscope)
Convention memberships
Convention banquet*
Hotel/Housing
Transportation (Company)
Transportation (Set)

AACTFest ’11 Expenses (for the lucky/talented regional winner)
Convention memberships
Convention banquet*
Hotel/Housing
Transportation (Company)
Transportation (Set)

And briefly, to explain some things.

The asterisk. You don’t have to attend the banquet, but as that’s usually where they announce the awards, almost everyone goes. So technically an optional expense, but budget with the sense that someone’s gonna be there.

Musicals. Bringing a musical? So add instruments, stands, and/or sound equipment fall into the production expenses and musicians to the housing and transportation costs. All has to fit in the pre-show/post-show box, too.

Programs? Some shows supply programs of their show for each venue. Not required, but if you need to thanks lots of people, there’s only so much room the event program supplies.

Adjudicator Scripts. (Your script including your cuts.) They’re usually forwarded for each level and then returned, but you may be asked for additional (or downloadable, if not previously published) copies to accommodate adjudicator training at the National convention.

Organization memberships. You’ve likely already paid them and are finally using those dues for something, but it doesn’t hurt to check.

Consider this no-number budget as way to talk to your board about participating. It shows the general expense layout, and you can look like a hero when you cross off or minimize costs. If I was, oh, say, Spokane Children’s Theatre, for example, and could ignore housing/hotel and transportation costs, I’d look like a genius who got us into the Kaleidoscope for less than $500.

So, hope this is helpful, and have fun writing numbers in! Ka-ching!

Sean Walbeck
Veep

UNKY SEAN’S SHAMEFUL HOLIDAY CONFESSION

2010-12-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

(the first in a series blog by Sean Walbeck, WSCTA Vice President)

So even though I should more specifically focus my first blog entry towards the upcoming Spokane Kaleidoscope of 2011, I find myself distracted by my niece Brydian’s first community theater foray in A Christmas Carol at the Valley Center Stage in North Bend. The distraction comes in two forms, the first that although I want to support the kind of misspent life playing the boards encourages, I may not be able to attend, and the second, I wouldn’t 100% be sad about missing the joyous event in my niece’s creative life.

Supporting our friends and family by attending their plays is a genre of community theatre, after all. While the rest of the theatrical world has realized more actors cost more money and has whittled their cast sizes down to accommodate that economic reality, community theater’s bottom line understands that you cast an actor’s family and friends as audience, so the more the merrier. Anyone of us who has filled their Wizard of Oz munchkin chorus with every auditioning child who mastered the art of simultaneously walking and smiling has embraced this genre, and were it not for the slight hint of impropriety it suggested, the Cratchits could easily be the proud parents of 24 precocious little ones, a full half of them tiny with little crutches god-blessing us, everyone.

Who am I kidding? There’s dozens of versions of A Christmas Carol, some of which are written specifically to pad the cast. Am I right in remembering an orphan chorus more suited for an Oliver Twist musical thanking Mr. Scrooge sarcastically? And how about the version that decided Hunger and Poverty should be a stream of walking-and-smiling kids in rags, marching out of the Ghost of Christmas Present’s robes like clowns out of a car? How many Fezziwig’s parties have you seen expanded from its office party roots to an all-ages event with girls, girls, and more girls showing off the hoofing skills of those rakes of accounting, Young Scrooge and Young Marley? Find me a play publisher catalog, I’ll find you at least three versions of Scrooge’s Nightmare on Undigested Beef with cast size from 10 to a jillion (flexible) available for affordable royalty and a “don’t ask-don’t tell” policy on “script alterations.” You know what version you don’t find at a community theater? Patrick Stewart’s solo performance of all the roles. Why? Cuz Patrick Stewart’s family’s not big enough to fill your house, and the little darlings you didn’t cast are pretending to dance in The Nutcracker down the street and guess who’s in that audience?

The truth is –Christmas pays the bills. Listening to Seattle public radio recently, I heard the Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director speak openly about their Nutcracker representing 25% of their organization’s number of tickets sold and 50% of their income through ticket sales (i.e. more full-price tickets to non-subscribers). Two out of the Big Three in Seattle have “annual holiday traditions” (ACT-A Christmas Carol; Intiman-Black Nativity) and the third wrote a satire about having such a potboiler (Inspecting Carol) that’s performing at a college near me (Western Washington University). When American Theatre annually lists their most produced plays of the non-profit professional theater, you know what they don’t count? Count with me here - (1) adaptations of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and (2) The Chimes (Dickens’ own attempt to cash in on this Xmas gravy train he started); (3)adaptations of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Then (4) A Tuna Christmas (after one year on the list); (5) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (after several appearances). and (6) The Santaland Diaries (after eight years on the list). (7) Inspecting Carol and variations of (8) It’s a Wonderful Life have also made the list (though not specifically proscribed) so that makes EIGHT titles the pro’s don’t think should count anywhere but the box office. The pro’s learned from us and we learned early in our community theater work – counter programming a non-holiday play in December just reminds you to do a Christmas play next season.

So all that snark indicates why I won’t exactly miss another production of this holiday redemption, but doesn’t alter the fact that my niece and her mother Robin are performing together for the first time a ninety minute drive away. Another descendent dabbling in this art form I’ve dedicated my life to: learning to be comfortable in false clothes and a fake name and repeating everything exactly every time –the frustrating pursuit of perfection that fills your body with adrenalin and your mind with self-doubt. And she’s doing it in a cozy space, with laughably affordable ticket prices to a crowd that’s on her side.

And don’t we go to the theater to have an emotional experience?

Next posts, I talk more about Kaleidoscope and picking scripts, and all sorts of stuff, but to start, I write where I’m at. But while I’m here, don’t take a Christmas show to competition, no matter how good your production is. Adjudicators are at their best when they’ve never seen the play you’re doing before, and frankly, visions of Alistair Sim/Jimmy Stewart/Ralphie/themselves “when I was in” will be dancing in their heads. Hundreds of plays out there without a bathrobe pointing at a tombstone – choose one of those.

Grammercies,

Sean Walbeck, VEEP, WSCTA

Theaters mentioned: Valley Centre Stage (North Bend); Pacific Northwest Ballet (Seattle); ACT (Seattle); Intiman (Seattle); Western Washington University (Bellingham)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily anyone else's, particularly not of anyone else on the WSCTA board (even though they might secretly agree).

Kaleidoscope 2011

2010-11-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

Kaleidoscope is coming! Spokane Civic Theatre will be the host for this cycle. This State Festival is the first in a series of AACTFest competitions, followed by the Regional and National competitions. Over twelve community theatre companies from Washington are expected to participate.

Festival Participant Information available online (includes registration, handbook, stage specs and lodging information).

Don't miss this outstanding opportunity to learn, share, laugh and enjoy all that is community theatre!

New Contact Information for WSCTA

2010-11-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

The WSCTA as new contact information. We understand that some are having trouble contacting us and we apologize for that. Our website will be updated soon. In the meantime, here is the correct contact information:

WSCTA
c/o Tacoma Musical Playhouse
7116 Sixth Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406

info@wscta.org

You can also catch us on facebook at facebook.com/wscta

Member individuals and organizations should be receiving their annual flyer and dues letter in the regular mail very soon.

Thanks for your patience as we update all our information.

PLAYING IN SEPTEMBER

2009-09-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Plan on visiting these excellent member companies around the State. Click on the website URLS to go directly to the member company's website for more...

Thanks!
Wsctaorg

BRILLIANT TRACES at Actors Theater of Orcas Island, September 4 - 13 www.orcasactors.com

AH! WILDERNESS at Richland Players, September 11 - 26 www.richlandplayers.com

ZOMBIES FROM BEYOND at Whidbey Playhouse - Oak Harbor, September 11 - October 3 www.whidbeyplayhouse.com

THE SEVEN YEARS ITCH at Bremerton Community Theatre, September 11 - October 4 www.bremertoncommunitytheatre.org

THE SECRET GARDEN at Edmonds Driftwood Players, September 11 - October 4 www.driftwoodplayers.com

REHEARSAL FOR MURDER at Port Angeles Community Players, September 18 - October 4 www.pacommunityplayers.com

LITTLE WOMEN at CSTOCK, September 18 - October 11, www.cstock.org

THE MOUSETRAP at Lakewood Playhouse, September 18 - October 11, www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at Olympia Little Theater, September 18 - October 11, www.olympialittletheater.org

CRIMES OF THE HEART at Poulsbo Players @ the Jewel Box Theatre, September 18 - October 11, www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org

LEND ME A TENOR at Little Theatre of Walla Walla, September 25 - October 10, www.ltww.org

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS at Bellingham Theatre Guild, September 25 - October 11, www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

A...MY NAME IS ALICE at Encore! Theater, September 25 - October 11, www.encoretheater.org

CAUGHT IN A NET at Anacortes Community Theatre, September 25 - October 17, www.acttheatre.com

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE at Spokane Civic Theatre, September 25 - October 25, www.spokanecivictheatre.com

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOMICIDE at Edmonds Driftwood Players - Alternative Stages, September 27 - October 5, www.driftwoodplayers.com

PLAYING IN OCTOBER

2009-09-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

Spooky theatrical doings around the state this month

NIGHTFALL WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE at Cascade Community Theatre - Duvall, all Month, call 425.884.0907

WIZARD OF OZ at Academy of Children's Theatre - Richland, October 2 - 11, call 509.943.6027

CURTAINS at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, October 2 - 25, www.tmp.org

DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 at Spokane Children's Theatre, October 9 -25, www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org

THE RELATIVITY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN at Edmonds Drfitwood Players - Alternate Stages. October 15 only, www.driftwoodplayers.com

GREAT EXPECTATIONS at Orcas Theatre and Community Center, October 15 - 24, www.orcascenter.org

STEPPING OUT at Music Theatre of Wenatchee, October 15 -24, www.mtow.org

EDGAR ALLAN POE at Edmonds Driftwood Players - Alternative Stages, October 16 & 17, www.driftwoodplayers.com

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Masquers Theatre - Soap Lake, October 16 - November 4, www.masquers.com

VAMPIRE DREAMS at Blaine Community Theatre , October 17 - November 2, www.blainecommunitytheater.org

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS: THE MUSICAL at CSTOCK, October 23 - 25, www.cstock.org

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD at Port Angeles Community Players, October 23 - 25, www.pacommunityplayers.com

THE ODD COUPLE (female version) at The Evergreen Playhouse - Centralia, October 23 - November 11, www.evergreenplayhouse.org

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE at Lakewood Playhouse, October 23 - November 8, www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

STRING OF PEARLS at Spokane Civic Theatre - Firth Chew, October 23 - November 15, www.spokanecivictheatre.com

CHESS, at Spokane Civic Theatre, October 30 & 31, www.spokanecivictheatre.com

PLAYING IN NOVEMBER

2009-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Give thanks for all these great theatres in Washington State:

WILLY WONKA at Regional Theatre of the Palouse - Pullman, November 5 - 14, www.rtoptheatre.org

THE NERD at Olympia Little Theater, November 5 - 29, www.olympialittletheater.org

LEADING LADIES at Richland Players, November 6 - 21, www.richlandplayers.com

MURDER ON THE NILE at Bremerton Community Theatre, November 6 - 29, www.bremertoncommunitytheatre.org

MY THREE ANGELS at Whidbey Playhouse - Oak Harbor, November 6 - 29, www.whidbeyplayhouse.com

JUNIE B. JONES AND A LITTLE MONKEY BUSINESS, Tacoma Children's Musical Theatre @ TMP, November 7 - 15, www.tmp.org

MY FAIR LADY at Richland Light Opera Company, November 13 - 22, www.rloc.org

SWEET CHARITY at Poulsbo Players at the Jewel Box Theatre, November 13 - December 13, www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org

THE MIRACLE WORKER at Little Theatre of Walla Walla, November 20 - December 5, www.ltww.org

OLIVER! at Encore! Theater - Gig Harbor, November 20 - December 6, www.encoretheater.org

THE MATCHMAKER at Port Angeles Community Players, November 20 - December 10, www.pacommunityplayers.com

HONK! at Anacortes Community Theatre, November 20 - December 19, www.acttheatre.com

A TUNA CHRISTMAS at Spokane Civic Theatre, November 27 - December 6, www.spokanecivictheatre.com

A TUNA CHRISTMAS at Lakewood Playhouse, November 27 - December 13, www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

BUNNICULA at Bellingham Theatre Guild, November 27 - December 13, www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

BABES IN TOYLAND at Spokane Children's Theatre, November 27 - December 13, www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org

A CHRISTMAS STORY at Edmonds Driftwood Players, November 27 - December 20, www.driftwoodplayers.com

SCROOGE: THE MUSICAL at Key City Public Theatre - Port Townsend, November 27 - December 20, www.keycitypublictheatre.org

GUYS AND DOLLS at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, November 27 - December 20, www.tmp.org

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER at Spokane Civic Theatre, November 28 - December 20, www.spokanecivictheatre.com

PLAYING IN MAY:

2009-05-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Note: We're trying a new format to see if we can make it easier to access the shows that are currently open and playing by WSCTA member companies. Please be sure and click on the Links for each company to go directly to their website and learn more.

Thanks!
Wsctaorg

HEAVEN CAN WAIT at Olympia Little Theater, April 24 to May 17 www.olympialittletheatre.org

THE MIKADO at Central Stage Theater of County Kitsap (CSTOCK), April 24 to May 17 www.cstock.org

THE PRODUCERS at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, April 24 to May 17 www.tmp.org

THE FANTASTICKS at Little Theatre of Walla Walla, April 25 to May 16 www.ltww.org

DO BUDDHISTS DRINK BEER at Edmonds Driftwood Players, April 26 to May 4 www.driftwoodplayers.com

STORY THEATRE at Port Angeles Community Playhouse, May 1 to 31 www.pacommunityplayers.com

THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY at Spokane Civic Theatre (Firth Chew Studio Theatre) May 8 to 31 www.spokanecivictheatre.com

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM at Spokane Civic Theatre, May 15 to June 14 www.spokanecivictheatre.com

TRIPLE PLAY at Port Angeles Community Playhouse (Second Stage) May 22 to 24 www.pacommunityplayers.com

HEIDI at Tacoma Children's Musical Theatre (@TMP) May 23 to 31 www.tmp.org

TROUBLE WITH ANGELS at Regional Theatre of the Palouse (Pullman) May 28 to 30 www.rtoptheatre.org

THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE at Bellingham Theatre Guild, May 29 to June 14 www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

ONCE IN A LIFETIME at Lakewood Playhouse, May 29 to June 28 www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL at Poulsbo Players, May 29 to June 28 www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org

REGION IX FESTIVAL in Couer d'Alene, ID

2009-03-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO EDMONDS DRIFTWOOD PLAYERS who were chosen to represent Region IX at AACTFest '09, and to all the productions that participated in the Region IX Competition. Awards Presented included:

Supporting Actor: David Fox, "Crazy Eights," CAST, Hood River, OR
Actress: Janie Sexton, "The Cemetery Club," Coaster Theatre Playhouse,
Cannon Beach, OR
Actress: Pia Shepherd, "The Cemetery Club," Coaster Theatre Playhouse,

Actor: Shay Carlucci, "Minnesota Moon, " Edmonds Driftwood Players, Edmonds, WA
Direction: Zanne Gerrard, "Minnesota Moon," Edmonds Driftwood Players
Outstanding Ensemble - "The Cemetery Club" Coaster Theatre Playhouse

Runner Up: "The Cemetery Club," Coaster Theatre Playhouse
Outstanding Production: "Minnesota Moon: Edmonds Driftwood Players

ON GOLDEN POND at Masquers Theater

2009-03-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

April 10 - May 5
www.masquers.com

BIRNHAM WOODS at Key City Public Theatre

2009-03-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

April 10 - May 2
www.keycitypublictheatre.org

SYLVIA at Evergreen Playhouse

2009-03-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

April 10 - 26
www.evergreenplayhouse.org

NUNSENSE at Anacortes Community Theatre

2009-03-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

April 3 - 26
www.acttheatre.com

NIGHT WATCH at Whidbey Playhouse (Oak Harbor)

2009-03-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

April 3 - 26
www.whidbeyplayhouse.com

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at Poulsbo Players

2009-03-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

April 3 - 19
www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org

SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD at Spokane Civic Theatre

2009-03-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

April 3 - 19
www.spokanecivictheatre.com

INTO THE WOODS at Lakewood Playhouse

2009-03-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

March 27 - April 26
www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

CABARET at Regional Theatre of the Palouse (Pullman)

2009-03-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

March 26 - April 4
www.rtoptheatre.org

THE DIVINERS at Bellingham Theatre Guild

2009-03-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

March 20 - April 5
www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

WHAT A FAMILY at Port Angeles Community Playhouse

2009-03-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

on the Second Stage March 13 - 15
www.pacommunityplayers.com

GODSPELL at Spokane Civic Theatre

2009-03-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

In the Firth Chew March 20 - April 5
www.spokanecivictheatre.com

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL at Tacoma Musical Playhouse

2009-03-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

March 13 - April 5
www.tmp.org

NUNSENSATIONS at Warehouse Theatre (Yakima)

2009-03-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

March 5 - 28
www.alliedartsyakima.org

MINNESOTA MOON at Edmonds Driftwood Players (Alt Stages)

2009-01-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

February 22 - March 2
www.driftwoodplayers.com
click here to link!

NO, NO NANETTE at Spokane Civic Theatre

2009-01-23T18:01:00.001-08:00

February 20 - March 15
www.spokanecivictheatre.com
click here to link!

CELEBRATION at Port Angeles Community Playhouse

2009-01-23T17:59:00.000-08:00

February 20 - March 8
www.pacommunityplayers.com
click here to link!

13th ANNUAL PLAYWRIGHT"S FESTIVAL at Key City Public Theatre (Port Townsend)

2009-01-23T17:57:00.000-08:00

February 20 - March 8
www.keycitypublictheatre.org
click here to link!

WAIT UNTIL DARK at Actors Theater of Orcas Island

2009-01-23T17:56:00.000-08:00

February 20 - March 1
www.orcasactors.com
click here to link!

NARNIA at Central Stage of Kitsap County (CSTOCK)

2009-01-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

February 13 - March 8
www.cstock.org
click here to link!

A BODY OF WATER at Masquers Theater (Soap Lake)

2009-01-23T17:53:00.001-08:00

February 13 - March 7
www.masquers.com
click here to link!

OUR TOWN at Edmonds Driftwood Players

2009-01-23T17:51:00.000-08:00

February 13 - March 1
www.driftwoodplayers.com
click here to link!

ON GOLDEN POND at Little Theatre of Walla Walla

2009-01-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

February 13 - 28
www.ltww.org
click here to link!

MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER at Olympic Theatre Arts (Sequim)

2009-01-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

February 12 - 22
www.olympictheatrearts.org
click here to link!

A PACK OF LIES at Poulsbo Players

2009-01-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

February 6 - March 1
www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org
click here to link!

ABSENT FRIENDS at Lakewood Playhouse

2009-01-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

February 6 - March 1
www.lakewoodplayhouse.org
click here to link!

GLORIOUS at Whidbey Playhouse (Oak Harbor)

2009-01-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

February 6 - 28
www.whidbeyplayhouse.com
click here to link!

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at Anacortes Community Theatre

2009-01-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

February 6 - February 28
www.acttheatre.com
click here to link!

GLORIOUS at Tacoma Musical Playhouse

2009-01-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

January 30 - February 22
www.tmp.org
click here to link!

WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE at Spokane Civic Theatre (in the Firth Chew)

2009-01-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

January 30 - February 22
www.spokanecivictheatre.com
click here to link!

THE PHYSICIAN IN SPITE OF HIMSELF at Evergreen Playhouse (Centralia)

2009-01-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

January 30 - February 15
www.evergreenplayhouse.org
click here to link!

THE PENULTIMATE PROBLEM OF SHERLOCK HOLMES at Bellingham Theatre Guild

2009-01-23T17:35:00.000-08:00

January 30 - February 15
www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com
click to link!

WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE at Olympia Little Theatre

2009-01-23T17:34:00.001-08:00

January 16 - February 8
www.olympialittletheater.org
click to link!

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH at Tacoma Children's Musical Theatre (@TMP)

2009-01-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

January 10 - 18
www.tmp.org
click to link!

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST at Spokane Civic Theatre

2009-01-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

January 9 - 25
www.spokanecivictheatre.com
Click to link!

Kaleidoscope 2009 INFO LIVE!

2009-01-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

Information is now available for registration of both companies and individuals for Kaleidoscope 2009 in Edmonds. Go directly to the information page on the Driftwood Website at www.driftwoodplayers.com/kaleidoscope!

VOICES OF CHRISTMAS at Port Angeles Community Players

2008-12-14T02:26:00.001-08:00

December 12 - 14
360-452-6651
www.pacommunityplayers.com

TUNA CHRISTMAS at Little Theater of Walla Walla

2008-12-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

December 12 & 13
509-529-3683
www.ltww.org

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER at Edmonds Driftwood Players

2008-12-14T02:23:00.001-08:00

December 7 through 16
425-774-9600
www.driftwoodplayers.com

YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS at Olympia Little Theatre

2008-12-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

December 6 - 21
360-786-9484
www.olympialittletheatre.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Lakewood Playhouse

2008-12-14T02:19:00.000-08:00

Decembe5 through 28
253-522-0042
www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

JOESEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at Auburn Regional Theatre

2008-12-14T02:17:00.000-08:00

December 5 through 21
253-929-6680
www.experience-art.org

PETER AND THE WOLF at Olympic Theatre Arts (Sequim)

2008-12-14T02:15:00.000-08:00

December 5 through 14
360-683-7326
www.olympictheatrearts.org

THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE at Tacoma Musical Playhouse

2008-11-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

November 28 - December 21
www.tmp.org

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Anacortes Community Theatre

2008-11-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

November 28 - December 20
www.acttheatre.com

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT at Bellingham Theatre Guild

2008-11-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

November 28 - December 14
www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Edmonds Driftwood Players

2008-11-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

November 21 - December 21
www.driftwoodplayers.com

A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Spokane Civic Theatre

2008-11-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

November 21 - December 20
www.spokanecivictheatre.com

ON GOLDEN POND at Port Angeles Community Players

2008-11-09T09:58:00.001-08:00

November 21 - December 7
www.pacommunityplayers.com

ANGEL STREET at Little Theatre of Walla Walla

2008-11-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

November 21 - December 6
www.ltww.org

PETER PAN at Whidbey Playhouse

2008-11-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

November 7 - December 6
www.whidbeyplayhouse.com

WAIT UNTIL DARK at Olympia Little Theatre

2008-11-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

November 6 - 30
www.olympialittletheater.org

DRACULA at Auburn Regional Theatre

2008-10-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

October 11 - October 26
www.experience-art.org

ALICE: THE MUSICAL at Spokane Children's Theatre

2008-10-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

October 11 - 26
www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org

SOUTH PACIFIC at Tacoma Musical Playhouse

2008-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

October 3 - 26
www.tmp.org

THE DINING ROOM at Driftwood Players, Aberdeen

2008-10-07T16:23:00.001-07:00

October 3 - 18
www.aberdeendriftwood.com

OKLAHOMA! at Spokane Civic Theatre

2008-10-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

September 26 - October 26
www.spokanecivictheatre.com

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM at Anacortes Community Theatre

2008-10-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

September 26 - October 24
www.acttheatre.com

LAST WEEKEND! THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at Bellingham Theatre Guild

2008-10-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

Closes October 12
www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com

LAST WEEKEND! Broadway Bound at Little Theatre of Walla Walla

2008-10-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

Closes October 11
www.ltww.org

LAST WEEKEND! WORKING at Key City Public Theatre

2008-10-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

www.keycitypublictheatre.org

Closes October 12 . . .

SHINDIG at Bellingham Theatre Guild, June 28th

2008-07-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

WOW! A great time had by all . . .YOU should have been there. If you were, you know what we are talking about. Lots of great information exchanged in an involving, interactive format. Great Keynote from guest Rick Kerby, from Manatee Players in Bradenton, FL (Thanks to AACT & WSCTA for making his trip possible). New friends made. Everybody went home FIRED UP! (except Sean & Jeff, they went home and collapsed)

WSCTA Featured on "Your Neighborhood Stage"

2008-03-19T20:00:00.001-07:00

The WSCTA will be featured on the weekly YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD STAGE Podcast in late March. Click on the YOUR NEIGHBORHOOOD STAGE in the Resource links to the right the week of March 24th to hear the interview with WSCTA President, Judy Cullen when the episode is posted. Judy talks about Kaleidoscope, AACTFest 09, the State of Washington, The Bellingham Shindig, and more!