Have no fear, NovaKnows readers! Your faithful musical theater columnist is back, and I bring news of one of the greatest theaters in the Seattle area–the 5th Avenue!
The 5th Avenue Theater (on 5th Ave in downtown Seattle) produces amazing musicals, has some really awesome programs for high school students interested in musical theater, and is all around, one of my favorite places in this city. Their new season is now underway, and the lineup looks incredible, so I have to share with you! The 2011-2012 season for the 5th Avenue Theater has a good mix of classics and new musicals, and all the upcoming will be produced by or in partnership with the 5th.
First of all, next week, Saving Aimee is opening at the 5th (on Sept. 30) and will run through most of October. Saving Aimee is a musical based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, who was a radio evangelist. Just the phrase “radio evangelist” was enough to get me excited about this show, because we don’t often think about popular media before the advent of television. But if that’s not enough for you, the musical has a book and lyrics written by talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford, and music by experienced theater and popular music composers David Friedman and David Pomeranz. Saving Aimee will be running from Sept. 30 through Oct. 29.
Up next, just in time for the holiday season, will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a personal favorite of mine. I’ve said it before and will say it again: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is WAY better than the animated Disney movie. The music for this version of Cinderella was originally written for a PBS movie (starring a young Julie Andrews as Cinderella), but has since been adapted for the stage. The show puts many twists on the classic story, and I would recommend going to see it even if you think you don’t like fairytales! This is one of the shows I’ve been looking forward ever since the 5th made the announcement of their upcoming season. Cinderella will run from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31.
In February, we have the original Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, often called the birth of musical theater as it is today, and even the greatest musical of all time. That is, of course, Oklahoma! I can’t endorse the statements above, because I have unfortunately yet to see the show onstage (I know, I know–I’m a horrible Rodgers and Hammerstein fan), but the fact that Oklahoma! is a major part of musical theater history is undeniable. It’s the classic American “feel good” type of show, and pretty much a must-see for anyone who calls themselves a musical fan. (And yes, I’m going.) Oklahoma! was originally supposed to play the 5th at the end of the last season, but was postponed on short notice, when the 5th announced it was going to be premiering a new Disney musical, the stage version of Aladdin, and it unfortunately clashed with the scheduled run. But Oklahoma! will finally be in town, from Feb. 3 to March 4, 2012, and I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready!
In the spring, the new musical First Date will be running at A Contemporary Theater (ACT), two blocks away, in collaboration with the 5th Ave. In this past season, the 5th Ave and the ACT partnered on a production of the musical Vanities, and it was wonderful. I’m hoping to see the same from First Date, advertised as a new musical comedy about the drama of a first date. The two theaters seem to be keeping a bit of a lid on information about this show, but it certainly sounds like it will be good time! And in general, for anyone who keeps an eye out for new pieces of musical theater, be on the alert for this! First Date runs at the Falls Theater at the ACT, on Union Street, from March 10 to May 20, 2012. Tickets are available at the ACT’s website here, however currently only season subscriptions are on sale, and single tickets cannot yet be purchased.
Back over at the 5th, opening in late April–just in time for the start of the baseball season–is the great classic by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, Damn Yankees. This musical is the story of a (somewhat pathetic) baseball fan who makes a pact with Satan in order to help his team win the pennant. Sounds fun, right? I’m not going to pretend to know squat about baseball, or even to care, but according to my mom, during the 1950s the New York Yankees pretty much dominated major league baseball. Desperate to beat those “damn Yankees,” the main character sells his soul in exchange for an alter ego, great baseball skills, and the chance to join his beloved team, the Washington Senators. (You’ve never heard of them, have you? Didn’t think so. They’re not around anymore. Hmm, I wonder why.) A brilliant piece of history and a legendary musical, Damn Yankees is playing from April 21 to May 20, 2012.
And saving the best for last: the much-awaited 5th Ave production of Rent! Of course, when I say “much-awaited,” I mean by me. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I for one am ridiculously excited for this. If you follow my column (and saw my Top 7 Musicals of the Decade review), you have probably figured out that I am a little bit obsessed with Rent. It’s one of my all-time favorites, to listen to, to talk about, and especially to see live. To me, Rent is a magical show, and when I see it performed live onstage, no matter where, I go through that same extraordinary feeling. I love seeing re-stagings and reinventions of this “new classic” musical, and with the 5th Ave’s track record for incredible musical productions, I couldn’t be more excited. All I can say is, don’t miss this! Rent is currently scheduled to be the last show of the season, running from July 21 through Aug. 19, 2012.
So there you have it. I hope you are now preparing to go buy tickets to any or all of these shows! There are several options for buying tickets for youth, including high school students. There is special season subscription package for theater patrons aged 30 or younger, where you can get great seats to 4 or more 5th Ave shows, for just $33 a ticket! There are also day-of-show tickets available for most 5th Ave productions (availability limited) for patrons under 25. For more information on tickets, go to the 5th’s website here.
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