Matt Shimkus

OK, so I've seen it several times. I mean there are the movies plus countless productions about town. It's done a lot as it's one of Shakespeare's more accessible plays with its quick wit and very clear heroes and villains (one hero is even called Hero). But that doesn't mean I don't still love it. I always tend to find something new and appealing in most productions of what has become my favorite of his canon. And the current production of 'Much Ado About Nothing' from Seattle Shakespeare Company is no exception as they have tapped into much of the comedy of the piece as well as infused it with some wonderful jazz renditions of the Shakespearean songs from the piece.

Seattle Shakespeare Company's Much Ado About Nothing takes on the flavor of the Riviera in 1953 in Artistic Director George Mount's season opening. Highlights in the production include original music by Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra's Michael Brockman, and a lagoon with water in the Center Theatre. Check out a first look below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company's Much Ado About Nothing takes on the flavor of the Riviera in 1953 in Artistic Director George Mount's season opening. Highlights in the production include original music by Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra's Michael Brockman, and a lagoon with water in the Center Theatre.

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. The weekend I get to spend three days listening to exciting new works as presented by some of the best performers Seattle has to offer. And this year Village Theatre did not disappoint as they invited members, performers, staff and press to partake of their Village Originals 13th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Some good, some maybe not so, some needing a little more work than others but all showing a deep love for the art and presented by some of the best voices in town. Now, I can't review them as they're still works in progress but I can tell you about the shows presented over the weekend and let you know about the one show that while still in development is still running one more weekend and can have tickets purchased to by non-members (that would be you, Dear Readers).

With shows like American Idol, The Voice and America's Got Talent all the rage, Taproot Theatre brings the original 18th century reality show to the stage as Itamar Moses' Bach at Leipzig opens tonight, May 17. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Bach at Leipzig, which runs through June 15. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

With shows like American Idol, The Voice and America's Got Talent all the rage, Taproot Theatre brings the original 18th century reality show to the stage as Itamar Moses' Bach at Leipzig opens on May 17. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Bach at Leipzig, which runs through June 15, with previews tonight, May 15 and 16. There is a Pay What You Can performance on May 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

With shows like American Idol, The Voice and America's Got Talent all the rage, Taproot Theatre brings the original 18th century reality show to the stage as Itamar Moses' Bach at Leipzig opens on May 17. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Bach at Leipzig, which runs through June 15, with previews on May 15 and 16. There is a Pay What You Can performance on May 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

With shows like American Idol, The Voice and America's Got Talent all the rage, Taproot Theatre brings the original 18th century reality show to the stage as Itamar Moses' Bach at Leipzig opens on May 17. Imagine, Leipzig, 1722. Germany's most renowned music director is dead at the keyboard. As the country's greatest organists descend to vie for the job, melodies of rivalry, trickery and blackmail compose a fugue of plots and counterplots. Rooted in history but reveling in flights of fiction, Bach at Leipzig is deliciously scored with wild and witty revelations. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Bach at Leipzig, which runs through June 15, with previews on May 15 and 16. There is a Pay What You Can performance on May 22.

Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse's classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom, opening at Taproot Theatre tonight, February 1. Peace. Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While ducking romance, fleeing a cleaver-wielding chef and burgling his uncle, Bertie's trail of mischief and mayhem is set right by his unflappable valet, Jeeves. Based on characters created by author P.G. Wodehouse, this confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily grind. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Margaret Raether's adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's stories. Jeeves in Bloom opens tonight, February 1 and runs through March 2, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

Laugh away the winter blues with P.G. Wodehouse's classic characters in Jeeves in Bloom, opening at Taproot Theatre on February 1. Peace. Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While ducking romance, fleeing a cleaver-wielding chef and burgling his uncle, Bertie's trail of mischief and mayhem is set right by his unflappable valet, Jeeves. Based on characters created by author P.G. Wodehouse, this confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily grind. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Margaret Raether's adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's stories. Jeeves in Bloom opens February 1 and runs through March 2, with previews on January 30 and 31.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Religion vs. Science. Psychology vs. Faith. Such is the debate of the ages and specifically of two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud with almost polar opposite attitudes. And such is the topic of the west coast premiere of the Off-Broadway hit "Freud's Last Session" currently playing at Taproot Theatre. An interesting discussion of two iconic figures but unfortunately not really enough variety to sustain for an evening.

Science and religion, body and soul, reality and fantasy, nothing is off limits in the award winning play, Freud's Last Session, making its West Coast premiere at Taproot Theatre this March. Air raid sirens sound overhead, C.S. Lewis is a young and rising academic star and Sigmund Freud has invited him for tea. What could possibly come next? Written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte Freud's Last Session runs from March 23 through April 21, with previews on March 21 and 22 and a pay what you can performance on March 28.

Due to high ticket demand, Freud's Last Session is extending its run at Taproot Theatre through April 28, giving audiences an additional week to see this award winning play.

Religion vs. Science. Psychology vs. Faith. Such is the debate of the ages and specifically of two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud with almost polar opposite attitudes. And such is the topic of the west coast premiere of the Off-Broadway hit "Freud's Last Session" currently playing at Taproot Theatre. An interesting discussion of two iconic figures but unfortunately not really enough variety to sustain for an evening.

Science and religion, body and soul, reality and fantasy, nothing is off limits in the award winning play, Freud's Last Session, making its West Coast premiere at Taproot Theatre. Air raid sirens sound overhead, C.S. Lewis is a young and rising academic star and Sigmund Freud has invited him for tea. What could possibly come next? Written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte Freud's Last Session opened last night and will run through April 21, with a pay what you can performance on March 28.

New York's hit play FREUD'S LAST SESSION is set to open tonight, March 23rd at Seattle's Taproot Theatre for a limited engagement through April 21st. This marks the West Coast debut of Mark St. Germain's long-running play. Under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte, the Seattle production of FREUD'S LAST SESSION stars Nolan Palmer as Sigmund Freud and Matt Shimkus as C. S. Lewis.