Marissa Ryder

A few years ago, Dear Readers, Seattle audiences were treated to the tour of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin's lovely musical version of Roald Dahl's "Matilda". A clever little tuner that managed to go beyond simply adding songs to a beloved book and find the heart of the story. Unfortunately, the complaint I heard most often back then from people who saw it was that they couldn't understand the lyrics owing to a bad sound mix in the theater and a bevy of child actors putting on quite thick British accents. So, if you didn't know the lyrics then maybe you didn't get to know them. Well, Village Theatre has picked up this tale of these revolting children (not a judgment of the kids, it's one of the songs) and while the lyrics are much clearer in the more intimate setting and the talent from the kids and adults alike is top notch (with some excellent diction) the show at times feels like it's striving to find it's rhythm and barely finds its magic.

Village Theatre is elated to bring Roald Dahl's magical misfit Matilda to the stage in the hit musical that swept up five Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, and was named TIME's #1 Show of the Year in 2013. The production features an incredible cast of 15 local youth who have been training for their roles in music, acting, and CrossFit since June. They will be joined by some of the Puget Sound's best performers.

Showtunes Theatre Company will return to the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, March 23-25, 2018 with a concert production of The Boys from Syracuse, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and book by George Abbott. The show is produced by Showtunes in association with Village Theatre, directed by Steve Tomkins in his final year as Artistic Director of Village and is being presented as part of the city-wide "Seattle Celebrates Shakespeare" festival. With Kim Douglass music directing, the show will have four performances over one weekend. Performances are Friday, March 23 at 8:00 pm, Saturday March 24th at 2 pm and 8pm and Sunday, March 25th at 2 pm.

Kicking off Village Theatre's 2017-2018 Season is the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical, Into the Woods. "Happily ever after" will be just the beginning in this musical collision of the original Grimm fairytales. When Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, Little Red, and more venture into the woods after their heart's desire, they get a lot more than they bargained for. As princes seduce and giants roam the land, stories get intertwined and the plot thickens. With a jaw-dropping design team and a stellar cast of Village Theatre favorites, Into the Woods is sure to take you "into the woods, to get the thing, that makes it worth the journeying."

Downton Abbey meets Gilligan's Island in this hysterical new musical titled A Proper Place by Broadway's Leslie Becker (Bonnie & Clyde, Amazing Grace) and Curtis Rhodes.

Mack and Mabel is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The plot involves the tumultuous romantic relationship between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand (transformed from an artist's model to a waitress from Flatbush, Brooklyn for the musical), who became one of his biggest stars.

Mack and Mabel is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The plot involves the tumultuous romantic relationship between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand (transformed from an artist's model to a waitress from Flatbush, Brooklyn for the musical), who became one of his biggest stars.

Rogers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific' is almost 70 years old. Seattle Musical Theatre took on this oldie but goodie and brought to life glimmers of classic Broadway razzle-dazzle. The singing was energetic and velvety smooth, the costumes (by Margaret Toomey) were carbon copies of the original production (i.e. high waist bathing suits, tight white naval suits and enviable Bettie Grable victory rolls), and a live pit orchestra to boot that brought the house down. Unfortunately, the mismatched energy levels of the actors, predictable choreography and a minimal set design made the production feel unfinished.

Seattle Musical Theatre concludes its 38th season with SOUTH PACIFIC. SMT's production of this timely and stunning musical boasts director and choreographer Phil Lacey at the helm and Brandon Peck music directing a both funny and romantic score. SOUTH PACIFIC plays tonight, April 8, through May 1, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Seattle Musical Theatre concludes its 38th season with SOUTH PACIFIC. SMT's production of this timely and stunning musical boasts director and choreographer Phil Lacey at the helm and Brandon Peck music directing a both funny and romantic score. SOUTH PACIFIC plays Apr 8 - May 1, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars in costume below!

Seattle Musical Theatre invites Seattle to spend Valentine's month with SWEET CHARITY, the girl who wants to be loved. This Tony Award-winning musical follows the titular broad as she sings, dances, laughs, and cries her way through the harsh reality of Times Square, searching for The One. Even amongst a colorful array of characters, including her cynical trio of streetwise girlfriends, a phony evangelist, a list of unreliable suitors, the unflappable Charity knows in her heart that there's gotta be something better than this.

Based on Fellini's classic film, '8 1/2', NINE is a spectacular musical that first delighted Broadway theatergoers in 1982 winning five Tony Awards - including Best Musical. A hit Broadway revival starring Antonio Banderas was awarded two additional Tony Awards in 2003. The 2009 film of the same name featured a star-studded cast and a story loosely based on the original. If you haven't seen the stage version, however, you likely have not seen this story.

Based on Fellini's classic film, '8 1/2', NINE is a spectacular musical that first delighted Broadway theatergoers in 1982 winning five Tony Awards - including Best Musical. A hit Broadway revival starring Antonio Banderas was awarded two additional Tony Awards in 2003. The 2009 film of the same name featured a star-studded cast and a story loosely based on the original. If you haven't seen the stage version, however, you likely have not seen this story.

Based on Fellini's classic film, '8 1/2', NINE is a spectacular musical that first delighted Broadway theatergoers in 1982 winning five Tony Awards - including Best Musical. A hit Broadway revival starring Antonio Banderas was awarded two additional Tony Awards in 2003. The 2009 film of the same name featured a star-studded cast and a story loosely based on the original. If you haven't seen the stage version, however, you likely have not seen this story.