Frightfully Good Theater!

Enjoy Halloween? How about zombies? We have a treat for you, then: this weekend only, our youth ensemble tackles Shakespeare and the undead with....

ZOMBIE CAESAR
by William Shakespeare, adapted & directed by Shana Bestock

Caesar used to be the leader everyone wanted, but now his huge ego threatens to become maniacal. His trusted advisors decide to kill him, inciting the citizens to riot in support of a new regime led by Caesar's one true friend, the noble Brutus. However, Caesar won't stay fully dead - he shows up as a zombie, scaring the citizens, plaguing Brutus, and wreaking havoc. Will Brutus be able to restore peace, or will zombie-driven chaos consume the country?

All performances FREE!
(donations to the youth scholarship fund happily accepted at the door)

October 29 @ 7pm
October 30 @ 2pm & 7pm
October 31 @ 2pm

Plus a special treat: The Roosevelt Thriller Club!
The Roosevelt High School Thriller Club will make a special appearance at the October 30th, 2pm matinee. The club is a group of teenage zombies who arise from the dead every day for school (and return to their graves on the weekend). In September and October, they learn Michael Jackson's famous Thriller dance and perform at community centers and festivals, culminating in their participation in Thrill The World, a worldwide simultaneous Thriller dance. Their favorite activities include devouring brains, groaning intelligibly and texting.

Come in costume to the Halloween performance for a trick or treat!

Also: Remember our Contributing Blogger, Sleepy Bear? He visited Zombie Caesar tech rehearsal, and has a post to show for it: http://sleepybearwrites.blogspot.com/

Go check out his report, and write back with feedback for him!

(Photos by Paul Bestock.)

Sleepy Bear visits Wizard of Oz

Our new Contributing Blogger, Sleepy Bear, has been visiting our Wizard of Oz class. He's been watching rehearsals and talking to the students, and has lots to report. Take a look!

http://sleepybearwrites.blogspot.com/

Costume sale!

Just in time for Halloween, Seattle Public Theater is having a costume sale!

This Saturday, October 23rd, from 2 to 4pm

At the Bathhouse Theatre on Green Lake - 7312 West Green Lake Dr N

Cash or check w/ ID only please!

Meet Sleepy Bear - our new Contributing Blogger!

Hi friends!

I'm super excited to be a guest writer for Seattle Public Theater. As you may know, I love to read books but now I get to read scripts for live theater productions! I also get to watch kids rehearse and get ready for their performances on stage. Each week I'll post on my blog what the kids are learning during their rehearsals and what it's like to be a part of a live theater production. Oh, and if you have questions for me, you can write to me and I'll write back with an answer. This is the link to my blog: http://SleepyBearWrites.blogspot.com

Bye for now,

Sleepy Bear

The reviews are in!

Audiences and critics love Mauritius!

"A taut, twisty thriller... solid entertainment value" - The Seattle Times

"A smart, compelling drama... this production makes the drama irresistible" - SeattleActor.com

"Tightly directed by Russ Banham with five strong performers" - Seattle Gay News

Mauritius runs through October 24th - get your tickets now!

Visit www.seattlepublictheater.org or call 206-524-1300

From the Managing Director: An interview with Joe Sixpack

Instead of Keith Dahlgren, the Managing Director, writing his usual tedious pontificating and begging for donations, we asked a guy walking around Green Lake to interview Keith and write out his conclusions.

Joe Sixpack: Hey, Mr. Fancy-Schmancy Theater Artist guy. I’ve been walking around Green Lake for years, and I never knew what this building was.

Keith Dahlgren, Managing Director of Seattle Public Theater: Yes, people have a tendency to ignore the building in their single minded search for physical perfection. Or their dogs. And we at SPT haven’t always had the best signage on the building. But it’s a small performing arts center.

JS: How long’s it been a theater?

KD: It was built in 1927 as a bathhouse, and converted into a theater in 1969. Seattle Public Theater has been the resident theater company since October of 2000. in 2009, SPT produced six professional (what we call Mainstage) productions; at least ten student productions, and dozens of youth program camps and classes.

JS: So, do you show movies?

KD: A common misconception. We are a Live Theater, as opposed to a Moving Picture Theater, otherwise known as a Cinema.

JS: Huh.

KD: So in our theater you will see plays performed live by actual actors, not projected films or television shows. You know, the Tee-Vee.

JS: So why should I pay…how much are tickets?

KD: They average $25. Subscription tickets average less.

JS: Okay, twenty-five bucks to see your stuff when I can stay home and watch movies on my Tee-Vee?

KD: Have you ever met anyone on your Tee-Vee?

JS: I saw Kent Phillips on the street once.

KD: Ah. Well, our actors are real. You see them act and react within a few feet of you. You see the story unfold live. You are part of the experience.

JS: Huh.

KD: You feel the people with you, the rest of the audience, react to the performance as well. If you’re lucky (and many people are) you will experience the moment Bill Ball from ACT San Francisco describes as the moment when the whole audience as well as actors are all feeling the same emotions. A heightened union of a whole room full of humans. It’s a transitory experience, something you can’t get at home watching the Tee-Vee.

JS: Cool.

KD: And if you like the show and come back and see it again, you’ll get a different experience. Because it’s a different night, a different audience, and the actors may be in a different space. You may get a more excited audience, or the actors may discover something new. You never know what to expect.

JS: Wow. So it’s not people talking in old English so you can’t understand?

KD: That’s Shakespeare. Another thing you might like to try after you see some modern language theater.

JS: Dude. Thanks. I’ll have to check this out.

KD: Yes. Give it a try. Dive in. You might like it.