Beth DeVries News

Opening in an adorable comedic glory at the Arizona Theatre Company is Snapshots, a romantic comedy that reimagines the songs of Stephen Schwartz. Fans old and new of Schwartz's previous works will enjoy hearing their favorite, familiar melodies from Godspell, Pippin, the Baker's Wife, and Wicked, to name a few, as we watch the story of a tired, married couple unfold in their upstairs attic.

I'm all for a tribute to a wonderful composer such as Stephen Schwartz. But the new musical 'Snapshots' currently playing at Village Theatre feels less like a tribute and more like theft. OK, maybe theft is too strong of a word since Schwartz is aware of the show and has given his blessing but it's definitely appropriating someone else's good works with not much new to say.

I've never quite understood why Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's "Nine" is so under produced regionally. It's fun, flirty and sexy with some of the most stunningly beautiful songs that unfortunately too few are familiar with. It could be that in order to produce it correctly you need one killer ensemble of women (and Guido of course) who can handle the piece. Well, as is their way, Showtunes Theatre Company has taken this underdone gem and dusted it off and thankfully found that stellar ensemble to tackle it in their current concert version. Too bad it's only for two performances.

Seattle-based SHOWTUNES Theatre Company wraps their 15th year with a fun, sexy concert version of the Tony award winning musical Nine.

Seattle-based SHOWTUNES Theatre Company wraps their 15th year with a fun, sexy concert version of the Tony award winning musical Nine.

New York Theatre Barn (The Barn) will present readings of its original commission Small Town Story today, November 13th at 2pm and tomorrow, November 14th at 1pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons (416 W. 42nd St.).

New York Theatre Barn (The Barn) will present readings of its original commission Small Town Story on November 13th at 2pm and November 14th at 1pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons (416 W. 42nd St.).

The new performance/rehearsal/training space in town launched last night with their inaugural performance by hosting an evening of the works of local musical theater composer Richard Gray with "Here's to the Ladies". Gray and some of the most talented women in town got together to explore Gray's work and send off this new space with a bang. And all those in attendance knew they were watching something extra special.

You're a cute little new musical that has workshopped itself at Village in their Village Originals program twice before. You have an interesting storyline and a fun little gimmick. You start off a little weak but there are sparks of potential. So why would you completely abandon that cute storyline and gimmick by Act Two and then proceed to beat your audience over the head with a tired message of letting time work things out? (A message that made no sense for what preceded by the way.) Unfortunately this is the question I found myself asking at Village Theatre's "The Tutor". Sure the performers shine but they shine in a show that has no idea what it wants to be or where it wants to go.

The year was 1996, it was the second time "Les Miserables" was coming through town and I was finally going to see it live. I sat there in the dark and let that incredible score and story flow through me and was such a weepy mess that my friends questioned if I was going to be alright. That experience cemented "Les Mis" as one of my favorites and although I've seen it several times since, no production has come close to that one. How could it, right? That is until now as the current production playing at Village Theatre stunned me by turning me into that weepy mess from 17 years ago all over again and reminded me just how good this show can be.

Village Theatre's Artistic Director Steve Tomkins 'dreamed a dream' many years ago when he first saw actor Greg Stone perform in Les Miserables. After directing Stone in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993 Tomkins wondered, "Could I put together my 'dream cast,' that included Stone, and present this monstrous legendary mega-hit musical Les Miserables at Village Theatre?" Scheduling conflicts, rights issues and budget constraints stood in his way, but much like the character Jean Valjean, Tomkins persisted. Over a decade later the stage production rights became available for a short window of time (that window closes when the Broadway revival of Les Miserables opens in March of 2014) and Tomkins got to work putting the many pieces together for a Village Theatre production.

ISSAQUAH, WA –Village Theatre's Artistic Director Steve Tomkins 'dreamed a dream' many years ago when he first saw actor Greg Stone perform in Les Misérables. After directing Stone in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993 Tomkins wondered, “Could I put together my 'dream cast,' that included Stone, and present this monstrous legendary mega-hit musical Les Misérables at Village Theatre?” Scheduling conflicts, rights issues and budget constraints stood in his way, but much like the character Jean Valjean, Tomkins persisted. Over a decade later the stage production rights became available for a short window of time (that window closes when the Broadway revival of Les Misérables opens in March of 2014) and Tomkins got to work putting the many pieces together for a Village Theatre production.

Balagan Theatre made three major announcements during a packed Season Preview Party at the Moore Theatre on Monday, June 10: 'Nirvanov' as the fifth show in the 2013-2014 mainstage season, a star-studded trio of leading ladies in Carrie: The Musical, and a newly created New Works Program, whose Summer Series debuts July 6.

The highly anticipated local production of the hit Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey show "Next To Normal" has finally opened at Capitol Hill's Balagan Theatre. And while still an incredibly evocative and powerful show, the current production, while technically superb, didn't quite manage that same hard hitting spark.

Balagan Theatre and Contemporary Classics co-present the Seattle premiere of Broadway rock musical Next to Normal, starring one of Seattle's veteran leading ladies, Beth DeVries, as the bipolar depressive matriarch Diana Goodman; and directed by one of Seattle's hottest young directors, Contemporary Classics Artistic Director Brandon Ivie, whose credits include the Broadway productions of A Christmas Story: The Musical, Catch Me If You Can, and Next to Normal.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Showtunes Theatre Company presented their first concert production in their new home at Seattle's Moore Theatre with the seldom produced, "Follies" from Stephen Sondheim. But then, that's what Showtunes does and does well. Take musical theater gems that for one reason or another don't see as much action as they should, and put on wonderful staged concerts of them. And their outing with "Follies" was no exception.

Showtunes Theatre Company, in partnership with Broadway Across America-Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group, is proud to announce its first concert production at their new home of The Moore Theatre - the legendary Sondheim/Goldman musical, Follies.

Showtunes Theatre Company, in partnership with Broadway Across America-Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group, is proud to announce its first concert production at their new home of The Moore Theatre - the legendary Sondheim/Goldman musical, Follies.