interview – NWTheatre

Chase D. Anderson February 18, 2023March 19, 2023 Abbott Elementary, interview, Lauren Weedman, Triple Door

5 Questions With Multi-Faceted Comedian Lauren Weedman

Lauren Weedman talks about her upcoming show at the Triple Door, her very funny storytelling, her love for Seattle, and, yes, her appearances on the TV show Abbott Elementary.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson March 22, 2022March 19, 2023 Broadway, Dragon Lady, interview, Sara Porkalob

5 (More) Questions with the Broadway-Bound Sara Porkalob

Sara Porkalob has taken Seattle by storm. Now she heads for the East Coast to perform in the Broadway revival of ‘1776’ and work on the third in her Dragon Cycle. NWT talked with her as she prepared for the journey.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Rachel Delmar March 6, 2020March 19, 2023 interview, Maritess Zurbano, Sara Porkalob, The Rendezvous

5 Questions with Magician & Theatre-Maker Maritess Zurbano

NWT talks with the internationally acclaimed magician about decolonizing magic, real-life magic vs. illusion, and her upcoming show at The Rendezvous (March 8-10).

ON BOOK RELEASES

Chase D. Anderson October 26, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, Jane Kaplan, Photos, Seattle, Staci Bernstein, The Rendezvous

A Changing Belltown Still Has its Ghosts. In ‘Belltown Exposed’, They Come Alive.

This Sunday night, the Rendezvous decks the halls with decades past, with a unique, free, through-the-eras party and variety show called ‘Belltown Exposed’. It celebrates the release of Staci Bernstein’s new art photography book of the same name. NWT talked with Rendezvous owner Jane Kaplan about the show, the book, and the storied neighborhood.

DANCE INTERVIEW

Chase D. Anderson October 17, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, queer arts, Sean Dorsey, Sean Dorsey Dance, Seattle, Velocity Dance Center

5 Questions with Choreographer & Dancer Sean Dorsey

This weekend, Sean Dorsey — acclaimed choreographer and dancer, and out and proud trans man — brings his new work, ‘Boys in Trouble’, to Velocity Dance Center. NWTheatre talked with him about masculinity in and through his artistic lens, this latest work, and the good and bad in today’s trans representation.

INTERVIEW ON BOOK THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson September 9, 2019March 19, 2023 12th Avenue Arts, Amy Poisson, Artemisia Gentileschi, interview, Joy McCullough, Macha Theatre Works, Seattle

5 Questions with Playwright & Novelist Joy McCullough

‘Blood Water Paint’ imagines the great 17th century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi in her studio, interacting with the apocryphal subjects who inspired her. NWT talked with playwright Joy McCullough about the work, ahead of the play’s opening this Friday with Macha Theatre Works.

FEATURE THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson August 16, 2019July 7, 2022 12th Avenue Arts, 18th & Union, Eddie DeHais, interview, Jasmine Joshua, Nicholas Japaul Bernard, queer arts, Seattle, The Scratch

From Idea to Stage: ‘Triple Threat’ & ‘Bread Crumbs’ Open at The Scratch

The Scratch, a free festival of new works, starts off tonight with two personal works by some of Seattle’s hottest artists: Nicholas Japaul Bernard and Jasmine Joshua, with development assistance and direction by Eddie DeHais. DeHais shared insight about the two autobiographical pieces, and guided NWT through the development process of each.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson August 5, 2019March 19, 2023 Danny Haengil Larsen, Eastside, Hart Island, interview, Jerry Dixon, Michelle Elliott, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Village Originals, Village Theatre

5 Questions with Musical Theatre Writers Michelle Elliott & Danny Haengil Larsen

The annual Village Originals Festival of New Musicals takes place in Issaquah this weekend. Few theatre-makers know the Festival better than Michelle Elliott and Danny Haengil Larsen, who have shown new works there four times. NWT talked with the duo about their latest work, ‘Hart Island’, which showed at the 2017 Festival and returned to Village for a developmental production earlier this year.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson July 17, 2019March 19, 2023 Cafe Nordo, interview, Sara Porkalob

5 Questions with Artist-Activist Sara Porkalob

Sara Porkalob has taken Seattle by storm — as a playwright, director, actor, singer, storyteller, leader and curator, all through an activist lens. Here, she talks with NWT about artist-activism, telling her family stories before audiences on both coasts, and of course her new play, 7th and Jackson, which opens this Friday.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson June 18, 2019March 19, 2023 ACT Contemporary Theatre, interview, John Kazanjian, Mary Ewald, New City Theater

5 Questions with Theatre-Makers Mary Ewald & John Kazanjian

Mary Ewald and John Kazanjian, spouses and long-term collaborators behind the New City Theater, have teamed up with ACTLab to produce two short works running through June 30. Ewald and Kazanjian talked with NWTheatre about their current show at ACT, and about the fascinating arc of New City Theater.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson May 19, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, Seattle Rep, The Hansberry Project, Valerie Curtis-Newton

5 Questions with Director Valerie Curtis-Newton

Award-winning theatre-maker Valerie Curtis-Newton is the director of the currently running, critically acclaimed production of ‘Nina Simone: Four Women’ at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Curtis-Newton talked with NWTheatre about her vision in staging the piece, and artist-activism more generally.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson May 9, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, Jasmine Joshua, queer arts, Reboot Theatre Company

5 Questions with Theatre-Maker Jasmine Joshua

On stage, whether in over-the-top drag getups or stripped-down autobiographical pieces, Reboot Theatre Company Artistic Director Jasmine Joshua has been an open book about their non-binary identity and experience. NWT talked with Joshua about developing community and identity through art, making new work with The 5th Avenue Theatre, and the rebooted ‘Sweeney Todd’ opening next week.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Corinne Magin May 2, 2019February 15, 2024 18th & Union, Corinne Park-Buffelen, Heidi Park, interview, Seayoung Yim

5 Questions with Playwright Heidi Park

First-time playwright Heidi Park’s autobiographical show, ‘Black Sheep’, debuts this weekend at 18th & Union. NWT talked with Park and dramaturg Seayoung Yim (also a playwright), about the process of developing Park’s story for the stage.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Emily Testa April 24, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, Rachel Katz Carey, theater simple, Theatre Off Jackson

5 Questions with Director Rachel Katz Carey

theater simple’s adaptation of ‘The Master & Margarita’ runs through this weekend at Theatre Off Jackson. NWT talked with director Rachel Katz Carey, who also directed theater simple’s original adaptation 22 years ago, about the return to the piece and how it holds up.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson April 21, 2019March 19, 2023 18th & Union, Comedy, interview, queer arts, Seattle, Woody Shticks

5 Questions with ‘Comic Stripper’ Woody Shticks

Ahead of his back-by-popular-demand show ‘Who Cares!’ at 18th & Union this weekend, we go deep with Woody Shticks on art, queerness, style, religion, and working the pole at Pony.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson March 21, 2019March 19, 2023 eSe Teatro, interview, Julieta Vitullo, Parley, Rose Cano

5 Questions with Playwright Julieta Vitullo

Ahead of her new play’s April 1 reading at the Represent! Festival, Julieta Vitullo talked with eSe Teatro Artistic Director Rose Cano about the genre shift into writing for the stage, the unique challenges (and freedoms) in bilingual playwriting, and the inspiration behind her latest work.

INTERVIEW THEATRE

Chase D. Anderson March 18, 2019March 19, 2023 interview, Macha Theatre Works, Maggie Lee

5 Questions with Playwright Maggie Lee

This month, Macha Theatre Works opened its world-premiere production of ‘Sheathed’ — a new fantasy/adventure saga from acclaimed Seattle playwright Maggie Lee — which runs through March 24 at Theatre Off Jackson. NWT talked with Lee to learn more about the process, from ideation to realization, and her inspiration behind this latest work.