2008-2009 Season
Ron Sandahl, Artistic Director
Aaron Allshouse, Co-Assoc. Artistic Director
Dustin Engstrom, Company Manager
Open Circle Theater is a multi-disciplinary performance company committed to the development of new works and adaptations that speak to the human condition through fantasy and mythic storytelling.
Welcome to the home the most thrilling and fantastical theater you will find in Seattle!
Throughout our seasons, Open Circle's resident company unites with local directors, musicians, visual artists and performers, to bring fresh insight and invention to our creations of highly physical, ensemble-style theater. Join us as we reinvent the theatrical experience.
Click on a show below to see details about that show.
"The Legend of Billie Jean" was meant to be the smash summer hit of 1985. Despite the heavy influence of emerging MTV culture, the movie passed directly into the annals of cult favorites.
The movie's plot kicks in when Christian Slater's trendy Honda Elite scooter is totaled by a town bully. The bully's dad tries to put the moves on Slater's sister, played by Helen Slater (no relation) when she seeks to collect the cost of repairs. After accidentally shooting the lecherous father, the Slaters hit the highway with their friends, including Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson). Without the help of the internet or a reality TV show, Billie Jean Davy becomes an overnight icon and modern day Joan of Arc with her catchphrase, "fair is fair!"
Now, even before the film's long overdue DVD release, Bad Actor Productions presents a stage parody that will bring the trailer trash world and action sequences of the film to life. A gender bending cast and a major script facelift brings the fun of the movie live to fans and Billie Jean nubies alike in "Billie Jean: The Legend!"
--- 21+ only ---
WHAT: Bilie Jean: The Legend
WHEN: Sept. 4 - 26
Fri. & Sat. @ 8pm
Doors and cash bar open at 7:30
PRICE: $12 cash/check at the door/
$10 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/78027
$8 first weekend only if you arrive in ultra-80s attire!
Each month OCTV presents some of Seattle's best actors, comedians and bar-culture personalities performing classic TV shows live on stage!
The audience has spoken! After doing live performances of THE A-TEAM, SPACE 1999, DESIGNING WOMEN, DOOGIE HOWSER, MD, and THE FACTS OF LIFE, we’re starting to feel those GROWING PAINS! Each month OCTV brings you some of Seattle's funniest actors, sketch comedians and local personalities, performing a classic television show live on stage. Come see the show that has taken Seattle latenight by storm!
There are two performances, a cash bar, deep-discount drink specials and on Saturday night we’ll spin the Big Dial to see what the September show will be. Don’t miss out on the show Seattle is talking about. Come see OCTV’s skewed take on classic television!
OCTV does Growing Pains
Friday, 8/21/09 and Saturday, 8/22/09 at 11pm (box and bar open at 10:30)
$7 at the door
21+
Cash bar!!
A Texas Hold 'em Benefit for Open Circle Theater.
Doors open at 7:30
gaming starts promptly at 8pm
$25 poker buy in
Non-poker guests by suggested donation
A dazzling array or prized, amazing free food and a sumptuous bar with drink special! Faboo!
FREE IN SEATTLE'S VOLUNTEER PARK!!
This summer Open Circle Theater is delighted to present Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? premiering at the Outdoor theater festival at Volunteer Park July 12th at 2pm.
Part re-working of classic fairy tales and part hysterical absurdest theater, Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? pits a hapless narrator against a lead character Wolf who just won't cooperate. After starting one story he gets bored and insists that they jump to another. Soon they have started 3 stories and not finished any! As characters from different stories start colliding, who knows where it all may end up? Crafted by local playwright Aaron Allshouse to be zany laughs for children as well as stimulating fun for adults, this park show will delight all ages. Plus it's FREE FUN IN THE SUN at capitol Hill's lovely Volunteer Park.
NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED -
JUST COME TO THE PARK!
WHAT: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
by Aaron Allshouse
WHEN: July 18 thru Aug. 8, Sat. & Sun. at 2pm
SPECIAL PREMIERE AT THE OUTDOOR THEATRE FESTIVAL - July 12 at 2pm
WHERE: Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill - Entrance on East Prospect St. (at 14th Ave. E.)
Located in the playfield directly north of the Asian Art Museum, near the Conservatory.
COST: FREE!!!
For the month of June, Open Circle Theater presents a Mini Film Fest of Lovecraft and Science Fiction. With Open Circle being the world's foremost adapters of Lovecraft for the stage (Sean Branney, Director, The Call of Cthulhu) we will be running the film of several of our Lovecraft productions the last three Fridays in June. The last three Saturday we will also be running a Mystery Science Fiction film fest. Here are the specifics:
Fri., June 12 - The Colour Out of Space
- incl. Colour, The thing on the Doorstep & Strange Magicks (OCT 2006)
Sat., June 13 - Sci-Fi Mystery Film #1
Fri., June 19 - Dreams In the Witch House
- incl. Dreams, Nyarlathotep, The Picture in the House, The Cats of Ulthar (OCT 2007)
Sat., June 20 - Sci-Fi Mystery Film #2
Fri., June 26 - Necronomicon
- an original piece based on t the worlds of H.P. Lovecraft (OCT 2008)
Sat., June 27 - Sci-Fi Mystery Film #3
At $5 it would be stupid to not come on down and enjoy the theater-quality sound, comfy seats and faulous show. Plus add into it Open Circle's swanky full bar with drink specials and you have the makings for a SUPER GREAT NIGHT. Do not miss it!
WHAT: OCT's Mini Film Fest - Lovecraft & Sci Fi
WHEN: Fri. & Sat. at 7pm
June 12 thru June 27
HOW MUCH: $5 at the door
WHERE: Open Circle Theater - 2222 Second Ave., Second Floor
(at Bell St. above Shorty's and Buddha Lounge)
WORLD PREMIERE!
Sometimes going to the center of the universe means traveling across the world�and sometimes it means looking in the most unexpected place of all: inside your own heart. Michael and his ex-boyfriend Ben (they fell in love over the movie Rebecca) and best friend Beth and her elusive girlfriend Melissa (they fell in love over the most ridiculous thing in the world) chase each other from Seattle to London, where a mysterious Bellhop tries to get everyone drunk on whiskey and the revelations of their broken pasts open the door to another universe. Part sci-fi fantasy, part love story, this world-premiere comedy by local playwright Dustin Engstrom is an always surprising story about finding the lock that fits the key, and what you discover on the other side.
NO SHOW MOTHER'S DAY
SUNDAY, MAY 10
WHAT: The Center of the Universe, by Dustin Engstrom
Directed by Laurel Pilar Garcia
WHEN: April 24 thru May 23
Thu., Fri. & Sat. @ 7:30 / Sundays at 4pm
Casual TALK BACK
Saturday, May 9 after 7:30 show
Join us after the show in our comfy LobbyBar and chat with the author and cast about this remarkable show.
Make your reservations today!
PRICE: Tickets $15
All Thursdays are 2-for-1 admission
All students get in for $10 (with Student ID)
RESERVATIONS: (206) 382-4250 - or - www.OCTheater.com
WHERE: Open Circle Theater - 2222 Second Ave., Second floor
(at Bell St. above Shorty's)
Open Circle Theater is pleased to present the premiere of two new adaptations of classic tales, A NIGHT OF TWO ONE ACTS: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and The School of Whoredom, running March 13 thru April 4.
In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson's chilling classic of double-consciousness and the struggle between good and evil is re-imagined in a brand new adaptation. The respectable Dr. Henry Jekyll is inexplicably bound to the disreputable Edward Hyde. As more is uncovered about this 'damnable young man' a dark truth begins to unfold, a hunt for a killer begins, and a final revelation of humanity's basest capacity for evil is exposed. Directed by Andy Justus, the celebrated story is presented entirely without spoken word through the language of movement, choreographed by Emma Hassett, and translated
into instrumental music by composer Allan Loucks.
In Pietro Aretino's salacious 16th-century satire, The School of Whoredom, mother instructs daughter in the ways of the world's oldest profession as daughter's debut approaches. A mistress of the art of pleasure introduces her daughter to the mysteries of feminine power. Directed by Gary Zinter, this update of the bawdy classic will prove that reading, writing and arithmetic only get you so far.
Both shows will run as separate acts each night in one show at Open Circle Theater's new Belltown home at Second Ave. & Bell St. And what could assist in peering into the murky depths of the demimondaine more than Open Circle's well stocked LobbyBar. Two shows that you
would not see anywhere else in Seattle - both definitely not to be missed!!
NOTE: School of Whoredom contains adult situations and language.
A Night of Two One Acts runs
March 13 thru April 4
Thu, Fri. & Sat. @ 7:30pm / Sun. @ 4pm
Tickets: $15
All Thu. are 2-for-1 admission
Federico Garcia Lorca's masterpiece is a savage tale told with lyric beauty. Amongst other fantastical occurrences, Death and the Moon conspire to halt a pair of run-away lovers. An amazing night of theater! With original music by John McKenna.
BLOOD WEDDING runs
Jan. 30 thru Feb.28
Thu. - Sat. @ 7:30pm / Sun. @ 4pm
Tickets: $15
Back by popular demand. It's 1963 and Judy Garland is scheduled to film a Christmas special for her TV show. If only they can find her. When she does show up for the dress rehearsal, it's a mad scamper to keep her away from the booze and pills and back on track to the songs! A hilarious night of comedy!
The Judy Garland Christmas Special
December 5 - 20
Thu. - Sat. @ 8pm / Sun. @ 4pm
RESERVATIONS:
Call (206) 382-4250 or click the Ticketing link to the left
WORLD PREMIERE! Open Circle Theater continues it's 6th year of smash-hit adaptations of stories by the master of the macabre, H.P. Lovecraft. This year we are creating an original piece based on Lovecraft's works and involving his sinister tome, The Necronomicon.
A young woman is being terrorized by nightmares and starts to believe that she is going crazy. That is until things from her dreams start occurring in her real life. After that, everything starts going to hell.
And what is that strange book she keeps dreaming about...
NECRONOMICON also premiere's Open Circle Theater's new home in Belltown! Come on down and see what all the screaming is about...
.
H.P. Lovecraft NECRONOMICON
October 10 - November 14
Thu. - Sat. @ 8pm / Sun. @ 4pm
There are no shows Sun. 10/12 or Thu. 10/16
Price: $15
(all Thursdays are 2-for-1 admission)
Resverations: click link above or call (206) 382-4250
.
- This production made possible with generous support from Vulcan Inc. and 4Culture - |
