Recently it has become evident that the timeline we had planned for the production of Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders has not been a realistic one. Because of its unique character, certain logistical production issues have developed that have encouraged us to take a step back and re-evaluate the process. As a result, we have decided to delay the show’s opening.

The entire Theatre Northwest Group and its partner, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, is committed to the excellence of this production. We anticipate opening possibly as early as October 2010 and we will notify all acting, production company, and patrons of Theatre Northwest Group when we have a final schedule and have detailed all production issues.

Brett Carr
Producing Artistic Director, Theatre Northwest Group

Rosemary Ponnekanti of the Tribune has written quite a nice review. We are so proud of this cast and crew. It helps to start with a good script and great music, but without a fantastic director and musical director, and a talented cast, we could not have done it justice. Thanks you Chris Nardine (director) and David Duvall (music director) and all the cast, musicians, and production staff! What a wonderful job you are doing!

If you saw this show and loved it

(and we know you did),

tell your friends!

Our big gala opening of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is tomorrow, February 20th. Anyone who is attending opening night is invited to meet cast after the show in the lobby.

If you are free tonight, however, have we got a deal for you! Tonight, February 19th, we are having a last dress rehearsal, open to the public, on a pay-what-you-can basis. Show starts at 7:30, but there are no reserved seats, so come a bit early. Just show up at Theatre on the Square, donation in hand, no ticket needed.

And if you love the show as much as we do, TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Want to see what we’ve been up to? Here is a little visit to our scene shop, whose space is generously provided by Puget Sound Builders, NW in Kent.

(Click on a photo for a larger view)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels director Chris Nardine reports that as of yesterday the play is all blocked and choreography is finished- all with over three weeks until we open! Here is a little glimpse of rehearsal, and our fantastic cast hard at work.

Please click on a photo for the full view

Rachael Boyer (Christine)

Aaron Lamb (Lawrence)

Matthew Vail (Freddy)

Eric Polani Jensen (Andre) AEA Member

Jenny McMurry (Jolene)

Casi Wilkerson (Muriel)

Rebekah Witt (Renee)

Zandi Carlson (Ensemble)

Elizabeth Richmond (Ensemble)

John Huddlestun (Ensemble)

Taylor Richmond (Ensemble)

Jamie Osborne (Ensemble)

James Oestreich (Ensemble)

Kate Kingery (Ensemble)

John E. Olson III (Ensemble)

Matthew Lawrence (Ensemble)

Galen Wicks (Ensemble)

This weekend at our production meeting, set designer Jason Phillips brought the set model. This event always generates excitement for the actors as well as the production staff. While many of get some kind of a sense of what is happening with set on stage by looking at the ground plans and seeing the lines taped in the rehearsal space, the set really doesn’t make sense for most of us until we see that little 3-D model. So here is a little peek at what this thing is going to look like…

Two tall balcony structures with a two-piece movable stair unit behind.

Two rolling platforms can move in and out from the archways underneath the balcony units. Furniture can be loaded offstage, and when they are rolled into place, viola! A new scene! The set can be changed further by rolling only one stair unit into place. By the way, that cutout you see down front is the orchestra pit, because yes, we will have live music.

Here is a bird’s-eye view of the set, showing the escape stairs for actors (not visible to audience) and the stage left stair unit pushed back out of sight, while the stage right unit is being used alone in the center of the stage. The large white backdrop is the cyc, which will be used to great advantage in this production. We will use this to project much of our “background scenery” which is a new technique for us. We are very excited about this set. It is going to be quite spectacular, and I am so honored to have the opportunity to paint for Jason Phillips. I know I’m going to learn a lot.

Saturday was the first big production meeting for our new musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and what an exciting, high-energy morning it was. Some of us met each other for the first time, and we all got our first peeks at the set drawings. Our set designer for this production is Jason Phillips. A quick look at Jason’s website will give you an idea why I am so excited to have the privilege of painting for him– and even more excited to be painting with him, since he has let me know that although he has officially retired from the painting part of his business, he cannot resist the lure of the paintbrush. I know there is a lot I can learn from him.

In other news, our director Chris Nardine could not say enough about the dancers (all good!) even after only two rehearsals. We are off to a great start. Our set models should be finished an appear at next Saturday’s production meeting, and as soon as they do, I promise to take a few photos to share. Keep checking back.

Happy New Year! Theatre Northwest has some big fun in store for you this year, but first, here is a look at our last production, The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge.

(Click on a photo for a larger view.)

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (December 18, 19, 20) are the final chances to see our holiday production of The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge. We have had such a great run, and so much fun doing this show. Check out  the great reviews we got in the Tribune and the Volcano.

While we will be sad to say goodbye to the cast of Iggy, there are some fantastic productions in the works for 2010. We finally have the cast set for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and rehearsals start in early January. That show is going to be a blockbuster for sure. Tickets will go on sale for the February/March production in January. I mean, how can you go wrong with dancing waiters?

Auditions are underway this week for our May production of Agatha Christie’s BBC Murders. It may be hard to imagine just what a “radio play” is, but once you see them, you will want more. The actors will be top-notch, and the plays, written by Agatha Christie for the BBC, are pure Christie fun. But I’d be willing to wager that many of you will leave thinking that watching the foley (sound effects) guy was worth the ticket price alone, and the plays were just a wonderful bonus.