Black Like Us

Presented by Annex Theatre and Brownbox Theatre
Written by Rachel Atkins
Directed by Jose Amador

January 31-March 1
Thurs-Sat at 8pm
All Thurs PWYC
$20 general/$18 advance tickets
$12 senior, military, TPS / $5 student

Family secrets ripple through time when three sisters in 2013 discover the truth about a young African-American woman in 1958 who realizes she can pass for white. What happens in-between is a frank and funny look at the shifting boundaries of tolerance and what identity really means.

“Thoughtful, crisp, and incredibly funny in the best tragicomic way… [Atkins’s] ability to find comedy through the entire piece is excellent. Her eye for characterization and her ear for immediate, intimate dialogue are faultless.” – Seattle Star

“Both funny and chilling… Black Like Us is a sharp slice into the racial history of an American city from an unusual perspective.” – The Stranger

“Candid, compassionate and engagingly humorous” – Seattle Times

“Unlike many good plays that leave you with much to discuss over coffee after you leave the theater, I suspect this play will leave me with internal discussions and conflicts that I’ll debate for the rest of my life. Once again, the tiny little Annex Theatre on Capitol Hill has brought us a bigger, more important show than any of the giant houses in Seattle.” – Seattle Actor

CAST
Chelsea Binta Florence
Alyson Scadron Branner Sandra
Dior Davenport Maxine
Marquicia Dominguez Tanya
Lindsay Evans Michelle
Kia Pierce Denise
Devin Rodgers Donna
Mckenna Turner Amy
CREW
Playwright Rachel Atkins
Director Jose Amador
Assistant Director Pilar O’Connell
Stage Manager Christine Lange
Light Designer Tess Malone
Set Designer John Clark
Sound Designer Shane Regan
Prop Designer Samantha Armitage
Costume Designer Julia Evanovich
Hair Designer Dior Davenport
Scenic Artist Jeannie Beirne
Technical Directors Alex King & Emily Sershon

Team Of Heroes: No More Heroes

Written by Alexander Harris
Directed by Jaime Roberts

Thu-Sat at 8 pm, April 26-May 25 (Thu PWYC)
$20 general / $12 TPS, senior, military / $5 student
PWYC Preview Dress Rehearsal: Thursday, April 25
PWYC Industry Night: Monday, May 13

Contains strong language.

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Following the collapse of the world’s most famous professional superhero team, the remaining Heroes come together to uncover the mysterious forces behind their former employers. Team of Heroes: No More Heroes is the final installment in Annex Theatre’s satirical trilogy exploring the dark underbelly of Doing Good. It features superhero spectacle created through lean theatrics, lurid desires, out-of-control egos…and skintight spandex.

The same creative team that brought you Annex Theatre’s surprise hit Alecto: Issue #1 and its hit sequel Team Of Heroes: Behind Closed Doors returns with the conclusion to the saga.

“Big, stupid fun done smartly and with tremendous intimacy… Anyone who loves theatre should see this show. Anyone who makes theatre should go learn something from it.” –The Sunbreak of Team Of Heroes: Behind Closed Doors

CAST
Libby Barnard Alecto
Nik Doner Shockwave
Curtis Eastwood Piggy Pig
Sam Hagen H8/The Accountant
Rachel Jackson Chaos Theory
Alyssa Keene Melody Knox
Tracy Leigh Madame Mayhem
Jason Sharp The Cap’n
CREW
Playwright Alexander Harris
Director Jaime Roberts
Production Manager Kristina Volkman
Assistant Director/Fly Master Mike Gilson
Stage Manager Lisa Stahler
Composer/Sound Designer Michael Hayes
Set Designer/Special Effects Emily Sershon
Lighting Designer Tess Malone
Costume Designer Candace Frank
Graphic Designer/Geek Consultant Cole Hornaday
Assistant Stage Manager Jessamyn Bateman-Lino
Videographer Ben Laurance
Special Effects/Photography/TD Ian Johnston
Projection Artist Dominick DiGregorio
Lead Seamstress Meaghan Darling
Assistant Props Designer Jodi Sauerbier
Fight Choreographer Ryan Higgins
Movement Consultant Kerry Christianson

A Mouse Who Knows Me

Book & lyrics by Scotto Moore
Music by Robertson Witmer
Directed by Kristina Sutherland

Thu-Sat at 8 pm, Oct 19-Nov 17 (Thu PWYC)
$15 general / $10 TPS, senior, military / $5 student
PWYC Industry Night: Monday, Nov 5

A Mouse Who Knows Me is a world premiere science fiction musical comedy with book & lyrics by Scotto Moore (Duel of the Linguist Mages), music by Robertson Witmer (of the band “Awesome”), & directed by Kristina Sutherland (artistic director of Macha Monkey Productions). In a genetics lab that is inserting human genes into mice to see what might happen, Dr. Audrey Whitman starts to believe that one of her mice has developed human empathy & intelligence and develops a strange relationship with the mouse she christens Romeo, to the chagrin of her colleagues in the lab. Her mentor secretly plots to use her intelligent mouse to breed a new form of war machine – but neither realize that the mice in the lab have their own plans for bloody revolution. It’s an inter-species West Side Story!

WHO’S INVOLVED

Scotto Mooreʼs previous plays at Annex include the Gregory-Award-nominated pair Duel of the Linguist Mages and When I Come to My Senses, Iʼm Alive!; interlace [falling star]; and Principia Discordia LIVE! (as well as having acted in such productions as The Front Page and Market Research Theatre). Mr. Moore is also the creator of the web series Cherub: The Vampire with Bunny Slippers and the forthcoming The Coffee Table, as well as a contributing writer to What the Funny (directed by Lynn Shelton, created by Wayne Rawley).

Robertson Witmer‘s recent work as a composer and sound designer includes I Am My Own Wife and Of Mice and Men at Seattle Rep; As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and Hamlet for Seattle Shakespeare Company; and The Art of Racing in the Rain for Book-It. His recent performance credits include A Doctor in Spite of Himself (Intiman, Yale Rep and Berkeley Rep), Go, Dog. Go! (Seattle Children’s Theatre), and West (On the Boards). Rob also performs with many bands, including “Awesome,” the Love Markets and the Toucans.

Kristina Sutherland is the Director of Education at ACT and the co-founder and Artistic Director of Macha Monkey Productions. She is the author of several plays, most recently the critically acclaimed THEBES. She has also co-created four plays with Desiree Prewitt: Nancy, Frank, and Joe (nominated for the American Theatre Critics Association Award 2009 and a Gregory Award for playwriting in 2010), The Cowgirl Play, R (The Swashbuckling Tale of Anne Bonny and Mary Read) and Live Girls Do Elektra. Her recent directing credits include When I Come to My Senses, I’m Alive! by Scotto Moore at Annex Theatre, Franklin and Figaro by Kristina Sutherland at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Kid Simple, a radio play in the flesh by Jordan Harrison at Macha Monkey Productions, Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl (2004 Footlight Award Winner) at Macha Monkey Productions, and Dukthul by Kristina Sutherland and Red Eagle Soaring.

Reviews of ‘A Mouse Who Knows Me’:

“One of the wittiest, funniest and most topical musicals I have ever seen…this world premiere is not going to die in Seattle, but I suspect will soon be on Broadway and the West End. Hurry and get your tickets now, before it gets sold out.” – Drama In The Hood

Reviews of ‘Duel Of The Linguist Mages’:

“Moore’s success here, as both writer and director, is finding the humor in confrontational moments… [It’s] good entertainment, filled with thought-provoking notions and moments of sincere laughter.” – Seattle Weekly

“Moore’s writing is high-caliber, his dialogue and plot devices are smart, his concepts are clearly inventive. He’s one to watch, so this is recommended.” – Seattle Gay News

“‘Duel of the Linguist Mages’ is a nicely crafted PLAY with a clever theatrical format, witty dialogue, a topical premise and it’s smartly directed, designed and acted… the entire premise of the piece is original and highly charming and smart.” – Seattle Gay Scene

Reviews of ‘When I Come to My Senses, Iʼm Alive!’:

“One wants to see more plays like this in Seattle—smart science fiction about the amazing world we have found ourselves heading toward.” — The Stranger

“Fun, fascinating, thoughtful and delightful” — Seattle Gay News

Reviews of ‘interlace [falling star]’:

“[Writer/director] Moore conjures a fairly logical extension of our wired world with geeky authority and comic flair.” — Seattle Times

“Beautiful imagining… Next to the shine of speculative nodes are jokes that snap, crackle, and pop… The presentation of this fantastic fusion, which also includes theological thought experiments and the narrative structure of a thriller, is strong all around… The pleasures of ‘interlace [falling star]’ are more than plenty.” — The Stranger

PRESS PHOTOS

CAST
Sara Mountjoy-Pepka Dr. Audrey Whitman
Allison Standley Dr. Audrey Whitman (understudy, Oct 25-27)/Ensemble
K. Brian Neel Dr. Roland Grant/Romeo
Josh Hartvigson Dr. Robert Cramer
Pamala Mijatov Dr. Lorelei Meadow
Tadd Morgan D29-1/Ensemble
Leilani Berinobis Dr. Helena Warwick/D28-2
John McKenna Theodore Werner/D29-2
Amanda Lee Williams D29-3/Ensemble
Lissa Bak D29-4/Ensemble
MUSICIANS
Greg Fulton Guitar
Chris Monroe Drums
Dave Pascal Bass
Robertson Witmer Piano, accordion, woodwinds & percussion
CREW
Book & Lyrics Scotto Moore
Music Robertson Witmer
Director Kristina Sutherland
Assistant Director Catherine Blake Smith
Choreographer Allegra Searle-LeBel
Vocal Arranger Brian Kinyon
Concept & Genetics Consultant Jenny Rooke Ph.D.
Mouse Consultant Molly Nixon Ph.D.
Production Manager Meaghan Darling
Stage Manager Katie McKellar
Assistant Stage Manager Raymond Williams
Scenic & Props Designer Robin Macartney
Costume Designer Samantha Armitage
Lighting Designer Tess Malone
Sound Designer Robertson Witmer
Puppet Designer Paul Velasquez
Vocal Coach Allison Standley
Recording Engineer Pete Remine

Cocktails at the Centre of the Earth

Written & directed by Simon Astor
Music direction by Meg van Huygen

Thu-Sat at 8 pm, Jan 26-Feb 25 (Thu PWYC)
$15 general / $10 TPS, senior, military / $5 student
PWYC Industry Night: Monday, Feb 6

In a world run on refined, harvested mummies, where blimps are accessed via pneumatic tube, surgically enhanced foxes lecture on inter-species marriage, and self-winding is the latest advancement in mechanical men, there lived a great many people, who desired a great many things.

Set among the steamcabs and airships of this alternate world is a comedy of manners, in which street urchins try to land rich lovers, bandaged terrorists attempt to overthrow the government, and socialites train seahorses to bring them martinis.

Join an unlikely group of drinking buddies as they share secrets, sonnets, and sloe gin, in watering holes that range from the sea to the sky to the center of the earth.

With musical numbers, arch dialogue, and a dash of anarchy, Cocktails at the Centre of the Earth is a steampunk extravaganza of words, wit and wonder!

CAST
Asa Bass Conrad
Carter Lee Churchfield Reynard Diggswell
Trevor Cushman Lansing
Kai Curtis Servant
Monica Finney Helena
Josh Hartvigson Rakehell
Todd Hull Daniel Engine
Katherine Karaus Patricia
Andrea Lauritsen Flame Girl #1
Jonah Martin Baxter / Maxwell / Dexter / Wuxtry / Windsor
John McKenna Col. Moutarde
Jen Nelson Gloriana/Constellation Girl
Erin O’Malley Paravion
Jennifer Pratt Gepetta Odenkirk
Laurel Ryan Roulette
Sailor St. Claire Burlesque/Flame Girl #2
James Weidman Bunny
Monica Wulzen Dovecote
CREW
Writer/Director Simon Astor
Musical Director Meg van Huygen
Bassoon Jono Green
Guitar Tyson Lynn
Costume Design Heather Bernadette
Set Design Todd Van Der Ark
Lighting Design Tess Malone
Stage Manager Murphy Stevens
Production Manager Grant Knutson

Press Photos are available here

Penguins 5: Mea Maxima Culpa, Baby


Written by Scot Augustson
Directed by Bret Fetzer

Fri-Sat at 11 pm, Aug 6-26
$10 gen / $5 TPS/senior/student
PWYC Industry Nights: Mondays, August 15 & 22

End times are near in the final episode of Scot Augustsonʼs black-and-white comedy Penguins! The conflict of priests vs. nuns comes to a head, along with exorcisms, conspiracies, lesbian love, historical secrets revealed, and more of the caustic comedy thatʼs brought this late night serial acclaim and dismay! Directed by Bret Fetzer.

CAST
Daniel Christensen Father Luke
Chris Dietz Father Jones & Hitchhiker
Katie Driscoll Adam
Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe Connie Sullivan
Sophie Lowenstein Sister Jenny Memphis
Jenny Schmidt Sister Mimi Coco
Jillian Vashro Sister Candy
Lisa Viertel Sister Bernadette
Clayton Weller Brother Placido
CREW
Director Bret Fetzer
Technical Director/Photography/Graphic Design Ian Johnston
Stage Manager Caitlin Gilman
Lighting Design Tess Malone
Costume Design Avery Reed & Meaghan Darling
Sound Design Kyle Thompson
ABOUT PERFORMANCE TIMES, PUBLIC TICKETS AND PRESS TICKETS

PENGUINS 5: Mea Maxima Culpa, Baby

August 6th through August 26th

Annex Theatre

1100 Pike Street East / 2nd Floor

The Performance Dates include:

August 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th  at 11pm

August 15th and 22nd at 8pm for our Industry Pay-What-You-Will Nights
$10 General Admission: Advance / Door

$5 General Admission: Student/Senior/Military/TPS

PRESS TICKETS / PRESS PACKETS

If you are an editor or writer of any medium that would like to review this show, please contact our Marketing & Communications Director, Brian Peterson, at brian.peterson@annextheatre.org.

You will receive two complimentary press tickets for opening night, a press packet and a link to our online press photo gallery – which includes all press photos taken, our video trailer for the show.

Press Photos Photo 1
Photo 2
What The Press Has Said In The Past…

penguins

“Augustson’s late-night serial comedy Penguins is a breath of fresh, filthy air…its balls-out devotion to depravity is executed by a talented, canny cast.”

– The Stranger

“Brawny, brogue-brandishing badass Sister Bernadette (Lisa Viertel) demands some basic rights for nuns, which triggers a priest/nun gang war that makes last year’s pitiless Cannes winner Gomorrah look like an afterschool special…We’re talking Doubt on Ecstasy, smack, and aerosol cheese…The hour-long show felt like half that, and I wished Penguins: Episode 2 would have begun immediately after.”

– Seattle Weekly

“Ultra-lowbrow, extreme Catholic camp…[director] Fetzer keeps his cast moving full-tilt…You wouldn’t think there’d be any thrill (perverse or otherwise) left in priest-and-nun exploitation, but [playwright] Augustson mines the veins of altar-boy molestation and convent lesbianism with such fervor, he might win you over.”

– SunBreak

“I thought it was absolutely fucking great…If all late-night theater were like this, it would devour prime-time theater, which would be fantastic.”

– Monologist Mike Daisey