STG Presents

Sweet Dreams at The Neptune!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:13:00 +0000

Last night, STG’s Debra Heesch produced Sweet Dreams – The Music of Patsy Cline in honor of what would have been Patsy’s 79th birthday. Northwest singer/songwriters Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, Kim Virant, Mark Pickerel, Rachel Lyn Harrington, Kato Moody and Victoria Wimer-Contreras performed Patsy’s legendary songs with musicians Jeff Fielder, Chris Friel, Shane Tutmarc, Maggie Bjorklund, William Stover and Rebecca Young (aka The Sweet Dreamers).

Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs performing Three Cigarettes:

STG’s Sales and Patron Services Director Tory Wimer Contreras (who just happens to be a notorious singer in addition to her many other talents) brought the house down:

Between the beauty of our historic theatres and the talent we put on these stages, I am really happy and honored to be working at STG.

If you haven’t been to the Neptune yet, please come visit the newest addition to our historic theatre family.

Kate Becker
STG Director of Development

It's The Music That Lifts Me Up!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:41:00 +0000

July was packed full of music and creativity.

Last week, 26 young musicians (ages 14-21) from across genres took over The Moore Theatre for Young Songwriter’s Lab. They wrote intensively, collaborating together and sharing in the creative process, and their hard work paid off with an inspiring final showing on Friday. A heartfelt thanks to Megan Jasper and Tony Kievel from SubPop Records who stopped by to give a talk about the music business, and to our mentors Jill Wangsgard, Dumi Maraire, Sue Ennis, and Bernadette Bascom for helping to make the second year of Young Songwriter’s Lab a smashing success.

We also recently went in the studio to record the original song, “Higher Power,” with musicians from last year’s Young Songwriter’s Lab. It was the first studio experience for many of the musicians involved. Thanks to John and Kelly Christianson for donating this opportunity to us, and to Avast Studios and London Bridge Studios for their support of the project.

Check out Critical (aka Joseph Perez), 20-yr old rapper from Spanaway, laying down his lyrics on the track:

Young Songwriter's Lab 2011 from STG Presents on Vimeo.

And as you can see from the happy faces in the photos below, it was a magical time!

- Claire Connell, STG Student Programs Manager

STG + MMDG = Dance, Dance, Dance!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:38:00 +0000

STG & Mark Morris Dance Group have an extensive partnership that spans beyond the stage, and this week is a great example of that. MMDG artists David Leventhal, Tina Fehlandt and Joe Bowie are here doing so much in our community.

Teen dancers and live musicians are working with Joe Bowie all week to set Mark Morris' "Polka" for STG's DANCE This at The Moore July 8th & 9th.

MMDG Summer Intensive - Photo Credit Tom Schworer

Dance students from all over the country are studying modern ballet and Mark Morris repertory during the first ever west coast week-long MMDG Summer Intensive, taught by all three guest artists - David Leventhal, Tina Fehlandt & Joe Bowie.

David Leventhal led a training for Seattle teachers in our Dance for Parkinson's Project.

AND, each one of them have performed in THE HARD NUT, making its Seattle debut December 1-4 (on sale through subscription now!).

We're keeping Mark's hometown of Seattle alive with dance!

-Vicky Lee, Director of Education & Performance Programs

Party Like It's 5834 Wrap!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:09:00 +0000

STG was honored to host the ‘Party Like It’s 5834!’ celebration in The Paramount lobby last night. After a seven year effort to preserve 4Culture funding, it was the very last thing the Legislature funded in the state budget session. 4Culture is the largest arts funder in this region and is a lifeline for many artists and arts organizations. The success of Senate Bill 5834 inspired a tremendous night of celebration. With about 900 guests and most of the region’s notable politicians in the audience, along with numerous performing artists, the Paramount was rocking!

King County Executive Dow Constantine gives a very impassioned speech about how the arts are a critical part of a healthy economy

Lucia Neare’s piece was stunning and the crowd was really engaged

Thanks to everyone who attended!

- Kate Becker, STG Director of Development

Last Friday

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:37:00 +0000

While a good part of our staff is hard at work readying the first concert at The Neptune, another group is readying Marty Reimer's Paramount show and yet another group is at The Moore working on Dance This, a long time education/community program we produce.

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Pictured here are a group of dancers working with Joey McKneely, the choreographer of Broadway's recent revival of West Side Story. Joey is an incredibly talented artist - we are honored to be working with him on a community program, as well as presenting his next season in our Broadway series.

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What a day!

- Josh LaBelle, STG Executive Director

As We Prepare The Neptune...

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Very exciting times at The Neptune...

Here's Ace sound engineer, Al Bagley of Carlson Audio, testing The Neptune's sound system for the first time. Just white noise for now. I'm wondering what the first song will be that pushes through the system?

- Josh LaBelle, STG Executive Director

Who remembers this song from "The Departed"?

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Like the song "Shipping Up To Boston"? Right click the link below and select "Download Linked File" for a free download of the video you just watched!

DOWNLOAD VIDEO - "I'M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON"

You can hear this track and many more live when the Dropkick Murphys themselves come to The Paramount on June 27th! With 7 members, 12 instruments and 14 years together as a band, the Dropkick Murphys "have risen from their basic Irish-punk roots to become a rocking & rolling, raging, green-clover machine." They can boast countless hit singles and albums that sell in the millions, but they're known for their incredible live performances, so don't miss them here in Seattle!

Want a banjo autographed by all 7 members of the band? A Dropkick Murphys t-shirt and hat? Enter their giveaway sweepstakes for a chance to win an autographed Dropkick Murphys Goodtime Tenor Banjo and more!

ENTER SWEEPSTAKES

May Was Bike Month!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:10:00 +0000

The Group Health Commute Challenge is a friendly competition to see who can get more people biking to work during the month of May. This year was STG's first time forming a team, with a total of 9 staffers (photo missing some folks, obviously!).

Thanks to our Team Captain for organizing and motivating us all month long!

We're so proud of our little team for logging in a total of 952.7 miles - and of all of Seattle logging in a grand total of 1,306,014 miles, saving 1,279,894 lbs of CO2, and burning a total of 63,994,716 calories!

Cascade Bicycle Club hosted a end of month celebration and awards party at Pyramid Brewery in SoDo, complete with free beer and Cliff bars - one teammate even won a raffle item!

Now that we have all the gear, watch for us on the road as we continue our dedication to bicycle commuting through the summer - and into next year where we plan to take the Commute Challenge again with an even bigger team!

First Concert at The Neptune!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:59:00 +0000

On June 17th, singer/songwriter and Washington native Mark Lanegan returns to Seattle for what will be the first ever live music event at the Neptune Theatre! Lanegan, best known as the vocalist of grunge band Screaming Trees, has spent the last 10 years developing his career as a solo artist, creating the folksy-bluesy sound you’ll hear at the Neptune.

For a free download of his song “Burning Jacob’s Ladder," click here!

Take a listen to a Chicago radio interview with Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell from this past February here (starts at 9:40).

Tickets to see Mark at the Neptune are on sale now - learn more here!

Sasquatch! Music Festival 2011

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:32:00 +0000

STG's Concerts Marketing Manager Jason Ross was at this past weekend's 10th annual Sasquatch! Music Festival and has some thoughts and pics to share. Enjoy!

Friday was pretty much a bust for me. I got a late start from Seattle and ran into traffic on I-90 on the way to The Gorge. I arrived at the venue in time to hear DFA 1979 but didn’t get a chance to see any of their set. I was too busy trying to get the Foo Fighters to sign a guitar the fine folks at Gibson donated to Sasquatch. I made my pitch with the tour manager and left the guiter with him, hopeful it would get signed. Alas, it didn’t - but I was able to get a quick signature from Tayler Hawkins as he scurried onto his bus.

On Saturday I managed to get to the venue just in time to see the last couple of songs from Seattle Rock Orchestra performing Radiohead. They had the crowd’s full attention and it was cool to see! Other bands I caught on Sat: Alberta Cross, The Globes, Secret Sisters, The Radio Dept, The Head & The Heart, Aloe Blacc, Dan Mangan, Wolf Parade, Wye Oak, The Antlers, Iron & Wine, Matt & Kim, Bright Eyes, Robyn, Death Cab for Cutie and Sleigh Bells. I was really blown away with sets from THATH, Dan Mangan and Sleigh Bells. I was also lucky enough to have a conversation with Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade, who told me the Sasquatch show was their 2nd to last ever. He also was very excited about the Vancouver Canucks playoff run (he’s from Vancouver). In fact, that was a small theme of the day as Dan Mangan also is from Vancouver and told me he hoped the Canucks crush the Bruins. Both guys were super nice and totally blown away by the atmosphere of the festival. Robyn had quite the dance party going at the Bigfoot Stage!

Sunday my schedule had me seeing: Wheedles Groove, The Drums, Talkdemonic, The Moondoggies, Fitz & The Tantrums, S. Carey, Tim Minchin, Tokyo Police Club, Sam Roberts Band, Beach House, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, City and Colour, Cold War Kids, Mad Rad, Das Racist, Archers of Loaf, The Flaming Lips, Yeasayer, Modest Mouse and MSTRKRFT. I was totally blown away by Black Joe Lewis, The Flaming Lips and Yeasayer.

Monday’s highlights were Young the Giant, Old 97s, Guided By Voices, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Foster the People, Rodrigo y Gabriela, !!!, The Decemberists, Deerhunter and Wilco. Having to drive home that night, I wasn’t able to stay as long as I wanted to for Wilco, but was totally in awe of them performing live and judging by the large crowd gathered side stage to watch them, I wasn’t the only one!

- Jason Ross, STG Concerts Marketing Manager

Some of Jason's photos from Sasquatch - click to enlarge:

Tim Minchin

The Flaming Lips

The Head & The Heart

Yeasayer

Robyn

Macklemore

Lynn Resnick, birthday cake by Ace of Cakes, and Jason

Jason and Sharon Jones!

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Foo Fighters poster - signed!

Fitz & The Tantrums

Foo Fighters

Crowd nap

Audience for Foster The People

Bright Eyes

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Beach House

Aloe Blacc

Chromeo

Jason and Foster The People, signing Sasquatch! posters

New Month New Shows

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:25:00 +0000

Today is June 1st, yeah seriously, it's JUNE and Seattle is still breaking out the raincoats.

You're probably in denial along with the rest of the city about what day it is so instead of thinking of it as the coldest start to a Summer month, think of it as a wonderful day because STG has just announced 4 new shows including The Decemberists, Beirut (in Portland), Reggie Watts and Yo Gabba Gabba. In addition, tickets to one of our 2011-12 Season acts, Kathy Griffin, go on sale later this week!

Also, SIFF continues at the Neptune! If you haven't been able to track the progress so far, just click here and try and catch a show at our newest venue.

And it's not too late to catch our shows that are coming up early this month (they might even help you forget about our weather):

- Riverdance : Friday - Sunday, June 3-5th at the Paramount

- Showtunes Theatre's: GEORGE M!: Saturday and Sunday, June 4th-5th at the Moore

- Grouplove: Monday, June 6th at the Tractor Tavern

- An evening with Krishna Das: Monday, June 6th at the Moore

- Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses): Thursday, June 9th at the Moore

- Broadway Bound by Dance Premier: Saturday, June 11th at the Moore

So go to a show or two, and look out for more announcements coming soon!

STG at Microsoft

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:39:00 +0000

STG is out at the Microsoft Commons all week promoting our great discounts for Microsoft employees (contractors too!!). Stop by to enter to win some free tickets or see a preview of DANCE This on Family Friday!

Brown Bags & Broadway

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Forty-five STG Volunteers were treated to a lively Q&A with Steve Lukens, Company Manager for the Broadway tour of MARY POPPINS, for the first Brown Bags & Broadway series at The Paramount.

Over lunch on May 17th, insights on the production, creative aspects and touring were shared to the “backbone of STG”--our volunteer ushers. Thanks to Gordon Iles from the Volunteer Council for the idea & the photos. We look forward to more of these to come...

- Vicky Lee, STG's Director of Education & Performance Programs

War Horse in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:40:00 +0000

Our Executive Director Josh LaBelle and Senior Director of Programming Adam Zacks are at the 2011 Spring Road Conference produced by The Broadway League in New York City this week. Got a little note from Josh this morning that we thought'd we'd share:

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Here at the League Conference, War Horse sponsored today's luncheon and announced their American tour. We hope to have this show in Seattle for the 2012-2013 season!

While we keep our fingers crossed that the amazing production of War Horse makes its way to Seattle eventually, we are getting excited for MARY POPPINS to open at our Paramount Theatre tomorrow night! It runs through May 29th - more info and tickets are available here.

Seattle Weekly Web Awards

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:44:00 +0000

We have the pleasure of being nominated for TWO web awards by the Seattle Weekly! It’s a huge honor and we hope that with your help we’ll be able to take the title. We are nominated in two categories – Best Use of Facebook for the Arts and Best Website for Non-profits, #5 and #23 on the survey.

To vote for Seattle Theatre Group and to support your favorite organizations in other categories as well, go here. Voting ends May 17th - so spread the word!

My Morning Jacket + Todd Haynes

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:20:00 +0000

On June 26th, My Morning Jacket will be performing at The Paramount in a show that is bound to be memorable. But before they do that, they will be teaming up with famed director Todd Haynes to have a live stream of their performance. Haynes’ will film their performance at the Palace Theater in Louisville, Kentucky – the band’s hometown.

The concert is a part of the “Unstaged” music series, which pairs bands with renowned directors, to bring fans an amazing music experience right from their homes. Previous performances for the series include Arcade Fire under the direction of Terry Gilliam, John Legend and The Roots with Spike Lee, and Duran Duran with David Lynch.

The live stream will take place on the same day as the release of their new album Circuital. The album can be preordered here, and you can catch the event on Tuesday, May 31st at 9:00pm PST just by going to http://www.youtube.com/mymorningjacketVEVO.

For more information on My Morning Jacket go here, and to purchase tickets to their Paramount Theatre show on Sunday, June 26th, click here!

Mike Miles, STG Stage Manager & Technical Director

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 05 May 2011 22:36:00 +0000

39 Years of Managing Seattle’s Paramount Theatre Stage

click to enlarge / Photo Credit: Jason Tang

Mike Miles, stage manager and technical director of Seattle Theatre Group’s Paramount Theatre is in his 39th year of running one of the nation's top stages for arts and entertainment. So I decided to ask him a few questions…

Most memorable Broadway show and concert?
• Keith Richards' X-pensive Winos.
• J Geils Band.
• Young Frankenstein.

Artist/celebrity you were most excited to meet?
• Bruce Springsteen and Mel Brooks.

Biggest issue (good or bad) that you had to deal with while a concert was happening?
• BAD: When the main floor in front of the stage was giving away while there was a mosh pit happening. It was during Alternative Rock band Box Car Racer’s set in November of 2002. I had to go underneath the floor and could see it buckling.

• GOOD: Jimmy Buffett’s concert was on my birthday, so my limo was bigger than his that day. Plus, Jimmy had a bar setup in the basement underneath the stage before show time, that he requested I choose the Buffett “Beverage of the Day” for. Naturally I chose Tequila…so margaritas were served.

Most bizarre/strangest request you were asked for by an artist?
• Yul Brynner needed to have all the dressing rooms walls, hallways, stairwells, restrooms, etc painted brown. Any area he would be occupying backstage had to be brown. Also, I along with the rest of the stage crew were asked by his management not to look him in the eye.

Longest time worked on a particular show/concert, without leaving the building?
• Madonna Rehearsals in 1985, 34 hours straight.

Most memorable person or animal in a show?
• Jerry Lewis in Damn Yankees, good guy, would entertain the crew backstage every night before going out on stage for the real performance.
• Tony Curtis, nice guy.
• There were camels in a show that was here for 4 weeks, they were mean and nasty.

How did you start working at the theatre?
• I was returning some concert tickets that I had purchased at the Paramount offices, when by chance they needed help so I ended up getting hired on the spot. I actually started working here 40 years ago. Before I became the Stage Manager I did all sorts of jobs around the theatre – ushering, security, cleanup crew, staff advisor and stage crew….What a long strange trip it’s been. The first concert I worked was 1971, and I don’t recall what show it was.

Thanks for sharing Mike, I am sure I can speak for the rest of the staff at Seattle Theatre Group and beyond: it’s a true pleasure and an honor to work with you on a daily basis.

Your Coworker,
Debra Heesch (STG Special Events & Booking Associate)

James Blunt This Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:49:00 +0000

James Blunt is coming to the Moore Theatre this Sunday for what promises to be a rockin’ show, if recent reviews are any indication. Featuring material off his latest album, “Some Kind of Trouble,” Blunt’s 2011 tour showcases an electric guitar-based set and a new, more raw and high-energy vibe.

In an April interview with The Patriot Ledger, Blunt revealed his hopes of shedding his “sensitive folk-pop heart-throb” persona by moving away from the lighter, acoustic sound of his earlier work (read the full interview here). Judging by the reviews of both his album and the tour, it seems he’s done just that. In his review of the tour, Jay Miller says the House of Blues show in Boston “put the spotlight on Blunt's amped up new style,” calling his performance of hit single “Turn Me On” (below) “the night’s rawest rocker.”

click to play

Read more about James here - and grab your tickets here while you can!

Early Music Guild at The Moore!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Coming soon! Early Music Guild and Seattle Theatre Group present a mirthful mixing of Orazio Vecchi’s L’Amfiparnaso and Claudio Monteverdi’s Il ballo delle ingrate, in a production based on a concept by Roger Downey. For these operatic gems, some of Seattle’s most celebrated talents have been assembled: Stephen Stubbs (Pacific Musicworks), Arne Zaslove (Theater Director), Donald Byrd (Spectrum Dance Theater), and Theodore Deacon (Stage Director of EMG’s 2007 Poppea). The production will also feature a company of Seattle’s finest singers, dancers, and period instrumentalists.

Monteverdi’s Il ballo delle ingrate, composed in 1608—a year after his masterful L’Orfeo—is a wickedly skewed fable of the hellish fate that awaits heartless ladies who scorn their lovers. In rollicking contrast, Vecchi’s L’Amfiparnaso (1594) is a bawdy tale of desire and deception told entirely through lascivious madrigal vignettes—all mimed by a troupe of madcap commedia dell’arte zannis and their hapless stooges. This production of L’Amfiparnaso is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the summit of madrigal comedy in all its ribald and raucous glory.

Read more about the production on the Early Music Guild' blog, Early Edition. There's also a lovely preview on Crosscut, which you can read here.

Performances will take place at The Moore Theatre April 15th through 17th, with a pre-concert lecture one hour before the show each performance! Learn more and get your tickets here.

New From My Morning Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:27:00 +0000

Download a new track from My Morning Jacket's forthcoming album now:

My Morning Jacket will perform at The Paramount on June 26th - don't miss it!

DOORS Recap

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:58:00 +0000

On Friday night, STG was incredibly blessed to have 480 friends and supporters join us for DOORS: Opening Doors To The Arts, STG’s annual fundraiser.

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A really, really good time was had by all and phenomenal artists graced the Paramount stage at DOORS including Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews and some of STG’s most talented young people from our education and community programs.

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It was quite a night! Thank you all for showing STG so much love.

- Kate Becker, STG Director of Development

Photo credit: Jerry and Lois Photography

Arts Funding

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:07:00 +0000

It’s great to see our arts leaders speaking up in these very challenging times for arts funding. Jim Tune, President and CEO of ArtsFund reflected and asked some important questions in the Seattle PI - click here to read!

- Kate Becker, STG Director of Development

MOHAI + Our Mighty Wurlitzer

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:55:00 +0000

The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is currently presenting a series of quick films that take you on a time-traveling journey to some of Seattle's most fascinating historic spots. This week, learn about Seattle's historic Paramount Theater and its organ, "The Mighty Wurlitzer."

See "The Mighty Wurlitzer" in action every Monday this month as it (and the acclaimed organist Jim Riggs) provides the soundtrack for our Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays: I Love New York series! First film is 1927's It starring Clara Bow this coming Monday, April 4th at 7pm - read more about it and get tickets here!

DANCE This Auditions

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:09:00 +0000

On Sunday March 27th, STG Education and Community Programs held auditions for an Afro-Brazilian piece set by local artist Dora Oliveira for this summer's DANCE This program. Fifty-one dancers ages 13-25 came to audition.

Learn more about DANCE This here and come see the final performance July 8-9 at The Moore Theatre!

It's Ailey Time!

noreply@blogger.com (STG Presents) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:25:00 +0000

I’ve just returned from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Lecture/Demonstration at The Moore Theatre with more than 1,000 students. There is nothing quite like the energy of 1,000 theatre patrons all under the age of 16. So fun. Three Alvin Ailey dancers talked about Mr. Ailey’s experiences and influences that inspired him to become a choreographer. They then brought about 30 young people on stage to learn some movements from Ailey’s masterpiece “Revelations”.

Any donor to STG is invited to visit our Education and Community programs throughout the year. Please make arrangements with us in advance. There are many to choose from. Last year, we produced or supported 121 separate education and community programs and opportunities.

If you don’t have Alvin Ailey tickets for this weekend’s performance at the 5th Avenue Theatre, now is the time to get them before they are gone. Tickets are on sale here! You really don’t want to miss this phenomenal show.

- Kate Becker, STG's Director of Development