crosscut.com : Arts / Entertainment

The SSO starts to look beyond Maestro Schwarz

Crosscut — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:00:01 PDT

The next three years could involve a lot of healing, finding new visions for the symphony, and a chance to solve its financial weakness.

Unannounced guest star of Intiman's new show: Sarah Palin

Crosscut — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:00:01 PDT

It's almost spooky to see how much Robert Penn Warren's novel based on Huey Long resonates in today's campaign. Intiman gives All the King's Men a rousing production.

How accurate is Battle in Seattle?

Crosscut — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:00:01 PDT

A journalist and former Seattle City Council member who led the council’s investigation into the WTO riots faults the film for claiming too much for the protesters. More disturbing was the picture of dreamy nonchalance in planning that the investigation revealed about City Hall and Seattle Police.

Schwarz's Mahler does the orchestra proud

Crosscut — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:01 PDT

The performance of Mahler's mightiest symphony coaxes deliriously fragile, tender, and rhapsodic playing from the orchestra and singers.

The geniuses who aren't on Wall Street

Crosscut — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:01 PDT

The MacArthur Foundation names 25 people who, together, could probably get us out of this mess.

Eddie Vedder records an ode to the Chicago Cubs

Crosscut — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:00:01 PDT

The frontman for Seattle-based Pearl Jam is an Evanston, Ill., native.

Why vote for Palin when you can vote for real fiction?

Crosscut — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Make-believe politics is too dangerous to leave in the hands of a novice. So a theater professional steps onto the stage. Her platform: Make-believe you can believe in.

Shrek the Musical opens, full of flippant perversity

Crosscut — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:00:01 PDT

The stage show, bound for Broadway, freely re-imagines the movie and cuts through the treacle with zaniness and layered satire. The preview is a tight production, but there's a problem with the title character.

Surprise Symphony: Gerard Schwarz is stepping down

Crosscut — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:00:01 PDT

In a startling development, longtime maestro of the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, announced his retirement, which will come at the end of the 2010-11 season. Schwarz is among the longest-tenured of any major American conductor, leading the Seattle Symphony since 1985. His title after 2011 will be conductor laureate, and he will retain occasional conducting duties.

Heart attack on McCain

Crosscut — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:21:01 PDT

I saw this coming. Last night after John McCain's GOP convention speech, the hall was blasted with the sounds of Seattle band Heart's rocker "Barracuda," which became the convention's theme music for Sarah "Barracuda" Palin (Barracuda was a high-school nickname). I figured an objection would be raised.

The rebirth of activist theater

Crosscut — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:01 PDT

Now in its third year, Puget Sound's BOLD theater group presents another round of consciousness-raising theater shows coupled with "Red Tent" events focused on the birthing experience.

The making of an effective arts board

Crosscut — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:00:01 PDT

It's no easy task in a non-profit world of growing financial pressure. Two essentials: A board must partner with staff, and everyone needs to keep focus on furthering the community mission.

Midsummer night music, over the lake

Crosscut — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Vigorous, intelligent playing at the Seattle Chamber Music Festival's second home at Overlake School.

Tallis in Seattle

Crosscut — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:00:01 PDT

A not well-publicized but well-done chamber music concert featured Britain's Tallis Scholars.

Sidewalk crack addict

Crosscut — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:00:01 PDT

As a public service, we bust a few myths. Suffice it to say that all roads do not lead to Rome.

Another change at the top for ACT Theatre

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:31:01 PDT

Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre has just replaced its managing director, the veteran Seattle arts administrator Kevin Hughes, with his second-in-command, Carlo Scandiuzzi, whose title will be executive director. George Nunes is promoted to general manager.

Choose your own adventure — in mating

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:00:01 PDT

Theater Schmeater's Adventures in Mating takes audience participation to the extreme, as they decide how it all turns out.

Our balls on ice

Crosscut — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:00:01 PDT

Has the last Seattleite with local pride turned out the lights? A recent trip to Safeco Field makes me wonder.

As PONCHO regroups, Seattle arts struggle

Crosscut — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:00:01 PDT

The key problem is the shortage of public funding for the arts, as private donors are realizing they can't shoulder all the costs.

A Portland festival for pianoheads

Crosscut — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:01 PDT

This annual gathering of students and teachers is unique in America, and another example of Portland's distinctive musical culture.