2008.4.27. Spotlight on the next production at The 5th Ave Theatre: Shrek, a new musical which will premiere in Seattle this August. Director Jason Moore, composer Jeanine Tesori, and playwright David Lindsay-Abaire on stage conversing with 5th Ave. Theatre's artistic director David Armstrong. Tesori and Lindsay-Abaire also performed two songs (a rare treat). Lord Farquaad concluded the sneak preview.

2008.4.19. Pacific Northwest Ballet's Laughing Out Loud spring dance festival. Fitting title. Was fun.

• Variations Sérieuses
  - a backstage ballet rehearsal and performance (great acting).
  Music: Mendelssohn (Op. 54, 1841)
  Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon (for New York City Ballet)
  Scenic and Costume Design: Ian Falconer (great set design)
• One Tiny Dance - energetic, funny!
  - in the lobby on a 6'x6' podium during the 1st intermission
  Performer: Mike Barber, Jenn Gierada
• Shindig
  • The Wall - Mozart (from Fünf Contretäänze, K. 609)
  • Bumble Bee - Rimsky-Korsakov (from The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57)
  • Tango - Stravinsky
  • Forellenquintett - Schubert (from Piano Quintet in A major [Trout Quintet], D. 667)
  • Sweet Suite - Stravinsky ("Waltz," from Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra)
  • Plink, Plank, Plunk! - Leroy Anderson
  Choreography: Olivier Wevers (a principle dancer at PNB)
• TAKE FIVE ... More or Less
  Music: Dave Brubeck (Strange Meadow Lark and Blue Rondo a la Turk), Paul Desmond (Take Five)
  Choreography: Susan Stroman
• The Dying Swan - commic
  Music: Saint-Saëns ("The Swan," from Carnival of the Animals)
  Choreography: after Michel Fokine
  Costume Design: Mike Gonzales (fabulously feather shedding skirt)
  Performer: Joshua Grant
• Ordinary Festivals - lots of running and oranges.
  Music: Italian folk music recorded by Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Padano di Piadena Choir & Matteo Salvatore
  Conceived, directed, choreographed: Sara Pearson & Patrik Widrig

2008.4.15. The last day of the 5-day Seed of Compassion gathering features the 14th Dalai Lama, who didn't talk about the recent Tibet unrest. All events are free (but tickets are all out as soon as they became available). Many scientists and religious leaders held panel discussions promoting compassion, especially geared towards children. The last panel (today 10am-1pm) includes Buddhists: Dalai Lama, Joan Chittister, Roshi Joan Halifax; Christians: Desmond Tutu, Rob Bell, Steven Charleston, Samuel B. McKinney, Doug Pagitt; Muslims: Ingrid Mattson, Ahmed Tijani Ben Omar; Rabbi David Rosen; Sikh: Jasmit Singh Kochar; Hindu nun: Pravrajika Vrajaprana; Linda Kavelin-Popov, Father William Treacy, Shelia Evans-Tranumn, Steven Shankman.

2008.4.13. 2pm Meany Theatre. Seattle Women's Chorus celebrated pulp romance novelist Ann Bannon (she looks terrific and at least 10 years younger than her age), and feminist singer and song writer Cris Williamson. In the first act, Bannon read, and in the 2nd act, Williamson sang. Williamson's voice is not the best, but her songs are pretty enough. Too much advocacy for lesbian community (almost felt like preaching some times), not as fun. Arrangement is too simple.

8pm St James Cathedral. The Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City, Utah, directed by former St. James Parishioner Greg Glenn. 1.5 hrs of varied sacred program for Eastertide. Mostly kids, as young as 5 or 6. Very few adult male voices. Accompanied by organ. Acoustics in the cathedral is astounding. In my opinion, they could have added a couple of popular songs.

2008.4.7. Irish poet Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Story was based on Sophocles's play Philoctetes. Philoctetes , the holder of Hercules' bow, was abandoned on a dessert island by Odysseus 10 years ago due to the vile smell of his wound by a snake. Now, the prophecy requires him and his bow in order to win the Trojan war. Odysseus sent Neoptolemus, the son of Archilles, to trick Philoctetes to go to Troy with them. In the end, Neoptolemus confessed out of conscience, tried to persuade Philoctetes into leaving with them on his free will.
Single act, interesting 3-voice ensemble trying to retain some of the poetry by singing.

2008.4.3. 1966's 8 Tony Award winner (including best musical) Cabaret at The 5th Ave Theatre. An English cabaret singer, a poor American writer, a boarding house proprietor, a Jewish fruit vendor, and a night club in 1930's Berlin. Somehow less coherent than I had hoped. Simple stage, fun costume. A couple of catchy songs.

2008.3.31. National Geographic Live lecture at Benaroya. Herpetologist Brady Barr showed a couple of video clips and some slides about crocodiles and snakes. 80 min in all, started on time, 15 min Q&A after the talk. Was entertaining, more geared towards kids (very much like a TV host), a bit short of my expectation.