Friday October 6, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 40 |
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| Skagit hosts Men Of Las Vegas, PNB scores with Fancy Free, Cabaret: Peggy Platt, Arnaldo! | |
| by Milton W. Hamlin
- SGN A&E Writer
With autumn finally here, Emerald City entertainment fans can finally get down to serious planing for fall and winter events. As usual, there is the proverbial "something for everyone" on this week's entertainment calendar. Read on SKAGIT CASINO HOSTS 'HARD BODIED HUNKS' - MEN OF LAS VEGAS The Men Of Las Vegas, an all-male revue featuring the "Bad Boys Of Burlesque," makes a Northwest stop this Sunday for two shows at the Skagit Valley Casino Resort, just one hour north of Seattle. The casino's popular showroom hosts headliners every month-loyal Bits&Bytes readers will recall Vikki Caar's recent headline outing there. The "charismatic dance troupe" combines high-energy dance routines and live vocal performances with elaborate costumes, topical comedy and lots and lots of audience involvement. The troupe's cast members-all "hard bodied hunks"-have been featured in Playgirl, Men's Fitness GQ and other publications. The Oct. 8 performances are at 4 p.m.. and 8 p.m. Good seating was available at press time. Debbie Reynolds appears next Sunday, Oct. 15 but both shows are sold out-and have been for months. Details on all Skagit shows at (877) 275-2448. PNB SCORES WITH OPENING MIXED BILL - FANCY FREE DELIGHTS Pacific Northwest Ballet scored with its opening Director's Choice, a trio of works that showcased the talented PNB dancers and delighted the near-capacity audiences that greeted each of the performances. Peter Boal, PNB's new artistic director, begins his second year with the company, a year that will feature 31 works by 25 choreographers, including 20 works that are new to PNB. In a whimsical mood, Boal suggests in his program notes: "Get your tickets, tell your friends, eat your Wheaties!" The three-part program was beautifully designed to display PNB's diverse talents and to give the audience "something for everyone." Jerome Robbins' historical Fancy Free opened the program. A sensation when it opened in April of 1944, the story of three sailors on leave-and on the make-launched the careers of Robbins, Leonard Bernstein and designer Oliver Smith. Within the year, the ballet was expanded into a hit Broadway musical, On The Town. Boal is a champion of Robbins' work and Seattle audiences will delight in a belated discovery of this important American choreographer. Fancy Free was a delight from start to finish. It's been an audience pleaser for 60 years and will undoubtedly return to PNB for many encore performances. In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated displayed the talents of PNB's company with ultramodern choreography. Danced to electronic music, William Forsythe's demanding 1987 work was the controversy of the evening-younger patrons loved it, older audiences tended not to. The "headache inducing" score (as one patron phrased it) limited its appeal, but there was no doubt that the company was in fine form. Total delight is the only way to describe Balanchine's 1947 Theme And Variations, danced to music by Tchaikovsky. This Russian-inspired fantasy defines what "ballet" means to most audiences. The curtain rose to find six spectacular crystal chandeliers hanging against a royal blue background. Patricia Barker and Stanko Milov were regal in off-white and gold classic ballet costumes-white tights, jewel-encrusted bodice and formal tutu for her, white tights and a bejeweled weskit for him. Flanked by the women of the company in garnet, cranberry, mulberry and other variations, the visual impact overwhelmed the audience. And the dancing-top notch in every step. Then the men entered, encoring the color palate. It was a breathtaking work. PNB continues its 2006-07 season with All Premiere, a mixed repertory program featuring four new-to-PNB works. The program runs Nov. 2-12. Tickets and information is available at 441-2424. ARNALDO! OPENS WITCHING HOUR RETURNS AT THUMPER'S CABARET Arnaldo!-affectionately known as "Seattle Favorite Drag Chanteuse"-continues his fall cabaret show at Thumper's in the Gay-owned restaurant's Cabaret On The Hill series. The Witching Hour Returns continues Friday and Saturday performances through Oct. 28 (with no performances on Oct. 20 and 21). Ticket details and reservations at 328-3800. CABARET EVENING BENEFITS GAY/STRAIGHT DIVERSE HARMONY One Night Only, a "gala evening" of dinner and cabaret, will benefit Seattle's Diverse Harmony, the first Gay/straight alliance youth chorus in the nation. The Friday, Oct. 20 gala, hosted by Thumper's, will begin with a four-course dinner followed by a special cabaret show featuring many of the Emerald City's top cabaret entertainers. Arnaldo!, the "Boys From Gaydar," Jeannette D'Armand, Cheryl Serio and many others will perform. Diverse Harmony begins its fifth season this fall. Reservations for One Night Only at 328-3800. PEGGY PLATT EXTENDS AT CREPE DE PARIS The Peggy Platt Song Book at Cabaret de Paris in downtown Seattle, has (thankfully) turned into a late summer/early fall hit. With a Best Of Peggy Platt format, Platt teams with talented pianist D. J. Gommels, offering "An Evening Of Comic Songs and Silliness." The show-with a handsome new poster-has been extended through Oct. 14 Reservations and complete details are available at 623-4111. LISA KOCH STARS AT OREGON CABARET - RETURN TO PLANT LISA While Peggy Platt headlines at Crepe de Paris in Seattle, her long-time musical partner Lisa Koch delights Ashland, Oregon, audiences with her Return To Planet Lisa at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Koch's appearances on Olivia Cruises and her work with Platt in the tongue-in-cheek Dos Fallopia have made her a star on the "Lesbian circuit" and at GLBT events. Koch is a native of Ashland. Planet Lisa continues through Nov. 5. Oregon Cabaret Theatre cleverly runs Thursday through Monday evenings, plus a Sunday brunch show. Visitors to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which is "dark" on Monday nights, often schedule a Monday night show at OCT on OSF's off-night. Ticket information on all OCT events is available at (541) 488-2902. |
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