Save big on CANDIDE!

Social media fans can now save 50% on select performances of Candide!

Candide begins May 25 and tickets are on sale now.

Use promotion code FANS to receive 50% off performances Tues May 25 - Fri May 28.

Buy tickets over the phone at 206-625-1900, in person at the box office or online using promotion code FANS. When ordering online, be sure to sign in to your account and use the promotion code FANS at that time, before choosing your seats.

Click here for more info on the show.

Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with any other offer. Not valid on Pearl or Side Balcony seats.
About the show:

Having been taught by his beloved tutor, Dr. Pangloss, that "everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" our handsome, yet hapless, hero Candide sets off on an epic journey to find his one true love -- the beautiful Cunegonde. Along the way he encounters wars, plagues, shipwrecks, earthquakes, pirates, swindlers, the Old World, the New World, the fabled lost city of Eldorado, and the Spanish Inquisition! Inspired by Voltaire’s classic satire this legendary musical features a sparkling score by the great Leonard Bernstein that includes the famous "Candide Overture", the hilarious and bravura showstopper "Glitter And Be Gay", and the moving and inspiring anthem "Make Our Garden Grow". This Seattle professional première offers you the rare opportunity to experience one of "the best musicals you’ve never seen!"

Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, John Latouche, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein
Book adapted from Voltaire’s novel by Hugh Wheeler, in a new version by John Caird
Directed by David Armstrong

Like "those last summer camp days"

by Sarah Rudinoff (Hildy, On The Town)

First show of the week means a fresh towel and washed make-up brushes. It is our final week and it always feels like the pangs of those last summer camp days when your posse will be broken apart and you will go back to life as usual again. The cast is so large but we have gotten close and I am going to drink in these last seven shows.

Time to go put on my eyebrows!

Paul Hansen, percussionist/drummer, takes a seat in the theatre

Paul Hansen is one of The 5th Avenue Theatre's staff musicians and has been a percussionist and drummer with us for 25+ years.

We spotted a glowing review of On The Town on his facebook status recently (completely unsolicited!) and asked him to write a review as an audience member. Read on:

On The Town review
By Paul Hansen

As a regular member of The 5th Avenue Orchestra, many of my friends
and colleagues will tell you that my favorite place on earth is in the
stage left corner of the orchestra pit behind a jumbled rig of
instruments commonly called "The Percussion Section". This is my
home. So it is on rare occasion do I get to step out of the pit and
enjoy a 5th Avenue performance as a regular audience member, as I was
able to do earlier this week at On The Town.

After fielding questions from several audience regulars who were
wondering what I was doing out of uniform and who was minding the pit
(for the record, it was my incomporable stand partner Chris Monroe
handling the solo chores), I sat down for the journey.

My first reaction was of course "Yeah! How 'bout that band, best in
the country! Wish I were down there with them." Then the real
astonishment set in and continued to grow throughout the evening. I
knew we were good, but what I saw and heard that night with our home
grown singers, dancers, crew and production staff clearly rivals or
surpasses anything I've seen in New York, London, Paris or Rome.

I left the theater that night speechless, and chomping at the bit for
the parts for Candide to arrive. New cast, new crew, new show - On The Town, you've set us a new high water mark to strive for.

But Billie [Wildrick] and Greg [McCormick Allen], watch it with those clubs, willya? How many times has the crew had to put that thing back together?



Paul in his element

Free open house and tours this weekend!

Stop by The 5th Avenue Theatre for free tours and an open house!

Saturday May 1: 9:30am - NOON
Sunday May 2: 9:00am - 11:30am

Free Admission

We will have lobby tours, discussions of the restoration process and how it relates to this project, displays of materials used for a restoration, and a photo gallery of both original, historic photos of the lobby and of past restoration projects. Michael Pennington a restoration painter who has worked here at The 5th will be on site as well to talk about restoration projects.

Don't forget to vote daily to help us win $125K! http://bit.ly/5thvote

Save the Date! Spring Arts Fling 2010

SAVE THE DATE! Spring Arts Fling tickets go on sale at Noon (12:00 PM) on Wednesday, April 28 with only 250 tickets available. These tickets are on sale to the public as well as the young professionals groups of all nine participating organizations, so they will sell out fast. Being a member The 5th Avenue Theatre's Avenue Club or a 30 and under subscriber does not guarantee admission. This event is 21+ and for 20 and 30 somethings.

About The Event:
Spring Arts Fling is back for its third year, this time bringing nine of the area’s top arts organizations together to celebrate and connect with the 20 and 30-somethings with an interest in theatre, opera, cirque, and more! Spring Arts Fling attendees will get an exclusive look at what is up-and-coming in the world of arts and entertainment. The night will feature live, special performances from participating organizations.

Organizations involved
• 5th Avenue Theatre, Avenue Club
• ACT: A Contemporary Theatre
• Intiman Theatre
• Pacific Northwest Ballet, Backstage Pass
• Seattle Opera, BRAVO! Club
• Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Crew
• Seattle Symphony, WolfGang
• Teatro ZinZanni, The Troupe
• Village Theatre, CURTAIN CALL

Come roam through ACT Theatre’s gorgeous Bullitt Cabaret and Falls Lobby spaces while being dazzled by exciting video projections and roving performers. Last year’s event was a sell-out success, and this year there are only 250 tickets available! Get tickets as soon as possible.

Tickets are $15 in advance, and will be available on Wednesday, April 28 at Noon (12:00 PM).

There will be a cash bar with reduced drink prices and complimentary light bites by Joanie’s Catering (www.joaniescatering.net). Ages 21+, open to 20 and 30-somethings.

Spring Arts Fling 2010 is sponsored in part by Seattle Weekly, KING FM 98.1, and Team Diva Real Estate.

Tony Awards VIP Package - Ebay Auction now on!

Be a star at our Gala before the night even begins! For the first time ever, you have the opportunity to bid on a LIVE auction item before the Gala begins!

2 TICKETS TO THE TONY AWARDS...and BEYOND!
"New York, New York it's a helluva a town!" Jet off to the Big Apple and soak in all New York has to offer!
•Spend three luxurious nights at The Time Hotel where you’re situated in the heart of the vivid action-packed metropolis!
•Spend a night out at THE TONY AWARDS! You and a guest will be seeing the stars, watching them perform, and hearing the news right when it breaks!
•Of course you can’t leave the city before seeing a Broadway show! SO, to complete this fabulous weekend of theatre, you will also receive two tickets to a Broadway show of your choosing!
•Worried about transportation? No problem! A car will deliver you to and from the airport to make your travel needs a breeze!

Click here to visit our Ebay Auction page!

Special offer to celebrate our social media fans!

In an effort to say thanks to all our blog, facebook and twitter followers, we are extending a 50% off ticket offer for all remaining productions of ON THE TOWN, which plays now through May 2nd.

Use promotion code FANS to receive 50% off all remaining performances.

Buy tickets over the phone at 206-625-1900, in person at the box office or online using promotion code FANS. When ordering online, be sure to sign in to your account and use the promotion code FANS at that time, before choosing your seats.
Click here for more info on the show.

Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with any other offer. Not valid on Pearl or Side Balcony seats.


Paint the Big Apple red with three sailors as they try to cram a lifetime of romance and excitement into a day-long adventure in the city that never sleeps! From the creative team who brought Seattle the wildly popular productions of West Side Story and Cabaret, director Bill Berry and choreographer Bob Richard partner again with Seattle’s exciting Spectrum Dance Theater to bring Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins’ dance spectacular to life. Get ready for an unforgettable night On The Town – this madcap comedy is one helluva show!

Contest Time - celebrating Seattle theater!

We love to support the Seattle performing arts community, and in that spirit are hosting a contest for tickets to Intiman Theatre!

2 lucky winners (one on Twitter and one on Facebook) will each recieve a 4-pack of tickets to Paradise Lost at Intiman Theatre.

How to enter:

Twitter followers:
1. Be sure you are following @backstage5thave
2. tweet between now and 4pm with our twitter name in the body of your tweet.

Facebook Page followers:
1. Make sure you are following our page, here.
2. Click the +Share button at the bottom of page to share on your profile and/or suggest the page to friends.
3. Write on our wall to let us know you'd like to be entered.


Individuals are welcome to enter once on twitter and once on facebook. Entries must be made by 4pm, Wednesday, April 21. Prize tickets valid for any performance April 21 - April 25. Winners will be contacted through facebook and twitter.

About Paradise Lost at Intiman Theatre:

When you wake up from the American Dream, there's no turning back. In the battle over the land of opportunity, who will come out on top - the gangsters or the idealists? Intiman Theatre's exciting new look at Clifford Odets' Paradise Lost delivers a "fascinating, pulsating...gutsy" performance (The Seattle Times). Read more at www.intiman.org.

5th Avenue's Diana Huey wins GLEE Audition!

One of our wonderful Adventure Musical Theatre performers, Diana Huey (also seen in MAME at The 5th Avenue), was selected as one of ten finalists to be chosen for a “Golden Audition Spot” on the television series, Glee! This morning, they announced that she won the contest. Diana’s audition tape is guaranteed to be seen by the casting directors of Glee with a potential of her being chosen as a new cast member of the show! Congratulations, Diana!

For the video of Diana’s performance on Q13 on Friday, click here.

Here's a little blurb from Diana (written before all the votes were in) about how she heard about the contest and what she went through to enter:

"Hi my name is Diana Huey. I am currently touring in Adventure Musical Theatre here at The 5th Avenue. I love being out on the road with the AMT crew bringing musical theater to kids all over the Northwest! On Sunday I saw a commercial on Q13 Fox for their Glee Casting Call Competition. Future Glee hopefuls were required to write an original song about why they want to be on the Fox hit TV show Glee. The deadline was the next day!

I spent the day writing my song. When time came to record it to and send it in, I grabbed my almost dead digital camera and set up a make shift recording studio...in my bath tub. I wanted to find the best sound! I found random house objects to stack up to balance my camera on. After many trail and errors I decided on my makeup box on top of a humidifier and stood on top of a folded up bath towel in the tub to get the correct height set. Crammed up against the bath tub faucet, I recorded my audition video and found of two days later I won a spot on the Top Ten!!

The ultimate winner will get a "Golden Pass" to be guaranteed that their Glee audition will be seen by the Glee producers. Thanks to everyone for helping me make my dreams come true!"

VOTE once a day to help us win $125,000!

Vote every day to help The 5th Avenue Theatre!
Click here to vote for The 5th Avenue to help us win $125,000!

The 5th Avenue Theatre is excited to announce that we are one of 25 organizations in the greater Puget Sound Area in the running for a grant as a part of a program called Partners in Preservation.

The theatre lobby is decorated in the ornate fashion of Imperial Chinese architecture. Winning this voting contest will help us with restoration and preservation of the original lobby decorative painting. Since the theatre first opened in 1926 this awe-inspiring décor has faded and deteriorated from cracking plaster, water damage, and old age.

If we win, we will use the funds as a kick off to restoring the luster of the irreplaceable 5th Avenue Theatre lobby. Funds for this project will be used to hire conservation, restoration and design expert Michael Pennington. Michael and his team will repair plaster, clean painted structures, murals and architectural elements, as well as repair, match and repaint areas of the theatre lobby that require in depth restoration.

It is our hope that you will support us! The grand prize will be awarded to the organization who receives the most public votes online (just like American Idol). Voting is simple and only take a minute of your time each day. A person can vote once a day, per e-mail address. Simply click here and log in and you are one minute away from helping The 5th win the grand prize grant.

Facebook Fans love The 5th Avenue

A huge thank you to all of you who have fanned our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter!

Recently, we asked our fans what they love about The 5th Avenue. Here are some responses:

"There are so many things that the 5th Avenue brings to the Puget Sound Area. We can talk about the shows, the talent, the oppertunities for young and upcoming artists and performers. But I think the thing I love most about the 5th Avenue is that it is Classic Theatre at it's best. You see it as soon as you walk by on the sidewalk. It isn't full of modern glass and stainless "glitz", it is a Classic Theatre that takes you back to the day when Theatre was an outing - a "Destination". A show was something you dressed up for, maybe had your hair done, even (God forbid!) wore a tie and jacket. Although few of the patrons do this these days the Theatre has that "Air of Memory" about it.
Every time I go by, every time I enter the lobby or the auditorium I catch my breath." - Scott S.

"I love all the great musicals The 5th Avenue brings to Seattle at affordable prices! Some of my favorites in recent years have been The Buddy Holly Story, Edward Scissorhands, and the classics West Side Story and Singin' in the Rain. SO looking forward to seeing one of my favorite musicals, On The Town!! I also really love the design of the interior of the 5th!" - Melissa J.

"I do love The 5th, they have the best shows and such variety. I get very excited near the announcements of each new season." - Heather J.

"I love the wonderful, quality shows at 5th Avenue AND for providing at affordable costs an educational focus with the "Friday at the 5th" program for high school students. Thank you 5th Avenue for an atmosphere that is truly "Worlds Away from the Everyday!" - Carol J.

"My family has had season tickets to the 5th for twenty seasons now and I have so many memories there :) I feel like I know the staff because of the (super awesome) high school workshops! Also, I feel like The 5th has really given Seattle theatre the great name it has now. :) Look at all the shows that have started/are starting here! Go us!" - Maddie S.

"I love the fact that The 5th brings Broadway to Seattle and sends musicals to Broadway! Memphis, to mention one, was fantastic! The theatre is run by amazing caring people. They give us great entertainment, curtious service and great refreshments also! I have not seen one show there that I didn't like. Everyone should enjoy a lot of Broadway and CAN in our own backyard thanks to The 5th Avenue." - Gena A.

"My wife and I have been season members at the 5th for a few years. We've loved the plays and the atmosphere! It's a great night out." Mike P.

"Where else can you go in Seattle to be in on the creation of new musicals? And the special educational opportunities are fantastic!" - Terry J.

We so appreciate our fans supporting our theatre by writing on our Facebook wall, inviting others to become fans of our pages or joining us on twitter. Your involvement with us in social media is a great way to support our local non-profit theatre. Feel free to write us questions, mini-reviews, post photos and more!

Special Workshop for On The Town gives high school students great experience!

High School students - there are still spots available for our Fridays at The 5th Workshops for On The Town!

Students will be working with Brandon Ivie on developing a character for musical theatre, with special emphasis on adding period-specific details.

Fridays at The 5th
Musical Theater Workshops for High School Students
The 5th Avenue Theatre presents special workshops for high school students with a strong interest in musical theater. Students have the opportunity to sing the songs, learn the choreography, and meet with the cast and crew for most productions on our stage. As a part of each workshop the students enjoy a pizza party, tickets to the show, and a talkback with the cast after the evening’s performance. Workshops are for high school students, ages 14-18 only. Parents or chaperones who wish to purchase tickets for the evening's performance should contact the box office at 206.625.1900 / 888.5TH.4TIX or purchase tickets online.

2009-2010 WORKSHOP DATES
•April 16, 2010 - On the Town
•April 23, 2010 – On the Town
Cost per student: $20 registration fee includes the workshop, dinner and one (1) ticket to the evening’s performance.

To register and for more information, e-mail educationprograms@5thavenue.org or click here.

Parents & Chaperones - ask about our special offers for you to see the show that your student attends!

Original Hildy from OTT Movie writes to our Hildy!

by Sarah Rudinoff, Hildy in ON THE TOWN

I got home last night from rehearsals to a letter in my mailbox from Betty Garrett who played Hildy in the movie of On the Town. She sent an amazing card with exploding confetti inside saying she she had heard they were doing the show in her hometown of Seattle and she hoped I loved the role as much as she did and to break a leg. How wonderful is she? Viva Betty!

Betty Garrett montage:

Antennae up the nose trick

by Sarah Rudinoff, Hildy in ON THE TOWN

I ADORE the new rehearsal spaces and it is amazing to all be in the same of the rooms together. But we are in a basement and now we are doing runs of Act I which has all 34 of us together with no natural light or fresh air for 6 hours at a stretch. So things like this happen:

When the dancers are dancing, which is often, we have to keep ourselves occupied. I caught Rich Gray (who has been in over 20 shows at the 5th as either an actor or playing in the band) doing his "antennae up the nose" trick. See what happens when there is a lack of air?