SW WA STAR Blog Hitting it Big Time

What's Happening

Have you read our recent reviews of "Camelot" (Rising Star), "Harvey" (Love Street) and "The Secret Garden" (NW Stageworks)? The NW Stageworks review is approaching 120 page views. "Harvey" closes after this weekend, so read our review and go see it. It is not to be missed.

This week Dennis will review opening night of Magenta's "Shadowlands" and next week both Dennis and I are VERY excited about reviewing NHCC's Northwest debut production of Disney's TARZAN in Eugene, Ore.

The following week I review Prairie-Ground's "Once Upon a Mattress." Coming in June, just after we review Serendipity's "Fuddy Meers" and LCC's "Cloud 9," we review three plays (including "A Streetcar Named Desire") at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival, too!

What's History

Time flies and its been just two years ago that we put this little blog together to fill the need for press coverage of the SW Washington theater scene. By the end of our first month we had 913 hits, in April of that year we had 1,529. A level which held rather consistently for the next four months.

A picture of Dennis at the keyboard. ;)

Then, for three months, we had an average page view count of around 2,000, after which we ran above 3,400 per month closing out 2012 and opening 2013. Last month (Mar. 2013) our count was just shy of 3,000 (but the season hadn't yet kicked in). At mid-month this month we have already reached 1,770 with three shows left to review before month's end.

Our total page view count is now over 31,000 and we expect to hit 50,000 by summer's end.

Most of our reviews garner 250+ hits by the time the show's run is complete, so patrons are visiting our blog to make theater-going decisions  Our all-time most read post was the review of Prairie-Ground's "Get Smart" with 634 page views, though CCT's "Footloose" was a contender with 430 hits for the pre-show promo and 417 for the review (total 847). Prairie-Ground comes in third with 429 hits for "Singing in the Rain." Reviews for Evergreen H.S., Clark College and Love Street Playhouse have also topped the list.

The posts that get the most views have three things in common: 1) They have lots of pictures, 2) They are mostly positive reviews, and 3) They get shared via social media.

What Helps

But remember, we don't only do reviews; we do audition notices, theater news, artist profiles, announce classes and camps, and more.

You keep us supplied with news and you get seen!


COMING SOON: (June) we will have an Artist Profile piece on Mark and Linda Owsley you won't want to miss!


How You Can Help Us Help You: 

• You can help promote your shows, our blog and the SW Washington Theater scene by sharing direct links of our blog posts on your website, Twitter or Facebook pages (as the big hitters have). 
• You can remind audiences of our blog during pre-show (as does Melinda at Love Street). 
• You can stock our promo cards at your theater.

COMING SOON: Four New Shows; Four New Reviews

A new batch of shows open this November adding to the Fall theater line-up of Southwest Washington. While there are others, these are four which we have been asked to share with you, so here's the heads-up:

Clark College opens the month of November with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee (Winner of the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play) beginning November 2. 

Our review will appear on this blog by noon Saturday, November 3.

The play is directed and designed by Mark Owsley and runs November 2-3, 9-10, and 15-17 with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee on November 10 at 2 p.m.

Description: George and Martha invite a new professor and his wife to their house after a party. Martha is the daughter of the president of the college where George is an associate professor of history. Nick (who is never addressed or introduced by name) is a biology professor who Martha thinks teaches math, and Honey is his mousy, brandy-abusing wife. Once at home, Martha and George continue drinking and engage in relentless, scathing verbal and sometimes physical abuse in front of Nick and Honey. The younger couple are simultaneously fascinated and embarrassed. They stay even though the abuse turns periodically towards them as well. (From Wikipedia.)

Tickets for individual plays go on sale three weeks before the first performance. Tickets may be purchased through the Clark College Bookstore by mail, by telephone, or in person (or at the door if tickets are still available). To reach the bookstore, call (360) 992-2815.

WARNING: While this play (which runs three hours) will be unsuitable for children (for psychological realism, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and foul language) the following options are kid-friendly.

CYT also opens "Great American Tall Tales" on November 2. 

Our review will be posted Saturday, November 3. 

Description: When several kids stumble into a dusty exhibit during a museum field trip their adventure comes to life. Together they meet the beloved characters of American folklore; Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, Pecos Bill, Annie Christmas, John Henry and more. Through story, dance, and song, they learn that history is alive and vibrant while discovering that sometimes fact and fiction work together to create unforgettable legends.

Performances are at Fort Vancouver High School, Nov. 2 through 11. Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.

Advanced purchase adult tickets are $12, youth, senior and group tickets are $9; family day tickets for November 3 are $9 in advance. All tickets are $2 more at the door. There are also school day performances as follows: Tuesday, November 6 at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. Tickets for these performances start at $5.

For tickets go to www.cytvanport.org or call 360-­750-­8550 or email info@cytvanport.org.

Prairie/Ground Drama (the combined theater departments of Prairie and Battle Ground High Schools) offer "Singing in the Rain" at Prairie High School, 11500 N.E. 117th Ave., beginning November 8. 

Our review will be posted by noon November 9. Note: The last  Prairie Ground show we reviewed was awesome.

Dates: Nov. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17. Show starts at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30. 

Description: Same as the beloved movie with lots of singing, dancing and comedy. A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.

Tickets and ticket information are available online at http://www.seatyourself.biz/prairiehighschool.

CYT also offers "Bugsy Malone," November 9 at the Washburn Performing Arts Center, 1201 39th St., Washougal Wash.

Click here for directions

Our review will be posted by noon on November 10.

Description: A slapstick musical comedy following the rivalry between two half-witted street gangs and the washed up, well-intentioned, one-time boxer who steps in to take control of Fat Sam’s gang and give Dandy Dan and his boys what they’ve got coming. In this film noir spoof, the message is one of good, clean fun; the characters are wonderful 1920's cartoon cutouts; and the weapons of choice are "splurge" whip cream guns, flour bombs, and custard pies. Written to be performed by younger cast.

Public Performances are Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.. Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17 at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.

School Day Performances are Thursday, Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

Advance Ticket Information: Adult (ages 19 and up) - $12, Youth (ages 2 to 18) - $9, Senior (ages 62+) - $9. Groups of 10 or more - $9 and Family Day $9 (November 10 at 7 p.m. only).

School Day Advance Ticket Information: Groups (10 to 99) - $6 with one free ticket with each 15 purchased. Groups (100 or more) - $5.

Sales at the Door: $14. - Adult (ages 19 and up), $11. - Youth (ages 2 to 18), $11. - Senior (ages 62+), $11. - Groups of 10 or more. Family Day $11. each (Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. only).

School Day Sales at the Door: All Tickets - $10.

Purchase tickets at: https://www.cytvanport.org/gettickets.aspx

LOCAL UPCOMING THEATER REVIEWS

The following shows are on our radar for the fall season. Several have already been lined up for review. The date following the show's name, production company and city is the date the review will be posted.

CONFIRMED FOR REVIEW:

• "Murder at the Mansion" Stageworks Northwest (Longview) Oct. 5
• "The Sunshine Boys" Serendipity Playhouse (Vancouver) Oct.6
• "Wait Until Dark" Love Street Playhouse (Woodland) Oct.13
• "Something to Hide" Magenta Theater (Vancouver) Oct.13
• "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" Clark College (Vanc.) Nov.3
• "Singing in the Rain" Prairie/Ground High School (Battle Ground) Nov.9

PENDING CONFIRMATION:

• "Annie" Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy (Washougal) Oct.6
• "The Notorious Women of Humbug" Vancouver Comm. Players, TBA
• Other High School productions

If you have a show you know of that you would like to have listed or reviewed, please contact us at swwastar@aol.com. We only have two reviewers so we can only do two shows a night; thus, first come, first served.