The Ensemble Blog

Mark Siano in the WHITE HOT seat

Posted by kelsey on January 30, 2012

Longtime friend of the Ensemble and Crooner-extraordinaire Mark Siano, is branching out.

This time he’s putting down the microphone, hiding the piano and snazzy jazz outfits, and producing a chilling new drama by playwright Tommy Smith.

I sat down with Mark earlier this week to talk about his new show, WHITE HOT, starring our own Co-Artistic Director Hannah Victoria Franklin. The collaboration process goes back a long way—Hannah starred in Tommy Smith’s Sextet in September 2010 at Washington Ensemble Theatre—-Tommy and Mark were in a sketch comedy troupe called The Habit back in the day.

After a pushed back opening, Tommy Smith’s WHITE HOT made it’s sold out West Coast debut at West of Lenin on Friday.

Why Hannah for the role?

Hannah came with the package from the beginning. Honestly as soon as I read the script I couldn’t imagine those words coming out of anyone else’s mouth. She loved the script, and we went back and forth for over a year, it was always in the back of our minds…She’s a perfect actress for the role of Siss. She’s one of my favorite actresses working in Seattle right now.

How did you come to collaborate with playwright Tommy Smith?

It’s something we’ve been talking about for at least 5 years now. He was in The Habit back in the day, most people don’t know he’s got a sketch comedy background. He’s better known for his plays that are a bit more on the dramatic side. After the success of Sextet at WET, we thought it would be a good time to do another one of his shows, while the memory was still fresh.

What do you want people to take away from this show?

I want them to think about the issues that are raised, about power, and marriage, and violence, and ruminate on those themes. Ultimately, it’s about seeing great theatre, creating great dialogue, to get your mind going.

What’s your link with Washington Ensemble Theatre?

I like to call myself the Ensemble’s “unofficial, official wingman”. Hannah called me the Ensemble’s “guardian angel”. But I love the Ensemble and love what they do. Part of doing WHITE HOT is because I was inspired by what I saw at Washington Ensemble. I saw Sextet was like “I want do something like that!” The Ensemble has such a great reputation—as very serious, very devoted and talented artists, and I wanted to put on that professional of a production with that caliber of people. I think the Ensemble could go toe to toe with big multi-million dollar houses in the quality of production.

Well thanks Mark, we like you too. What’s next on the horizon for you?

My next show is an original musical at the Triple Door a month from now, then we are taking it to New York City. It’s called Modern Luv. It’s hilarious. It’s a comedy about love and romance in the digital age. Facebook, twitter, text messaging, and about courting someone in the modern age.

WHITE HOT runs until February 11^th at West of Lenin. Tickets available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/215023

Jaimie Healy as Gallery Artist~Reception January 14th

Posted by kelsey on December 28, 2011

Washington Ensemble Theatre is excited to announce that Jaimie Healy will be the third artist featured in The Little Theatre lobby gallery.

Her magical-meat inspired watercolors will be hung in conjunction with The Callers and Urban Tanuki Samurai from Friday, January 13th through Monday, February 6th.

We invite you to join us for the gallery opening on Saturday, January 14th from 5-7 and stay to watch the World Premiere Musical of The Callers.

RSVP here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/303691533009180/

The lobby gallery is curated by Ella Dorband, who also wrote The Callers.

Gallery Opening

Posted by kelsey on October 27, 2011

It’s Season 8 and we’re all Home Grown.

This year, in correspondence with every show opening, the walls of Washington Ensemble Theatre will come alive with local art work.

Next up: Stacey Rozich

Stacey’s mischievous mythological monsters will populate the lobby for the duration of Mormon Bird Play. This Saturday, October 29, we will be hosting an opening reception from 5-7.

RSVP on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=250639928322051

Curated by Ensemble Collaborator, Ella Dorband.

Grandma’s little secret: MilkMilk Lemonade

Posted by misty weaver on September 22, 2011

Could it be that the sage and sometimes surly Nana from MilkMilkLemonade has a secret past? Who is this Carlotta we find on the Internets, making rice krispie treats and talkin’ fashion? Why does she look so much like our own Nana? It seems that in her youth, she was much more talkative and flamboyant.

See the video: Carlotta Sue Philpot makin rice krispie treats

And then we come to find out that Carlotta Sue Philpot is just one of the many faces of local talent extraordinaire Troy Mink. Another example of how this season is home-grown, Mink has been entertaining Seattle audiences with homespun wisdom for many years. We’re thrilled to see him on stage as Nana in MilkMilk Lemonade!

In the director’s chair: Montana von Fliss

Posted by misty weaver on September 15, 2011

Back to work is back to play at Washington Ensemble theatre. While I had a lovely summer in Scandinavia, I’m happy to resume stalking…I mean, blogging about one of my favorite local theatres and its artists. The Ensemble season opens this week with MilkMilk Lemonade directed by Montana von Fliss (you may remember a little musical called Cancer!). I talked with Miss von Fliss about what we can expect from this season’s starter.

Montana von Fliss as photographed by Laurie Clark

MW: Describe MilkMilk Lemonade in 19 words or less.

MvF: The show is a comedy about what it’s like to grow up in a rural setting and be different.

MW: How does it represent the ‘Home Grown’ theme of this season?

MvF: Many of the artists involved are quite literally home grown. The play is written by a very talented local playwright named Joshua Conkel who is a Cornish grad. I myself was born and raised in Seattle and have been a member of Washington Ensemble Theatre for 3 years. Ensemble member Noah Benezra is featured, as are the designs of Ensemble members Kristyne Hughes and Skyler Burger. The play itself is set on a farm and deals with the theme of home.

MW: Why should people go see this show?

MvF: It’s so funny and fresh and new. The script and the actors will charm the pants off you, plus you’ll laugh your ass off! At just 80 minutes running time you get a wonderfully fun experience with enough time to have a drink afterward or get home early on a school night.

MW: This is your first time directing at Washington Ensemble Theatre, what do you think the Ensemble process brings to the table?

MvF: I have always thought the work at Washington Ensemble Theatre benefits greatly by the collaborative Ensemble-based process. For example, actors can express opinions about the design and vice versa. We always go with the best idea in the room and with a large, creative, and experienced group that means that we usually end up with a whole lot of good ideas that make it onstage. Many of us have worked collectively for so long that we also have developed our own shorthand and our own unique shared aesthetic. Every week during the rehearsal process we do Ensemble showings where we share the work with the Ensemble and the team of designers. This is so helpful in enhancing the work in so many positive ways, plus it involves designers in a more hands-on way throughout the process. It also gives the actors the ability to have an audience early and often, something that also pushes the work to more advanced places earlier in the process so that we can build to a deeper piece overall.

Tickets, as always, at Brown Paper Tickets. MilkMilk Lemonade opens September 16.

-Photo Courtesy of the inestimable Laurie Clark, see her work at http://www.laurieclark.com/