Showtunes Theatre Company

05/22/2025

When Broadway legend Charles Strouse passed a week ago, we weren't sure which of his many hits to share to commemorate him. We have always had a soft spot for "Tomorrow" which he wrote with our much-missed former Artistic Director Martin Charnin. But in 2007, we presented his show DANCING WITH TIME, and there was a raffle for an audience member to request him to play any of his songs live. The winner chose a song which holds so much of the optimism of his work. Here he is himself singing "Put On a Happy Face":

Provided to YouTube by TuneCorePut on a Happy Face · Charles StrouseCharles Sings Strouse℗ 2006 PS ClassicsReleased on: 2006-11-14Auto-generated by YouTube.

04/08/2025

We mourn with the theatre world the passing of William Finn, writer of FALSETTOS, A NEW BRAIN, 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and others. We were thrilled to present his beautiful work in 2013 at Benaroya Hall. Here is the legendary Betty Buckley with his poignant "Infinite Joy":

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupInfinite Joy · Betty BuckleyElegies: A Song Cycle℗ 2003 Concord Theatricals., Distributed by Concord.Released on:...

02/08/2025

Known for his film appearances more than his stage work, 24-time Broadway vet Tony Roberts passed away today. Here he is performing in Papermill Playhouse's wonderful revival of Sondheim's FOLLIES (the first complete album of the show, which included several cut and alternate numbers!)

[][][]______[][][]______[][][]*Cast of 1998 Papermill Playhouse Production (sondheimguide.com)*Dmitri Weismann - Eddie Bracken_"The Weissman Girls"_Sally Dur...

02/04/2025

We have just heard that lifelong Sondheim collaborator Merle Louise has passed. She was in the original casts of GYPSY, COMPANY, SWEENEY TODD, and INTO THE WOODS. Here's a slightly more obscure Kander & Ebb song which she introduced to a world that needed to hear this message:

Provided to YouTube by First Night RecordsYou Could Never Shame Me · Merle Louise · Brent CarverKiss of the Spider Woman (Original Cast Recording)℗ 1992 Exal...

12/30/2024

Farewell to the ever-talented Linda Lavin, who had a lifelong award-winning career in the theatre, including introducing the world to Stephen Sondheim's diction-challenging "The Boy From..." (Does anyone recall what name Sondheim used as a pen name for the song?) Here she is singing it on a TV appearance in 1977:

Linda Lavin Sings "The Boy From" (1977).

12/02/2024

Two-time Tony Winner Helen Gallagher passed away this week at 98. She wasn't a household name these days, but you can hear her here in the revival of PAL JOEY (yes, the one that launched Elaine Stritch's snowstorm story) showcasing exactly why she won that first Tony:

Pal Joey (1952 Studio Recording). Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Orchestra conducted by Max M**h.

10/15/2024

Congratulations to our amazing Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis!!!

Billie Wildrick and Matthew Kacergis are out of this world and we are so glad they are each nominated for a Gregory Award!

Another congrats to Karin Terry, who played Betty Schafer in Sunset Boulevard as well, on their nomination for Cabaret!

10/12/2024

We are thrilled to have our directing team recognized by Theatre Puget Sound for our production of Sunset Boulevard! We are so lucky to have had both Kelly Kitchens and Nathan Young leading another beautiful show for us.

Congratulations to all the nominees and theatres getting recognition for their art at the 2024 Gregory Awards!

10/01/2024

The musical theatre lost two luminaries today, Ken Page (THE WIZ, CATS, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN') and Gavin Creel (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, HELLO DOLLY, SHE LOVES ME). Both such large hearts and voices silenced too soon. What are your favorite videos of their amazing voices? Drop them in the comments so we can all give them their due:

05/26/2024

Richard Sherman, who with his brother Robert wrote most of the pre-Alan Menken Disney songs you could name, has passed away at 95. His songs for MARY POPPINS and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG made it to Broadway, as well as his original score for OVER HERE! Songwriters' voices are so unique, here's his singing "Feed the Birds": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bwl4MuYsQs

What are your favorite songs of the Sherman brothers?

Disney Legend Richard Sherman joined Disney luminaries to celebrate Walt's lasting legacy 50 years after his passing. The songwriter played "Feed the Birds,"...

05/07/2024

Give Big Starts Today!
In 2024 Showtunes was proud to present our biggest show concert ever, with the production of Sunset Boulevard, starring Billie Wildrick and Matthew Kacergis.

This show raised the bar for the type of performances that we are not only able to bring to our audiences, but also provided access to significant roles to our actor and musician community in Seattle and beyond.

During this Give Big season in Washington, we would be grateful if you would consider supporting Showtunes Theatre Company by donating so that we can continue to bring you the quality of theatre that you have come to know from Showtunes. No donation is too small. If you would like to donate please click the link below. We are grateful for your continued support because as we all know, the show must go on.

https://www.wagives.org/organization/showtunestheatre

04/26/2024

The first peek of Stephen Sondheim's final original cast album has arrived, and fittingly, it is the Exit Music:

"Exit Music"From Here We Are (Original Cast Recording)Music by Stephen SondheimPerformed by the Here We Are OrchestraPreorder the CD and 2-LP Vinyl: https://...