7:39 PM: We’re at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, where the 2011-2012 season lineup is about to be announced. ArtsWest’s Alan Harrison and Christopher Zinovitch are scheduled to lead the announcement, along with We’ll publish updates as the announcements are made – stay tuned!

7:41 PM: The event is beginning with a discussion of ArtsWest’s current production “Distracted” by Lisa Loomer – in the tradition of ArtsWest’s “OnStage” talks, linked to all of their productions. Zinovitch is talking about the family dynamic of the production, which follows a journey through a family’s experience with ADHD, that he says doesn’t come down on any particular side of what’s right and what’s wrong. The cast categorizes the play as a “dramedy.”

8 PM: That’s followed up by a discussion of “Shipwrecked,” the next production on ArtsWest’s current slate. “It’s kind of like presenting ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as a true story,” observed Harrison. Cast members are onstage and talking about the central character of this story touring as “the greatest liar of all time.” (This production too is directed by Zinovitch, who says “It’s not a piece for children, but it’s a piece to bring your inner child back to life.” That is not to say it’s not suitable for children – in fact, Harrison pointed out moments later, it’s for all ages, and there will be a student matinee on May 11 for which there’s still space – contact the theater to talk about tickets.)

(Brandon Felker with a monologue from “Amy’s View,” followed by discussion with Alan Harrison and Christopher Zinovitch)
8:33 PM: And the announcing is under way – minus a PowerPoint that was planned, and nobody seems to mind. First play: “Amy’s View“ by David Hare, September 7-October 1. “It’s a mother-daughter story,” explains Zinovitch, with the mother, an actor, as a “Peter Pan” figure, and the daughter having to bring her mother back to reality as their relationship evolves over 20 years, 1979-1999. He also discussed (we have this on video and will add later) the undercurrent of the play, about supporting the arts. Harrison talked about how this dovetails with ArtsWest’s mission – to foster conversation, among other things. Moments later, he revealed that this is “the highest-selling season we’ve ever had” at ArtsWest. “People are coming to ArtsWest and filling this joint on a regular basis!” That was greeted with applause from the sizable crowd that’s here.

(The rest of our as-it-happened coverage is after the jump …)

8:48 PM: Second production of the season: “Exit, Pursued by a Bear,” by Lauren Gunderson, part of a “rolling world premiere,” as Harrison explained it – “a play that takes place in a cabin in the North Georgia woods … a contemporary revenge comedy.” It’ll be at ArtsWest October 19-November 12. Its director came onstage to talk about it. That rolling world premiere – simultaneous – will involve San Francisco, Atlanta, and Seattle, Harrison explains.

8:58 PM: November 30th-December 24th, this year’s holiday show – “Chris and I go nuts” trying to choose one, Harrison explains – will be “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some),” which will be a Seattle premiere. It’s by Michael Carleton, John K. Alvarez, and James Fitzgerald. “Three guys are going to ostensibly do ‘A Christmas Carol’ and they’re just sick of doing it every year – they decide there are other stories to be told and so they are going to tell them all in one night,” Harrison says. The director says there is so much to this production, it even includes the “Norelco man” (you have to be a certain age to get that one).

(Cindy Bradder performing “All Through the Night” monologue during the ArtsWest preview)
9:08 PM: January 18-February 12 of next year, ArtsWest will produce the Seattle premiere of “All Through the Night” by Shirley Lauro – seeing “the Third Reich story through a totally different perspective – (that of) a woman who lived through the period,” as an Aryan, according to Zinovitch, who will direct this tale of, in all, four women “trying to learn from their past mistakes.” It is a production that breaks the fourth wall – “very theatrical, not a play that you get to sit in the dark in, and watch happen – it happens to you … if we do it correctly, you will follow the emotional journey,” Zinovitch promises.

9:16 PM: British playwright Jim Cartwright‘s “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” will be the fifth presentation of the season. It’s a 20-year-old play, says Harrison, and was made into a movie for which Michael Caine won a Golden Globe: “A fabulous piece about a young woman who goes by the name Little Voice, who is so well hidden in her life … that her whole life exists in old record albums of Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Shirley Bassey … after listening to (them) so many times, and singing along with them, she (impersonates them) brilliantly” – with her mother then wanting the young woman to take her talent to the stage. Zinovitch, who is directing this too, says 32 actors are auditioning so far; Harrison says that since the role is that of a “late-teenager,” the ArtsWest education program is vital to the success of something like this. And he segues into a mention of the three youth groups that will be at ArtsWest again this year – the 16- to 21-year-olds will do “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” for one.

9:25 PM: Play #6 has what Harrison described as an attention-getting title – the Seattle premiere of “My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding” – a true story, Harrison adds. It’s by David Hein and Irene Carl Sankoff, and it’ll be performed April 18-May 13 of next year.

(From “Evil Dead: The Musical,” performed during tonight’s event)
9:32 PM: After that, Harrison announces, there’s a bonus production – “Evil Dead: The Musical” will be performed (not as part of the series, so it’s not included in season tickets), October 22-November 12 – it’s the return of the wildly popular production from last year (though it’ll be done on the “Exit, Pursued by a Bear” set since it’ll be simultaneous to that). Once again, it’ll have a “splatter zone,” Harrison warns. (And he jokes about the cleanup that will have to take place between shows.” Season ticket holders will get first crack at “Evil Dead,” though, Harrison says … and season tickets are now on sale: Six plays for $169.50, “among the lowest in town for professional theater in Seattle,” he adds.