Sweet Dreams at The Neptune!

Last night, STG’s Debra Heesch produced Sweet Dreams – The Music of Patsy Cline in honor of what would have been Patsy’s 79th birthday. Northwest singer/songwriters Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, Kim Virant, Mark Pickerel, Rachel Lyn Harrington, Kato Moody and Victoria Wimer-Contreras performed Patsy’s legendary songs with musicians Jeff Fielder, Chris Friel, Shane Tutmarc, Maggie Bjorklund, William Stover and Rebecca Young (aka The Sweet Dreamers).

Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs performing Three Cigarettes:



STG’s Sales and Patron Services Director Tory Wimer Contreras (who just happens to be a notorious singer in addition to her many other talents) brought the house down:



Between the beauty of our historic theatres and the talent we put on these stages, I am really happy and honored to be working at STG.

If you haven’t been to the Neptune yet, please come visit the newest addition to our historic theatre family.

Kate Becker
STG Director of Development

It's The Music That Lifts Me Up!

July was packed full of music and creativity.

Last week, 26 young musicians (ages 14-21) from across genres took over The Moore Theatre for Young Songwriter’s Lab. They wrote intensively, collaborating together and sharing in the creative process, and their hard work paid off with an inspiring final showing on Friday. A heartfelt thanks to Megan Jasper and Tony Kievel from SubPop Records who stopped by to give a talk about the music business, and to our mentors Jill Wangsgard, Dumi Maraire, Sue Ennis, and Bernadette Bascom for helping to make the second year of Young Songwriter’s Lab a smashing success.

We also recently went in the studio to record the original song, “Higher Power,” with musicians from last year’s Young Songwriter’s Lab. It was the first studio experience for many of the musicians involved. Thanks to John and Kelly Christianson for donating this opportunity to us, and to Avast Studios and London Bridge Studios for their support of the project.

Check out Critical (aka Joseph Perez), 20-yr old rapper from Spanaway, laying down his lyrics on the track:

Young Songwriter's Lab 2011 from STG Presents on Vimeo.

And as you can see from the happy faces in the photos below, it was a magical time!








- Claire Connell, STG Student Programs Manager

STG + MMDG = Dance, Dance, Dance!

STG & Mark Morris Dance Group have an extensive partnership that spans beyond the stage, and this week is a great example of that. MMDG artists David Leventhal, Tina Fehlandt and Joe Bowie are here doing so much in our community.

Teen dancers and live musicians are working with Joe Bowie all week to set Mark Morris' "Polka" for STG's DANCE This at The Moore July 8th & 9th.

MMDG Summer Intensive - Photo Credit Tom Schworer

Dance students from all over the country are studying modern ballet and Mark Morris repertory during the first ever west coast week-long MMDG Summer Intensive, taught by all three guest artists - David Leventhal, Tina Fehlandt & Joe Bowie.

David Leventhal led a training for Seattle teachers in our Dance for Parkinson's Project.

AND, each one of them have performed in THE HARD NUT, making its Seattle debut December 1-4 (on sale through subscription now!).

We're keeping Mark's hometown of Seattle alive with dance!

-Vicky Lee, Director of Education & Performance Programs

Party Like It's 5834 Wrap!

STG was honored to host the ‘Party Like It’s 5834!’ celebration in The Paramount lobby last night. After a seven year effort to preserve 4Culture funding, it was the very last thing the Legislature funded in the state budget session. 4Culture is the largest arts funder in this region and is a lifeline for many artists and arts organizations. The success of Senate Bill 5834 inspired a tremendous night of celebration. With about 900 guests and most of the region’s notable politicians in the audience, along with numerous performing artists, the Paramount was rocking!


King County Executive Dow Constantine gives a very impassioned speech about how the arts are a critical part of a healthy economy


Lucia Neare’s piece was stunning and the crowd was really engaged

Thanks to everyone who attended!

- Kate Becker, STG Director of Development

Last Friday

While a good part of our staff is hard at work readying the first concert at The Neptune, another group is readying Marty Reimer's Paramount show and yet another group is at The Moore working on Dance This, a long time education/community program we produce.


click to enlarge

Pictured here are a group of dancers working with Joey McKneely, the choreographer of Broadway's recent revival of West Side Story. Joey is an incredibly talented artist - we are honored to be working with him on a community program, as well as presenting his next season in our Broadway series.


click to enlarge

What a day!

- Josh LaBelle, STG Executive Director

As We Prepare The Neptune...

Very exciting times at The Neptune...



Here's Ace sound engineer, Al Bagley of Carlson Audio, testing The Neptune's sound system for the first time. Just white noise for now. I'm wondering what the first song will be that pushes through the system?

- Josh LaBelle, STG Executive Director

Who remembers this song from "The Departed"?

Like the song "Shipping Up To Boston"? Right click the link below and select "Download Linked File" for a free download of the video you just watched!

DOWNLOAD VIDEO - "I'M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON"

You can hear this track and many more live when the Dropkick Murphys themselves come to The Paramount on June 27th! With 7 members, 12 instruments and 14 years together as a band, the Dropkick Murphys "have risen from their basic Irish-punk roots to become a rocking & rolling, raging, green-clover machine." They can boast countless hit singles and albums that sell in the millions, but they're known for their incredible live performances, so don't miss them here in Seattle!

Want a banjo autographed by all 7 members of the band? A Dropkick Murphys t-shirt and hat? Enter their giveaway sweepstakes for a chance to win an autographed Dropkick Murphys Goodtime Tenor Banjo and more!

ENTER SWEEPSTAKES