Monthly Archives: March 2016

Sylvie Davidson goes Western for Rubicon role

Poulsbo’s Sylvie Davidson is putting in a little overtime this weekend at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, Calif., playing Hallie in an extended run of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.”

Davidson, who recently completed a revival of “Emma” at Book-It Repertory in Seattle, reprising her performance in the title role, is listed as a current resident of Nashville, but has logged regular stage appearances in Seattle both at Book-It and A Contemporary Theatre, mixing her acting career with a parallel life as a singer-songwriter.

The show’s cast includes Hollywood veterans Gregory Harrison (“Trapper John, M.D.”, “Rizzoli & Isles” on TV) and Jeff Kober (“Sons of Anarchy,” “China Beach”). Originally set to close on March 20, the show proved so popular that the theater extended it through this weekend. DavidsonSylvie2‘s character is the love interest in Jethro Compton‘s script, drawing the attentions of both Bert Barricune (Harrison) and Ransome Foster (Jacques Roy, pictured at left with Davidson).

Broadway World’s review had this to say about Davidson, who also appeared at Rubicon in the Drama Desk and Outer Critics’ Circle Awards-nominated “Lonesome Traveler” when it moved there from off-Broadway:

“The only character who surpasses the film’s counterpart is that of Hallie Jackson, the saloon keeper. … Davidson is totally believable in the role, talking coarsely in a dry-as-dust accent, being plain-spoken when she has to, but also capable of being a caring and vulnerable woman who sympathizes with Ransom’s dilemma.”

Davidson’s husband, Trevor Wheetman, is the show’s music director, providing original music that he performs on stage during the show on fiddle and guitars.

— MM

Patrick Haggerty documentary a SXSW winner

“These C*cksucking Tears,” director Dan Tabersky‘s film about Bremerton’s Patrick Haggerty, won Best Documentary Short honors at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

The 15-minute film is about the life of Haggerty, who chronicled the struggles of gay men with the songs he wrote for the breakthrough 1973 country album “Lavender Country” (and performed with the band of the same name). A 2014 re-issue of the album brought Haggerty — now 71, performing with a new incarnation of Lavender Country as well as providing entertainment at area retirement homes — significant media attention, and led to both “TheHaggerty C*cksucking  Tears” and an animated documentary short by StoryCorps entitled “The Saint of Dry Creek,” with narration by Haggerty that told about the support and resolve to “not hide” he received from his father.

SXSW finished off a busy week of film festival screenings for “These C*cksucking Tears,” which was also screened at the True/False Festival in Columbia, Mo., and Cinequest in San Jose, Calif. Haggerty and the current Lavender Country lineup also played live at both True/False and SXSW, which wrapped up on March 15. Tabersky reportedly has submitted the film to a number of other festivals around the country.

“These C*cksucking Tears” was recognized at SXSW’s closing-night awards ceremony in Austin’s Paramount Theatre, hosted by fan favorite and “Don’t Think Twice” director Mike Birbiglia.

— MM

Flutist front and center for Bremerton Symphony concert

Principal flutist Deliana Broussard will step to the front of the stage for the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra‘s March 13 concert to play Mozart’s D Major flute concerto.

The “Inextinguishable” concert is named for Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, which is also featured in the pBroussardrogram, along with Saint-Saens’ “March Militaire.”

The Mozart concerto is a change from the program originally scheduled by the symphony. It replaces a Paganini violin concerto. Music director  pointed out that the change is an opportunity to put Broussard into a featured role.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St., with a pre-concert chat at 6:30 p.m. led by Futterman. Ticket prices range from $26-$8.

Information: 360-373-1722, bremertonsymphony.org.

— MM

Cherisse Martinelli plays ‘Evita’ in Redmond production

Silverdale’s Cherisse Martinelli will play the title role in Second Story Repertory’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Evita,” which opens with a preview performance March 3.

No straCherisse_Martinellinger to Kitsap audiences, Martinelli has been making her mark in theaters around Puget Sound, including recent shows at Stageright (“The Great American Trailer Park Musical”), Seattle Musical Theatre (“Man of La Mancha”) and Leavenworth Summer Theater (“Annie Get Your Gun”) She also appeared recently at Second Story, located in the Redmond Town Center, in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

She was a regular in shows at both CSTOCK and Klahowya  Secondary School before moving on to Central Washington University, where she earned her BFA in Musical Theater. She was also Miss West Sound for 2015.

Performances of “Evita” are on Thursdays through Sundays through April 3 at SecondStory,7325 166th Ave. NE. Ticket information is available at 425-881-6777 and secondstoryrep.org.

— MM