Art by Zee

Tom’s of Maine presents a series of video chats with the stars of Broadway blockbuster Wicked that kicks off Wednesday, September 8, at 12:00 pm Eastern time with Mandy Gonzalez, starring in the role of Elphaba. Fans can also ask Mandy questions prior to and during the live chat by visiting http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine .

To join the chat visit its livestream:

Upcoming chats feature Sophie Uliano (New York Times bestselling author of the “Gorgeously Green” series) on September 15 and Karen Stewart & Howard Brown (from eco clothing line Stewart+Brown) on September 22.

Mamma Roma at NWFF

NW Film Forum presents two classic Italian films: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1962 film Mamma Roma is possibly his best – with stunning imagery of the best and worst of Roma and genuine feeling for its characters, Mamma Roma tells the story of a prostitute trying to go straight for the sake of her teenaged son, but stymied by the return of her pimp who is definitely not interested in seeing Mamma achieve respectability.

Also at NWFF: Wheedle’s Groove, a look back at Seattle’s soul music scene in late 60s. “Rediscover that history with local collector DJ Mr. Supreme, who uncovered Seattle’s soulful past after finding a dusty Black on White Affair 45 called “Bold Soul Sister” in a 99-cent bin at a Seattle Center record show. By 2003, he had a rough impression of a once-thriving scene and a hefty collection of Seattle soul and funk 45s, some of which were fetching upwards of $5,000 on the collector circuit.” The movie plays with an exciting collection of special guests:

Friday, September 3 – Performance with Pastor Patrinell Staten Wright and members of Total Experience Gospel Choir

Sunday, September 5 (8pm show) – Drum seminar and Q&A with Robbie Hill (Family Affair, Black On White Affair)

Tuesday, September 7 – Q&A with members of Cookin’ Bag, along with King County Councilman Larry Gossett discussing the music, culture, and history of the Central District and the Seattle Black Power movement during the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Wednesday, September 8 – Performance with Overton Berry

Thursday, September 9 – Q&A with Wheedle’s Groove mastermind DJ Supreme La Rock and the film’s narrator Sir Mix-A-Lot, discussing Wheedle’s Groove and the resurgence through sampling and hip-hop

The Grand Illusion presents Battle League Horumo, a fantastic comedic love story from Japan about a bunch of college students who get involved in a competition involving battling ancient spirits.

Speaking of Japanese films, Midnight at the Egyptian is Hayao Miyazaki’s brilliant and breathaking animated adventure Spirited Away.

At the Harvard Exit see Mesrine: Killer Instinct and its sequel, Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 starring Vincent Cassel as the title character, a French soldier returned from Algiers seduced by the glamour of 1960s Paris into a life of crime and notoriety.

The folks at Bumbershoot have announced that Standard Tickets for Saturday, Sept 4, with guaranteed access to the Mainstage show featuring Bob Dylan, Neko Case, and The Decemberists, are sold out.

Standard Tickets for Sunday, Sept. 5, featuring Weezer, Hole, and Rise Against, and Monday, Sept. 6, featuring Mary J. Blige, Drake, and J. Cole, are still available but going fast.

There are a handful of Platinum Passes still left but they’ll stop selling them tonight, September 1 at 11:59 pm. Platinum Passes guarantee entrance to all Mainstage performances, including Saturday’s sold out show, in addition to reserved VIP seating at all comedy stages, Bumbershoot’s secret and ultra exclusive Music Lounge, the 1 Reel Film Festival, and the Performing Arts and Words & Ideas stages.

Bumbershoot’s new Economy Tickets, which let you see everything except the Mainstage acts are still available for all three days at $22 in advance and $30 at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster and its outlets until 11:59 pm on Friday, September 3.

If you were there you know that Vampire Weekend had to abruptly cancel their Sunday, August 29th show at Marymoor Park due to unexpected illness. The show has been rescheduled – they’ll be playing two nights, September 22 and 23, at the Paramount Theatre to make up for the show they missed.

If you had tickets for the Marymoor show, you can exchange them at no cost for either day. If you purchased your tickets online or by phone, call 1-800-745-3000 to arrange an exchange for tickets to one of the new dates. If you bought tickets through a Ticketmaster outlet, simply return to that outlet to switch your tickets.

If you purchased your ticket the night of the show, in cash, at the gate, you can exchange the ticket for the rescheduled show at the Paramount box office during regular business hours. If you prefer a refund, you can obtain one by sending your ticket to:

Ticketmaster
c/o emm0829 refund
216 1st Ave S, Suite 400
Seattle, Wa. 98104

Tickets should be accompanied by name and return address.

If you purchased your ticket at the Marymoor Park box office before the show, you can exchange your tickets before September 19th at the Paramount box office. If you need a refund, you must obtain one from the Marymoor Park office.

If you didn’t have a ticket for the show at Marymoor but would like to see the band at the Paramount, you can buy your tickets online or in person at the Paramount box office (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm), 24-hour kiosks located outside The Paramount & Moore Theatres, and charge by phone at 877-784-4849.

Show starts at 7:30 both nights; it’s a general admission show with The Head & The Heart opening.

Proud Mary from Burn the Floor; photo credit: Joan Marcus

Twenty champion dancers put on a spectacular dance performance in Burn the Floor, playing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre for eight performances, starting September 14.

The company consists of dancers who’ve been with the show from the start and some who’ve joined since, including “So You Think You Can Dance” alums Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan Di Lello, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer.

Burn the Floor showcases ballroom and Latin dancing from throughout history with passionate performances of dances like the Viennese Waltz, the Jive, the Paso Doble, Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing along with the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston, and the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa.

Tickets range from $23.50 to $78.50 and are available online at Tickets.com, STG Presents, or Broadway Across America, and by calling 877.STG.4TIX (4849), as well as in person at the Paramount box office.

Rebecca Sugden has been a dancer with Burn the Floor since 1999 along with her husband and dance partner Damon and graciously answered a few questions about the show:

How did you get involved in this show? What specifically made you want to get involved with this project and not another?

RS: Damon & I were living in London – training & competing on the international ballroom competition circuit. Jason Gilkison (long time friend & dance mentor) invited us to watch the opening night of the new ballroom dance spectacular “Burn the Floor” he & Peta Roby had become involved in. Although we were enjoying a successful career in competition, it was wearing on us. We were curious and went to Bournemouth to see them in this daring new venture. We watched spellbound – we had found our new passion. We wanted to be the ‘rebels of ballroom’ as well and were thrilled to be invited as a specialist ballroom role. We were able to marry our love for ballroom, theatre & the arts – a match made in heaven.

We have been following our dream, dancing in the BTF company since October 1999.

What have been your biggest challenges in putting on the show? What do you find most enjoyable about the show?

RS: Watching Harley Medcalf (Producer) convince theatres all over the world they need this utterly unique show, watching Peta Roby & Nic Notley make the incredible logistics of moving & managing a whole show, 30 international company members touring multiple countries & states from week to week. Seeing Jason (choreographer) constantly re-choreograph, reshuffle, reinvent an entire show (almost daily) makes our job of performing 8 shows a week to the best of our ability seem pretty sweet.

I love that this show is ‘organic’. It grows and improves with changes and improvements every week. I love the real interactions between cast members who love what they do. The whole point of partner dancing is the communication between two people through movement.

How do you like working with your cast? What’s the best part of working together?

RS: We love working with everyone in the cast. You have to admire each person’s unique talent that they bring to whole ensemble. We are all so very different that the chemistry between us all works. We are choreographed to bring out all our own individual flavours.

Damon & I feel so privileged to have been able to dance together in our chosen role for so many years in so many cities in front of so many people all over the world.

What do you hope audiences will get from the show?

RS: I know the audience will be amazed by the passion & energy in this show. Audience members often joke with us that they are exhausted just watching us all having so much fun. How could we not? the incredible pace of the choreography, the infectious fun & energy of the dancers, the brilliant vocalists and exciting percussionists. It is like we have invited the audience on a whirlwind journey of music, dance, emotion and excitement.

I bet they just want to go out, grab a partner & dance.