New Century’s “Off Nights” Showcase LGBTQ Theater

New Century Theatre Company’s current production of BRIGHT HALF LIFE (check out my review HERE) at 12th Avenue Arts is running weekends through March 11 but the company wanted to utilize their rental of the space at times the show isn’t being performed. To that end, New Century has teamed up with other area theater companies to allow them a chance to showcase their work at those times.  Since “Bright Half Life” focuses on a same sex relationship between two women, 3 of the works being presented on the four “Off Nights” have a queer focus as well.

First up: Fantastic Z takes over the theater this upcoming Saturday afternoon, March 4, 2017 at 4pm for a series of queer themed one act plays. This show has a suggested donated ticket price (at the door) of $5 but feel free to give more if you can.

The next day, Sunday, March 5, Jet City Improv Company will take charge with their improv’d show, “Trespass” where YOU the audience dictates the action of the show. This is the only one of the 4 “Off Night Shows” with pre-ticket sales. Go HERE to snag seats for the Jet City event.

The series continues on ​Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30pm with Genetic Diversity Lab: Queer Continuum, A showcase evening, curated by Arica Jeffery. The final event will be Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30pm with Theatre 22 producing Turnings: A play by Stephanie Neuerburg. Both of these nights will have tickets at the door, with suggested donations of  $5 (or more!)

Here’s more info:

New Century Theatre Company is committed to encouraging and fostering meaningful conversations, and embraces respectful and constructive disagreement. We strive to do this through producing plays that ask more questions than they answer, won’t do your thinking for you, and push us to engage with the changing city we live in. From our very first production, every performance has been followed by a post-show discussion—encouraging people to start processing and dialoguing about the questions raised and perspectives presented.

With our new Off-Nights Series, we are partnering with local artists to present a diverse array of evenings exploring the themes of Bright Half Life from other perspectives and through different mediums. By supporting and encouraging other voices from our community to speak out we hope to not only broaden and deepen the conversation, but also encourage further community between artists and patrons. We hope that you will join us!

Fantastic.Z: An evening of short plays
​Saturday, March 4 at 4:00pm
12th Avenue Arts, Studio Theatre; Suggested Donation: $5

​Fantastic.Z is Seattle’s LGBTQ theatre company; an artist founded and run company presenting the Puget Sound with quality theatre focused through a queer lens. Fantastic.Z will be presenting a staged reading of short plays with themes pulled from Bright Half Life. This event is a multi racial, all female cast and production team.

TRESPASS: Long-form improv presented by Jet City
Sunday, March 5 at 7:30pm
12th Avenue Arts, Studio Theatre; Admission: $10

​TRESPASS combines the best improvisers from across Seattle’s improv community with the incredible design work of productions currently in performance to create a new, full-length play indistinguishable from any other piece of great new theater but without a script. Pulling inspiration from the set around them and the light plot above them (as well as a few audience suggestions), actors serve as co-writers and co-directors while sound and light cues are executed on the fly to create a rich and detailed, one-night-only world premiere.

Genetic Diversity Lab: Queer Continuum
A showcase evening, curated by Arica Jeffery
​Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30pm
12th Avenue Arts, Studio Theatre; Suggested Donation: $5​

The purpose of the Genetic Diversity Lab is to promote a variety of local artists who need a space and an audience, and to encourage an exchange of artistic perspectives between mediums. Together diverse artists will reflect on themes and ideas from Bright Half Life in a multi-medium event that also promotes the social and professional cross pollination of Seattle artistic communities.

Turnings: A play by Stephanie Neuerburg,
presented with Theatre22
​Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30pm
12th Avenue Arts, Studio Theatre; Suggested Donation: $5

​Cole finally gets the literary break she’s been waiting for when a book of her original poems are published, but on the eve of its release, her ex-girlfriend’s parents arrive to pick up the rest of their daughter’s things. Cole’s friends Mark and Robin are struggling with their own feelings of jealousy and impatience, and as Cole grapples with her sudden spotlight, she has to finally come to terms with the truth behind her poems and the people around her.

Directed by Tina Polzin and featuring Paul Dederick, Jennifer Ewing, Stephanie Neuerburg, Carrie Schnelker, and Eli Sklov Simons.

Oh. Here’s a Promo Code to see “Bright Half Life” with a big discount: