BAT (Burien Actors Theatre) just completed its five week run of “Noises Off” at the old Staples space in Burien. BAT moved to that location following the fire at its home theater space. It just…
The second weekend of “Noises Off” is past. (Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 2 at 14907 4th Avenue SW in Burien.) The second week of a run is always interesting. …
BAT is pleased to present Turbo Turkey as Saturday late-night! Every Saturday night after “Noises Off,” from 11 pm to midnight, Turbo Turkey brings their comedic stylings to BAT’s space at 14907 4th Ave. SW…
If you’ve seen “Noises Off” you know sardines play a major role. So what is a sardine and why do we eat them? Here is a link to Wikipedia, and a taste of the post:…
The first weekend of “noises Off” is over. There are just 4 more weekends left. As you can see in this review, you should not miss this show! BAT has said it before, what a…
In case you missed the “Noises Off” set moving during intermission, don’t miss the video. “Noises Off” runs Friday and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 2 through March 23! Don’t miss this show! Get…
“Tonight is the night of nights, no more rehearsing upon.” “Noises Off” opens tonight! I can see why people say this is the funniest show ever written, and in BAT’s case, the funniest show ever performed.
To say this has been a joinery is an understatement. The director and cast have risen to meet one of the most challenging scripts ever written. Not only are there lines, blocking, running up stairs and slamming doors, but there are sardines!
Albie, the set designer, created an amazing, movable, set. First it was built off site, then loaded into a truck and moved into BAT’s temporary home. Once in the space, it moves round and round. Amazing.
BAT’s crew and volunteers have taken a huge empty retail space (14907 4th Avenue SW, Burien) and turned it into a pop-up theater space. (BAT misses its old roost.) Moving, cleaning, painting, more cleaning, and then making a cavern (BAT-cave?) into a welcoming place to watch “Noises Off.” Looking back, who’s idea was this?
Then there are the people who made the use of the space possible. Empty spaces don’t just “appear.” There are leases to work out, permits to get, inspections to pass, rent to paid, bathrooms to fix, and signs to hang.
Finally, there are those who are able to donate, to cover the outrageous cost of renting space and creating a pop-up theater. (Join them HERE.)
“Noises Off” would not have opened without everyone doing there part, and more.
BAT is an all volunteer theater. So, all of this happened around other work.
“Noises Off” is the first full show since the fire at BAT’s theater location. When the fire happened on December 10, 2013, BAT had a production of “Coney Island Christmas” up and running. BAT was able to move that show to a new location and re-block and re-tech it in just 3 days. BAT did not miss a performance. That was no small feat.
Once “Coney Island Christmas” closed in late December, BAT got underway looking for a space to perform “Noises Off.” BAT had planned that “Noises Off” would take place in BAT’s theater. However, even there the seating was going to be moved, with the set being put on the floor at the back of the theater, the furthest away from the stage, and the seats put against the stage and turned 180 degrees. The reason for that configuration was that the set was too tall for BAT’s stage.
The “Noises Off” set is just over 16 feet tall. BAT’s stage is just 13 feet tall. Nevertheless, after many meetings with the set designer, Albie Clamenti, it was decided BAT could put the set for “Noises Off” in the BAT theater.
Then there was the fire. All bets were off. For some time, it was not known if the City of Burien, BAT’s landlord, would rebuild BAT’s theater space after the fire. BAT got involved in the political process to try and encourage the rebuild. 100 BAT-fans wrote emails to the Burien City Council asking the Council to rebuild. This outpouring of support did not go unnoticed by the City Council. Just recently, the decision was made to rebuild BAT’s theater space.
While it was still an open question whether BAT would have a home again or not, the search for a space to perform “Noises Off” was underway. The space BAT had used for “Coney Island Christmas” did not have high enough ceilings. The ceiling there was just 12 feet high.
BAT wanted to stay in Burien, its home for the last 34 years, with roots in Burien reaching back 59 years. (BAT arose out of a theater group called Workshop Theatre, which started in 1955.) The number of places that could accommodate a 16 foot set, and might be available, in Burien are quite limited. BAT quickly scoped them out and the list narrowed to 4. Then the hard work began. BAT met with the landlords and the City of Burien on each space.
Comedy Noises Off at Burien Actors Theatre is funniest farce ever written (February 11, 2014 – Burien, WA) – Burien Actors Theatre presents the comedy Noises Off, which performs Feb. 21 through March 23. Due to a fire…
Some have asked why go through all of the work to produce “Noises Off” after the fire in BAT’s theater space. Billy Shakespeare suggested the following:
TIRED VOLUNTEER. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men and women in Burien.
That do no work to-day!
PRODUCER. What’s he that wishes so?
My wonderful volunteer? No, my fair volunteer;
If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our theatre loss; and if to live,
The fewer men and women, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man or woman more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet live theatre,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man or woman from Burien.
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man or woman more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, volunteer, through my host,
That he or she which hath no stomach to this project,
Let him or her depart; his or her passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his or her purse;
We would not work all night in that person’s company
That fears his fellowship to get this done with us.