(OUTview NW) RE-view: Artswest Strikes Gold (again) with a Series Showcasing the Ladies of Seattle Musical Theater!

By MK Scott

When West Seattle's Artswest Playhouse does any show lately it turns to Gold and they have done it again with a 4 week summer series called After Hours with Mathew Wright; Part-Cabaret/Part Retrospective, the Hot Young Artistic Director, Wright welcomes an up and coming Musical Theater leading lady for an Hour or more of Music and conversation.

I know this format well; I did this a few times in Portland, over 20 years ago with several top notch performers from Kathy Philpott to Lisa Marie Harrison.

There is one up and coming actress that I couldn’t wait to see showcased and she comes from good stock, that performer is Jessica Skerritt (Yes, one of those Skerritts).

Jessica is young and Blonde and has that Kristin Chenoweth vibe, especially when comes out to sing one of Chenoweth’s signature songs, Apt 14G. 

In between songs, Wright and Skerritt, take a seat in comfortable chairs for a sit down interview and they talk about early influences and key moments and roles from her life. Every once and awhile, Wright on Piano and Skerritt would sing such great tunes as "Confidence" from the Sound of Music to "Somewhere that is Green" from Little Shop of Horrors to "Fever" from her role in Million Dollar Quartet (Before it went to Broadway) to "I’m not afraid of Anything" from Songs from a New World. They even did songs from Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel. The sold out House gave Skerritt and Wright a standing ovation.

Then Skerritt came out solo and then introduced her dad (someone from the audience yelled, “That isn’t Tom (Skerritt of TV and Movie fame)”. Skerritt clarified, that Tom is her uncle, not her father.

Well, after that was cleared, Jessica sang “Rainbow Connection” with her father accompanying her on Guitar, which got her one last standing Ovation.

Coming up Next:
Cavman Iika (8/3), Laura Griffith ( 8/10), and Katherine Strohmaier (8/17)

For More info and Tix Click HERE! Expect a Sell Out!