stg: the 2010–2011 season

SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP

PRESS RELEASE
(verbatim)

SEATTLE, Friday, April 16, 2010 – Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is proud to announce its 2010 – 2011 performance season with 30 extraordinary engagements at the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres as well as favorite area venues including Triple Door and The 5th Avenue. Shows range from dance, comedy, Broadway, Off-Broadway, silent film, family shows, concerts, opera and community performances.

The season kicks off in September and has something for everyone. The line-up includes comedian KATHLEEN MADIGAN, SILENT MOVIE MONDAYS (Silent Crime Spree), STUART MCLEAN AND THE VINYL CAFÉ, Nickelodeon’s STORYTIME LIVE!, RAINN WILSON & FRIENDS, CAPITOL STEPS, SANKAI JUKU performs Hibiki, STOMP, Intiman’s BLACK NATIVITY and PENN & TELLER.

STG and long time partners Broadway Across America bring hit titles fresh from New York for the 2010 – 2011 Key Bank Broadway at The Paramountseries, featuring, BURN THE FLOOR, HAIR, ROCK OF AGES, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, MARY POPPINS and RIVERDANCE.

“The artists and performers booked this season demonstrate the diversity of artistic disciplines and outstanding quality that our community expects to see on our stages,” says Josh LaBelle, STG’s Executive Director. “This season, our commitment to reaching new and diverse audiences extends beyond our own historic venues, The Paramount and The Moore, and into The Triple Door and The 5th Avenue Theatre; we’re thrilled to grow our presentations further into the community.”

Patrons may select shows and dates that fit their interest to create a unique, personalized “Build Your Own” STG subscription. Each subscription requires a minimum of three shows to receive subscriber benefits – adding more shows increases the overall benefits.

Subscription forms are available online at www.STGpresents.org. Orders can be completed online, or completed order forms can be mailed to STG Subscriptions, Attn: Renewals, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101, by fax at (206) 812-3284, call Subscriber Hotline at (206) 812-1114 (Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.), or deliver in person at The Paramount Box Office (Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.). All subscriptions are processed in the order received.

The Paramount Theatre is located at 911 Pine Street; The Moore Theatre is located at 1932 Second Avenue; The 5th Avenue Theatre is located at 1308 5th Avenue; Triple Door is located at 216 Union Street. Tom Douglas Catering & Events provides handmade concessions at both The Paramount and The Moore Theatres.
About STG: STG is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization that operates the historic Paramount and
Moore Theatres in Seattle, Washington. Our mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of our region’s cultural identity while keeping these two landmark venues alive and vibrant. STG presents a range of performances from Broadway, off-Broadway, dance and jazz to comedy, concerts of all genres, speakers and family shows – at both historic theatres in Seattle and venues throughout the Puget Sound and Portland, Oregon.

– – – –
SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP 2010 – 2011 Season
(in chronological order)

SWEET DREAMS, THE MUSIC OF PATSY CLINE
September 11, 2010 | Triple Door
Back by popular demand, SWEET DREAMS, THE MUSIC OF PATSY CLINE is a celebration of iconic singer, Patsy Cline on what would be her 78th birth year, featuring Northwest singer/songwriters performing her legendary songs. Past performers included Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, Rachel Flotard of Visqueen, Kristen Ward, Kim Virant from Lazy Susan, and Victoria Wimer-Contreras.

KATHLEEN MADIGAN | October 2, 2010 | Moore Theatre
After returning from a USO Tour of Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year, comedian Kathleen Madigan learned she’s entirely too short to be involved in combat and that being in the military is nothing like the commercials on television. She made the monumental trip and performed for the troops with Kid Rock, Lewis Black and Kellie Pickler.

In 2004, Madigan was the only comedian ever to go unchallenged on NBC’S Last Comic Standing and in 2007 was a talent scout during the show’s fifth season.

SILENT MOVIE MONDAYS Silent Crime Spree
October | Paramount Theatre
Crooked cops, double-dealing mistresses, high-tension jewel thefts, perfect crimes that go perfectly wrong, Silent Crime Spree features four films, all produced before censorship and the restrictive Hays Code, showing us when criminals were more important figures than the enforcers of the law. This collection of films displays a fascination for the mechanics and motivations of crime, but also of course plenty of dark and devilishly handsome men and swooning ladies.

Films feature live accompaniment on the historic Mighty Wurlitzer Organ by organist Jim Riggs.

October 4 – A Cottage on Dartmoor, 1929
October 11 – Beggars of Life, 1928
October 18 – Underworld, 1927
October 25 – Regeneration, 1915

TUDOR CHOIR Songs of War and Heaven
October 16, 2010 | Moore Theatre
Seattle’s renowned TUDOR CHOIR perform Songs of War and Heaven, an exciting and moving program of a cappella British medieval, Renaissance, and folk music, concluding with American composer Ingram Marshall’s thrilling Savage Altars. An epic tale of reconciliation in the aftermath of war, Savage Altars features narrative by 1st-century historian Tacitus, interwoven with commentary drawn from early English songs and chant. The New York Timescalled Savage Altars and its performance by the Tudor Choir “…worth the price of admission, propounding musical ideas, withdrawing them and finally weaving into a tapestry of sound that is abruptly cut off at its height.”

STUART MCLEAN & THE VINYL CAFÉ
October 17, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
STUART MCLEAN & THE VINYL CAFÉ will be live on stage and returning to Seattle with special musical guest Matt Andersen, the 2010 winner of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

McLean is one of Canada’s most beloved storytellers and a best-selling author. His hit CBC radio show, “The Vinyl Café” premiered in 1994, and each week close to a million listeners tune in for an eclectic musical journey and to hear about the trials and tribulations of Dave (the owner of the world’s smallest record store where the motto is “we may not be big but we are small”), his wife Marley and his children Stephanie and Sam.

Nickelodeon’s STORYTIME LIVE!
October 22 – 24, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
Come play along with your favorite preschool pals live on stage as Nickelodeon presents their newest, biggest, most exciting live show ever – STORYTIME LIVE! Leap into Fairytale Land with “Dora the Explorer,” journey through Purewood Forest with “The Backyardigans,” hop into Wonderland with “Wonder Pets!,” and monkey around on The Monkey King Adventure with “Ni Hao, Kai-lan.” Nickelodeon’s musical adventure, STORYTIME LIVE!, features four of the top-rated preschool shows on television today and is sure to be the hit show you and your family have been waiting for!

RAINN WILSON & FRIENDS | October 23, 2010 | Moore Theatre
Seattlite Rainn Wilson, primarily known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office, performs a special one-time, hometown only engagement with comedic friends (including co-stars from The Office).

All proceeds from the show benefit Mona Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grassroots educational initiatives and raising the status of women and girls worldwide.

THE CAPITOL STEPS | October 26, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
THE CAPITOL STEPS bring the “MOCK” in Democracy back to Seattle with their “Liberal Shop of Horrors” tour. Washington, DC’s funniest musical political comedians will perform songs from their most recent album, “Liberal Shop of Horrors,” as well as new material, updated to the news of the day.

THE CAPITOL STEPS began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that once employed them. Capitol Steps have 31 albums recorded, have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio during their “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials.

SANKAI JUKU Hibiki | November 3, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
Hibiki is one of the internationally acclaimed pieces of SANKAI JUKU, an award-winning work of unparalleled simplicity and poetic beauty. Since its world premiere at Theatre de la Ville in Paris in December 1998, it subsequently went on to win the 26th Laurence Olivier Award for Best New
Dance Production.

Performed in a dream landscape with whirling costumes, the company of six dancers blends image, sound and performance to create a truly hypnotic dance experience that is accompanied by a lyrical and electronic score by Takashi Kako and Yoichiro Yoshikawa.

Over the course of the past 20 years, the work of Ushio Amagatsu for his company Sankai Juku has become known worldwide for its elegance, refinement, technical precision, and emotional depth. His contemporary Butoh creations are sublime visual spectacles and deeply moving theatrical experiences.

STEW & THE NEGRO PROBLEM| November 5-6, 2010 | Triple Door
STEW & THE NEGRO PROBLEM, the Afro-Baroque cabaret ensemble is co-led by Heidi Rodewald, Stew’s long-time Obie Award winning collaborator. Compared in the same breath with Kurt Weill, Burt Bacharach and Jackie Gleason, Stew’s concert performances are coveted for their literate precision, sly humor, and deep emotional resonance, hovering between the divergent worlds of rock and theater.

Stew’s Broadway rock musical, Passing Strange, co-composed with Rodewald, earned the 2008 Tony Award for “Best Book of a Musical.” Passing Strange, the film, directed and co-produced by Spike Lee, premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and airs on PBS’s Great Performances.

LILA DOWNS Y LA MISTERIOSA | November 6, 2010 | Moore Theatre
Lila Downs is known for her dramatic and highly unique reinvention of traditional Mexican music and original compositions fused with blues, jazz, soul, African root, and even klezmer music, all supporting her soaring voice. Some would classify Downs as a Mexican artist, but her music is a unique and exciting fusion of international sounds. The topic of her songs is often political and about social justice, immigration, and transformation, all rooted in the human condition. Accompanied by her long time band, La Misteriosa, a musical journey with Downs is always a powerful and surprising one, often including a unique cumbia rock, beat-poet style rap, or even the chirps of an iguana. LILA DOWNS Y LA MISTERIOSA will bring the audience along for a memorable ride.

STOMP | November 9 – 14, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

The return to Seattle’s Paramount Theatre will bring new surprises, including two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans. As USA Today says, “STOMP finds beautiful noises in the strangest places.”

GLOBAL DANCE PARTY | December 3, 2010 | Moore Theatre
GLOBAL DANCE PARTY is a high-energy performance of cultural and contemporary dance and music from around the globe. The performance features young local performers from STG’s cross-collaborative community engagements, DANCE This and More Music @ The Moore celebrating the rich cultural traditions and artistic talent found in the Northwest. A not to be missed experience for all ages. Think Global, Dance Local!

Intiman Theatre’s BLACK NATIVITY
December 10 – 19, 2010 | Moore Theatre
Silent Night? No Way! After 12 years of sold-out performances, Seattle’s greatest holiday tradition moves from Intiman Theatre to The Moore Theatre. Be one of the first to sing, dance, clap, stomp and celebrate the magic of Christmas with BLACK NATIVITY in its new home. With gospel favorites and holiday classics, BLACK NATIVITY will move your spirit and inspire your heart. Featuring the poetry of Langston Hughes, the beauty of gravity-defying dancers, the voices of Pastor Patrinell Wright and her choir of gospel singers, and that rockin’ live band!

By Langston Hughes
Directed by Jacqueline Moscou
Choreography by Kabby Mitchell III
Musical Direction & Arrangements by Pastor Patrinell Wright

PENN & TELLER | December 10 – 12, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
For 35 years Penn & Teller have defied labels – and at time physics – by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy and live performance.

Acclaimed Showtime series, “Penn & Teller: BS!” has been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards and is the longest-running series in the history of the network. The show tackles the fakes and frauds behind such topics as alien abduction, psychics and bottled water.

Inclusions in The New York TimesCrossword Puzzle, and as answers on Jeopardy and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire prove their status as cultural icons and a preeminent duo of comedy.

Lemony Snicket’s THE COMPOSER IS DEAD
January 29, 2011 | Moore Theatre
Renowned children’s author Lemony Snicket and the critically-acclaimed Phantom Limb Company join forces for this breathtaking theatrical adaptation of The New York Timesbest-selling picture book The Composer is Dead. There is a mystery to solve at Symphony Hall, and the suspects are all lurking somewhere onstage! Follow the Inspector as he interrogates each section of the orchestra. Where exactly were the violins on the night in question? Did anyone see the harp? Aren’t the trumpets protesting a bit too boisterously? Every instrument is brought to life in this enchantingly uproarious musical mystery.

NEXT TO NORMAL | February 22 – 27, 2011 | 5th Avenue Theatre
From the director of Rent comes NEXT TO NORMAL, an emotional powerhouse of a musical with a thrilling contemporary score about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Score,NEXT TO NORMAL is the most talked about new show on Broadway having recently been chosen as “one of the year’s ten best” by major critics around the country.

The New York Times calls NEXT TO NORMAL “a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power. It is much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical.” Rolling Stone raves, “It is the best musical of the season – by a mile. It’ll pin you to your seat.”

MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE | March 11, 2011 | Moore Theatre
Young artist talent, collaboration and mentorship is celebrated in the 10th annual MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE. The commemorative performance features exceptional musicians from past years mixing diverse music styles with newly selected young artists. MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE celebrates the rich musical talent of youth in our community and provides musicians, regardless of what style they play, the opportunity to make music together. Daniel Bernard Roumain, New York-based violinist, conductor and composer, returns for his sixth year to direct a fresh and uplifting commemorative performance.

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
March 25-27, 2011 | 5th Avenue Theatre
One of the world’s favorite dance companies returns to show off the brilliant artistry and passionate energy that bring audiences around the globe to their feet night after night. What makes this phenomenal company so special is the incomparable sense of joy, freedom and spirit that the dancers and audiences share. Discover for yourself what millions of fans already know – you don’t just see an Ailey performance, you feel it.

As part of this mixed repertory program, the Company celebrates 50 years of Revelations, an enduring classic that has been seen by more audiences around the world than any other modern dance. This tribute to Ailey’s African-American heritage uses traditional spirituals to explore the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the human soul.

Starbucks’ HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ
April 15, 2011 | Paramount Theatre
The successful Starbucks jazz program and 16th annual, HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ, returns to The Paramount Theatre. Seattle area high school jazz musicians take the stage in a showcase of the city’s finest young talent performing with their big bands. As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to supporting the local youth arts community, this benefit concert features Ellington Festival award winning jazz bands from five local high schools with all proceeds from ticket sales going to support each school’s music program. Past performing bands include Garfield, Roosevelt, Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Shorewood and Newport.

EARLY MUSIC GUILD A Day on the Town, A Night in Hell
April 15-17, 2011 | Moore Theatre
A Day on the Town, A Night in Hell is a mirthful operatic mixing of Orazio Vecchi’s L’Amfiparnasoand Claudio Monteverdi’s Il Ballo Delle Ingrate.

Monteverdi’s Il Ballo Delle Ingrate, composed in 1608, is a wickedly skewed fable of the infernal fate that await heartless ladies who scorn their lovers.

Vecchi’s L’Amfiparnaso (1594) is a bawdy tale of desire and deception told entirely through lascivious madrigal vignettes – all mimed by a troupe of madcap commedia dell’arte zanies and their hapless stooges. This L’Amfiparnasois once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the summit of the madrigal comedy in all its ribald and raucous glory.

EARLY MUSIC GUILD has assembled a set of Seattle’s most celebrated talents including, Stephen Stubbs (Pacific Musicworks), Arne Zaslov (Bathhouse Theatre), Donald Byrd (Spectrum Dance Theater), and Theodore Deacon (Stage Director of EMG’s 2005 Poppea).

RECESS MONKEY / JOHNNY BREGAR | May 7, 2011 | Moore Theatre
Recess Monkey is comprised of three Seattle teachers (Jack, Daron and Drew), who perform “kid-driven songs that spring from their experiences in the classroom and memories of being young.”

Striking a balance between goofy and cerebral, Recess Monkey invites its audience to rock along with them through an interactive set filled with “sing-a-longs” and tons of dancing! Recess Monkey has performed across the country from Qwest Field to The Taste of Chicago to the “Lion’s Library” in New York City.

Johnny Bregar is known for his engaging live concerts that delight kids and parents alike. His original songs and arrangements of familiar children’s songs have a rootsy, jazzy, bluesy sound. He has recorded three CDs in his Ballard studio and appears on two Putumayo compilations, “Picnic Playground” and “A Family Christmas.”

In a recent review, Stefan Shepherd from Zooglobble.com says, “They Might Be Giants, Elizabeth Mitchell, maybe Laurie Berkner… that’s an all-star list of kids musicians right there… So it means something to me when I say that with the release of his third album Dragonfly, I’d add Seattle’s Johnny Bregar to that list.”

RIVERDANCE | June 3 – 5, 2011 | Paramount Theatre
FAREWELL ENGAGEMENT!
RIVERDANCE, the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe, will play four Farewell Performances at The Paramount Theatre. “A Phenomenon of Historic Proportions!” raves The Washington Post(6/10/07). “An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away,” cheers the Chicago Tribune. “A family evening unlike anything else!” exclaims The London Times. Discover why nothing in the world compares to the original International phenomenon! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, you won’t want to miss these farewell performances of RIVERDANCE!

DANCE THIS | July 8 – 9, 2011 | Moore Theatre
DANCE THISbrings together teen performers from diverse communities for collaboration and to share their culture through the art of dance. The performance features young local dancers in collaboration with
professional artists performing dances from across cultures-both traditionally rooted and contemporary in form. Audiences experience the rich cultural traditions and artistic talent of teens in the region.

Previous DANCE THIS guest artists and choreographers have included Savion Glover, The Joffrey Ballet, Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo, Step Afrika!, Abdel Salaam, Jamel Gaines, Pat Graney, Donald Byrd, Sonia Dawkins, Step Afrika, Daniel Cruz and Amy O’Neal.

Key Bank Broadway at The Paramount
Full five show series available now

BURN THE FLOOR | September 14-19, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
The international dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR visits The Paramount Theatre direct from its record-breaking run on Broadway! You’ve seen Ballroom dance on shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Now, with BURN THE FLOOR, you will feel, live on stage, all the passion, the drama and the sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous champion dancers, in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Timescalls, “Dazzling!”

From Harlem’s hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, BURN THE FLOOR takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance.

HAIR | November 28 – December 4, 2010 | Paramount Theatre
The Public Theater’s new Tony-winning production of HAIR is the most electric celebration on Broadway! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and dozens of unforgettable songs, including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Easy To Be Hard.” Its relevance is UNDENIABLE. Its energy is UNBRIDLED. Its truth is UNWAVERING. It’s HAIR, and IT’S TIME.

ROCK OF AGES | February 8 – 13, 2011 | Paramount Theatre
In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
March 17 – April 3, 2011 | Paramount Theatre
Thrilling audiences worldwide and winning ten 2009 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, “The best show you will ever see,” New York Post, is coming to Seattle! BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is a joyous celebration of one young boy’s triumph against the odds. Called “The most inspiring show I’ve seen in years” by Ben Brantley of The New YorkTimes, the story follows Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring, into a ballet class and discovers his dream to dance.

Billy Elliot is brought to life by the Tony-winning creative team – director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall – along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls “His best score yet!” BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL will enchant the dreamer in all of us.

MARY POPPINS | May 12 – 29, 2011 | Paramount Theatre
Beginning in May 2011, the world’s most famous nanny will arrive at The Paramount Theatre. Combining the best of the original stories by P. L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony® Award-winning MARY POPPINS is everything you’d hope for in a Broadway musical-and more. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, the show includes such wonderful songs as Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and, of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The NY Daily Newshails MARY POPPINS as “a roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!” Let your imagination take flight at this perfectly magical musical!