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PRESS ROOM: WHAT'S THE BUZZ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Showtunes! Theatre Company brings A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, a moving musical play by the Tony winning team of RAGTIME, playwright Terrence McNally, composer Lynn Ahrens and lyricist Stephen Flaherty to Kirkland Performance Center for two shows only, Saturday January 24, 2009 at 8pm, and Sunday January 25 at 2pm. Based on the cult favorite 1994 film starring Albert Finney, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE tells the tender, humorous and touching story of Alfie Byrne, a bus driver living in 1960's Dublin, Ireland. A passionate Oscar Wilde fan, Alfie is determined to stage a version of Wilde’s Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. In the process of fighting for the play, Alfie is finally forced to confront his homosexuality and take his place in the world. “I believe it’s a very relevant show, simply because it deals with the human heart, the human condition. Our need for love, our fear of rejection and change, our incredibly fragile yet buoyant souls, “ says Ms. King, the show’s director. “The show is set in 1964, Dublin, where there is no separation of Church and State. It is a time of dramatic social change, and there is a palpable fear of change. We see how that fear shapes the Law. Historically, we can look back and see how our own laws and actions have been based in fear, and how it affected and marginalized parts of society. The issue of allowing others to love whom they love without judgment or condemnation is also a very relevant topic. I think that this show may allow people to see both sides of the issue, and hopefully, will be a catalyst for discussion.” According to Frances Leah King, the director of this ‘in concert’ staging, audiences should come see this performance for, “The musical score is worth it, alone. But most of all, some of Seattle’s best performers will be seen in this production: Rich Gray as Alfie, Jason Kappus as Robbie, Vickielee Wohlbach as Lily, Mark Rabe as Carney, Allan Galley as Rasher, Charissa Bertels as Adele, and many other wonderful actors and musicians will bring this rich material to life.” According to Time Out New York, “Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren’s delightful score mixes Irish folk with a pinch of pop and show biz dazzle. Add Terrence McNally’s book, which nicely fleshes out the supporting characters, and you have an unabashedly sentimental work of human drama that resonates with more force and yes, importance, than its humble scale would suggest.” Winner of the Outer Critics Circle award for Best Musical, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE brims with passion, humor and sexual awakenings, while coupled with a gorgeous score full of with Irish-inspired music, verse and dance. Acclaimed Seattle performer/songwriter Richard Gray headlines the book-in hand, concert staging, directed by Frances Leah King. First staged at New York's Lincoln Center in 2003, this marks Showtunes! first foray into producing a 21st century American musical that deals with mature themes, and is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Don’t miss this bittersweet comic tale about an amateur theater group in 1964 Dublin, and their director, a man with a secret. Tickets for A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE are $24 general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. For reservations and group sales contact Kirkland Performance Center at www.kpcenter.org or call 425-893-9900. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHOWTUNES!
PRESENTS SEATTLE PREMIERE OF
A MAN OF NO
IMPORTANCE: IN CONCERT starring Richard grAY
“A
major musical in everything but pretension. Showtunes! Theatre Company brings A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, a moving musical play by the Tony winning team of RAGTIME, playwright Terrence McNally, composer Lynn Ahrens and lyricist Stephen Flaherty to Kirkland Performance Center for two shows only, Saturday January 24, 2009 at 8pm, and Sunday January 25 at 2pm. Based on the cult favorite 1994 film starring Albert Finney, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE tells the tender, humorous and touching story of Alfie Byrne, a bus driver living in 1960's Dublin, Ireland. A passionate Oscar Wilde fan, Alfie is determined to stage a version of Wilde’s Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. In the process of fighting for the play, Alfie is finally forced to confront his homosexuality and take his place in the world. According to Time Out New York, “Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren’s delightful score mixes Irish folk with a pinch of pop and show biz dazzle. Add Terrence McNally’s book, which nicely fleshes out the supporting characters, and you have an unabashedly sentimental work of human drama that resonates with more force and yes, importance, than its humble scale would suggest.” Winner of the Outer Critics Circle award for Best Musical, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE brims with passion, humor and sexual awakenings, while coupled with a gorgeous score full of with Irish-inspired music, verse and dance. Acclaimed Seattle performer/songwriter Richard Gray headlines the book-in hand, concert staging, directed by Frances Leah King. First staged at New York's Lincoln Center in 2003, this marks Showtunes! first foray into producing a 21st century American musical that deals with mature themes, and is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Don’t miss this bittersweet comic tale about an amateur theater group in 1964 Dublin, and their director, a man with a secret. Tickets for A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE are $24 general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. For reservations and group sales contact Kirkland Performance Center at www.kpcenter.org or call 425-893-9900. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tomorrow is now! Showtunes! Theatre Company opens its 4th season of musicals with the first locally staged production of the family friendly ANNIE WARBUCKS. This book-in-hand concert staging runs three performances only at the Kirkland Performance Center on Saturday October 11th, 2008 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm and Sunday October 12th, 2008 at 2:00pm. ANNIE WARBUCKS: with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, is aptly described by Charnin as a “continuation” of the original smash hit and Tony award winning musical ANNIE. The show picks up at the last 16 bars of the original and goes on to tell a whole new story when Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle arrives on the scene to inform Daddy Warbucks he must marry in sixty days so the newly adopted Annie can have a proper mother. Will Daddy Warbucks fall for the mysterious new woman who comes into his life or realize that he has the perfect match right under his nose in the person of his steadfast secretary Grace Farrell? It all happens, the day after tomorrow. Full of familiar characters from the original, there are several intriguing new ones to boot! Showtunes! is pleased to have the support of Puget Sound resident Martin Charnin who will be directing the production, allowing local actors the chance to work with this living legend of the Broadway stage. Mark Rabe will serve as music director and we are pleased to have musical staging by Mo Brady. In the title role Showtunes! has cast young Katie Griffith, with Hugh Hastings as Daddy Warbucks, Bobbi Kotula as Commissioner Doyle, Shelly Burch as Mrs. Kelly, Bridget Curran as Grace Farrell, Iris Elton as Ella, Dennis Bateman as Alvin, Claire Costanza as C.G. and David Hunter Koch as F.D.R. The adult ensemble includes Margaret Bicknell, Julie Drummond, Doug Fahl, David-Edward Hughes, Jason Kappus, Paul Klein, Buddy Mahoney, Andrew Parks, and Erin Sprow. The Orphans are played by; Lauren Carlos, Ellis Cox-McAllister, Shaye Hodgins, Eliza Ludlam, Olivia Spokoiny, Cameron Washington, Madison Willis, and Shelby Willis. Tickets for ANNIE WARBUCKS are $24 general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. For reservations and group sales visit the Kirkland Performance Center (350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, WA) on-line at www.kpcenter.org or call 425-893-9900. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Showtunes!
2008-2009 Season of Premieres at The KPC Showtunes! Theatre Company is proud to announce a diverse and delightful trio of musicals have been chosen for our fourth season of Musicals in Concert at Kirkland Performance Center. This season we celebrate the music and lyrics of Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and Jerry Herman. Two of the musicals are receiving their first Puget Sound premiere productions, while the third show, chosen due to popular demand, is being seen for the first time in a newly revised version. Kicking off the season October 11th & 12th, 2008 is ANNIE WARBUCKS the long-awaited sequel to the international smash hit ANNIE, written by the original creative team of playwright Thomas Meehan, composer Charles Strouse, and lyricist Martin Charnin. All the ingredients that made ANNIE so successful are back once again, with tuneful new songs and an old-fashioned romance thrown in for good measure! The action picks up right where ANNIE left off, when Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle arrives on the scene to inform Daddy Warbucks he must marry in sixty days so the newly adopted Annie can have a proper mother. Will Daddy Warbucks fall for the mysterious new woman who comes into his life or realize that he has the perfect match right under his nose, in the person of his steadfast secretary Grace Farrell? It all happens, the day after tomorrow, and Showtunes! is proud to announce that the production will also be directed by Martin Charnin, the director of the original New York productions of both ANNIE WARBUCKS and ANNIE. The New Year rings in January 24th & 25th, 2009 with A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE a moving musical first staged at New York’s Lincoln Center in 2003, and receiving its first Northwest production. Based on the cult favorite film starring Albert Finney, it tells the tender story of Alfie Byrne, a bus driver living in 1960s Dublin. A passionate Oscar Wilde fan, Alfie is determined to stage a version of Wilde’s Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. In the process of fighting for the play, Alfie is finally forced to confront his homosexuality and take his place in the world. With a book by Tony winner Terrence McNally (RAGTIME, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN) and exquisite musical score by composer Lynn Ahrens and lyricist Stephen Flaherty (SEUSSICAL, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND and the Tony award winning RAGTIME), A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE is Showtunes! first leap into producing a 21st century American musical that deals with mature themes. Our spring concert May 16th & 17th, 2009 is a show frequently mentioned in our patrons wish lists, and we are happy to grant that wish with the tuneful and heart-tugging MACK & MABEL, directed by Showtunes! co-producing artistic director David-Edward Hughes. You’ll be saying “Silents, please!” as we take you back to the era when movies were movies, and silent screen producer/director Mack Sennett ran the show. Mack and his favorite leading lady Mabel Normand played out a bittersweet romance in the midst of his trademark pie in the face, slapstick films with Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and the Keystone Kops. Tony award winning Composer/Lyricist Jerry Herman (MAME, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and HELLO DOLLY!) claims MACK & MABEL as his personal favorite of his works, and the revised script adapted by Francine Pascal from the original book by her late brother Michael Stewart (42nd STREET, BYE, BYE BIRDIE and HELLO, DOLLY!) only adds luster to the proceedings. The Kirkland Performance Center is located just 20 minutes away from downtown Seattle in beautiful Kirkland Washington (350 Kirkland Ave 98033.) Ticket prices are $24.00 for adults, $20.00 seniors, & $15.00 students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kpcenter.org. For group or subscription prices, please contact the KPC box-office at (425) 893-9900. Please visit www.showtunestheatre.org for more information. ### Showtunes! Theatre Company produces live, concert format, presentations of rarely produced musicals. Celebrating the diversity and wealth of this uniquely American art form, Showtunes! hopes to deepen overall appreciation of musical theater as well as bring to life works whose value shouldn't be judged by commercial success alone. Showtunes! employs a combination of amateur and Equity actors as well as local musicians and theatrical creative/production staff. PRESS ROOM: ARCHIVE
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