Village Theatre Trivia: 10 Facts I Bet You Didn’t Know

As the years pass, more and more trivia facts come to my attention about Village Theatre. Unfortunately, I think it’s possible that many people just don’t know (yet) about all the incredible things happening right here in downtown Issaquah. Just to get the ball rolling, we’ve posted a list of 10 very interesting facts I bet many people didn”t know about Village Theatre. Read on and if you know something interesting about Village Theatre–by all means, post it as a comment!

1. In 1988, Anna Faris played Scout in Village Theatre’s production of To Kill A Mockingbird. Read more here.
2. Isaac Brock of the band Modest Mouse used to work as a light board operator for Village Theatre. He was around 12 years old when he started working in the booth.
3. Village Theatre’s 2009-2010 Season (also the 30th Anniversary Season) has five shows never before produced for the Mainstage: Chasing Nicolette–WEST COAST PREMIERE, Meet Me in St. Louis, Lost in Yonkers, The Gypsy King–WORLD PREMIERE, and 42nd Street.
4. Martin Charnin not only directed the Mainstage production of Shadowlands in 2007, but he also appeared as one of the Jets in the original production of West Side Story in 1957. Martin is best known for his work as the lyricist for the hit musical Annie. “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow…you’re only a day away“
5. Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson–known for his Broadway role in XANADU–jump-started his career playing Danny in Grease on the Mainstage in 1999. His other Mainstage credits include Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor(c) Dreamcoat in 2000 and Tony in West Side Story in 2001.
6. Next To Normal (formerly titled Feeling Electric) is the first musical developed through the Village Originals program to make it to Broadway let alone win 3 Tony Awards!
7. Village Theatre owns all three buildings that it uses in Issaquah–Francis J. Gaudette Theatre (Mainstage), First Stage Theatre, and the technical studios space.
8. Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. This means that nearly everything you see on stage was built in the theatre or the technical studio space by Village Theatre artisans. From scratch! The 6,000 pound boat built for Show Boat is a great example.
9. Randy Rogel not only wrote the book, music, and lyrics to next season’s The Gypsy King,  but he is an Emmy-award winning author who also performs! Check him out in the lead role in Singin’ in the Rain.
10. Next season marks the first time in Village Theatre history that young professionals (those between 21 and 35) can purchase season tickets at a discount ($150 for five shows!!!!). Facebook has it all.

See It Again — For 1/2 The Price

Theatre may seem an expensive engagement for some. Luckily, Village Theatre offers some great discounts from time to time. One offer, however, is available all the time. We offer See It Again for 1/2 Price for every Mainstage production. If you’ve seen Show Boat and loved it, all you have to do is turn in your paid ticket stub and the Box Office will cut 50% off the single ticket price.

And why would you want to see it again? Show Boat’s got it all!

DANCING!

MELODRAMA!

ROMANCE!

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC!

AND MORE!

Limit one half-price ticket per paid ticket. Subject to availability. Offer may only be redeemed for use by original patron and proof of purchase may be requested. Discount off the single ticket price. Offer not good on previously purchased tickets, or in combination with any other offer.

Photos by Jay Koh.

"Chasing Nicolette": New Music Posted

We’ve recently posted some music selections from our 09/10 season opener, the new musical Chasing Nicolette. By all means, check it out. If you feel inspried, let us know what you think right here on the VT Blog.

Remember, season tickets are the best way to guarantee you get the best seats available. And, if you’re between 21-35, you can get a CURTAIN CALL season ticket for just $150–that’s $30 a show!! Need we say more?

Artwork by Lindsay Lush. LUSHGRAPHICDESIGN.

Better Late Than Never

You may already know that Next To Normal took a pre-Broadway turn at Arena Stage in D.C. not long before it’s arrival on Broadway. Well, we tracked down a pretty cool blog entry by Brian Yorkey on the Arena Stage blog. Brian writes from a pre-Tony Awards rehearsal at Radio City Music Hall and we had to share.

Check it out here.

"Next To Normal" Tony Performance

Brian Yorkey Takes on the Press

Brian Yorkey–Next To Normal writer and Village Theatre veteran, friend, and fan–completed a couple incredible interviews this afternoon on behalf of his BIG Tony win last night. Check them out!

The Dave Ross Show (97.3 FM)

KUOW’s “The Conversation” with Guy Nelson

VILLAGE ORIGINALS MUSICAL "NEXT TO NORMAL" WINS 3 TONY AWARDS

The Village Originals musical Next To Normal took home 3 Tony Awards at the 63^rd Annual Tony Awards Ceremony last night. These categories include:

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

(Music: Tom Kitt, Lyrics: Brian Yorkey)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

(Alice Ripley)

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

(Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt)

*Tied with “Billy Elliott”

Next To Normal (formerly titled Feeling Electric) began as a staged reading at Village Theatre in March 2002. The creative team went on to develop the production further as a Village Originals workshop in June 2005. Brian Yorkey (book/lyrics) is the former associate artistic director for Village Theatre, and was a pioneering force behind Village Theatre’s popular kids program KIDSTAGE.

After the Tony Award ceremony, Robb Hunt, Village Theatre’s executive producer exclaimed, “It was exciting to be there to support Brian (Yorkey) and Tom (Kitt), and wonderful for Village Theatre to be recognized.” Brian Yorkey comments, “Next to Normal started at Village Theatre (as Feeling Electric) and I started at Village Theatre, and this just seems like a great night to celebrate Village’s commitment to new musicals. I was so glad to have Robb there to cheer us on, and celebrate, and I’m proud to say that Village Theatre is a big part of the Next to Normal story.”

Yorkey will be with Village Theatre this summer to direct one of the six new works included in the 9th Annual Festival of New Musicals, the festival associated with Village Theatre’s coveted Village Originals program. He is also set to direct Lost In Yonkers, the third production in Village Theatre’s 2009-2010 Season line-up.

Here is a great shot from last night’s festivities!

Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt, Alice Ripley, Jennifer Damiano, and J. Robert Spencer of Next To Normal

Tony Awards — This Sunday!

We hope YOU will tune in to CBS-TV, THIS Sunday, June 7 at 8:00 PM PST to cheer on and support Next To Normal at the 63rd Annual Tony Award Ceremony. You know Village Theatre will be watching–join us!

Oh, Say Can You See…

The Everett AquaSox have invited Village Theatre performer Megan Chenovick to perform the Star Spangled Banner before the 7:05 PM game on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at Everett Memorial Stadium. Get a seat close to home plate to cheer on Megan and the Everett AquaSox as they take on their Northwest League opponents, the Yakima Bears. This is the fourth consecutive summer that the AquaSox have extended an invitation to a Village Theatre performer to sing the National Anthem. Previous AquaSox crowds have been wowed by the gallantly streaming vocals of Tanesha Ross (AIDA) and Shanna Palmer (The Who’s TOMMY).

The Everett AquaSox commence their 15th year as the Seattle Mariners’ Short Season “A” affiliate and their 26th Season in Everett. Check them out on Facebook too!

Ms. Chenovick performs as Magnolia Hawks in the current run of Show Boat at Village Theatre. For more interesting information about Megan, check out the May 19 blog post below.

Sneak Peek at "Show Boat"