Village Theatre’s Blog

We’ve been getting lots of inquiries, so we’re excited to finally announce our stellar AIDA cast. Without further ado, we’re proud to introduce the cast of AIDA! (drum roll, please….)

Marliss Amiea (Aida)

Michael Murnoch (Radames)                     Ryah Nixon (Amneris)

Fresh from Los Angeles and making her debut performance with Village Theatre is Marliss Amiea in the title role of the courageous Aida. Some of Amiea’s past credits include Disney’s The Lion King, Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Playhouse Disney Live Onstage, and Dreamgirls. Formerly a back-up singer for Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Kenny Loggins, and Dave Brubeck, Amiea was also the co-host of Disney’s pilot presentation of Playhouse Disney Lunchtime.

Introducing Minneapolis native (currently a resident of New York) Michael Murnoch in his Village Theatre debut as the handsome and brave soldier Radames. Murnoch has previously appeared Off-Broadway as Julio in Magpie. Other past tour credits include Berger in Hair, Kenickie in Grease, and Max in Cabaret. Some of his regional credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Pirates of Penzance, and Grease.

Returning to Village Theatre, yet making her Mainstage debut, is KIDSTAGE alum and current Carnegie Mellon senior musical theatre student, Ryah Nixon as the beautiful Egyptian princess Amneris. Past Village Theatre credits include 26 in Piece, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, and Louise/Eve in Ruthless!. Some other credits include the role Rusty in Footloose and Lizzie in 110 in the Shade.

Bob De Dea (Zoser)

Last seen on the Village Theatre Mainstage in Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and Jesus Christ Superstar is Bob De Dea in the role of Radames’ father, Zoser.

Terence Kelley (Amonasro)

Terence Kelley returns to Village Theatre in the role of Amonasro, Aida’s father.

Trent Saunders (Mereb)

Trent Saunders returns to Village Theatre as Mereb, the loyal Nubian, after his debut performance in The King and I earlier this season.

Tanesha Ross (Nehebka)

Tanesha Ross, once an American Idol contestant, returns to the Mainstage as Nehebka, the devout Nubian.

Jim Orr (Pharaoh)

Jim Orr is back to play the Pharaoh, after his hysterical delivery man performance in Barefoot in the Park.

After weeks of careful planning and preparation, AIDA set design is underway. Take a look at one of set designer Carey Wong’s initial models in comparison to what our carpenters and scenic designers are beginning to masterfully install on the Mainstage. It’s going to be incredible!

AIDA set designer Carey Wong’s model setting of Amneris’ closet

AIDA floor design installed at Francis J. Gaudette Theatre (design by Carey Wong)

Time has flown! We have only four shows left in Issaquah before we pack up and move the show to Everett. I’ve posted two of my favorite Little Women moments for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

-Michelle Sanders, Public Relations and Promotions Manager

Sorry for the teaser. We know people are dying to know who has been cast in AIDA. We’re not quite ready to announce it yet, but we wanted to let you know it’s coming soon.

Get excited!

Next To Normal has been nominated for three Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Off-Broadway Musical, Best New Score, and Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley). The Outer Critics Circle Awards are decided upon by theatre critics from newspapers and other media outlets outside of New York City. Check out the full article here.

But wait, that’s not all! It was announced this morning that Next To Normal has also been nominated for two Drama League Awards. The nomination catagories include Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance Award for Brian d’Arcy James. The Drama League Awards honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. The full article can be found here.

For those who may not know, Brian Yorkey used to be the Associate Artistic Director for Village Theatre. During his seven year tenure, he directed a variety of productions and served as a creative mind behind such shows as Play It By Heart (book), Making Tracks (lyrics/co-book), The Wedding Banquet (book/lyrics), and Next To Normal (formerly Feeling Electric, book/lyrics). Brian dedicated a large portion of his time to the Village Originals program. It was through this program that Next To Normal came to life, and to see it receive so many great honors is a wonderful accomplishment for Brian and Village Theatre.

Luckily for us, Brian Yorkey is coming back to co-direct Village Theatre’s upcoming production, Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA.

Last week the infamous ‘Meet and Greet’ with the AIDA cast was held; an event that officially marks the first day of rehearsals. Cast members, production and creatives teams, and general Village Theatre staff make their appearances and announcements in order to ring in the new show! On your mark, get set, GO!!!

AIDA cast mingling together at the ‘Meet and Greet’

                     RJ Tancioco (Associate Music Director), Tim Symons (Music Director), Brian Yorkey (Director), Steve Tomkins (Director), and Jay Markam (Production Manager)

When asked about her relationship with Louisa May Alcott’s story Little Women, Shanna Marie Palmer had some interesting feedback to offer. Take a look!

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 Of course I heard about the book Little Women while growing up, however I never actually read it back then. I am sort of ashamed to admit it because now after having read the story I know there are a lot of people out there who are devoted to Alcott’s books. My relationship with the story began in August of 2006 when I was a part of the reading in the Festival of New Musicals at Village Theatre. While I was thrilled to join the cast as Amy March at first, I was definitely a little curious about taking on the role of the youngest of the March girls.

Shanna Marie Palmer as Amy March in “Little Women” on Village Theatre’s Mainstage

 After day one, however, it was very clear that Amy was going to be my biggest challenge. Through the reading I fell in love with the depths of these very different yet connected women. I read the novel after the reading and watched all of the film versions. There was something about the complexity of strength in each of the March girls that really intrigued me. After hearing that Little Women would return for the Mainstage season I was elated! To be cast, re-investing in the role of Amy, is a dream come true. To get another chance to develop her and be a part of this new work is an honor. Though our relationship has been relatively short, the beauty of this story is now one I hold dear to my heart.

-Shanna Marie Palmer

Introducing Michaela Koerner! Michaela plays the role of Beth March in Little Women, and has kindly agreed to share some of her warm insights. Please enjoy!

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When I tell people that I am playing Beth in Little Women, people less familiar with the story chime in and say, oh, is she the youngest one…the one that gets married…the one that Winona Ryder played in the movie? As I answer no, faces draw sad and say, oh…is she the one who gets sick, the quiet one?

Michaela Koerner as Beth March

Beth is the one that gets sick. However, she has become quite a dear friend to me, and I like to describe her a bit differently. Beth is the quiet one who watches, wiser for her reservation of speech. She is the thoughtful one who knows how to help her loved ones by careful observation of their needs. She is also the shy one who ventures out as little as possible, whose fear restrains her from embracing the world outside her home. In our production, Beth proudly tells Jo that “Marmee calls me her little cricket on the hearth, happiest at home.”

Beth’s dreams do not venture far from home, but they are splendid dreams just the same. To play beautiful music, to be surrounded by her loved ones, to rejoice in their adventures! She also dreams of being brave someday and conquering her fears — a dream we could all benefit having.

In the novel, Louisa May Alcott writes that “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.”

Although Beth’s passing leaves a shadow in the March family, our musical version gives her a life beyond the present. Beth guides Jo through the past, urging her to remember the high and low points of her life. In remembering, Jo finds healing. So you see, in our version of Little Women, Beth is not just the one that gets sick. Beth is the one who is a catalyst, who knows when to keep quiet and when to show off her newfound gumption!

Victoria Huston Elem as Jo March and Michaela Koerner as Beth March

I hope you will join us. Our creative team, cast, and crew are extraordinary. If you haven’t seen the show, please stop reading this blog, and buy your tickets now…I’ll see you at the theatre!

- Michaela Koerner

“To find a cricket on the hearth is the luckiest thing of all.” – Charles Dickens

Looks like Next To Normal (formerly Feeling Electric) got its next gig with Arena Stage; check it out at Playbill.com. Arena Stage is one of America’s major regional theaters, specializing in the production of new and classic American plays. This is great news — congrats Next To Normal!

This has gotten us feeling a little nostalgic, so let’s listen to A Light In The Dark, from the 2005 workshop performance of Feeling Electric (now called Next To Normal).

Village Theatre’s Wig Master Doug Decker was kind enough to put together a little something special to give us some behind-the-scenes action on the wigs our actors run around in on stage. Check it out!

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One of the questions I get a lot (right after “Is it made of real hair?”), is “Do you reuse wigs?” My answer is, “Oh yes.” I pull as many wigs from my stock as I can.

For Little Women, I lucked out. Jo had to have looong beautiful hair at the start of the story, and halfway through the show she cuts it all off to raise money. This, of course, means that she needed a wig with shorter hair. When we produced The King and I, I built Jen Paz a looong wig for the role of Tuptim. Honestly, when I found out I needed another long wig for the role of Jo, I was kinda hoping that I could use the same wig. When the costume designer Cathy and I got around to talking about Jo’s hair, it turned out she wanted her to be a brunette and I was able to reuse Tuptim’s wig. The ‘dos are a little different, but the two photos below are of the same wig:

I hinted to this a second ago, but I had to build Jo two other wigs after she cut her long hair to show that her hair was growing back over the course of the story:

I also lucked out with Meg. I had built two wigs for Krystle Armstrong for last year’s new work Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, and was able to put them right back on her:

My luck ran out with Amy; I had to make Shanna Marie Palmer a blonde:

- Doug Decker