PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 17, 2007
Media Contacts: Michelle Sanders, Public Relations Manager
(425) 392-1942 x124
Get swept away with the Issaquah KIDSTAGE TeenSelect Production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
What:Once On This Island
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Based on My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy
Directed by Brandon Ivie
Choreographed by Kristin Culp
Musical Direction by R.J. Tancioco
Where:First Stage Theatre
120 Front Street North
Issaquah, WA98027
When:January11-20, 2008 – ON SALE NOW
Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM
Tickets:$10-$12
Box Office: (425) 392-2202or
Issaquah, Wash.— Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE TeenSelect produces Once on this Island, a story that takes a Caribbean-flavored twist on the classic taleThe Little Mermaid. With a rousing score by the team known for the ever-popularSeussicaland the animated film Anastasia, Once On This Island is an enchanting fable, which tells the story of a poor, peasant girl and a rich, aristocratic boy who are destined to fall in love. The production is a full-scale musical which encompasses a spectacle of vivid storytelling and vibrant dance, and is sure to charm and surprise audiences far and wide.
A stand-out feature of the KIDSTAGE TeenSelect program is that is gives students the opportunity to take part in their choice of the many aspects of a theatre production. For example, the entire crew is made up of students, the band boasts two student players, a variety of the production team members are under the age of 20 years old, and the 28 member cast features kids ages 10-18. Additionally, all of the cast members live locally, hailing the following cities: Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Issaquah, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seattle, and Snoqualmie. Participating actors are selected through a highly competitive audition process, while the show is directed, choreographed, and musically directed by skilled theatre professionals who also become mentors to many of the KIDSTAGE students.
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Page Two… Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE Issaquah TeenSelectPresents Once on this Island
Director Brandon Ivie, a KIDSTAGE alum who is currently working as a theatre professional in the greater Seattle-area, has been involved in the range of Village Theatre programs, from Mainstage
productions to Village Originals and KIDSTAGE shows. He has always had a passion for this particular show and has been encouraging KIDSTAGE to launch a production of it since 2005. Finally, his
persistence has paid off. He expresses his feelings by commenting, “This is by far my favorite show that I’ve been exposed to. The music and the story are seamlessly woven together. The actors have a real chance to delve into the characters because the story is so rich.”
Once On This Island is choreographed by Kristin Culp (Dance captain for both Once Upon a Time in New Jersey and Bye Bye Birdie), with musical direction by R.J. Tancioco (Music Direction for Once Upon a Time in New Jersey and EVITA).
For more information, please contact Michelle Sanders at (425) 392-1942 x124 or at . Photos are available on our website,
About Village Theatre KIDSTAGE:
Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem, and a life-long appreciation for live theatre,
KIDSTAGE is a year-round performing arts training program in Issaquah, Everett, and Stanwood for young people ages 3-20. KIDSTAGE students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale KIDSTAGE productions. All performances are by KIDSTAGE students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.
About Village Theatre
Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. What began in 1979 with the vision of a small group of dedicated theatre artists has grown into one of the region's best-attended resident theatres, with over 16,500 subscribers to the current season and 165,000 projected total attendance, performances on seven stages in the Puget Sound area, youth education programs serving over 53,000 young people, families, and schools annually, and a nationally recognized program that has enabled the development of over 55 new musicals. Serving a still-growing, ever more diverse community, Village Theatre has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years with the start of our contract as the resident performing and management company at the Everett Performing Arts Center in 1998.
Mission of Village Theatre:
- To be a regionally recognized and nationally influential center of excellence in family theatre
- To promote a season of top quality productions
- To commission and produce new musicals that achieve national exposure
- To train young people in theatre skills for career opportunities and enriched lives
- To develop a broad based appreciation for live theatre
- To promote positive values through art
KIDSTAGE is made possible, in part, byArts United, Bellevue Arts Commission, Citigroup Private Bank, City of Everett, City of Issaquah, Clear Image, Costco, Everett Clinic, Everett Cultural Commission, Fluke, Kobe Foundation, Snohomish County Tourism, Tulalip Tribes, US Bancorp, and Washington State Arts Commission.
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