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VILLAGE VOICES
April 2013 Volume 33, Issue 5
The E-Newsletter for Everett Village Theatre Subscribers
Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Avenue
Everett, WA 98201 • (425) 257-8600
Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front Street North
Issaquah, WA 98027 • (425) 392-2202
The True Story Behind All That Chicago Jazz
W
hile Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly are bringing their Razzle Dazzle
to our Mainstage production in May, the true story behind these
Vaudeville ladies actually happened a few years before either hit the
Broadway stage.
The two women who are models for Roxie and Velma were involved in
two of the most sensationalized murders of the 1920s. Maurine Dallas
Watkins was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune at the trials of murderesses
Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. These women were both on trial for
murdering their lovers, but in the end, neither of these women were locked
behind bars. It is often rumored that the lack of a conviction was because
Maurine’s reporting on these trials spun them in a light that was far too
irresistible and innocent for them to be considered criminals. They were
described as two “jazz babies,” corrupted by men and liquor. Beulah (the
model for Roxie) was splashed across newspapers as the “beauty of the
cell block” and Belva (who Velma is modeled after) as the “most stylish
of Murderess Row.” With the glamour Maurine gave these murderesses in
her stories, the public couldn’t help but believe that these women had a
little bit of good in them.
Don’t forget: Subscriber tickets
are available on April 24,
one week before Chicago tickets are
available to the general public!
Only a few years after her sensational reporting, Maurine wrote the first
version of Chicago. It was an instant hit, even becoming a silent film in 1927
with a remake in 1942 titled Roxie Hart. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s
that Bob Fosse developed the musical into the sensational show it is today.
It took a few years to buy the rights (Maurine had become a born-again
Christian in her later years, believing the play glamorized a scandalous
way of living), but in 1969 John Kander and Fred Ebb went to work on
the musical score and book, and Fosse directed and choreographed the
musical. Even today, the distinctive dance styles in Chicago are evidence
of Bob Fosse’s work on the musical.
We are thrilled to be bringing this show to our Mainstage to close our
2012-13 Season with a jazzy bang. With flashy costumes, stellar actors, a
set design that will leave you breathless, and All That Jazz, this show is one
that will be sure to dazzle you from start to finish.
Village Theatre Programming Is Funded In Part By:
Season Partners:
Everett Village Voices • April 2013
Page 2
Message from the Executive Producer and Artistic Director
We have wanted to bring Chicago to our stage for a long time now,
and couldn’t be more thrilled to have it as a finale to our outstanding
2012-2013 Season. As one of our favorite shows, we are incredibly
excited to bring the jazz and passion of Chicago up close and
personal at Village Theatre.
Not only do we have outstanding local talent performing in our
show, but we are also excited to be bringing some of our favorite
actors in from New York! Desireé Davar (Velma Kelly) was most
recently seen in the West Side Story Revival on Broadway and has
been on several TV shows including 30 Rock and CSI: NY. We’re
also happy to be welcoming Timothy McCuen Piggee back to our
stage (Chasing Nicolette, The Who’s TOMMY) from Broadway’s hit
show Catch Me If You Can.
The rest of our cast is sure to amaze and includes talented local
actors, including Richard Gray (last seen in Big River and The Producers) as Amos Hart, and Taryn Darr (last seen in Girl of My
Dreams and South Pacific) as Roxie Hart. Finally, we couldn’t be more excited about our Matron Mama Morton. Shaunyce Omar blew
us away at her audition, and we’re confident she’ll shine in her Village Theatre Mainstage premiere.
Chicago really is the perfect ending to a spectacular season. As a subscriber, your support has allowed us to produce five top-notch
shows. We had a great time producing each show, and hope you had as much fun seeing them. We know you will enjoy Chicago, and
looking forward to seeing you again next year for our incredible new season!
Robb Hunt, Executive Producer
Steve Tomkins, Artistic Director
dates to remember
April 24
May 11
April 26-May 19
May 12
Trails On-Stage
Pied Piper presents Skippyjon Jones
April 12-28
July 5-28
Subscriber On-Sale Date For Chicago
KIDSTAGE’s 13 The Musical at Second Stage
On The Town: Annual Auction & Gala (Seattle)
Chicago On-Stage
Everett Village Voices • April 2013
Page 3
Youth Education
KIDSTAGE Is Putting A Spring In Your Step
I
Now Enrolling: Spring And Summer Classes!
from half-day acting camps to all day musical theatre and
acting camps. Whether students find their muse in slipping
on a pair of ruby slippers for a venture into musicals that
take place in the Land of Oz, or if they want to explore acting
through the phenomenal Les Misérables—KIDSTAGE camps
From acting and dancing classes to monologue/song writing have both of those and more! The youngest actors can also
workshops, the spring classes in Issaquah and Everett are sure join in on the fun, letting their imaginations run wild with
to thrill students of all ages. Our acting and musical classes magical dragons, fairies, and monsters in our Pre-K camps.
cover popular shows, like Mary Poppins and Hairspray, and
are also pulling inspiration from the hit TV show Glee to put KIDSTAGE classes and camps continue to teach Skills for
a KIDSTAGE twist on the choir experience with mash-ups Theatre and Skills for Life to all our students, encouraging
creativity and giving students the confidence to be themselves
and solos.
while fostering self-esteem and integrity.
This year’s KIDSTAGE summer camps are packed to the
brim with excitement as well. The length for each camp varies For a full listing of classes, visit www.VillageTheatre.org.
f you ask us, it’s never too early to start thinking about
warmer weather and sunnier days ahead. It’s also never too
early to start thinking about spring and summer KIDSTAGE
classes and camps, both of which are enrolling right now!
Holy Guacamole! It’s Skippyjon Jones!
Special Sensory Friendly Performance
In a special Sensory-Friendly Performance,
produced by TheatreWorks USA and with
the generosity of the Mark and Vickie
Fund of the Nysether Family Foundation,
Pied Piper is bringing the story of this
little Siamese kitten with big ears to life!
Skippyjon Jones loves to pretend to be
anything but a Siamese cat. One day when
he passes by a mirror and catches his own
reflection, his wild imagination takes over
as he exclaims, “Holy guacamole! My ears
are too big for my head, my head is too big
for my body. I am not a Siamese cat–I am a CHIHUAHUA!”
Sensory-friendly performances are designed
to create a theatre experience that is
welcoming to all families with children on
the autism spectrum or with other disabilities
that create sensory sensitivities. Adults of any
abilities are also welcome too!
A Sensory-Friendly performance is unique in
a variety of ways, including (but not limited
to): the opportunity for children and their
families to visit the theatre in advance of the
show to get a feel for the environment with
few people around, written resources and “social stories”
are provided up front online and at the box office that help
Based on the original storybook SkippyJon Jones by Judy prepare children and their families for the performance
Schachner, SkippyJon will take his antics to the stage on May ahead of time, and it will be acceptable to stand, walk, talk or
12 in this enchanting musical that encourages everyone to fidget. To reserve your seats, or for more information, please
unleash their own powerful imagination, and follow their contact the Everett Performing Arts Center Box Office at
(425) 257-8600.
dreams.
KIDSTAGE Presents 13 The Musical
Don’t miss out on 13, a high-spirited musical about the tribulations of early adolescence told with contagious energy
and humor. Exiled from Manhattan to Indiana, “the lamest place in the world,” a charismatic and slightly nerdy junior
high student works to entice the school’s ‘cool’ crowd to attend his bar mitzvah. Along the way, he discovers that ‘cool’
is sometimes found where you least expect it. 13 is infused with an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning
composer Jason Robert Brown that includes magnetic hits such as “What It Means to Be a Friend,” “A Little More
Homework,” and “Brand New You.” 13 is on stage April 12-28. For tickets, visit www.VillageTheatre.org or call the box
office at: (425) 257-8600.
Everett Village Voices • April 2013
Page 4
Village News
Announcing Our
2013-2014 Season!
Xanadu
October 25 - November 17, 2013
Les Misérables
January 10 - February 2, 2014
The Foreigner
March 7 - 30, 2014
The Tutor
May 2 - 25, 2014
Funny Girl
July 11 - August 3, 2014
Board of Directors
A corporation, whether for-profit or nonprofit, is required to have a governing Board of Directors. As a non-profit, Village
Theatre’s Board of Director’s is comprised of dedicated volunteers, whose passion for the theatre causes them to give generously
of their time, talent, and resources to ensure the organization remains artistically excellent and fiscally stable.
Heather Goff, President
Derek Watanabe, Past President
Bruce Wanta, President Elect
Leigh Kraft, Treasurer
Daryl Orts, Secretary
Dan Anderson • Jean Chamberlin • Susann Edmond
Brett Ferullo • Lissa Griffith • D. Edward Jones
Lynnda Kilpatrick • Gary Kneepkens • Twyla Lucas
Amy Romer • John Seethoff • Christine Shuken
Everett Village Voices • April 2013
Page 5
Development updates
M
GiveBIG Is Just Around The Corner!
ark your calendars for May 15th, this is one event you will not want to miss! GiveBIG is a unique, one-day, online charitable
giving event. During GiveBIG, participants give to local nonprofits of their choosing through The Seattle Foundation’s online
Giving Center. Contributions are partially matched by a pro-rated portion of the funds (or “stretch”) pool provided by The Seattle
Foundation and GiveBIG sponsors. This means that the amount matched by The Seattle Foundation and GiveBIG sponsors is
dependant on the amount of overall non-profit donations raised during the 24 hour donation period. Village Theatre had a great
community turnout last year and we hope that you will join us this year!
Donations play a part in every aspect of what we do at Village Theatre. Not only do donations fund the artisans, performers, and our
dazzling productions, but they also help to fund our teachers and educational programs that make Village Theatre an exciting and
enriching cultural center. We sincerely appreciate every donation, small or large. To donate to Village Theatre in GiveBIG, log into
www.seattlefoundation.org anytime—midnight to midnight— on May 15th to donate and have your donation matched.
For more information, contact Jeannine Clarke at (425) 392-1942 x116.
Sponsor Spotlight
Pignataro Volkswagen is pleased to be a sponsor of Village
Theatre.
As part of the community for over 40 years, we know that
helping our friends and neighbors is more important now
than ever. Village Theatre provides a unique and valuable
opportunity for us to support the performing arts on a local level. It is difficult to place a monetary value on the entertainment and
cultural benefits, but we know it would never be the same if the theatre was no longer.
At Pignataro Volkswagen, we strive to strengthen customer relationships with each and every contact and to make owning a
Volkswagen something to smile about. We hope that by supporting Village Theatre we will help to bring pleasure to our friends and
their families for years to come.
Our Mission Statement
To be a regionally recognized and nationally influential center of excellence in family theatre:
• To promote a season of top quality productions
• To commision 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