AUGUST 2015 2015/16 SEASON MATILDA AUG 18 - SEPT 6, 2015 WATERFALL OCT 1 - 25, 2015 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S THE SOUND OF MUSIC NOV 24, 2015 - JAN 3, 2016 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING JAN 28 - FEB 21, 2016 ASSASSINS FEB 27 - MAY 8, 2016 CO-PRESENTED AT ACT - A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES MARCH 25 - APRIL 17, 2016 LERNER & LOEWE’S PAINT YOUR WAGON JUNE 2 - 25, 2016 A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER JULY 12 - 31, 2016 LIFE IS ABOUT MOMENTS CELEBRATING ELEGANCE SINCE 1830 CLIFTON STEEL, 43 MM SELF-WINDING www.baume-et-mercier.com Reflections_BAM14222_DriverClifton10055.indd 1 5/14/15 10:52 AM Untitled-9 1 6/2/15 12:45 PM August 2015 Volume 13, No. 1 Paul Heppner Publisher Susan Peterson Design & Production Director Ana Alvira, Robin Kessler, Kim Love Design and Production Artists Marty Griswold Seattle Sales Director Brieanna Bright, Joey Chapman, Gwendolyn Fairbanks, Ann Manning Seattle Area Account Executives Mike Hathaway Bay Area Sales Director Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed, Tim Schuyler Hayman San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives Brett Hamil Online Editor Jonathan Shipley Associate Online Editor Carol Yip Sales Coordinator Jonathan Shipley Magnificent 12.72 Carat Ad Services Coordinator www.encoreartsseattle.com Radiant Cut Fancy Yellow Diamond 425-777-4451 www.GordonJamesDiamonds.com GJ 062215 yellow 1_3sq.pdf 10133 Main Street in Bellevue Leah Baltus Editor-in-Chief Paul Heppner Publisher Marty Griswold Associate Publisher Celebrate the rhythm Dan Paulus Untitled-1 1 6/22/15 10:41 AM Art Director Jonathan Zwickel of your life. Senior Editor Gemma Wilson Associate Editor Amanda Manitach Visual Arts Editor Amanda Townsend Events Coordinator www.cityartsonline.com Paul Heppner President Mike Hathaway Vice President Genay Genereux Accounting Live your life to the fullest at Horizon House, the dynamic Corporate Office retirement community in the heart of downtown Seattle. 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 p 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 www.HorizonHouse.org [email protected] 800.308.2898 x113 www.encoremediagroup.com Encore Arts Programs is published monthly by Encore Media Group to serve musical and theatrical events in the Puget 900 University Street | Seattle, WA 98101 Sound and San Francisco Bay Areas. All rights reserved. (206) 382-3100 ©2015 Encore Media Group. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited. encoreartsseattle.com 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ABOUT Wanda J. Herndon Chairman Stephen P. Reynolds President THE TH Sterling Wilson 5 Treasurer AVENUE THEATRE Margaret C. Inouye • The non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre is one of the country’s leading musical theater Secretary companies. Our mission is to advance and preserve America’s great indigenous art Barbara L. Crowe form – The Musical. Immediate Past Chairman Kenny Alhadeff • The 5th is committed to achieving the highest standards of artistic excellence by Ann Ardizzone employing world-class performers and creative artists, utilizing full live orchestras, Clodagh Ash and staging exceptional and imaginative productions. The 5th places a special Les Biller emphasis on employing our amazing community of Puget Sound-based artists and Robert R. Braun, Jr. technicians. Margaret Clapp Larry Estrada • Gary J. Fuller We are nationally renowned for our production and development of new musicals. Sarah Nash Gates Since 2001, The 5th has premiered 17 new works, nine of which have subsequently Cyrus Habib opened on Broadway. They include Disney’s Aladdin, First Date, A Christmas Story, Randy Hodgins Scandalous, Shrek, Catch Me If You Can, The Wedding Singer, and Best Musical ® Richard Kagan Tony Award -winners, Hairspray and Memphis. SaSa Kirkpatrick Elizabeth Lund • We are equally acclaimed for our vibrant new productions of musicals from the John Oppenheimer “Golden Age of Broadway” and contemporary classics. These signature revivals Llewelyn G. Pritchard enthrall fans of these enduring works and introduce these great shows to new David Quinn Ann Ramsay-Jenkins generations of musical theater lovers. Norman B. Rice Robert A. Sexton • Our celebrated educational programs serve more than 74,000 young people each Elliot Silvers year through a host of projects including our Adventure Musical Theater Touring Heather Sullivan McKay Company, The 5th Avenue Awards, and the unique Rising Star Project. For adults, Bonnie Towne we offer free-to-the-public events such as the popular Spotlight Night series and pre- Eric Trott performance Show Talks with Albert Evans. Tom Walsh Tracy Wellens • We are the largest arts employer in the Pacific Northwest with more than 800 Kenneth Willman actors, singers, dancers, musicians, creative artists, theatrical technicians and arts PAST CHAIRMEN professionals working for us each season. OF THE BOARD Barbara L. Crowe (2011-2013) • As a non-profit theater company supported by the community, we enjoy the Robert A. Sexton (2009-2011) patronage of more than 25,000 season subscribers (one of the largest theater Norman B. Rice (2007-2009) subscriptions in America). More than 300,000 audience members attend our Kenny Alhadeff (2004-2007) performances each year. William W. Krippaehne Jr. (2002-2004) Bruce M. Pym (2000-2002) John F. Behnke (1998-2000) OUR HISTORIC THEATER Faye Sarkowsky (1996-98) A beautiful Seattle landmark, The 5th Avenue Theatre’s breathtaking design was Donald J. Covey (1994-96) inspired by ancient Imperial China’s most stunning architectural achievements, Kenneth L. Hatch (1992-94) John D. Mangels (1990-92) including the magnificent Forbidden City. Built in 1926 for vaudeville and silent Stanley M. Little, Jr. (1986-88) pictures, The 5th Avenue Theatre reigned for decades as Seattle’s favorite movie Robert F. Buck (1988-90) palace. In 1979, 43 companies and community leaders formed the non-profit 5th R. Milton Trafton (1983-86) W.J. Pennington (1981-83) Avenue Theatre Association. Their goal was to restore the theater to its original D.E. (Ned) Skinner (1979-81) splendor. The 5th Avenue Theatre re-opened in 1980 as Seattle’s premier home for musical theater. Founding Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon The 5th Avenue Theatre gratefully acknowledges our 43 original founders and sponsors. Please visit www.5thavenue.org for specific information on these important companies and individuals. 4 5TH AVENUE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY WELCOME TO THE WELCOME TO 5TH FROM THE DESK OF DAVID ARMSTRONG EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF GREAT MUSICAL THEATER! he 5th Avenue Theatre first opened its doors in 1926. TThe Opening Day celebration drew a crowd of more than 50,000 people that newspapers described as the largest downtown gathering since Armistice Day at the conclusion of WWI. With its spectacular Chinese-inspired design and graceful proportions The 5th immediately established itself as the most beautiful jewel in the vibrant crown of Seattle’s bustling downtown theater scene, which at that time included dozens of playhouses. It was built to showcase that era’s most popular form of live musical theater— vaudeville. However, what no one at the time could have predicted was that just a few years later, motion pictures—especially those new “talkies”—would replace vaudeville at The 5th and at virtually every similar venue throughout America. For the next 50 years The 5th flourished as Seattle’s foremost movie palace. It is certain that many patrons attending this theater “a national treasure”), the theater officially opened on July performance have fond memories of coming here to see a first-run, 3, 1980 with a musical about a little girl who breaks all the rules reserved seat film. We will celebrate this building’s 90th Anniversary and wins everyone’s hearts that was at that time the hottest new next year, but this season we have another important milestone to show on Broadway—Annie. commemorate. Annie ran for 77 sold-out performances over 10 weeks and In the late 1970s, when its movie palace days came to an end, established this theater as Seattle’s premier venue for large musical The 5th Avenue Theatre was forced to close its doors for a few theater productions. It was the perfect musical to open a “new” years. There was talk of tearing it down, along with the entire theater. Not only was it a giant hit that brought adult audience Skinner building, or turning it into an upscale Chinese restaurant. members from far and wide for their first experience of live Thankfully that tragedy was averted when 43 local companies theater, it also introduced a generation of children and young and community leaders joined forces to form the non-profit 5th people to the magic of musical theater, and together they still Avenue Theatre Association and together contributed $2.6 million make up a large segment of our audience today. to fund the renovation and revitalization of the theater. This project I am thrilled that we are celebrating this special anniversary was the centerpiece of an inspired strategy to bring life back to with a production of one of the hottest new musicals running downtown Seattle which at that time was in danger of going the on Broadway today—Matilda The Musical.This is another way of so many urban centers across the country. As you could captivating musical about a little girl who breaks rules and wins see while driving or walking through the vital and bustling streets hearts and I believe this show will kick off the next 35 years by of downtown on your way to the theater, this plan succeeded engaging several more generations of 5th Avenue fans. brilliantly. Many of these companies and individuals and/or their Many of you have been coming to this theater for decades descendants are still involved in supporting The 5th Avenue today. and we cannot thank you enough for your loyalty and support. We all should be eternally grateful to them for their foresight As season ticket subscribers, single ticket buyers, donors and and commitment to our region’s overall vitality, and the role they volunteers you are the not-so-secret ingredients of our success.