FEBRUARY–APRIL 2020 February-April 2020 | Volume 16, No. 3 WELCOMEFrom Seattle Theatre Group, a non-profit arts organization Welcome! As we move through the beginning of this new year, we are excited to be bringing this next set of inspiring performances to you as part of our 2019/2020 Performing Arts Season! At STG we value the importance of diversity and believe it is our role to advocate for greater participation in the arts, reduce barriers, and include diverse People, Cultures and Perspectives on our stages. It is with this core value in mind, that we offer you this exciting assortment of performances featuring a wide range of supreme artistry and expression. With performances like Dani Tirrell’s Black Bois and a mixed repertory program from Camille A. Brown & Dancers, we present multifaceted works that use elements such as dance, live music, and visual art to inspire dialogue and emotionally engage with audiences. The Actors’ Gang brings the play The New Colossus, co-written and directed by Tim Robbins, which features 12 actors telling their ancestors’ PAUL HEPPNER President stories in 12 different languages. This homage to the strength and MIKE HATHAWAY Senior Vice President resilience of immigrants and refugees uses live music, poetry, and KAJSA PUCKETT Vice President, movement to weave 12 distinct stories into a single, powerful narrative. Sales & Marketing GENAY GENEREUX Accounting & Office Manager From the cinematic world comes three events highlighting innovative artists from the past and present whose work continues to impact Production SUSAN PETERSON Vice President, Production the art of film. Our special Silent Movie Mondays screening of The JENNIFER SUGDEN Assistant Production Ancient Law/Das Alte Gesetz, presented in partnership with the 25th Manager ANA ALVIRA, STEVIE VAN BRONKHORST anniversary of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, features original live Production Artists and Graphic Designers music by renowned klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals and pianist Donald Sales Sosin, joined by clarinetist Laura DeLuca. Our Silent Movie Mondays Star MARILYN KALLINS, TERRI REED Power Series spotlights some of the biggest stars from the silent film San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives BRIEANNA HANSEN, SHERRI JARVEY, era. Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema uses ANN MANNING Seattle Area shadow puppetry and cinematic techniques to create an immersive and Account Executives unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic story of . CAROL YIP Sales Coordinator Frankenstein Marketing A diverse concert lineup brings returning favorites to The Moore including SHAUN SWICK Brand & Creative Manager CIARA CAYA Marketing Coordinator Gregory Porter, Bill Frisell, Zakir Hussain, and our 19th annual More Music @ The Moore performance. Encore Media Group 425 North 85th Street • Seattle, WA 98103 We invite you to join us for all of these performances throughout the 800.308.2898 • 206.443.0445 coming months and hope you’ll take advantage of the wide range of [email protected] encoremediagroup.com talent and artistic experiences that they offer! Encore Arts Programs and Encore Stages are published Jack McLarnan monthly by Encore Media Group to serve performing arts events in the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Seattle Manager of Fine Arts Programs Area. All rights reserved. ©2019 Encore Media Group. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited. encorespotlight.com 3 THE MOORE THEATRE Gregory Porter FEBRUARY 8 Gregory Porter We'd tell you Gregory Porter is back, but — not just one person being exalted. We are on "Holding On," scoring another Grammy you probably already knew. You probably all exalted and lifted up by love. This is my for Take Me to the Alley (2016), or telling felt the earth rumbling, announcing the political thought and my real truth. It comes his life story through Cole's songbook. Like man's bone-deep baritone, or you felt the from my personality, my mother's person- others, Porter is still surprised by his runaway air change as the warmth of his sound filled ality, the personality of the blues, and of black success, but he has a theory: “I was soothed the atmosphere like a hug from above. That's people. It's this idea of making do with the by my voice as a child and I think that's the because All Rise, his sixth studio album, scraps, of resurrection and ascension, and of same thing others get from it. I'm trying to marks a return to Porter's beloved original whatever the current situation is, it can get heal myself with these songs.” songwriting — heart-on-sleeve lyrics imbued better through love.” And that's the thing about love that All with everyday philosophy and real-life detail, Though Porter had an acclaimed role in Rise keeps circling. Even when it's painful, set to a stirring mix of jazz, soul, blues, and the original 1999 Broadway cast of It Ain't confusing, out of reach, or under attack, love gospel. Produced by Troy Miller (Laura Nothin' But the Blues — and staged his own is ultimately curative. Once again, Porter cuts Mvula, Jamie Cullum, Emili Sandé), the set Nat King Cole & Me musical in 2004 — it was through the noise of genres and the mess of also represents the evolution of Porter's art inevitable that he'd became known for his life to reach us all where we live: the heart. to something even more emphatic, emotive, songs. That was made abundantly clear when intimate, and universal too. ALL RISE (Blue Note), is available for both of Porter's indie albums — 2010's Water pre-order now in deluxe and standard vinyl, As Porter worked out this album's direction, and 2012's Be Good — received Grammy CD, and digital versions. The album’s uplifting he looked inward, upward, and around him, nominations, paving the way for his world- lead single “Revival” is also available today to and arrived at a raison d'être found in the beating 2013 Blue Note debut, Liquid Spirit, stream or download. title, ALL RISE. “We hear that phrase when which won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal presidents or judges come into the room,” Album. He hasn't let down his legion of fans www.GregoryPorter.com says Porter, “but I'm thinking all of us rise since, whether collaborating with Disclosure 4 SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP THE MOORE THEATRE Dani Terrell Black Bois FEBRUARY 14 Collaborators Composer/Musical Director: Dani Tirrell Benjamin Hunter Poet/Writer: J Mase III Lighting Designer: Amiya Pennbaker-Brown Black Bois Sound Designer: DR Amromin Video: Rafaela Luna-Pizano In partnership with On the Boards and Photos: Naomi Ishisaka Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas Production: Zithri Saleem and Marlon Brown Tech nical Director: Dominique Thomas Enter a world where Black bodies tell their own friends. A healing space, a space to process, Stage Manager: Alison Kozar stories. Where Black love and Black expression a space to love, a space to create and be. We Video Support: Micheal B. Maine prevail. A world where Black stories heal, grow, welcome you!” Set and Logo Design: Eve Sanford and transform the lives they touch. Featuring live music, collaboration with a large cast of CAST CREDITS local artists/performers, and installations, this performance project celebrates Black bodies David Rue, Randy Ford, Michael O’Neal Black Bois is partially funded in space and an emotional engagement with Jr., Markeith Wiley, Stefan Richmond, Kyle by the National Endowment movement. Black Bois is a love letter to Black Bernbach, Mychael Hodges II, Cipher Goings, for the Arts and by an artist bodies, minds, and spirits. marco farroni, Robert Adam Moore, Gilbert grant from 4Culture. It Small II, Brian J. Evans and Saulyman Corr was developed at On the Artist Dani Tirrell writes, “This dance piece, Boards through the Performance Production Musicians: Camilo Estrada, Chris Patin Darrius created with original music by Benjamin Hunter Program, made possible by the Andrew W. Willrich, Okanomodé, Thione Diop and written word by J Mase III, is a ceremony Mellon Foundation. to our ancestors, and thanksgiving to our Choreography/Concept/Direction: On the Boards’ season is supported by the past, present, and future. It is a love letter to Dani Tirrell our bodies, our spirits, and our minds. This is Boeing Company, Microsoft, The Tulalip Tribe, the story of our fathers, brothers, lovers, and and ArtsFund. encorespotlight.com 5 THE MOORE THEATRE FEBRUARY 14 Dani Terrell Black Bois (CONTINUED) ABOUT THE ARTIST He has received addition training and perfor- Dani Tirrell (Seattle, WA) is A Black, Queer mance opportunities at the Chicago Human choreographer, dancer and movement guide. Rhythm Project, DC Tap Festival, and the Dani has guided people in Detroit and Seattle Floripa Tap Festival in Brazil. Cipher has taken as well as sharing movement practices in other master classes from many talented, notable cities in the United States. Currently Dani dancers such as Lane Alexander, Chloe Arnold, is the curator for the 2019/2020 season of Maud Arnold, Sonia Dawkins, Michelle Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas, this Dorrance, Derrick Grant, Gene Medler, Nico is Dani’s second season as curator. Dani is the Rubio, Matthew Rushing, Dormeshia Sumbry- host and co-creator of Sunday Dinners. Dani Edwards, Jumaane Taylor, Dianne Walker and is the founder and current artistic director many more. of The Congregation a movement/art group. David Rue is a dance artist and creative Dani is currently teaching at Northwest Tap professional born in Liberia, and raised in Connection and University of Washington Minnesota. He is a graduate of the University Seattle campus and Bothell campus (fall 2019). of Minnesota with a bachelor of individualized Dani has created work for STG's DANCE This studies that combined Journalism, English, and (Northwest Tap Connection), Strictly Seattle Dance.