Centerstage Theatre and Central Washington University Theatre Arts Department have announced plans to produce an annual summer stock theater festival in Federal Way...Read More...
SUMMER STOCK FESTIVAL
Run Dates: August 16th – 26th
Centerstage Theatre and Central Washington University Announce Federal Way Summer Stock Theater Festival
Centerstage Theatre and Central Washington University Theatre Arts Department have announced plans to produce an annual summer stock theater festival in Federal Way. On March 6th the organizations were awarded a grant of $35,000 in economic development funds from the City of Federal Way in support of the festival’s inaugural 2012 season. The newly formed artistic partnership intends to produce high quality, innovative, and exciting professional theatre for Puget Sound area theater fans while creating new educational and professional theatre opportunities.
Casts will be drawn from CWU students and local Seattle actors. Support and creative personnel will be drawn from both organizations.
The inaugural season will feature two shows: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin and All In The Timing by David Ives. The shows will run in repertory between August 16th and 26th.
Centerstage Artistic Director, Alan Bryce, said: “This partnership has great potential for the development of both Centerstage and Central Washington University’s Theatre program. Our inaugural season has been carefully designed to help us examine the potential for the growth of a summer festival. With our home base at the Knutzen Family Theatre, beautifully located on the shores of Puget Sound, we believe we have the core site on which to build an exciting new theatrical enterprise.”
About Centerstage Theatre
Centerstage was founded in 1977 and performed at various locations before moving to its current location in 1998, with the construction of the Knutzen Family Theatre. In February 2004, Alan Bryce was hired as the Artistic Director, helping Centerstage revamp its artistic policy and strengthen its financial position. Centerstage currently produces a five-show season with local media bestowing awards in recent years that include Best Season, Best New Play, Best Actress, Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, and Best Director of a Comedy or Musical. Since Alan Bryce’s arrival, Centerstage has been able to attract diverse talent with a national reputation: artists such as Martin Charnin (writer and director of Annie on Broadway); European Composer of the Year, Peter Sipos; 5-time Grammy Nominee, John Forster; and Karen Archer, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. Centerstage’s current Musical Director, David Duvall is a 2-time Emmy nominee. In February 2009 after a successful run in Federal Way, the company's hit show Always Patsy Cline moved to ACT Theatre in Seattle. For additional information about Centerstage Theatre visit www.centerstagetheatre.com or call (253) 661-1444.
About Central Washington University Theatre Arts Department
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA where the Theater Arts Department offers multiple degree options that include a Theatre Generalist - Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Performance, Design and Production, or Musical Theatre, and two Master of Arts – Theatre Specializations. The Theatre Arts Department is chaired by Scott Robinson. For additional information about CWU’s Theatre program visit:http://www.cwu.edu/theatre/ Or contact Scott Robinson at scott.robinson@cwu.edu
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