Village Theatre

Infobox Theatre
name = Village Theatre


caption =
address = 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA, 98027
city = Issaquah, Washington
country = United States
designation =
latitude = 47.532929
longitude = -122.036653
architect =
owner = Village Theatre
capacity = 488 seated
type = Regional
opened = 1994
yearsactive =
rebuilt =
closed =
othernames =
production =
currentuse =
website = http://www.villagetheatre.org/

Village Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit professional producing musical theatre company founded in 1979. Village Theatre is based out of Issaquah and Everett, Washington. Within the company are many theatre programs including KIDSTAGE, Mainstage, Village Originals and Pied Piper.

Facilities

First Stage

At its founding in 1979, the Village Theatre owned one theatre in Issaquah called First Stage, built in 1914. All Village Theatre shows were staged from First Stage from 1979 to 1994. Due to the age and constricted size of the facility, the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre (Mainstage) was built in 1994 to better accommodate Mainstage shows and audiences.

First Stage was under review from 2002 to 2004 by the Fire Marshal, who deemed the building unsafe and a major fire hazard. Much of the building, including the downstairs dressing room, was closed to access and flammable materials could not be stored at First Stage. Village Theatre plans to rebuild First Stage in the near future, but a construction timeline has not yet been set.

In the meantime, Issaquah Summer Independent shows, Issaquah KIDSTAGE shows and Village Originals are performed at First Stage.

Mainstage / Francis J. Gaudette Theatre

The Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, better known as Mainstage, is the main theatre of the company. It was built in 1994 right down the street from First Stage. From fall to spring, Village Theatre puts on five professional shows at Mainstage. Over 18,000 people subscribe for all five (5) shows and over 182,600 patrons visit, which provides 80% of the Village Theatre's budget. In addition to serving as a year-round theatre, Mainstage is the home of KIDSTAGE production office and rehearsals rooms, administration offices for the yearlong and part-time staff, and an annual fundraising gala.

Everett Performing Arts Center (EPAC)

Village Theatre was contracted by the City of Everett in 1998 to be the resident performing and management company at the Everett Performing Arts Center (EPAC). An outstanding venue for all occcasions, the Everett Performing Arts Center (EPAC) is one of the finest rental spaces in Snohomish County for performing arts and special events. Specialized amentities and a professional staff make the facility ideal for a wide range of events, including theatrical performances, concerts, receptions, parties, conferences, and seminars.

EPAC also incorporates its own KIDSTAGE and Pied Piper programs.

Programs

Mainstage

Built in 1994, the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre is now home to Village Theatre's Mainstage productions. Each season Village Theatre produces five shows, four musicals and one play. In keeping with its dedication to new musicals, at least one Mainstage production each season is a new musical, worked on in colloboration with the show's authors and developed through the Village Originals program.

In 2007, Village Theatre completed construction of its new Technical Pavilion which houses the scenic, property and paint departments. After a show completes its 6 to 8 week run in Issaquah, Mainstage productions move to the Everett Performing Arts Center for a 3 to 4 week run. Ticket sales from Mainstage performances and yearly subscriptions from Village Theatre patrons comprise 80% of Village Theatre's budget. During this time Village Theatre employs more than 380 union/equity actors, directors, designers, technicians, and other theatre people.

KIDSTAGE

KIDSTAGE is one of the leading children's theatrical arts programs in the Puget Sound area. They have classes for kids and teens ages 3-20 in Stanwood, Issaquah and Everett. KIDSTAGE runs roughly eight shows performed by children and/or teenagers per year. Their mission statement is as follows:

"To provide a personal development program for young people that uses theatre arts to teach creativity and responsibility; to encourage teamwork and personal integrity; and to foster self-esteem and appreciation for live theatre."

Productions

The KIDSTAGE program stages shows at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, EPAC and First Stage Theatre. Most performances are directed, choreographed, designed (set, lights, and sound), and stage managed by adult theatre professionals. (Excluding Summer Rep)

ummerStock

Both Everett and Issaquah have a SummerStock performance. They are usually large musical with a cast ranging from 30-50 each. The shows feature local area youth ages 8-18. Everett students perform at EPAC and Issaquah students perform at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre. Performances take place during early August.

ummer Rep

Staged in Issaquah only, the Summer Independent Production (traditionally known as Summer Repertory, or Rep, now known as SIP) casts actors from ages 16-19. This is the only show that is directed, designed, and stage-managed entirely by young adults up to the age of 20. Performances take place during late July. Everett has recently introduced a musical theatre revue as their Summer Independent Production in hopes that it will one day grow into a full-fledged Summer Independent Program.

KIDSTAGE Company

Also staged only in Issaquah, Company produces original musicals geared toward a teenage audience. It involves advanced and emerging teen actors and writers from 8th to 12th grades, who must undergo a competitive auditioning process to be a member of the program.

Incorporated in 2000, Company initially performed adult-written musicals; a student writing team was added in 2004 for "Last Exit" and has since become an established part of the program. The writing team is mentored by at least one adult theatre professional, and adults still carry out the direction, main musical arrangement, choreography and design of the show.

Performances take place during mid-March at First Stage Theatre.

KIDSTAGE Ensemble

Both Everett and Issaquah have an Ensemble program. Ensemble casts typically consist of students ages 8-13. Performances are at First Stage Theatre and EPAC.

TeenSelect

TeenSelect is a newly introduced program for teenagers from 8th through 12th grade,(younger by permission) staging full-scale professional musicals. The direction, choreography, sets, costumes, lights and sound are all designed and arranged by theatre professionals. These shows are performed at First Stage Theatre and EPAC.

List of recent KIDSTAGE shows

Village Originals

The Village Originals program is "dedicated to the preservation and artistic development of musical theatre, one of our country's most enduring art forms." The Village Originals program is nationally recognized and has helped nurture over 70 new musicals, with some going onto New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Taiwan.

Pied Piper

Pied Piper is dedicated to enriching the cultural lives of young people and supporting the classroom objectives of their educators by bringing first-class educational performances to students, teachers, and families in the Puget Sound area.

External links

* [http://www.villagetheatre.org/ Village Theatre]