- Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle Repertory Theatre is a
Tony Award winning regional theatre located in the heart of Seattle,Washington , USA, at theSeattle Center . It is a member ofTheatre Puget Sound andTheatre Communications Group . Founded in 1963, Seattle Rep is led by Artistic DirectorDavid Esbjornson and Managing Director Benjamin Moore. Seattle Repertory Theatre was awarded the 1990Regional Theatre Tony Award .History
1960s
In 1962,
Seattle staged a successfulWorld's Fair , during which time the Seattle Playhouse was built. The next year, the Seattle Repertory Theater began, under the leadership of Bagley Wright. FoundingArtistic Director Stuart Vaughan organized an acting company that includes Seattle native Marjorie Nelson and a young associate member out of theUniversity of Washington , John Gilbert, both of whom will become mainstays on the Northwest stages. "King Lear ", directed by Vaughn, opened the new company on 14 November. Executive Director Donald Foster joined the staff in 1964. The first summer Theater-in-the-Park production by The Rep:Shakespeare 's "The Taming of the Shrew " was staged. The Rep's first Northwest tours, "Twelfth Night " and "Ah, Wilderness! " Peter Donnelly joined The Rep on a Ford Foundation grant as a management intern. In 1966, Allen Fletcher followed Stuart Vaughan as Seattle Rep's second Artistic Director. In 1967, Seattle Rep "Off-Center", with a focus on contemporary works, was initiated with "The Death of Bessie Smith " and "The American Dream ", two one-acts byEdward Albee . Seattle Rep was invited to theBergen International Festival in 1968.1970s
In 1970, Peter Donnelly became Seattle Rep's Producing Director, and W. Duncan Ross became Artistic Director. In 1972, Seattle Repertory Theatre's artistic role in the state is acknowledged with the Washington State Governor's Arts Award. Seattle Rep also began "Rep ‘n' Rap" summer tour program with Thurbermania that same year. In 1973, there was a Special Presentation of "Promenade All" directed by Hume Cronyn. The Rep began "The 2nd Stage" with Max Frisch's Biography, in 1974. The following year, Seattle Rep conducted a tour of Western States with "
Seven Keys to Baldpate " byGeorge M. Cohan . In 1977, private funding and a city-wide bond issue raised $5.8 million for a new theater, which was completed in 1983. The first "Mobile Outreach Bunch" (MOB) touredWashington andIdaho schools with "The Energy Show", launching SRT's education programs in 1979. John Hirsch joined Seattle Rep as Consulting Artistic Director with Daniel Sullivan as Resident Director that same year, and "Plays-in-Progress," initiated by Daniel Sullivan, begins workshopping new plays for the stage at Seattle Rep.1980s
In 1981, Daniel Sullivan became Artistic Director. Seattle Repertory Organization held the first "Elegant Elephant Sale", an event that continued for nearly two decades. On December 29th, Seattle Rep broke ground for the new Bagley Wright Theatre. In 1983, The Bagley Wright Theatre opened with the world premiere of
Michael Weller 's "The Ballad of Soapy Smith ", directed byRobert Egan . In 1984,Herb Gardner 's "I'm Not Rappaport " starringHarold Gould ,Cleavon Little andDavid Strathairn opened at Seattle Rep prior to its Broadway run. Seattle Rep also begins "Dollar Theatre" with "Big and Little", selections from Botho Straus that year. In 1985, Benjamin Moore was appointed Managing Director of Seattle Rep, becoming only the third administrative director in the theatre's history. He still holds the position today. In 1988, Seattle Rep premieredBill Irwin 's "Largely/New York". The following year "The Heidi Chronicles " byWendy Wasserstein premiered at Seattle Rep.1990s
In 1990, Seattle Rep was awarded the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. "
Inspecting Carol ", developed by Daniel Sullivan and the SRT company, premiered as part of Seattle Rep's "Stage 2" productions in 1991. In that year, Seattle Rep also premiered "Conversations With My Father" byHerb Gardner . "Inspecting Carol" went on national tour in 1992. In 1994, Seattle Rep premiered "London Suite " byNeil Simon and "The Sisters Rosensweig " byWendy Wasserstein . The following year, Seattle Rep, with Tom Hulce and Jane Jones, developed "The Cider House Rules ", adapted by Peter Parnell fromJohn Irving 's novel as part of the New Play Workshop Series. In 1996, the Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre opened after a successful fund-raising drive. Sharon Ott becomes Artistic Director of Seattle Rep in 1997. That year, in conjunction with the Leonardo exhibit atSeattle Art Museum , Seattle Rep staged "The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci ", in the new Leo K Theatre, written and directed byMary Zimmerman . Seattle Rep premiered "Sisters Matsumoto" byPhilip Kan Gotanda in 1999. Seattle Rep also presented the first "Stars and Stories" special event to benefit SRT's education programs. The event featured readings by a variety of community leaders and artists..2000s
In 2000,
Lily Tomlin 's one-woman show byJane Wagner , "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe", played at Seattle Rep prior to its engagement on Broadway. In 2001, Seattle Rep led a consortium of theaters in presentingPeter Brook 's "Hamlet " in the Mercer Arts Arena. That same year, Daniel Sullivan returned to direct "Proof", for which he won theTony Award on Broadway, launching its national tour. Seattle Rep also announced a US$15 million Endowment Campaign under the leadership of Chap Alvord and Janet True. Seattle Rep celebrateed its 40th Anniversary Season in 2003.David Esbjornson became Artistic Director of Seattle Rep in 2005. In 2006, Seattle Rep premieredPing Chong 's "Cathay: Three Tales of China",Ariel Dorfman 's "Purgatorio" and "Restoration Comedy", byAmy Freed , which went on to be nominated for Best New Play by theAmerican Theatre Critics Association . Also in 2006, Seattle Rep put on a tribute toAugust Wilson , featuring performances from all 10 of Mr. Wilson's plays.Education programs
In 2007, Seattle Repertory Theatre started the program Bringing Theatre into the Classroom (BTiC), a partnership project with
Seattle Children's Theatre designed to help K–12 teachers integrate theater into their curricula. The program was made possible through a grant of $75,000 from theNational Endowment for the Arts . The theatre also has an internship program for college student. [http://www.arts.gov/about/NEARTS/18-2007vol4/story.php?id=p14_training]Productions
2006–2007
;Bagley Wright Theatre
* "Doubt" byJohn Patrick Shanley ; Director: Warner Shook
* "The Great Gatsby " byF. Scott Fitzgerald , Adapted by Simon Levy; Director:David Esbjornson
* "The Lady From Dubuque " byEdward Albee ; Director:David Esbjornson
* "Fire on the Mountain" by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman
* "Gem of the Ocean " byAugust Wilson ; Director:Phylicia Rashad ;Leo K Theatre
* "Thom Pain (based on nothing) " byWill Eno ; Director: Jerry Manning
* "Memory House" by Kathleen Tolan; Director: Allison Narver
* "Blue Door" by Tanya Barfield; Director: Leigh Silverman
* "My Name is Rachel Corrie " byAlan Rickman and Katharine Viner; Director: Braden Abraham2005–2006
;Bagley Wright Theatre
* "The King Stag" byCarlo Gozzi , Adapted by Shelley Berc and Andrei Belgrader
* "Purgatorio" byAriel Dorfman
* "Restoration Comedy" byAmy Freed
* "Radio Golf " byAugust Wilson
* "Private Lives " byNoel Coward
* "Tuesdays with Morrie " byJeffrey Hatcher &Mitch Albom ;Leo K Theatre
* "Cathay: 3 Tales of China" byPing Chong and Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre
* "9 Parts of Desire" byHeather Raffo ;PONCHO ForumWomen Playwrights Festival
* "The Pork Chop Wars" by Laurie Carlos
* "My Wandering Boy" by Julie Marie Myatt
* "Twenty-six Miles" by Quiara Alegria Hudes
* "Scooping the Darkness Empty" by Alva Rogers2004–2005
;Bagley Wright Theatre
* "Anna in the Tropics" byNilo Cruz
* "Take Me Out" byRichard Greenberg
* "Noises Off " byMichael Frayn
* "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom " byAugust Wilson
* "The Secret in the Wings adapted" byMary Zimmerman
* "The Constant Wife " byW. Somerset Maugham ;Leo K Theatre
* "Bad Dates" byTheresa Rebeck
* "The Chosen" byChaim Potok and Aaron Posner;Special Presentation
*Kate Mulgrew in "Tea at Five " byMatthew Lombardo ;PONCHO ForumWomen Playwrights Festival
* "Sirius Rising" by Gwendolyn Schwinke
* "The Aerodynamics of Accident" by Deborah Isobel Stein
* "Courting Vampires" by Laura Schellhardt
* "Hardball" by Victoria StewartNotable artists
Playwrights
*
Edward Albee
*Tanya Barfield
*Lynda Barry
*Steven Dietz
*Amy Freed
*Anne Galjour
*Herb Gardner
*Philip Kan Gotanda
*Doug Hughes
*Harry Kondoleon
*Sandra Tsing Loh
*Craig Lucas
*William Mastrosimone
*Tim Blake Nelson
*Theresa Rebeck
*Mark O'Donnell
*John Patrick Shanley
*Neil Simon
*Kathleen Tolan
*Stephen Wadsworth
*Wendy Wasserstein
*Michael Weller
*Cheryl L. West
*August Wilson
*Mary Zimmerman Directors
*Braden Abraham
*Gabriel Barre
*Kurt Beattie
*Ping Chong
*Kyle Donnelly
*Robert Egan
*Sheldon Epps
*David Esbjornson
*John Hirsch
*Doug Hughes
*Tina Landau
*Kenny Leon
*Robert Loper
*Jerry Manning
*Joe Mantello
*Gilbert McCauley
*Marion McClinton
*Sharon Ott
*Duncan Ross
*David Saint
*Richard Seyd
*Ted Sod
*Daniel Sullivan
*Christine Sumption
*Kevin Tighe
*Stuart Vaughan
*Stephen Wadsworth
*Doug Wager
*Richard E.T. White
*Jonathan Wilson
*George C. Wolfe
*Mary ZimmermanActors
*
Denis Arndt
*John Aylward
*John Billingsley
*Suzanne Bouchard
*Jeanne Carson
*Richard Chamberlain
*Megan Cole
*Ted D'Arms
*Alvin Epstein
*Laurence Fishburne
*John Gilbert
*Paul Hostetler
*Geoff Hoyle
*Bill Irwin
*Samuel L. Jackson
*Laura Kenny
*Lori Larsen
*Judith Light
*Ella Joyce
*Robert Loper
*William "Biff" McGuire
*Kate Mulgrew
*Marjorie Nelson
*Faith Prince
*Eve Roberts
*Ken Ruta
*Tony Shalhoub
*Jean Smart
*Jeff Steitzer
*Jessica Tandy
*Kevin Tighe
*Lily Tomlin
*Christopher Walken
*R. Hamilton Wright
*Wendel Wrighttages
Bagley Wright Theatre
The
Bagley Wright Theatre named in honour of the Seattle Rep first board of trustees president, opened onOctober 13 ,1983 with the world premiere ofMichael Weller 's "The Ballad of Soapy Smith", directed byRobert Egan , and featuring a cast ofSeattle actors includingDennis Arndt (in the title role),John Aylward ,Frank Corrado ,Paul Hostetler ,Richard Riehle ,Michael Santo ,Marjorie Nelson ,Ted D'Arms ,Kurt Beattie ,Clayton Corzatte , andWilliam Ontiveros . Also in the cast wereKevin Tighe andKate Mulgrew . The Bagley Wright Theatre is a city owned facility.* Seating capacity: 856; stage is approximately convert|20|m to the last row of the house
* Orchestra: 566 seats, 18 rows, 14 seats per row; sides, 19 rows, 3-13 seats per row
* Mezzanine: 290 seats, 7 rows, 14 seats per row; sides, 8 rows 9-13 seats per row; mezzanine level begins its overhang at orchestra level row L, and is 8 metres from theproscenium stage.Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre
The Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre ("Leo K") opened in December 1996 as Seattle Rep's "second stage." The Leo K was made possible due in great part to a US$2 million naming gift from The Kreielsheimer Foundation, a US$1 million gift from then board chair Marsha S. Glazer, and the leadership of capital campaign chairs Ann Ramsay-Jenkins and Stanley Savage.
* Total capacity: 286; stage is approximately convert|7|m from rear wall
* Orchestra: 139 seats, 9 rows, 8-20 seats per row
* Loge: 51 seats, 2 rows, 24-27 seats per row
* Box: 8 seats at balcony level
* Balcony: 86 seats, 3 rows, 29-30 seats per rowPONCHO Forum
* Total capacity: 99
* General admission, stadium seatingExternal links
* [http://www.seattlerep.org Seattle Repertory Theatre official website]
*ibdb|70817
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