Village Theatre
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Village Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit professional producing musical theatre company founded in 1979. Village Theatre is based out of Washington State, around the Seattle and Puget Sound area. Within the company are many theatre programs including KIDSTAGE, Mainstage, Village Originals and Pied Piper.
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[edit] Facilities
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 16,500 people subscribe for all five (5) shows and over 16,500 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.
[edit] Everett Performing Arts Center (EPAC)
The Everett Performing Arts Center (EPAC) has been leased to Village Theatre by the City of Everett since 1998. All Mainstage productions move up to EPAC, playing for three to four weeks after completing their Issaquah run at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre.
EPAC incorporates its own KIDSTAGE and Pied Piper programs.
[edit] Programs
[edit] 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 professionals.
[edit] KIDSTAGE
KIDSTAGE is one of the leading children's theatric 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.
[edit] 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)
[edit] SummerStock
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.
[edit] Summer 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] List of recent KIDSTAGE shows
| Program | Show | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ensemble | The Music Man | 2002 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | We're Having a Ball | 2003 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Anything Goes | 2004 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Footloose | 2004 | Everett |
| Summer Rep | Little Shop of Horrors | 2004 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | The Velveteen Rabbit | 2004 | Issaquah |
| Company | Last Exit | 2005 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | 2005 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Godspell | 2005 | Everett |
| Summer Rep | Ruthless! | 2005 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | Honk! | 2005 | Issaquah |
| Company | trust me. | 2006 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | Honk! | 2006 | Everett |
| Summerstock | Les Misérables | 2006 | Issaquah |
| Summer Rep | Pippin | 2006 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Beauty and the Beast | 2006 | Everett |
| TeenSelect | Seussical | 2006 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | The Jungle Book | 2006 | Issaquah |
| Ensemble | The Jungle Book | 2007 | Everett |
| TeenSelect | A Midsummer Night's Dream | 2007 | Everett |
| Ensemble | Honk! | 2007 | Stanwood |
| Company | A Perfect Fall | 2007 | Issaquah |
| SIP | Sweeney Todd | 2007 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Children of Eden | 2007 | Issaquah |
| Summerstock | Seussical | 2007 | Everett |
| TeenSelect | Once on This Island | 2008 | Issaquah |
| TeenSelect | Into the Woods | 2008 | Everett |
| Company | Last Exit (Rewritten from 2004) | 2008 | Issaquah |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
