PROFESSIONAL THEATRE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING
2016 SEASON:
SILENT SKY
JAN 27 - FEB 27
COTTON PATCH GOSPEL
MAR 23 - APR 23
THE REALIZATION OF EMILY LINDER
MAY 11- JUNE 11
BIG FISH
JUL 6 - AUG 13
JOYFUL NOISE
SEP 21 - OCT 22
A MUSICAL BIGGER THAN LIFE
BOOK BY
JOHN AUGUST
MUSIC & LYRICS BY
ANDREW LIPPA
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY
DANIEL WALLACE
AND THE COLUMBIA MOTION
PICTURE WRITTEN BY JOHN AUGUST
JUL 6 - AUG 13
DIRECTED BY
SCOTT NOLTE
Women Painters of Washington
WPW Gallery at the Columbia Center
July–August 2016
Volume 12, No. 7
Showcasing art by women since 1930
Paul Heppner
Publisher
Susan Peterson
Design & Production Director
Ana Alvira, Robin Kessler,
Shaun Swick, Stevie VanBronkhorst
Production Artists and Graphic Design
Mike Hathaway
Sales Director
Artifacts 5 by Cheryl Richey
Contents
3Dialogue
Encore Stages in
conversation with the Young
Shakespeare Workshop
Brieanna Bright, Joey Chapman,
Ann Manning, Rob Scott
Seattle Area Account Executives
701 5th Ave #310, M-F 11-4
Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed
San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives
5
Bringing classical music to
the masses
Brett Hamil
Online Editor
Jonathan Shipley
Associate Online Editor
Ad Services Coordinator
7
Intermission Brain
Transmission
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trivia quiz
Carol Yip
Sales Coordinator
Leah Baltus
Editor-in-Chief
Paul Heppner
Publisher
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2 ENCORE STAGES
Encore Stages is a publication of
Encore Media Group. We also publish
Encore Arts Programs, the monthly
arts & culture magazine City Arts, and
custom publications, including the
Official Seattle Pride Guide and the
SIFF Guide
Catalog.
Book by and
John
August
Big Fish
Music & Lyrics by
Andrew Lippa
BasedStages
on thefeatures
novel by
Encore
the
Daniel Wallace
following organizations:
Directed by Scott Nolte
A-1
Paul Heppner
President
Ryan Devlin
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Encore Arts Programs is published monthly by Encore Media
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EMG07 Audience 1_12.pdf
Verdi Good Idea
Title Page
Dialogue
Encore Stages in conversation
Titus Andronicus at Young Shakespeare Workshop
The Young Shakespeare Workshop, a free program celebrating 25
years, is a Seattle-based non-profit that serves youth from Seattle and
regions beyond. The seven-week summer First Year program draws
teenagers from all walks of life to study and perform Shakespeare —
sonnets, speeches, scenes — giving them the opportunity to celebrate
the power of the human voice to illuminate experience. YSW was
awarded the nation’s highest honor for out-of-school youth arts training
in 2011, the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.
We sat down recently with Darren Lay, a professional
actor, director and teaching artist, that has been
directing the program since 1998, to discuss
Shakespeare’s power, the essential nature of art, and
ways you can help.
How did you get involved with the
Young Shakespeare Workshop?
My love of Shakespeare began when I
was a teenager in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is
incredible to me that a city like Seattle,
priding itself on the arts, has public high
schools without theatre programs. After
moving to Seattle I joined with Eric Ray
Anderson, a fellow working actor, and
Kimberly White, to take up the mantle
of the Young Shakespeare Workshop
from Edward Payson Call who began the
program. I was not thinking I would still
be at it 19 years later.
What’s the demographic profile of those
kids you serve?
Kids of every description and stripe
have participated in the program
over the years — poor kids, rich kids,
white kids, kids of color, straight
kids, queer kids, religious kids, nonreligious kids, kids with supportive
parents, kids without parents, English
language learners, immigrants, refugees,
encore artsseattle.com 3
Othello at Young Shakespeare Workshop
conservative, or liberal. It is astonishing
how wide a range of people Shakespeare
can bring together.
Adding
,a
new independent living option,
the Hearthstone offers a lifestyle
that matches the vibrant and
family-friendly neighborhood of
Green Lake and the freedom to
pursue what matters to you the
most.
Our in-school academic year work
focuses primarily on low income public
schools where most all of the students
are kids of color. Cleveland High School
in the last several years has been the
school we have devoted the most time
and energy too, providing after-school
performance projects as well as in-class
residencies for humanities classes. Last
year for the first time we offered a forcredit Performing Shakespeare class in
the fall. We are hoping to do the same
this coming year if we can find enough
funding.
Is selling Shakespeare to kids a hard
sale?
It can be hard sometimes, if the context
and situation is not supportive, but once
kids get up on their feet and perform
Shakespeare with each other as opposed
to just reading it and have the time to
begin to own the words for themselves,
and see Shakespeare as ‘their artist’
writing for them, then Shakespeare the
brilliant poet and truth-teller does all of
the work. Shakespeare’s work easily sells
itself given the right environment.
What can Shakespeare’s plays give
kids?
A Life Plan Community
6720 E Green Lake Way N
Seattle, WA 98103
206.517.2216 | hearthstone.org
4 ENCORE STAGES
Shakespeare gives kids a chance to
step directly into thoughts and feelings,
relationships and circumstances that
intrigue us all, a chance to experience
intensely nuanced reflection that can
relate to your own life experience or
circumstances of those around you
which acts to nourish a more intelligent
and observant understanding of us all.
The safe remove of art engages teens’
empathy and thoughtful weighing of
human interaction, incredibly valuable
to teenagers shaping their own identity
and voice. Theatre is such a deeply
worthy and important human invention
for examining the world and our place
in it.
What are your favorite Young
Shakespeare Workshop memories?
There are really too many to
choose from. Most revolve around
performances when students transcend
“the ordinary of Nature’s sale-work”
and we are all compelled to marvel at
Shakespeare’s brilliance. One should
never mistake Shakespeare’s brilliance
for your own, but sometimes it is lovely
to imagine it is yours for a while, and
you do come away feeling as if some
of it might have rubbed off on you in
some way during the insane funniness
of Midsummer’s rough mechanicals, or
the brutal and terrifying word induced
pindrop silences in Othello or the
hauntingly beautiful Richard II as either
performer or audience member.
What can people do to help YSW?
We are always cash poor (currently
working to raise funds to be at
Cleveland High School next fall) and of
course the absolute best way anyone
can help is to encourage that young
person you know who needs that extra
boost of confidence to contact us and
join an often wonderfully life changing
community. <
BOOK BY
JOHN AUGUST
MUSIC & LYRICS BY
ANDREW LIPPA
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY
DANIEL WALLACE
AND THE COLUMBIA MOTION
PICTURE WRITTEN BY JOHN AUGUST
CAST
(In Order of Appearance)
Scott Nolte,
Producing Artistic
Director
Karen Lund,
Associate Artistic
Director
THANK YOU TO OUR
2016 SEASON
SUPPORTERS
Will Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tyler Todd Kimmel
Edward Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Ensweiler*
Young Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zeb Kovell / Teigun Pesce
The Mermaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carly Squires Hutchison
Jenny Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Lamb
Don Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jed Mathre
Amos Calloway / Dr. Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Mayse
Zacky Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Raiha
The Witch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Russell
Karl the Giant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Watson
Sandra Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chelsea LeValley
Josephine Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Shuel
PRODUCTION
Director
Musical Director
Choreographer
Scenic and Sound Design
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Fight Choreographer
Stage Manager
Dramaturg
Dialect Coach
MUSICIANS
Scott Nolte **
Edd Key
Beth Orme
Mark Lund
Sarah Burch Gordon
Andrew Duff
Matt Orme
Kristi Matthews
Tina Polzin
Benjamin Wippel
Keyboards
Percussion
Woodwinds
Violin
Elizabeth Rainey
Scot Sexton
Dexter Stevens
Thao Huynh
SETTING
TIME: This story takes place over nearly 30 years, most of the action moves back
and forth between the present and past of Edward Bloom’s adventurous life.
PLACE: Alabama’s small towns, backyards, river banks and woods.
Big Fish is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatre Rights Worldwide (TRW),
570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10018. (866) 378-9758 www.theatricalrights.com
Originally produced on Broadway by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Stage Entertainment with Roy Furman, Broadway Across America/Rich
Entertainment Group, John Domo, The Nederlander Organization and Edward Walson in association with CJ E&M, Dancing Elephant Productions,
Parrothead Productions, Harvey Weinstein/Carole L. Haber, Peter May/Jim Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz/Joe Piacentile and Columbia Pictures.
OPENING NIGHT
SPONSOR:
THE UPPER CRUST
The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.
**
*
Member of the Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
encore art sseattle.com A-1
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
The story of Big Fish is a perfect fit for me: I
grew up in a family that loved fun stories, from
Dr. Seuss to the Hardy Boys, and we spent many
vacations close to the water with fish calling to
us… not that I caught many. Early in the morning.
In the rain.
Big Fish is a father-son story and a love story
whose characters aspire to have exciting, big and
fulfilling lives. But what ultimately provides you
with a “big, fulfilling life?”
Edward Bloom, our protagonist, tells stories of his adventures; though
knowing when these stories leave the world of fact and become fiction is
unclear. And while these stories are charming to most, they alienate his
son, Will. True or False, Fact or Fiction, Myth or History: how much does
the truth matter as long as the story inspires the listener to pursue an
abundant and honorable life?
Much of Big Fish’s drama and humor comes from misunderstanding
or expecting too much from Edward’s stories. But when the characters
finally see the motivations, the love and the God-given bigger-thanlife uniqueness of each other,
it’s magic. At that moment,
forgiveness is granted and love
is affirmed. And those stories
become beloved and joyous family
myths.
“When a man’s stories are
remembered, then he is
immortal… Dreams are what keep
a man going.” from the novel Big
Fish by Daniel Wallace.
Finally, I’m thankful for my dad,
Lloyd Nolte (and his fish tales),
and for the generous, affirming
love he’s given to me, my wife
Pam, our kids, my siblings and
our whole extended family.
Thanks, Dad.
THEUPPERCRUSTCATERING.COM
206-783-1826
Serving the greater
Puget Sound area
Scott Nolte
Producing Artistic Director
A-2 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Full-service catering available for
corporate functions, weddings,
fundraisers, memorials, celebrations,
and private parties of all sizes.
BIG FISH MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
ACT II
“Prologue”
“Be the Hero” Edward and Company
“The Witch” The Witch, Edward and Company
“Just Take Another Look” Josephine
“Stranger” Will
“Magic in the Man” Sandra and Will
“Jenny Hill” Jenny
“Out There on the Road” Edward, Karl, Jenny and
Company
“Little Lamb from Alabama” Sandra and Alabama Lambs
“Time Stops” Edward and Sandra
“Closer to Her” Amos, Edward and Company
“Daffodils” Edward and Sandra
“Entr’acte”
“Fight the Dragons” Edward and Young Will
“Stranger (Reprise)” Will
“The River Between Us” Will and Edward
“I Don’t Need a Roof” Sandra
“Start Over” Edward, Don, Amos, Karl, Zacky and
Company
“Start Over (Reprise)” Edward
“What’s Next” Will, Edward and Company
“How it Ends” Edward
“The Procession” Company
“Be the Hero (Reprise)” Will and Company
Big Fish is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.
COMING SOON
ON THE JEWELL MAINSTAGE
IN THE ISAAC STUDIO THEATRE
When we built the Isaac Studio Theatre, we
promised you contemporary, challenging plays.
Joyful Noise
by Tim Slover
Let us sing of greater things. George Frederick Handel is
in crisis. His patron is dead, his operas are unpopular, and
he’s suffered public humiliation of his own making. From
this ruin a joyous masterpiece is born. Witty, scandalous
and based on the true story of the creation of Handel’s
Messiah, this is a tale to inspire.
SEPTEMBER 21 - OCTOBER 22
The God Game
by Suzanne Bradbeer
Tom is a rising political star with the opportunity of a
lifetime – one that could make or break his career and
marriage. Set against a backdrop of faith, politics and the
choices we make – The God Game asks more questions
than it answers.
OCTOBER 13 - OCTOBER 29
encore art sseattle.com A-3
REFLECTIONS ON 40 YEARS OF TAPROOT THEATRE
1983-1995: WANDERING (BUT NOT LOST)
1987 - (L to R) Dick Hampton, Alan Sapp
& Jay Magee in Fish Tales by Ron Reed,
performed at the St. Thomas Center.
1983
Taproot moves into the St. Thomas Center
in Juanita. Christmas dinner theatre begins.
1986
School touring program (The Road
Company) begins.
1987
70-seat studio theatre opens at St. Thomas
for two Mainstage seasons. Christmas dinner
theatre moves to a leased auditorium at
Fairview School.
1988
China Theatre in Greenwood purchased,
the new home of the Jewell Mainstage.
1989
Renovation begins on the Jewell Mainstage.
19901995
Mainstage productions moved to
Fairview School.
Although their “home space” was in flux, Taproot supporters were as loyal as ever. In these
years, Taproot’s faithful patron base prepared to follow this “theatre of hope” to its new home
in Greenwood.
Patrons and donors like you stood by Taproot in a time of uncertainty. And you’re the reason
we’re here today. Thank you.
Be a part of the next 40 years of hope. Give today.
Call | 206.529.3672
Email | sonjal@taproottheatre.org
Visit | taproottheatre.org/donate
A-4 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
1994
TAPROOT THEATRE
SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
2017
Legacy
A
SEASON
Theatre
Education
of
Acting Camps are still available at our
Greenwood and Magnolia locations
Pre-K to 12th grade
Register Online Now for
Summer Acting Camps!
SNEAK PEEK
MONDAY
JULY 25, 2016
taproottheatre.org/classes
Questions?
call 206.529.3668
e-mail studio@taproottheatre.org
Back
for 2016
Magnolia
Camps!
STAY TUNED FOR
MORE INFORMATION
2015
encore art sseattle.com A-5
THE COMPANY
CHRIS ENSWEILER (Edward Bloom) is
honored to return to the Taproot stage
and tell this beautiful story. Previously
at Taproot: Jeeves Intervenes (Jeeves)
and Mr. Pim Passes By (Mr. Pim).
Chris has also performed at ACT,
Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle
Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre,
Intiman, Seattle Shakespeare Co., Book-It and Wooden
O. chrisensweiler.com
CARLY SQUIRES HUTCHISON (The Mermaid)
is thrilled to be in her first mainstage
show at Taproot after playing Sally in
A Charlie Brown Christmas last winter!
Favorite credits: Funny Girl, 42nd
Street, Show Boat (Village), High School
Musical (SCT), A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (Wooden O). She also enjoys
teaching and choreographing. Many thanks for your
continued support!
TYLER TODD KIMMEL (Will Bloom) is
thankful to be back at Taproot! He was
last seen as Schroeder in A Charlie
Brown Christmas. He has music
degrees from Pepperdine University
and Florida International University,
and works as a music director, actor
and composer and is the choir and
theater director for Seattle Christian Schools.
ZEB KOVELL (Young Will) is delighted to
join Taproot Theatre for this summer’s
production of Big Fish. This is his
first professional role, but he regularly
acts in the musical theater program at
Edmonds Heights School in Edmonds,
where he played Young Will in a
performance of Big Fish last year.
MARGARET LAMB (Jenny Hill) is excited to
be here! New to Seattle, she’s enjoyed
recent productions with Showtunes
(Finian’s Rainbow), SMT (She Loves
Me) and STAGEright (Trailer Park
Musical). Other credits: Middletown
(Actors’ Shakespeare Project), The
Winter’s Tale and One Touch of Venus.
Training: MFA Musical Theatre, Boston Conservatory.
She’s grateful for her supportive family and to you!
CHELSEA LEVALLEY (Sandra Bloom) is
thrilled to make her Taproot Theatre
debut! She has performed locally with
5th Avenue Theater, Seattle Repertory
Theater, ACT, Seattle Children’s
Theater, Intiman and ArtsWest among
others. BFA Music Theatre from Elon
University. On playing Sandra: Psalm
37:3-5.
A-6 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
JED MATHRE (Don Price) A Minnesota
native, Jed is delighted to make his
Taproot Mainstage debut in Big Fish!
He’s recently been seen as a member
of the illustrious Taproot Theatre Road
Company, and spends his spare time
helping fight human trafficking with the
americaunchained.net project. Love to
the fam, BB and Rey.
CHRIS MAYSE (Amos Calloway/Dr.
Bennett) has performed regionally with
the Milwaukee Rep, Utah Shakespeare
Festival, Montana Rep and others.
Favorite musical roles: Sweeney
Todd, Rocky (Damn Yankees), the
Dentist (Little Shop of Horrors). Chris
is a director, designer, educator and
Managing Artistic Director of Seattle Musical Theatre.
Thanks everyone at Taproot for this brilliant opportunity!
TEIGUN PESCE (Young Will) is 11 years
old and is very much in love with
theater. He is very excited to be in this
performance of Big Fish. Teigun has
participated in several productions
with Village Theatre KidStage most
recently including The Addams Family
as Pugsley and James and the Giant
Peach. In his free time Teigun enjoys tap dancing,
recording for his Youtube channel and hanging out with
friends. Special thanks to, MD, NP, NG, Mrs. B.
CASEY RAIHA (Zacky Price) makes his
Taproot debut with this production!
Recent Credits: Lt. Cable in South
Pacific (SMT), Monty in Violet
(ArtsWest), My Fair Lady, directed by
Brian Yorkey (Village Theatre) and
Norbert in The Great American Trailer
Park Musical (StageRight). Love always
to Mom and Dad. CaseyRaiha.com
SARAH RUSSELL (The Witch) is ecstatic
to return to the Taproot stage. Past
credits include A Charlie Brown
Christmas (Taproot Theatre), My Heart
is the Drum (Village Theatre), Grease
(5th Avenue), Julius Caesar (Seattle
Shakespeare) and The Little Mermaid
(StoryBook Theater). Big thanks to
Scott, the cast and crew for all the fun. Enjoy the show!
EMILY SHUEL (Josephine Bloom) is
delighted to return to Taproot’s
mainstage. She performs locally at
Book-It Repertory, StoryBook, Second
Story, ACT and more. Favorite roles
include Anne in Anne of Green Gables,
Helen in Machinal, Jack in Jack and the
THE COMPANY
Beanstock, Sylvia in Gurney’s Sylvia and improvising with
Taproot’s improv team. EmilyFairbrookShuel.webs.com
NICK WATSON (Karl the Giant) is so
excited to make his debut at Taproot!
He has a BFA in Acting from Cornish
College of the Arts. Some of his favorite
productions include playing Billy Dean/
Virgil in Violet at ArtsWest, The Sound
of Music at 5th Avenue Theatre and
American Idiot at ArtsWest. Enjoy the
show!
THAO HUYNH (Violin) is a professional violinist, earning her
Bachelor’s in Performance at University of North Texas.
Originally born and raised in Dallas, Thao recently moved
to Seattle to continue her education in music and marine
sciences. Meanwhile, she hopes to continue exploring
the unique music scene Seattle has to offer.
ELIZABETH RAINEY (Keyboards) After two years of teaching
HS Spanish, Elizabeth has switched gears to serve as
Musical Director for Broadway Bound Children’s Theater
and teaches at the Academy for Precision Learning.
Her most recent shows she helped direct or played for
include: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, How
to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Annie,
Thoroughly Modern Millie and In the Heights.
SCOT SEXTON (Percussion) is delighted to be making his
debut with Taproot Theatre Company. Recent local
credits include South Pacific and 9 to 5 at Seattle
Musical Theater. Up next is Toxic Avenger at STAGEright.
DEXTER STEVENS (Woodwinds) is thrilled to be back at
Taproot Theatre for Big Fish. Dexter previously played
winds for Taproot’s Illyria and Jane Eyre, and performs
in the pit orchestras for many theater companies around
Seattle. Favorite productions this year include Parade at
12th Avenue Arts and Ben Hur in concert with the Seattle
Rock Orchestra.
ANDREW DUFF (Lighting Designer) is happy to be back at
Taproot. His previous lighting designs include: Godspell;
Jane Eyre, The Musical; The Whipping Man; Freud’s Last
Session; Something’s Afoot; The Beams are Creaking;
Man of La Mancha; Big River; Seven Keys to Baldpate;
Mary’s Wedding; Voice of The Prairie; The Fantasticks;
Shadowlands; All My Sons.
SARAH BURCH GORDON (Costume Designer & Shop Manager)
has designed 60+ shows for Taproot in the past eleven
years. Regionally, Sarah has also designed for TAG,
SART, Stage West Theatre, Brick Playhouse and Venture
Theatre. She was nominated for a 2010 Gregory award.
Her MFA is from Temple University. Tulips and Taters to
PoP.
EDD KEY (Music Director) has Music Directed Taproot
shows for the last two decades and performed such
roles as H. C. Curry in The Rainmaker, Boolie Werthan
in Driving Miss Daisy, Burl Sanders in the Smoke on
the Mountain series and Tom in Appalachian Christmas
Homecoming. Composer/Co-creator credits include,
Red Ranger Came Calling with Myra Platt for Book-It
Repertory Theatre, and Wuthering! Heights! The! Musical!
with Eddie Levi Lee for The Empty Space. He appeared
in Actor’s Theatre of Louisville’s production of W!H!T!M!,
and in Los Angeles with Mark Taper Forum’s epic
production of The Cider House Rules.
MARK LUND (Scenic & Sound Design) has designed over
100 TTC shows, including Godspell, Jeeves Intervenes
and The Explorer’s Club. Other design work includes
Seattle Shakes, Book-It and award-winning short films.
Mark is also a voice over actor for Radio/TV, industrials
and games including voicing Falco Lombardi in Star Fox
Zero for Wii U. Love to Karen, Hannah & Jake.
KRISTI MATTHEWS (Stage Manager) is Master Electrician
and Box Office Manager at Taproot Theatre. She also
designs, stage manages and teaches for many local
theatres, high schools and universities. Recent credits:
Godspell, Charlie Brown Christmas, Cotton Patch Gospel
(Taproot); Elephant’s Graveyard, Spitfire Grill (SPU);
Addams Family (NHHS); Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd
(RHS).
SCOTT NOLTE (Producing Artistic Director) is a co-founder
and the Producing Artistic Director of TTC. Over the
course of 40 years, he’s directed plays ranging from The
Odyssey to Smoke on the Mountain and more recently
Dracula, Best of Enemies, Appalachian Christmas
Homecoming, The Fabulous Lipitones, In the Book Of,
The Matchmaker, The Whipping Man, Gaudy Night
and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas
Carol for TTC. He has participated in several new-play
development projects, is past president of Theatre Puget
Sound and is a member of the Society of Stage Directors
and Choreographers.
BETH ORME (Choreographer) is thrilled to work at
Taproot Theatre again. She currently teaches Math at
Roosevelt HS. Recent Taproot productions are Godspell,
Appalachian Christmas Homecoming and Jane Eyre.
Other favorite production credits include Quilters, 42nd
Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Mary Poppins. She
is blessed with her husband, Matt and children, Grace
and Henry.
MATTHEW ORME (Fight Choreographer) is happy to be back
at Taproot! He was raised in the PNW, is a graduate of
PLU (BFA Music, BA Psychology), MFA in Acting from
MSU. Matt has been involved in Stage Combat for over
25 years and currently teaches at SPU and SU. Matt is
thankful for his family – Beth, Grace and Henry.
TINA POLZIN (Dramaturg) Since receiving her MFA from
UW in June, Tina has worked on the Intiman Festival,
directed the comedy pilot Off the Record and the
new play about the Tylenol murders, Death on the
Supermarket Shelf. Next up, a bilingual Blood Wedding
in Seattle parks this summer.
encore art sseattle.com A-7
THE COMPANY
BENJAMIN WIPPEL (Dialect Coach) loves working at Taproot,
having previously dialect coached Cotton Patch Gospel,
Jeeves Intervenes and Jane Eyre and played Charlie in
A Charlie Brown Christmas. Benjamin is co-founder of
Broken Cage Collective and received his BFA in Theatre
from Cornish College of the Arts, where he assists with
teaching.
JOHN AUGUST (Book) John received a 2004 BAFTA
nomination for his screenplay for Big Fish. His other
credits include Go, Titan A.E., Charlie’s Angels, Charlie’s
Angels: Full Throttle, Corpse Bride, The Nines and
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for which he received
a 2006 Grammy nomination for lyrics. His most recent
film is the Oscar-nominated Frankenweenie, for which
he wrote the screenplay and lyrics. He is a graduate of
Drake University and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. On
Twitter and Instagram @johnaugust.
ANDREW LIPPA (Music and Lyrics) In addition to the Tonynominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical
The Addams Family, Andrew wrote the music and lyrics
for the Broadway musical, Big Fish, the words and music
to the original theatrical oratorio I Am Harvey Milk that
received its world premiere in San Francisco in June,
2013 with the San Francisco Gay Mens’ Chorus, starring
Laura Benanti and Mr. Lippa as Harvey Milk. He also
wrote the music for the Broadway production of Aaron
Sorkin’s play The Farnsworth Invention. Other musicals
include the Drama Desk award winning musical The
Wild Party (book/music/lyrics), A Little Princess (music),
jon & jen (music/co-wrote book), Asphalt Beach (music/
lyrics) and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (additional
music/lyrics and arrangements). Mr. Lippa was music
director for Kristin Chenoweth’s sold-out shows at the
Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall and others.
Accolades include a Tony and Grammy nomination,
the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Award,
ASCAP’s Richard Rodgers/New Horizons Award, The
Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle Award. Andrew
Lippa serves on the council of The Dramatists Guild and
is a graduate of The University of Michigan School of
Music. andrewlippa.com
ILE
H
W OP!
E
GIV U SH
YO
TAPROOT THEATRE STAFF
ARTISTIC/PRODUCTION STAFF
Scott Nolte - Producing Artistic Director
Karen Lund - Associate Artistic Director
Mark Lund - Design Director
Sarah Burch Gordon - Costume Shop Manager &
Resident Designer
PATRON SERVICES
Jenny Cross - Patron Services Manager
Lauren Kelm - House Manager Lead
Acacia Danielson, Alanna Gordon, Kelsey Lopez, Sonja
Lowe, Cathie Rohrig, Dave Selvig - House Managers
Kristi Matthews - Box Office Manager
Tiffany Hach - Box Office Lead
Lori Hunt - Subscription Lead
Sarah Diener, Lori Hunt, Mitch Shohet, JD Walker Box Office Representatives
Marty Gordon - Custodian
DEVELOPMENT
Lauren Cooper - Director of Development
Sonja Lowe - Grant Writer & Resident Dramaturg
Acacia Danielson - Development Associate
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Pam Nolte - Community Liaison
Lee Grooms - Finance & Operations Director
Nikki Visel - Marketing Director
Tanya Barber Dugas - Creative Marketing Specialist
Isaiah Custer - Communications & Group Sales
Manager
Alanna Gordon - Executive Assistant
Josh Krupke - Marketing Associate
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey - Director of Education &
Outreach
Shelby Parsons - Associate Director of Education &
Outreach
Lauren Kelm - Education & Outreach Summer
Associate
Jenny Cross - Resident Teaching Artist
DID YOU KNOW THAT CERTAIN RETAILERS WILL DONATE A PORTION
OF THEIR PROFITS TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE?
The next time you’re on Amazon.com, try using Amazon Smile, and
select Taproot Theatre as your preferred charity.
Prefer to shop locally? Use your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to benefit
Taproot. Our non-profit number is 93568.
A-8 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
BIG FISH STAFF
PRODUCTION STAFF
Elisabeth Burton – Assistant Stage Manager
Madisen Lea Crowley – Stage Management Intern
Stephen Pick – Directing Intern
Sam Vance – Properties Master
COSTUME STAFF
Hannah McNamara – Dresser & Stitcher
Grace Kang – Assistant to the Costume Designer
Petrina Murphy – Costume Shop Intern
Beth Gilroy – Cutter/Draper
SCENIC, LIGHTING & SOUND STAFF
Kristi Matthews – Master Electrician
Alex Marne Smith – Light Board Operator
Stefanie M. Senior – Sound Board Operator
Tim Samland – Scenic Carpenter
Daniel Cole, Alex Marne Smith – Electrics Crew
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Peter Morrill, Chair
Larry Bjork, Chair Emeritus
Steve Thomas, Vice Chair
Rob Zawoysky, Secretary
Alyssa Petrie, Treasurer
MEMBERS
Anne Ball
Mark Bullard
Denise Daniels
Amanda Woodward Davis
Jude Hubbell
Dr. George Scranton
Dan Voetmann
Scott Nolte (non-voting)
HELPFUL INFORMATION
FOOD & DRINK
Covered coffee, hot tea and
bottled water from concessions
are allowed in the theatre.
No food or alcohol is permitted
in the auditorium.
Please dispose of your cups
and water bottles after the
show. Snacks from concessions
can be enjoyed in the lobby.
DRAMATURG DISPLAY
Visit the upper lobby to view
a display with additional
information relating to the
current production.
ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES
Patrons desiring an assisted
listening device may request one
from the House
Manager. The Hearing
Loop is available in
the Jewell Mainstage
Theatre.
LOST & FOUND
If you have lost an item, check
with the Box Office in person or
by phone at 206.781.9707. If you
find a lost item, please give it to the
House Manager or Box Office staff.
Unclaimed lost & found items may
be donated to a thrift store at the
discretion of management.
PROP/SET/COSTUME DONATIONS
Pleased to be partnering with Taproot Theatre
www.systemsixbookkeeping.com
206-851-4330
Sorry, no prop, set or costume
donations are being accepted at
this time.
VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING
OR THIS PERFORMANCE BY ANY
MEANS WHATSOEVER IS STRICTLY
PROHIBITED.
Providing business owners peace of mind
through strategic bookkeeping and accounting solutions.
encore art sseattle.com A-9
FROM THE DRAMATURG
TALES OF OUR FATHERS: HOW WE LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US
By Tina Polzin, Dramaturg
Edward Bloom is a bard spinning his version of history. Big Fish revolves around the tales Edward tells his son, Will,
and Will’s need to decipher fiction from reality. Now we Google answers, but for centuries stories were passed down
from our ancestors to our elders. These original oral stories, sagas, epic tales and fairy tales taught us about life, how
we should live it and how to apply its advice to different situations. This was how we learned to conduct ourselves and
begin to understand the world at large.
The adventures of heroes remind us of our history and inspire us to tackle life with all its dangers. We all have trials,
but the legends show us that those tribulations can be vanquished. Take Hercules: he used his intellect as well as
(or perhaps more than) his strength to succeed. He originally faced ten labors, but two more were added when his
integrity was questioned. And yet, Hercules persevered and finished his tasks; this feels true to Edward’s spirit,
although he would have befriended the creatures rather than slaying them.
So how do we tackle the stories in Big Fish? In our first meeting,
Scott Nolte and I talked about the play being imagination driven
rather than having a lot of special effects. And we began to
wonder where Edward’s stories came from and what truth they
were based on. Who were these people that Edward had affected
and who had influenced him? What lessons are imbedded in
Edward’s stories? What morals is he trying to pass on to his son?
“ The ones who face
their fears lead the
most interesting lives.”
I began to delve into the origin of the stories of witches, giants,
werewolves, mermaids, etc. For example, there are several
medical conditions that mimic the appearance of a werewolf that
may have contributed to the early belief in their literal existence. Hypertrichosis creates unusually long hair on the
face and body, creating a pelt like appearance. A second condition, porphyria, is characterized by extreme sensitivity
to light, thus encouraging its victims to only go out at night.1 Neither of these rare conditions turns anyone into a
werewolf, but either of them could contribute to a person being seen as or considering themselves outside normal
society.
What others perceived as monsters comprised the inner circle of Edward’s friends. His adventures with the strange
and unknown encourage his son, and us, to consider what lies beneath. Instead of slaying beasts, he helps them.
Whereas fairy tales were cautionary stories warning one to stay away from life’s dangers, Edward Bloom’s tales are
inclusionary: encouraging his son to embrace the world.
“The ones who face their fears lead the most interesting lives.” ~ Big Fish
1 Benjamin Radford “Werewolves: Lore, Legend & Lycanthropy” Live Science n.p. October 30, 2012.
Located adjacent to
Taproot Theatre
WHERE TASTE TAKES CENTER STAGE
seattlestagedoor.com
A-10 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Pre-order your
intermission drinks
and snacks before
the show begins
and it will be waiting
for you when you
come into the cafe.
UNFORGETTABLE
Tuesday, July 26 @ 7:30pm-9:00pm
Isaac Studio Theatre
Do you have a family story that has become a legend?
The vacation adventure. The fish that got away. A victory achieved against all odds.
Taproot Theatre is hosting a story-swapping session about family adventures that will
never be forgotten. We’ve already invited some familiar Taproot faces to share their
stories, but we’re leaving plenty of time for YOUR family legends as well!
Note: Stories should be 3-8 minutes long and appropriate for all ages.
Anyone is welcome to come and listen or share!
This CONVERSATIONS event is FREE, but seating is limited. General admission tickets are required.
Email sonjal@taproottheatre.org to reserve your seats. Tickets may be available
at the Taproot Box Office on the day of, but seating is not guaranteed.
TAXES GOT YOU DOWN?
Planned gifts provide you the ability to keep
control of your assets during your lifetime,
while also providing tax benefits for yourself
and your heirs.
When you make a charitable gift through your
estate, you allow Taproot Theatre to continue telling
hope-filled stories from the stage for years to come.
Talk to your own advisor to determine what
type of gift is right for you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
TAPROOTTHEATRE.ORG/PLANNED-GIVING
Chris Ensweiler and Ian Bond in Jeeves Intervenes at Taproot
Theatre. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.
encore art sseattle.com A-11
THANK YOU
Taproot Theatre gratefully acknowledges the following donors, whose generous support allows the company to
continue its commitment to creating theatre experiences that inspire imagination, conversation, and hope. This
list reflects gifts made between February 1, 2015 and March 29, 2016. While space limitations prevent us from
including every donor, we are pleased to present a more extensive list on the front wall of our lower lobby. If you
have any questions or would like more information about making a tax-deductible gift to Taproot Theatre (a 501c3
organization), please contact Sonja Lowe at 206.529.3672 or sonjal@taproottheatre.org.
INSTITUTIONAL DONORS
$10,000 +
Fredric Sjoholm,Trustee,
Margery M. Jones Trust
M.J. Murdock
Charitable Trust
Moccasin Lake
Foundation
Anonymous (3)
$5,000 - $9,999
Intermec
Foundation
Anonymous (2)
$2,500 - $4,999
$1,000 - $2,499
$500-$999
Ballard Industrial ∙ Hazel Miller Foundation
∙ Kelly Foundation of Washington ∙ National
Philanthropic Trust ∙ Nisqually Indian Tribe
∙ Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund ∙ University
Lions Club ∙ Verity Credit Union
McEachern Charitable Trust ∙ On Eagle`s
Wings Foundation ∙ Puyallup Tribe of
Indians ∙ Ronald Blue & Co., LLC ∙ St.
John`s Lodge #9
Magnolia United Church of Christ
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
ANGELS ($10,000 +) David C. Allais ∙ Larry & Lorann Bjork ∙ John & Ann Collier ∙ Christopher & Patricia Craig ∙ Gary & Deborah Ferguson ∙ Mike &
Barb Jewell ∙ Sandy Johnson ∙ Glenna Kendall ∙ Kraig & Pam Kennedy ∙ Philip & Cheryl Laube ∙ George & Alyssa Petrie ∙ Grace Rutherford ∙ Susan
Rutherford ∙ Dr. George & Claire Scranton ∙ Richal & Karen Smith ∙ Steve Thomas and Kris Hoots ∙ Daniel & Margret Voetmann ∙ Anonymous (3)
MARQUEE ($5,000 - $9,999) Russell & Janice Ashleman ∙ David & Anne Ball ∙ Tom & Linda Burley ∙ James & Kay Coghlan ∙ Benjamin & Amanda
Davis ∙ Alan & Carol Gibson ∙ God’s Money ∙ Greg & Karen Greeley ∙ Dorothy Herley ∙ Wayne & Naomi Holmes ∙ Terry & Cornelia Moore ∙ Erik Nelson
∙ G.M. & Holly Roe ∙ Dion & Gregory Rurik ∙ Loren & Carol Steinhauer ∙ Daryl & Claudia Vander Pol ∙ Daniel & Joann Wilson ∙ Anonymous
PRODUCERS ($2,500 - $4,999) Fil & Holly Alleva ∙ Inez Black ∙ Melvin & Cordelia Brady ∙ Juan & Kristine Espinoza ∙ Leona Foley ∙ Brad Gjerding ∙
Maren & Braden Goodwin ∙ Carolyn Hanson ∙ Scott & Pattei Hardman ∙ Karen Koon ∙ Susan Lamar ∙ Frank Lawler & Ann McCurdy ∙ Mark & Karen
Lund ∙ Fred & Carolyn Marcinek ∙ Charles & Carol Maurer ∙ Peter & Megumi Morrill ∙ Dr. Les & Carol Nelson ∙ Lloyd & Jackie Nolte ∙ Scott & Pam
Nolte ∙ Craig & Deanna Norsen ∙ Bruce & Cynthia Parks ∙ Steve Pellegrin & Mary Anne Braund ∙ Brian and Christa Poel ∙ Mona Quammen ∙ Dale
& Paula Quigg ∙ Vic & Kristine Rennie ∙ Dr. Sarah Roskam ∙ Ron & Susan Runyon ∙ David & Joan Selvig ∙ Ronald & Dorita Smith ∙ Leora Wheeler ∙
Jean Winfield ∙ Anonymous
DIRECTORS ($1,000 - $2,499) Mike & Shirley Allert ∙ Terry & Nancy Beckham ∙ Jeff & Anjie Berryman ∙ Doug & Tambra Birkebak ∙ Jack & Maralyn
Blume ∙ Amy Bonney-Hoffman ∙ Lisa Bontje ∙ Robert & Roberta Brown ∙ Mark & Elle Bullard ∙ Margaret Bullitt ∙ Clifford & Char Burns ∙ Tanya
Button ∙ Jack & Vicki Carney ∙ Russell & Fay Cheetham ∙ Cline Jewelers ∙ Wayne & Greta Clousing ∙ James & Janis Cobb ∙ Alan & Gail Coburn
∙ Todd & Sylvie Currie ∙ Judy Cushman ∙ Jean & Paul DeGroot ∙ Dennis & Deborah Deyoung ∙ Dale & Vicki Dvorak ∙ Kristine Engels ∙ Pamela
Erickson ∙ Brian & Laura Faley ∙ Joyce Farley ∙ Marion Fisher ∙ Virginia Fordice ∙ Michael & Karen Frazier ∙ Steven & Jamie Froebe ∙ Sean &
Catherine Gaffney ∙ John & Sally Glancy ∙ Linda Glenicki ∙ Richard & Stephanie Gordon ∙ Bonnie Green ∙ Tim Greenleaf ∙ Lewis & Elizabeth Hale
∙ Norm & Anne Hamilton ∙ Rich & Judi Harpel ∙ Peter & Anne Haverhals ∙ Joseph & Elizabeth Helms ∙ Peter & Cynthia Herley ∙ David & Mary Kay
Hilmoe ∙ David & Connie Hiscock ∙ Evan & Molly Holzknecht ∙ Dr. Rick & Susan Hornor ∙ John & Judith Hubbell ∙ Lee & Ginnie Huntsman ∙ Bill
Johns ∙ Mark & Mary Kelly ∙ Robert & Lisa Kutter ∙ Barbara & Edmond Lee ∙ Harry & Linda Macrae ∙ Velma Mahaffey ∙ Scott & Mary Matthews ∙
Robert & Roberta McBride ∙ Lee & Janet McElvaine ∙ Tim & Sharon McKenzie ∙ Tom & Jean Mohrweis ∙ Don & Kim Morris ∙ Tom & Linda Morris
∙ Matt Mullett ∙ George & Joy Myers ∙ Craig & Linda Nolte ∙ Peter & Amy Beth Nolte ∙ Gordon & Mary Nygard ∙ John & Lucy Nylander ∙ Jason &
Justine Olawsky ∙ Mary Pagels ∙ Thom Parham ∙ Jeff & Joann Parrish ∙ Kathy Pearson ∙ Ralph & Joan Prins ∙ Greg & Megan Pursell ∙ John &
Patricia Putnam ∙ Tom & Claudia Rengstorf ∙ Jeanine & Paul Rosser ∙ Lawrence & Nancy Rudolph ∙ Dan & Debra Rupert ∙ Kathryn Sand ∙ Melia
Scranton & Sam Vichitnand ∙ Todd & Teresa Silver ∙ Dave Smith ∙ Robert L. Smith ∙ Bill Snider & Kendra VanderMeulen ∙ Charles & Marilyn Snow
∙ James & Elise Stephens ∙ Component Products Corp. ∙ Barbara Suder ∙ Victoria Sutter ∙ Beverly Taylor & Jack Stevenson ∙ Stephen & Elda Teel ∙
Erika Trott ∙ Jeff & Margie Van Duzer ∙ Jewely Van Valin-Jackson ∙ John & Jan Vander Linden ∙ Fred & Judy Volkers ∙ Doug Warne ∙ James & Sharon
Welch ∙ James & Jo White ∙ Randon & Carolyn Wickman ∙ Larry & Linda Williams ∙ David & Ann Woodward ∙ Richard & Keltie Wright ∙ Robert &
Maree Zawoysky ∙ Anonymous (2)
PLAYWRIGHTS ($500 - $999) Thomas Ackerman ∙ Calvin & Carolyn Agatsuma ∙ Fred & Janet Alkire ∙ Scott & Karen Altus ∙ Jim Angerer ∙ Jenny
Anttila & Greg Toy ∙ Daryl & Sue Banks ∙ Craig & Denise Daniels Barwell ∙ Tom Bayley ∙ Geraldine Beatty ∙ Margaret Blau ∙ James & Melinda
Bohrer ∙ Tom & Jan Boyd ∙ Kevin & Anne K. Brady ∙ Jeff & Robin Brumley ∙ Michael & Linda Casteel ∙ Don Cavanaugh ∙ Barbara Clark ∙ Ron
& Nancy Clinkenbeard ∙ William & Andrea Collison ∙ Donald & Laura Cooper ∙ Ron & Liz Cooper ∙ Ronald & Elizabeth Cooper ∙ Wally & Susan
Danielson ∙ Paul & Phyllis Davis ∙ Bruce & Glyn Devereaux ∙ Earl & Denise Ecklund ∙ Gary & Juelle Edwards ∙ Ronald & Virginia Edwards ∙ Laura
& Thomas Faber ∙ Stanley & Jane Fields ∙ Bruce & Patricia Finlayson ∙ Lee Fitchett ∙ Julia Forbes and Ed Waddington ∙ Thomas & Marybeth Fox ∙
Gary & Kathy Gable ∙ Robert Gallaher ∙ Charles & Betty Gardner ∙ Allen & Lori Gilbert ∙ Laurence Gockel ∙ William Gowen ∙ Warren & Janet Gregory
∙ Lyle & Sharon Groeneveld ∙ Kirsten Gunning ∙ Kathryn Hansen ∙ Susan Haugen ∙ Henry & Lauren Heerschap ∙ Jonathan Henke ∙ Loren & Isobel
Hostek ∙ Mark Jenkins ∙ David & Christina Johnson ∙ Ann Kalas ∙ Karen Kent & Adam Woog ∙ Harold & Ruth Kephart ∙ Susan & Alan Kimpton ∙
Alfred & Barbara Koury ∙ Matt Kraske & Marie Kiekhaefer ∙ Beth Kunz & Michael Cooney ∙ Jack Lee & Pm Weizenbaum ∙ Douglas & Lyn Lee ∙ Ben
& Donna Lipsky ∙ Laura & Carl Markley ∙ Chris Marl ∙ Bob & Karolyn McDaniel ∙ Mel & Janet McIntyre ∙ Bruce & Christe McMenomy ∙ Jerry Millar
∙ Cliff & Beryl Moon ∙ Jerel & Bess Navarrete ∙ Bryce & Bonnie Nelson ∙ Timothy & Heidi Nelson ∙ David & Judy Nofziger ∙ Sean & Carrie Nordberg
∙ Paul & Cathy Nordman ∙ Tom & Sue North ∙ Vicki Olsen ∙ Carole & Jerry Packard ∙ Nolan & Lorena Palmer ∙ Danielle Palser ∙ Pat Parsons ∙ Mark
& Camille Peterson ∙ Lee & Anne Pipkin ∙ Mary & Michael Pooleon ∙ Bill & Jodie Purcell ∙ Nancy Repenning ∙ Cathie Rohrig ∙ Bruce & Candace
Sagor ∙ Frederick & Caroline Scheetz ∙ Edward & Bonnie Schein ∙ Norman & Eden Sellers ∙ Lynn Sharp & Kathryn Olson Sharp ∙ Bob & Myrna
Sherman ∙ Rolan & Lynn Shomber ∙ Kathryn Slagle ∙ Ed & Kathy Sterner ∙ John C. Strander ∙ Craig Strausz ∙ Jordan & Megan Swanson ∙ Sharon
Swift & Sreng Ly Lim ∙ Michael & Laura Thomason ∙ Robert & Gina Thorstenson ∙ Suzanne Townsend ∙ Daniel & Joanna Trefethen ∙ Curtis Urban ∙
Gretchen Van Dyk ∙ Janet G. West ∙ Isabelle Woodward ∙ Glen & Eilene Zachry ∙ Daniel & Jennifer Zubeck ∙ Anonymous (2)
A-12 TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Taproot Theatre Company
is a professional, nonprofit theatre with a
multifaceted production
program. Founded in 1976,
TTC serves the Pacific
Northwest with touring
productions, Mainstage
Theatre productions and
the Acting Studio. Taproot
is a member of Theatre
Communications Group
(TCG), Theatre Puget Sound
(TPS) and the Phinney
Neighborhood Association.
Taproot Theatre
Company creates
theatre experiences
to brighten the spirit,
engage the mind
and deepen the
understanding of the
world around us while
inspiring imagination,
conversation and hope.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 30946
Seattle, Washington
98113-0946
Administrative Offices:
206.781.9705
Fax: 206.297.6882
Box Office:
206.781.9707
box@taproottheatre.org
taproottheatre.org
facebook.com/
taproottheatre
twitter: @taproottheatre
instagram:
@taproottheatre
Verdi Good Idea
Bringing Classical Music to the Masses
A recent Opera on Tap performance at the Narwhal in Capitol Hill
Opera on Tap is pouring
out opera locally.
Photos by Shane Williams
It’s a regular night at the dive bar that is
the Blue Moon Tavern. Folks perched on
stools looking out at the Seattle gloom.
Folks arrayed in a booth, wooden tables
all scuffed and abused with graffiti.
Folks standing around outside with
cigarettes, trying not to get wet from
the besotted sky. Or is it a regular
night? For what’s happening on stage,
exactly? A soprano is singing. A tenor,
too, and they’re singing…opera? Here?
At the Blue Moon Tavern? Why can’t
opera stars be rock stars, too? They can,
thanks to Opera on Tap.
Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2005,
Opera on Tap now has 19 chapters
internationally, bringing opera to the
masses. It was founded, as their website
states, to “promote opera as a viable,
living and progressive art form and to
support the artists who continue to
keep the art form alive.” Drinking beers
with Berlioz and booze with Beethoven
is something Seattleites are now
growing accustomed to because of the
city’s chapter growing event by event.
Ksenia Popova, a proclaimed “comanaging diva” of the operation, is a
Russian-born, Seattle-based soprano.
This is to say, Popova is not just
promoting opera locally, she’s singing
it. A frequent soloist for Seattle Opera
Guild’s Preview Groups, she, along
with other like-minded divas and
divos, put together events around the
city with accomplished singers and
musicians. “We make opera,” she says,
“approachable and digestible. Also, it’s
rare that you’ll have a singer blasting
away just inches from you — it’s a
encore art
artsseattle.com
sseattle.com 5
SENGA
NENGUDI:
IMPROVISATIONAL
GESTURES
HENRY ART GALLERY
H E N R YA R T.O R G
JULY 16 – OCT 9
visceral feeling you wouldn’t get going
to a concert hall.”
This past April, at Naked City in
Greenwood, they put together “Art
of War,” highlighting opera’s most
famous power struggles. In May, at the
Blue Moon, Opera on Tap performed
“Much Ado about Opera,” focusing on
Shakespearean opera. In June, they had
a show at the tiki-themed bar, Hula
Hula. The shows are a $5 suggested
donation with the monies garnered
distributed amongst the performers.
Senga Nengudi: Improvisational
Gestures is organized by the Museum
of Contemporary Art Denver and
the University of Colorado Colorado
Springs Gallery of Contemporary
Art. The presentation at the Henry is
organized by Nina Bozicnik, Assistant
Curator, with support from 4Culture,
ArtsFund, and the Seattle Office of
Arts & Culture.
Senga Nengudi, studio performance of Mesh
Mirage, 1978. Image courtesy of the artist
and Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver.
Photo: Adam Avila.
There’s a growing effort to showcase, in
the city, classical music and its forms
to communities who might not have
access to it otherwise. Perhaps a ticket
to Seattle Opera’s The Flying Dutchman
is a little too much for some, but
perhaps $5 and a couple of drinks at the
bar to hear selections from La Boheme
and The Marriage of Figaro isn’t as
challenging. Perhaps one has never
been exposed to opera at all and then,
suddenly, one hears Bizet’s The Pearl
Fishers in their local watering hole and
it moves them. That’s what happened
at a brewery in Ballard. Popova recalls,
“At the end of our show, a woman – who
was part of a motorcycle convention
on the same street — came up to me
with tears in her eyes. She’d never heard
opera before and thought it was the
most beautiful thing. That means a lot
to me — when we make someone feel.”
That’s what the organization is hoping
for — to expose new audiences to what
opera is and to aid opera singers in
their quest to do what they love doing
— singing opera. What better feeling
is there – than comfortably at a local
haunt with friends, frosty pints in hand,
and Pagliacci arias in one’s ears? <
6 ENCORE STAGES
Intermission
Brain Transmission
Are you waiting the curtain to rise? Or, perhaps, you’ve just returned your seat before the second act
and have a few minutes to spare? Treat your brain to this scintillating TRIVIA QUIZ!
Answer the bonus question for a chance to win tickets to a show!
1) Taproot Theatre is staging Daniel
Wallace’s Big Fish. The movie was
nominated for an Academy Award
in what category?
a) Best Picture
b) Best Director (Tim Burton)
c) Best Supporting Actor
(Albert Finney)
d) Best Score (Danny Elfman)
2) Seattle Shakespeare Company is
presenting free productions of
Love’s Labour’s Lost and Hamlet
throughout the summer outof-doors. What is the name of
Hamlet’s late father who visits his
son as a ghost?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Claudius
Fortinbras
Hamlet
Polonius
3) ACT Theatre is presenting a
world-premiere play, Daisy,
the true story of a political ad
during Lyndon Baines Johnson’s
presidential campaign. Who was he
campaigning against?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Pat Brown
Nelson Rockefeller
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Barry Goldwater
Photo courtesy of MOHAI
4) What is the King’s name in
Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Dumaine
Marcadé
Boyet
Ferdinand
5) What year did Seattle’s Moore
Theatre open?
a)
b)
c)
d)
1894
1907
1921
1938
Bonus Question
What was the last performance you attended that you liked best and why?
Email production@encoremediagroup.com or tweet to @EncoreArts with #EncoreStages and be
entered to win two tickets to an upcoming Encore Arts performance.
ANSWERS 1) C. It was nominated for Best Picture at the Golden Globes but didn’t win. 2) C. To differential from his son, he’s often referred to as King Hamlet. 3) D. Goldwater got
trounced 486 to 52 electoral votes in the ’64 election. 4) D. One of Shakespeare’s early comedies, it was first performed in 1597. 5) B. The opener was the operetta The Alaskan.
encore art sseattle.com 7
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