PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 23, 2007
Media Contacts: Jacquelyn Rardin, Public Relations Manager
(425) 392-1942 x124
Frank Stilwagner, Director of Marketing
(425) 392-1942 x129
www.villagetheatre.org
Village Theatre kidstage summerstock issaquah Produces Stephen Schwartz musical,
children of eden
What: Children of Eden
Book by John Caird
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Based on a concept by Charles Lisanby
Directed by Eric Polani Jensen
Choreographed by Kristin Culp
Musical Direction by R.J. Tancioco
Where: Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
303 Front Street North
Issaquah, WA 98027
When: August 3-12, 2007
Wednesdays–Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $10-$12
Box Office: (425) 392-2202 or
www.villagetheatre.org
Issaquah, WA — Village Theatre KIDSTAGE SummerStock Issaquah produces Children of Eden, a Stephen Schwartz musical loosely based on the first chapters of the Bible. Featuring 46 students (ages 8-18), the KIDSTAGE SummerStock Production is a full-scale musical produced on the mainstage. Performers are selected through a rigorous audition process. The musical is directed and designed by theatre professionals and features a live orchestra, including 10 student musicians aged 20 and under, and many students behind the scenes as well.
Children of Eden explores with humor, heart, and humanity the age-old struggle between parent and child, and the pain that often accompanies growing up and growing apart. With lush melodies by Grammy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell) and book by John Caird (Les Misérables), Children of Eden is a visually and lyrically breathtaking musical for young and old that speaks of second chances and new beginnings.
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Page Two…Village Theatre KIDSTAGE SummerStock Produces Stephen Schwartz musical, Children of Eden
Children of Eden is directed by popular Village Theatre actor Eric Polani Jensen (Peron in EVITA) and choreographed by the talented Kristin Culp (Bye Bye Birdie, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey), with musical direction by Village Theatre favorite R.J. Tancioco. Set design is by Scott Fyfe; lighting design by Richard Schaefer; and costume design by Frederic Burleigh and Emily Stansifer. See detailed cast list below.
For more information, please contact Jacquelyn Rardin at (425) 392-1942 x124 or at . Pre-production photos are available for download at www.villagetheatre.org/photos_ks-childreneden.shtml.
About Village Theatre KIDSTAGE:
Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem and a life-long appreciation for live theatre,
KIDSTAGE is a year-round performing arts training program in Issaquah, Everett and Stanwood for young people ages 3-20. KIDSTAGE students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale KIDSTAGE productions. All performances are by KIDSTAGE students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.
About Village Theatre:
Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining quality productions for the entire family since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's best-attended Equity theatres, with over 17,000 subscribers and 170,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having launched over 60 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow’s audiences through its youth education programs, Pied Piper and KIDSTAGE, serving over 53,000 young people, families, and schools annually.
Village Theatre season sponsors are The Boeing Company, Continental Airlines, Microsoft and Lombardi’s.
Village Theatre is also funded in part by 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax Revenue, ArtsFund, ArtsUnited, Bellevue Arts Commission, City of Everett, City of Issaquah, Freixenet/Deakin Estates, Issaquah Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, Northwest Suites, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, PONCHO, The Shubert Foundation, Snohomish County Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, Standing Ovation, and Washington State Arts Commission.
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Editor’s Notes:
**Detailed Children of Eden Cast List:
Abel Hiroki Murakami, 16
Adam Colin Morris, 18
Alto Snake Emili Scherer, 13
Aphra Stephanie Miller, 16
Aysha Lindsey Hedberg, 17
Barritone Snake Payton Barronian, 17
Cain Connor Russell, 17
Eve Justine Stillwell, 18
Father Patrick Shelton, 17
Ham Matt Lang, 17
Japheth Aaron Gordon, 18
Mama Noah Heather Nobis, 18
Mezzo Snake Becca Orts, 15
Noah Robert Guerrero, 18
Seth Kenta Murakami, 14
Shem Jack Jarvis, 17
Snake Bryce Henry, 16
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Page Three…Village Theatre KIDSTAGE SummerStock Produces Stephen Schwartz musical, Children of Eden
**Detailed Children of Eden Cast List (continued):
Soprano Snake Sarah Uptagrafft, 15
Tenor Snake Tommy Sharkey, 18
Yonah Sarah Davis, 18
Young Abel Joey Capestany, 8
Young Cain Lucas Capestany, 11
Storytellers:
Alexandria Gray (8), Alton Lind (16) Alyssa Wilblitzhouser (17) , Anthony DeLeon (14), Ashley Nelson (18), Bryan Hanner (9), Casey O' Keefe (12), Cassie Smith (13), Daniel Repp (9), Elizabeth Waltzer (18), Emily Johnson (13), Emma Watanabe (11), Erin Roberts (17), Katie Griffith (9), Kelly Middleton (18), Madison Polyak (12), Maggie Penn (14), Patrick Ostrander (15), Rachael McLachlan (17), Regan Morris (9), Sam Tacher (12), Sarah Fairchild (15), Tommy Ostrander (13) and Tyler Sawers (16) .
*cast subject to change prior to run.