- Featured in Village Theatre’s 2016 Festival of New Musicals
- Developmental Production in Village Theatre’s Beta Series in February/March 2017
At the Everett Performing Arts Center
2710 Wetmore Avenue Everett, WA 98201
Box Office: (425) 257-8600
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am - 7:00pm
At the Everett Performing Arts Center
2710 Wetmore Avenue Everett, WA 98201
Box Office: (425) 257-8600 | Admin: (425) 392-1942
Book and Lyrics by Christopher Dimond
Music by Michael Kooman
Howard Barnes is a perfectly average American guy; he likes baseball and grilling things. But beneath the surface, Howard is drifting through life blind to the wonders of the world around him. That is, until the day he wakes up to discover that his life has become a musical. Desperate to escape from the show, Howard embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theatre. Equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is for people who love musical theatre, and their spouses who hate it.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Leslie Becker & Curtis Rhodes
Music by Curtis Rhodes
Downton Abbey meets Gilligan’s Island in this clever new musical. When a proper British family is stranded on a desert island, they find that they are woefully unprepared for the discomfort of nature. Since it turns out that their butler is the only one with any sort of survival skills, the family must learn to overcome prejudices in order to stay alive. Get ready to be swept away on a crisp adventure of headstrong maids, an eccentric father, and forbidden love. Based on J.M. Barrie’s play The Admirable Crichton, A Proper Place is a remarkably witty romp for the entire family to enjoy.
UPDATE:Book by Jennie Redling
Music and Concept by Phillip Palmer
Lyrics by Stacey Luftig
When a passionate young storyteller runs away from her small village in Ghana to pursue a college education and to escape an arranged marriage, she and her community must confront an intimidating and sometimes life-threatening outside world of struggling city-dwellers, activists, and shady merchants of “pretty things.” My Heart Is the Drum is a poetic, authentic, and electrifying story of awakening and love’s enduring power that is nothing short of breathtaking.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Aaron Jafferis
Music by Ian Williams/p>
In a world spinning out of their control, two young friends find meaning and purpose in their local Hispanic street gang. When a sudden attack ignites a bitter internal battle between ideals and survival, they are faced with a dilemma that tests the paradoxes of the human heart. Gripping, brutally honest, and fueled by a poetic hip-hop/rock/Latin score, Kingdom not only delves into the eye of a cycle of violence, but illuminates the paths out of that storm in an important experience for theatre veterans and newcomers alike.
UPDATE:Book by Kirby Ward & Beverly Ward
Music and Lyrics by Beverly Ward
What determines your fate? According to a mysterious palm reader’s predictions, love will prevail for a young couple under one condition: the groom must become a murderer. Full of colorful characters and toe-tapping numbers, Deadly Beloved is a retelling of Oscar Wilde’s classic short story, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and will have you guessing what could possibly be “waiting ‘round the bend.”
UPDATE:Book by Gordon Greenberg
Music and Lyrics by Tommy Newman
Jane Austen gets a musical theatre revamp! Set in the swinging ‘60s, a spirited secretary-turned-advice-columnist sets out to prove that women can be so much more than perfect little housewives. In a driving, pop-rock-fueled musical inspired by Austen’s Emma, watch the hilarious antics that ensue when a bit of “advice” goes terribly awry. With love ballads in dentist chairs and masquerade ball fiascos, The Single Girls Guide has a fizzy spirit that echoes the questions we continue to ask about marriage, sex, and being single.
UPDATE:By Michael Norman Mann
Songs by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
The year is 1933, and Peter Jones has nothing left but the shabby remains of what was once a great hotel and mine in Cumberland, Maryland. Now, as Jones’ health is fading, a reunion with his estranged son causes conflicts to boil to the surface as the whole town waits to see what will happen to the small fortune that still remains. With a soul-filled score made up of music by the Grateful Dead, including hits like “Friend of the Devil” and “Attics of My Life,” this new musical is a story about broken dreams, new hopes, and the fragile ties of family and loved ones.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey and Melanie Burgess
Music by Tim Symons
Atight-knit group of twenty-somethings, friends since high school, find their lives upended by loss—and by a sudden, vivid, spiritual change in one of their surviving members. Can their friendships survive the changes? Will differences in their deeply-held beliefs divide them, or somehow bring them closer together? How far is too far to go in seeking answers to the spiritual questions that trouble us all? A funny, thought- provoking, sometimes moving look at life, love, and faith.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Christopher Dimond
Music by Michael Kooman
Howard Barnes is a perfectly average American guy; he likes baseball and grilling things. But beneath the surface, Howard is drifting through life blind to the wonders of the world around him. That is, until the day he wakes up to discover that his life has become a musical. Desperate to escape from the show, Howard embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theatre. Equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is for people who love musical theatre, and their spouses who hate it.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Sammy Buck
Music by Brandon James Gwinn
At the urging of his father, ‘adorkable’ Scott auditions for his high school’s musical to get closer to the drama club queen bee. But when his dad discovers that the show is Rent, he forces Scott to quit. With the arrival of a New York transplant, her outspoken mom, and rising community fear about the show, the stage is set for a controversy unlike this small town has ever seen. As the escalation drives wedges between father and son—and mother and daughter—Speargrove, Texas will discover that the show can’t open until their minds do. Inspired by real events, Small Town Story explores the indelible power of theatre and the inherent dangers of silence.
UPDATE:Book, Lyrics, and Music by Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen
The year is 1720 and well-respected pirate Mary Read is disguising herself as a man to avoid breaking Pirate Law. Complicating matters is a mutiny in the works by a restless and treasure-less crew, and a Danish captive-turned-crewmember who has caught Read’s affection. This new musical is inspired by a true story, and is a swashbuckling adventure that will sail the seas in search of true identity. Created by the writing team of Cloaked, Maiden Voyage is a fun musical romp boasting upbeat music with a dash of pirate swagger.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Stephen Cole
Music by David Evans
1970: The Golden Age of Musical Theatre is drawing to an end, but twelve-year-old Muriel Plakenstein doesn’t know that. Running away from home to become a Broadway star, she stumbles upon the one and only Ethel Merman. Now, she’s living her dream under the wing of the Queen of Broadway. With a score of tunes harkening back to musicals like Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, and On the Town, but with a modern twist, this is a feel-good musical for the whole family.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by David Javerbaum
Music by Brendan Milburn
With book and lyrics penned by 12-time Emmy Award-winning David Javerbaum (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All), this over-the-top political satire musical is based on the true story of James Watt, Ronald Reagan’s infamous Secretary of the Interior. Watt is best remembered for opening millions of acres of federal land for exploitation, banning the Beach Boys from 4th of July festivities, and successfully offending nearly everyone he came across. An eclectic score by Jonathan Larson Award-winner Brendan Milburn boasts music ranging from gospel, to rock, to country, making this a brazen musical experience unlike anything you’ve seen before.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey and Melanie Burgess
Music by Tim Symons
Atight-knit group of twenty-somethings, friends since high school, find their lives upended by loss—and by a sudden, vivid, spiritual change in one of their surviving members. Can their friendships survive the changes? Will differences in their deeply-held beliefs divide them, or somehow bring them closer together? How far is too far to go in seeking answers to the spiritual questions that trouble us all? A funny, thought- provoking, sometimes moving look at life, love, and faith.
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by Matthew Robinson
This hysterical new musical will take you into the off-screen lives of a group of performers in the hit children’s show, Happy People. As it turns out, these cast members are far from “happy,” and their lives are about to take a turn for the worst as they prepare to embark on a 10th anniversary, 40-state tour. With the future of the show (and their jobs) in a sudden sinkhole, they’re going to need to do more than “brush all your bubbles of trouble away.” Boasting a collec- tion of songs that sound like they popped out of the world of kiddy-tv, this show is a hilarious look at what can happen to grown-ups who get lost in the magical land of children’s television.
UPDATE:By Scott Warrender
Set on the border between Mexico and Arizona, this powerful new musical drama is a stunning story of love, loneliness, and desperation. In a small town where immigration laws are the main topic of conversation, one woman is recovering from more than just surgery when two illegal immigrants stumble through her front door. With a sweeping score of emotional music, this extraordinary story is about what happens when different lives come crashing together as they search for a light to bring them home.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Eric Price
Music by Frank Terry
In this coming of age musical, a popular girl and her two nerdy schoolmates take advantage of the newborn Internet to transform themselves into an unlikely trio of online stock market advisors. But when their advice sends a blue-collar taxi driver to bankruptcy and the SEC to investigate their antics, the teens must find a way to make amends. The new-fangled concept of computers coupled with the unpredictable ups and downs of the stock market make Hello Out There a guilt-alleviating lesson about the transition of growing into the adult world. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Beth Blatt
Music by Daniel Green
The Oneida commune strives for the perfection in life, endeavoring for flawlessness with expressively open communal practices. But in such a small community, it’s only a matter of time before things start to go wrong. Discouraged “sticky” feelings and attachments are stirred up between members, and soon the devout become filled with doubt. Based on the true story of the 1848 Oneida Community in New York, journey into this world of ultimate idealization and the repercussions of trying to suppress the unpredictability of human emotions.
UPDATE:Book by Kevin Merritt
Lyrics by David Henry Hwang
Music by Kevin So
For his entire life, Asian-American Victor Woo has dreamed of performing with his piano on stage and becoming a superstar. But after his father’s death, his tradition-based mother needs help maintaining the family Chinese restaurant and Victor must now grapple with difficult life-decisions that could make or break his performer profile. Already knowing that fitting in to the cookie cutter music industry is a road riddled with judgmental views and Asian-stereotypes, he needs to make the decision to stick with his roots or continue to battle the bigotry of the music industry to be a star. Rich with R&B influenced melodies; this new musical will have you cheering for the American rock star dream—no matter who is pursuing it. [official website]
UPDATE:Book, Lyrics, and Music by Bryan Putnam
The town of Lidice was destroyed during WWII, snuffed out by the Nazi’s and removed from maps. In this poignant new musical, the spirit of Lidice lives on in the memory of one heartsick toymaker and three of his most prized handcrafted creations. Inexplicably drawn to his story, a modern-day American woman has purchased two of the toys. Now, she is about to set off on an irrational journey to Europe to find the third—drawn by her own longing for children and a connection to a tale she can’t fully understand. With a heartrending score laced with sadness and hope, The ToyMaker is both brave and compassionate and reminds us all of the injustice and forgiveness of mankind.
[official website]
Book by Richard Dresser
Lyrics by Willie Reale
Music by Robert Reale
Most would say the Boston Red Sox were stuck under the Curse of the Bambino for 86 long years due to their badly calculated trade of Babe Ruth… but was this really the cause? This new musical takes a fresh spin on the rumored old tale, intertwining the discrimination of the 1920s with the heartfelt story of a young and talented white pitcher’s love for a black jazz singer. Bursting with a sprightly score and elevating lyrics, it’s a story about love and forgiveness, unjustifiable prejudice, and the good ‘ole game of baseball.
UPDATE:Music by Scott Murphy
Book and Lyrics by Nathan Christensen
This stirring new musical, based on Lois Lowry’s beloved novel, The Giver, reveals a glimpse of a colorless world without pain, sickness, or conflict, in which human contact is discouraged and love is a word neither understood nor spoken. Amidst robotically content inhabitants, a boy emerges with the capacity to see and feel much more than his society allows. Accompanied by haunting melodies and poetically layered vocals, his struggle to reconcile his new found emotions with a world that ignores them reminds us that maybe life is only real when it’s raw. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Susan DiLallo Music by Fred Thaler
Step into the life of nine year old Jane, where her only escape from the shadow of her extravagant and successful mother is her imaginary friend, Michael. Despite Michael’s early attempt to give Jane a healthy childhood, he finds her 20 years later still struggling against her mother’s manipulative grasp, and drowning in the false promises of a fair-weather boyfriend. With fast-paced Manhattan as its backdrop and a cheeky big band score leading the way, this new musical tells a tale of friendship, fidelity, and showbiz, all the while reminding us that true love has the power to shock your senses and transform your soul.
UPDATE:Book and New Lyrics by Cheri Steinkellner
New Music and Arrangements by Georgia Stitt
Get ready to tap your toes and snap your fingers to a catchy ragtime score as this new musical takes you on a whirlwind ride through the classic American songbook. Follow Nelly and Mickey down the tenement lined streets of the lower east side, and into a world where neighbors are nosy, making rent is a struggle, and music is the business to be in! From cross-dressing to fleeing the local gangster, they find that talent takes a backseat to a little luck, a little pluck, and a lot of heart.
UPDATE:By Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt
Long before Joan Jett, Lizzie Borden was the ultimate axe wielding rebel girl, who garnered fame, fortune, and two dead parents, all without a scratch on her criminal record. In this gripping new musical, a powerfully passionate rock score leads us deep into the darkness of the Borden house and gives us a glimpse of the silent suffering endured by its female residents. Though the tale of Lizzie’s dastardly deed is over a hundred years old, this production sheds light on a new angle, one that leaves us contemplating the limits of a desperate young woman with the strength to slaughter and the guile to get away with it.
UPDATE:Book by Christy Hall
Lyrics by Jordan Mann
Music by Jeff Thomson
With love, loss, and 34 years behind them, two childhood buddies embark on a perilous adventure that will test their strength and stamina, but most of all their friendship. As they set out to hike the entire 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, Mike and Seth find that Mother Nature isn’t the only woman between them and their future. With enchanting melodies and inspiring lyrics, this new musical wrestles with the concept of the elusive American Dream, but leaves us certain that time, love, and nature will never pay attention to your plans. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Brian Hargrove
Music by Barbara Anselmi
The bride is Jewish. The groom is Catholic. Her mother is a force of nature, his mother is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. And when the bride’s ex-boyfriend crashes the party, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than you can whistle “Here Comes the Bride!” Plots are hatched, pacts are made, secrets are exposed – and the sister of the bride is left to turn a tangled mess into happily ever after. A musical comedy for anyone with parents, It Shoulda Been You is set to shine on the Mainstage. [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Raymond De Felitta
Music by Kim Oler
Lyrics by Alison Hubbard
Despite a pattern of failed professional endeavors, ambitious Buddy Visalo refuses to accept defeat. The year is 1956, and much to the chagrin of his wife, Buddy is setting out to open a flourishing bar where he can pursue his true passion: singing. Unfortunately, nothing ever seems to go quite as planned for Buddy, whose dreams are smothered by financial woes, his wife’s doubts, and, to add to the chaos, an Irish American tenant with a mixed race child. Torn between his conscience and the pressure of his peers, Buddy is transported onto a road of twists and turns that just might lead to everything he’s ever wanted.
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by Suzy Conn
Attention, attention please. Now boarding is Faith Hope, winner of the Miss Teen Toledo pageant and recent graduate of the Venus Airlines Stewardess Academy. It’s 1965, and Faith is about to learn that being a stewardess is more about girdles and groping hands than onboard meals and emergency exits. Just as Faith enters the fray, Venus Airlines takes on a bold, new advertising symbol of the living breathing example of blossoming female sexuality…the stewardess. Little do they know that their chosen “Miss Venus”, the once naïve Faith Hope, will soon become their worst nightmare: empowered. This quirky and upbeat new musical is an uplifting and hilarious story about fighting back and demanding respect.
UPDATE:By Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt
Long before Joan Jett, Lizzie Borden was the ultimate axe wielding rebel girl, who garnered fame, fortune, and two dead parents, all without a scratch on her criminal record. In this gripping new musical, a powerfully passionate rock score leads us deep into the darkness of the Borden house and gives us a glimpse of the silent suffering endured by its female residents. Though the tale of Lizzie’s dastardly deed is over a hundred years old, this production sheds light on a new angle, one that leaves us contemplating the limits of a desperate young woman with the strength to slaughter and the guile to get away with it.
UPDATE:Story by Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen
Book by Michelle Elliott
Lyrics by Danny Larsen and Michelle Elliott
Music by Danny Larsen
In this tantalizing tale, two people venture into the wilderness of the internet in search of a human connection—but what happens when reason falls away and you lose yourself in the fantasy? This potent new musical reveals the hidden desires and darkness of the human heart and the all-consuming-power they can hold. With a modern, innovative score that blends computerized tones and haunting melodies, this spine-tingling psychological thriller is both alluring and suspenseful. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman
Step into history and watch as the young Abraham Lincoln dips in and out of trouble and makes his way as a future political leader. In the year 1842, young Abe is found slipping into the shoes of an aspiring lawyer, not to mention serving as a comedian among the townspeople. Enter the fervent and beautiful Ms. Mary Todd, who sends the young men of Springfield into a romantic flutter. This whirlwind new musical will take you through a witty and inspirational adventure as this future President grapples with his everyday ways and takes on his first real defense trial—while fumbling with the temptations of love and marriage.
UPDATE:Book by Patricia Cotter
Music by Stephen Weiner
Lyrics by Jason Rhyne
Based on the HBO film Rocket Science by Jeffrey Blitz
St-st-step into the shoes of Hal Hefner, a high school junior burdened with a surplus of family chaos and crazy teachers—not to mention the debilitating stutter that only recently came to join the party. Set to an upbeat rock score by Stephen Weiner (Once Upon a Time in New Jersey), Hal navigates the frenzied halls of high school—from his first attempt at romance, to the simple yet overwhelming task of ordering a slice of p-p-pizza, to the even more daunting prospect of competing in the state debate contest—and manages to keep both his dignity and his humor intact. This wryly comical new musical will take you back to those high school years as you watch Hal discover the importance of friendship, trust, and self-confidence.[official website]
UPDATE:By Robert Bartley and Danny whitman
Everybody loves Lucy…but what happened before Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz took Hollywood by storm? In this affecting new musical, watch as a young Cuban boy and a starry-eyed redhead from Jamestown set sail on a turbulent journey that leads them all the way to Hollywood—and into each other’s arms. But life in Tinseltown, they quickly discover, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Struggling to keep their careers, egos, and marriage afloat, these two starlets are about to discover what it takes to make it in show business, and in life.
UPDATE:By Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman
Based on Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Charming readers for over 100 years, this beloved tale rises to the musical theatre stage with a spellbinding score. The Cuthberts expected to adopt a boy, so imagine their surprise when a talkative and clever young girl steps off the train instead. Witness Anne’s transformation into a confident young woman as she works her way into the heart of everyone she meets—despite a knack for getting into trouble. Be captivated by this endearing coming-of-age story, as it transforms into a moving musical for all ages.
UPDATE:Book by Jerold Goldstein and William Squier
Lyrics by William Squier
Music by Fred Stark
This upbeat country musical is a toe-tapping, foot-stomping journey about love and the American spirit. Take a breathtaking ride on Route 66, the iconic highway that is the backbone of this unexpected love story. A struggling journalist is given an assignment no one else would take and paired up with a free-spirited photographer, forcing her to look at life from a new angle. Their assignment: Route 66. Come along as this duo learns that success is about the road taken, relationships developed, and the people you meet along the way. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Bill Nabel
Music by Bob Christianson
When Gary took his first job out of college at Immigration and Naturalization Services, he had no idea how trying his new career would become. Take Me America is an honest, striking, and sometimes-comical new pop/rock musical set in the single workday of three immigration agents. As Gary and his co-workers weigh the fear and integrity of each individual seeking refuge in America, they are forced to face the complicated space between right and wrong. Join them as they take in the extraordinary (and often befuddled) stories of those seeking refuge in America and struggle with the power they have been granted over the fate of others.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by DJ Salisbury
Music by Neil Berg
Based on the Novella by Rudyard Kipling
Featuring a soaring score, this tumultuous musical breathes vibrant life into Kipling’s celebrated novella. Two con men in search of the ultimate jackpot embark on an exotic quest as they devise a plan to conquer a native culture in colonial India. Originally focused only on treasure, both men are surprised to find that this particular adventure has much more in store, and much more at stake, than they had ever dreamed. Blinded by greed, power, and love, the two adventurers struggle to regain focus as they realize that the past can never be undone, and their futures are dissolving before their eyes.
UPDATE:Book by Ernie Chambers
Music by David Manning and Nathan Wang
Lyrics by Kevin Murphy
The boy you’ve known for years as a comic character comes to life in this vibrant and heartwarming new musical! The story begins when the Mitchell family, including their rambunctious, blonde-haired, overall-wearing son Dennis, moves from the city to a small, quiet town—and things certainly don’t stay quiet for long. Next-door neighbor George Wilson, a retired mailman, doesn’t take too kindly to the excitable boy and his constant antics. Will he ever be able to get along with Dennis? A fun and lively score accompanies this musical the whole family will enjoy!
UPDATE:Story by Cara Reichel and Peter Mills
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Peter Mills
In early 19th century England, childhood friends Stanley, Nicholas, Nathanial, Marcus, and Anne parted ways as they became adults. When Stanley and Anne announce their engagement, the four young men must confront their past and the tangled relationships among themselves and Anne, the woman who has been their muse, friend, sister, and beloved. In a time where none of them can admit what they truly desire, they must discover their own strengths as they carve out their places in the world and with each other.[official website]
UPDATE:Book, Music and Lyrics by Randy Rogel
Conceived and Created by Kirby Ward and Randy Rogel
Leo and Frederick, a father-son acting duo, are seriously down on their luck, and Frederick wishes only for a place to belong. But when he falls for a princess disguised as a peasant girl, and is then captured by the royal guard, Frederick very quickly gets a lot more than he bargained for. Meanwhile, the prince Alfonse, who bears a curious resemblance to Frederick, hears of an assassination plot against him. Alfonse’s scheming right-hand-man, Sergei, suggests the prisoner Frederick take the prince’s dangerous position—and with Frederick at the helm, chaos ensues for all. Enjoy this musical full of fast-paced action and over-the-top hilarity!
UPDATE:Book by Michelle Elliott
Lyrics by Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen
Music by Danny Larsen
The Yellow Wood gives us a glimpse into the world of Adam Davies, a high-school student with Attention Deficit Disorder who desires nothing more than to lead a “normal” life. Faced with the constant pressure of friends, parents, a persistently present sister, and the need to memorize a poem by seventh period, Adam refuses to take his medication, believing that he must be able to go without it in order to fit in. Layered with the undercurrent of Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” we follow Adam’s journey as he strives to understand the poem and, ultimately, his own identity.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman
Chasing Nicolette is a light-hearted new musical based on the medieval French romantic epic, Aucassin and Nicolette. In the year 1224, Aucassin, a young French lord, and Nicolette, a slave girl and long-lost Carthaginian princess, fall in love despite the vast difference in their cultural and social status. Aucassin’s father discovers their relationship and angrily separates the pair, who must overcome the odds to be reunited, facing a bloodthirsty count, a clueless suitor, and some gender mix-ups along the way. Follow resourceful Nicolette and romantic Aucassin through their touching, hilarious, and sometimes farcical adventures in their pursuit of true love.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Chris Burgess
Music by Denise Wright
Based on the novel Death and Plenty by Brian Leyden
A newcomer to Ennismuck, a small town on the shores of Killala Bay in Ireland, American Grace O’Connor is searching for her roots in the town of her ancestors. She is surprised when she also finds friendship, love, and a home as she joins Mulcahy, a local artist, and the townspeople in exposing the corruption of a local mining company and rallies her new friends to take control of their town under the nose of the greedy mayor. Although her relationship with Mulcahy is volatile, Grace’s passion may be enough to heal his cynicism. This is a touching story of one woman’s search for where she belongs.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by Dan Levine
Based on the book by Leo Tolstoy
Peter Kellogg, author of previous Village Original favorites Stunt Girl and Desperate Measures, comes together with composer Dan Levine to bring you this passionate musical based on the Tolstoy novel. In 1870s Russia, Anna Karenina is a woman of impeccable virtue and the wife of a government official who is 15 years her senior. When she meets the handsome and charming Alexis Vronsky, Anna must choose between an ardent love unlike anything she has experienced, and loyalty to her husband and small son. Join us for this moving story of a woman and a choice which could bring her the fiercest joy or the greatest sorrow.
UPDATE:Book by Susan DiLallo
Music by Stephen Weiner
Lyrics by Peter Mills
Susan DiLallo and Stephen Weiner, authors of the 2006-2007 Mainstage original, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, team up with lyricist Peter Mills to bring you this thrilling new musical comedy. Howard and Murray are two aspiring musical theatre writers living in New York City during the Cold War era. When they answer an ad placed by a Russian producer, hilarity ensues. Kidnapped, taken to Moscow, and forced to fix what could possibly be the worst musical ever written, they suddenly find themselves working under the gun, literally!
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Mary Bracken Phillips
Music by Craig Bohmler
A triumphant tale of friendships and growth, Sacagawea is the extraordinary musical that depicts the crossing of cultures and land alike. Explorers Lewis and Clark form an expedition to discover a water passage through the continent. Sacagawea, a young and submissive captive is sold by her captor to the men as a guide. As Sacagawea blossoms into a capable and spirited young woman in the company of the explorers, the men are forced to reevaluate their own preconceived notions of this beautiful land and it’s people.
UPDATE:Book by Richard Vetere
Music by Jeffrey Lodin
Lyrics by William Squier
Set in Queens, New York in the 1970s, 100 Years Into The Heart is a tale of fate and the choices we make, both large and small. While making the arrangements for her marriage to the dependable and handsome Vincent, Stephanie meets the charming and dangerous Sal Greco. Now, Stephanie must make the same decision her mother made years before. Will she follow in her mother’s footsteps, or venture out on her own and, in doing so, risk hurting those who have always loved and supported her?
UPDATE:Book by Martin Casella
Music and Lyrics by Keith Gordon
Story by Steve Lyons
Thom Rivers, a young doctor, returns home to Saint Heaven, Kentucky for his father’s funeral. Met with unhappy memories - and strong pressure to follow in his beloved father’s footsteps - Thom is determined to forget the pain of his past, settle Daddy’s affairs, and head back north. But his plans change when he falls in love with a black preacher who speaks in tongues. Believing her to be suffering from epilepsy, he attempts to treat her, sparking a chain of events that affect their lives and all those who live in Saint Heaven. A contemporary country/gospel/R&B score propels this intimate and inspiring love story.
UPDATE:Music and Lyrics by Scott Alan
Book by Tara Smith
Following the death of her mother, Katherine Matthews returns to her childhood home to piece together the patterns of her life. In this soaring new musical, Katherine makes peace with her past by reliving the adventuresome and heartbreaking moments she’s had with her mother at the ages of 17, 26, and 35.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis
Music by Douglas J. Cohen
Before Amelia Earhart, there was Bessie Coleman. Based on the true story of the first African-American aviatrix, Barnstormer recounts Bessie's amazing journey from the cotton fields, to aviation school, and finally into the sky, as she fought against all odds to make her dreams take flight. A remarkable adventure of Bessie's triumphs and tribulations, Barnstormer is a powerful new musical about believing in yourself, even when the world fights to keep you down.
UPDATE:Book by Sean Hartley
Music by Kim Oler
Lyrics by Alison Hubbard
Based on the book by Louisa May Alcott
An all-new, lovingly adapted musical version of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel brings the timeless tale of the March family to vivid life. In a time of war and want, Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth grow from girls into women, guided by their mother, Marmee, through romance and loss, illness and courtship, growing up, and letting go. The melodic, moving Richard Rodgers Award-winning score by Kim Oler and Alison Hubbard has an intimacy and an honesty that’s matched by the wise, faithful adaptation by Sean Hartley (Cupid and Psyche). It’s a Little Women like none you’ve seen before! UPDATE:
Music and Lyrics by Skip Kennon
Book by Fed Landau
Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Betuel
From the beloved 1980s sci-fi film comes the cosmically entertaining The Last Starfighter. Alex Rogan is eighteen and stuck in his small town with nothing much to do but master his favorite video game. Little does he know that the video game has been placed on Earth by Centauri, a con man from another galaxy desperate to save his people. And when Centauri offers Alex membership in an elite cadre of space pilots charged with protecting the universe, Alex has to reach inside himself to discover his true potential—the universe and his life depend on it! [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Jeffrey Haddow
Music by Thomas Tierney
Lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and Thomas Tierney
Based on the novel by George MacDonald
Village Theatre favorite Thomas Tierney (Eleanor, Jungle Queen Debutante) returns, teamed with Jeffrey Haddow, on this stirring, magical, stunningly-scored adaptation of George MacDonald’s classic tale At the Back of the North Wind. A young boy named Diamond takes flight from his impoverished life on the back of a beautiful, ethereal spirit named the North Wind—and he returns from his magical journey forever changed, emboldened to bring the beauty and light of all he’s seen to the shadowed lives of those around him. A truly unforgettable musical journey. Visit official show website »
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by Roy M. Rogosin
Based on the novel Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
Adapted from the screenplay by Phil Alden Robinson
“If you build it...he will come.” Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his cornfield, and takes the message to mean he’s meant to build a baseball field on his farm. So he does, risking his house and home, but his adventure’s only beginning—it takes a trip to see a reclusive author and a visit from the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson (and the rest of the shamed 1919 Chicago White Sox) to help Ray understand the meaning of that mysterious message and the true purpose of his glorious field.
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by Shrubshall and Free, Scott Guy, Ross Källing
It’s two fast and funny musicals in one! From the acclaimed Stages Festival in Chicago comes a hilarious double-bill of intertwined one-acts about dying producers and dead playwrights. In The Big Ending, a musical theatre impresario with a brain tumor is disturbed to discover everyone around him suddenly breaking into song. In The Big Beginning, a playwright’s surviving sister tries to get her brother’s show produced without compromising the integrity of the work. Hah! In theatre? Good luck!
UPDATE:Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
This incredible true story will set your toes tapping! On December 6, 1956, at Sun Studios in Memphis, legendary record producer Sam Phillips brought together four legends-to-be in one room: Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. They played, talked, played, joked, played, argued, and played all night—quickly christened the “Million Dollar Quartet,” they made music history. Part jam session, part bull session, and all rock-and-roll, this one’s bound for big things—you won’t want to miss its debut! [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Peter Ullian
Signs Of Life, a new drama with music based on the true story of the Czech ghetto Theresienstadt, tells one of the most fascinating and least known stories of the Holocaust.
Originally founded by the Nazis, Theresienstadt was specifically designated for the academic and artistic Jews of Europe. In an attempt to deceive the Red Cross and sway public perception, the Nazis decided to "beautify" the ghetto and commission a propaganda film. Signs Of Life shows the struggles of the captives of Theresienstadt as they try to expose the truth through art and music--and in doing so, discover the humanity they all share.
[visit official website]
Book by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman
Outlaw Johnny Blood’s been sentenced to death, and only his sister Isabella can save him: the Governor of the territory will spare Johnny’s life…if Isabella will give up her virtue! Can a bait-and-switch save the day? Laughs and love ride the range as Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is hilariously transported to the Wild West in this rollicking musical by Broadway talents David Friedman and Peter Kellogg.
UPDATE:Book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman
Groundbreaking Gal Reporter Circles Globe! First Female War Reporter! Funny, Fresh New Musical on Life of Nellie Bly! Born Elizabeth Cochran, she would go on to become a groundbreaking investigative journalist, intrepid world traveler, and captain of industry—all in an age when women didn’t even have the right to vote. A remarkable musical about a remarkable woman, Stunt Girl captures the adventure and romance, dreams and disappointments, thrills and sorrows of a true trailblazer.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey; Music by Tom Kitt
UPDATE:Book, Music and Lyrics by Paul Graham Brown
Inspired by actual events, this gentle, graceful, gorgeous musical transports us to 1920s England, and into a tale of imagination and inner lives, grief and healing. A grieving young boy imagines elves speaking to him by a stream, and his precocious friend schemes to forge photographs of the magical creatures. When the photographs are “authenticated” as real, attracting the attentions of the press and inquisitive author Arthur Conan-Doyle, the kids become a national sensation—but what will happen when their secret is found out?
UPDATE:Book by Stephen Witkin
Music and Lyrics by David Spencer
Based on the novel by John Vornholt
How did Aesop get those fables anyway? A mute slave is given the magical gift of voice and a world is forever changed… Journey with the famous fabulist on his epic quest for freedom in this inventive, witty, wonderfully tuneful musical. Aesop matches wits with the Sphinx, disarms a tyrant king, falls for the Delphic oracle, and somehow survives it all… armed only with his gift for a great story.
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by David Spangler and Jerry Taylor
From the creators of Play It By Heart comes a very different, but also distinctly American story: the fascinating life of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science church. Suffering a life of chronic illness and determined to find a faith that could sustain her, she finally made her own—and from her days as a faith healer to the remarkable rise of her church, this fascinating, moving musical chronicles one woman’s search for truth and belief, and how that search forever changed the face of American Christianity.
UPDATE:Music and Book by Scott Warrender
Lyrics by Scott Warrender and Tom Orr
You’re writing this one. Oh, relax—it’s easier than you think… and incredibly fun. Mad musical genius Scott Warrender has devised the “Mad-Libs Musical.” Taking audience input for story points, character details, locales and even lyrics, Scott and his intrepid troupe of actors will spin a musical tale of adventure and romance that will be truly like no other. In history. Ever. With laughs aplenty, you won’t want to miss this inspired, innovative, improvisational evening. (It won’t be the same without you!) [official website]
UPDATE:Book by David Stern
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
This romantic comedy blends some of the best-loved music from composer Stephen Schwartz’s Broadway shows (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Baker’s Wife) with some of his lesser-known gems. You’ll meet Sue and Dan, a couple who, after 20 years of marriage, have drifted apart. Together they discover a box of photographs which leads them to relive the memories of their past selves captured in the snapshots. Featuring fresh lyrics and orchestrations, our couple discovers the humorous twists of how love united them and why life has pushed them apart. Every couple will see themselves in Snapshots!
Book by Maryrose Wood
Music by Andrew Gerle
Lyrics by Maryrose Wood and Andrew Gerle
With a winning mix of sharp wit and warm romance, The Tutor tells a fresh, funny contemporary tale of love, art and what it really takes to get into Princeton. When a struggling young novelist take a job tutoring a spoiled Manhattan girl, he thinks he's just out for the quick cash. But when the characters in his novel start to come to life, and his young pupil starts to fall in love, his life takes a few surprising turns.
UPDATE:Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dan Lipton and David Rossmer
What would you do if you woke one morning to discover that your life had become a musical? Joe's a serious (and seriously struggling) actor who can't catch a break- he even swallows his hatred of musicals to audition for one, and he blows it. The next day he wakes to find that the people in his life are inexplicably bursting into song. Love musicals? Hate them? This is your show!
UPDATE:Book, Music and Lyrics by Joanne and Mark Sutton-Smith
A musical of remarkable power, Stand By The River draws on historical record to recreat pre-Civil War Philadelphia, a simmering city in a tumultuous time, where Abolitionists fought for political power, where the heroic volunteers of the Underground Railroad came to the aid of fugitives from the south, and where one family torn apart by slavery was reunited by the courage of blacks and whites working together. [official website]
UPDATE:Book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo
Music by Steven Weiner
Take the pop spirit of Grease, add the sly wit of Little Shop, and a healthy helping of New Jersey style and you get the rocking new musical Once Upon A Time In New Jersey. Hoboken, 1956: Shy guy Vinnie loves Angie, who loves Rocco, the town stud. But when one of Rocco's affairs goes awry, he gets a hit put on his head and he's forced to trade places with Vinnie to survive. [official website]
UPDATE:Book, music, and lyrics by Richard Gray
Based on the screenplay by Norman Lear and William Price Fox Jr.
Based upon the film, Cold Turkey, is the story of a small town offered $25 million to quit soking- but the offer comes from a devious tobacco company with a dastardly hidden agenda. Tuneful, terrifically funny, terribly smart and more timely than ever! [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Dale Wasserman
Music and Lyrics by Bill Francoeur and Scott DeTurk
It's Colorado, 1875, and the west is full of pioneers and dreamers, schemes, and scoundrels. Con-men Sam Goode and Red Willie Magraw come into town looking for a quick buck, disguised as preachers and talking their best game... but they end up with much more than they bargained for! [official website]
UPDATE:By Bob DeDea and Mark Sparks
Music by Meredith Wilson, Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt, and more
Spend an elegant evening with beloved actor Robert Preston in this remarkable new one-man show from Seattle writers Bob DeDea and Mark Sparks. The original "Music Man" had a long and storied career, co-starring dozens of Hollywood and Braodway luminaries... and in Ya Got Trouble, he dishes them all! A unique new look at a legend, based on exclusive interviews and featuring all time favorites like "Ya Got Trouble," "Lida Rose," "I do! I do!" and more.
UPDATE:Book, music, and lyrics by Peter Mills
Conceieved by Cara Reichel
Six twentysomethings take the plunge and make their start in New York City in this tuneful, wry revue by the writer New York's Village Voice called "the successor to Stephen Sondheim." Share in the dreams, drama, and disappointments of would-be writer Scott, would-be actress C.C., brand-new couple Sara and Mark, and not-quite-couple Karen and Zach in this fresh and funny whirlwind tour of life in the Big Apple. [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Sean Grennan and Kathy Santen
Lyrics by Cheri Coons
Music by Michael Duff
The famouse Phantom story get the boot-stompin', thigh-slapping treatment in this twangy, terrifically funny sendup. Former operatic ingenue Christinia Joseph returns home to Nashville and humbles herself to sing back-up to Sally Barker, the "Reigning Queen of Country Music." Changing her name to Chrissy Jo Jenkins, Christinia finds a mentor in Aaron, the peculiar janitor, who guides her to stardom at the Country Palace after Sally's voice meets a mysterious fate. [official website]
UPDATE:Book by Peter Ekstrom and Steve Hayes
Lyrics by Peter Ekstrom
From the authors of the Village Originals and Mainstage favorite Kiss Me Quick Before The Lava Reaches The Village comes the funny, heartfelt, and tremendously entertaining Girl of My Dreams. The moving story of wartime romance, dreams, and disappointment follows a traveling USO Troupe in the Second World War- what brought them together, how they entertain the troops, and what they learn and lose along the way. Filled with 40s-style, toe-tapping tunes, great humor and touching drama.
UPDATE:Book and lyrics by Yvonne Adrian and Cheryl Stern
Music by Tom Kochan
The Freemans like to think they're a happy family- mom Gayla and dad Robert watching their children grow and counting their blessings, brother Zach and sister Polly making their way through high school life. But when Polly is diagnosed with an eating disorder, the family is forced to take another look at the Normal life. This melodic, moving, inventive musical by Yvonne Adrian, Cheryl Stern, and Tom Kochan is hilarious, harrowing, and very human.
UPDATE:Book and lyrics by Sammy Buckl
Music by Dan Acquisto
Big hair. New Wave. Leg warmers. Like, totally- Shakespeare meets the Eighties in the delightful Like You Like It. Sammy Buck and Daniel Acquisto's musical retelling of As You Like It. Arden is a mall, Rosalind's a babe who thinks she's a loser, Celia's her pushy cousin, Orlando's a varsity wrestler. There's mistaken identity and hidden passion and high humor and tons of danceable tunes! And it all works out like you like it.
UPDATE:Book by Rob Knop
Music and lyrics by Rob Knop, Steve Hatzai, and Mark Volpe
Additional music by The Quick
A young woman escapes a tourbled childhood and sets off on a road trip to seek experience to locate herself and her life in a confusing, chaotic world- and is forever changed by her vivid journey. In the harrowing, hard-driving and ultimately hopeful Diana Moves
UPDATE:By Billy Van Zandt, Jane Milmore, and Ed Alton
A community theatre company attempts a production of the operrett The Naughty Boy but their debut is hilariously hampered by overbearing stars, a philandering composer, and an escaped mental patient. [official website]
UPDATE:By David Austin
In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. For better or for worse. Three couples put their wedding vows to the test. How lovers come together, stay together, and sometimes part.
UPDATE:Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey; Music by Tom Kitt
UPDATE:By Tom Tierney, John Forster, and Richard Wesley
Two brothers, star players in the Negro Lagues in the late 1940's, are torn apart when one is offered the chance to break the color barrier in the major leagues. When the other brother musters a dream team of African-American players to challenge the big leaguers, the showdown is set!
UPDATE:Book by Brian Yorkey and Welly Yang
Lyrics by Brian Yorkey;
Music by Woody Pak
[official website] UPDATE:
By Judy Freed and Jon Steinhagen
Emma's a traveling saleswoman in the early 20th century, struggling to keep her job and provide for her son. When the ownership of her company changes, so does her life. Quirky romance, devious villians, and a delightful, determined heroine who's a little ahead of her time, makes Emma and Company a great old-fashioned musical. [official website]
UPDATE:By Welly Yang, Derek Nguyen, Brian Yorkey and Woody Park
From Ang Lee's Acclaimed Film
The story of gay Taiwanese-American Wai Tung, who agress to a marriage out of convenience with Chinese immigrant Wei Wei. But when Wai Tung's very traditional parents arrive from Taiwan to throw the couple a wedding celebration, staying with Wai Tung and his lover Simon, it all becomes a bit inconvenient and very entertaining.
UPDATE:Book by Phil Shallat and John Engerman
Book by Will Pomerantz and Andrew Herron; Music and Lyrics by Andrew Herron and Doug Ritchie
Book and Lyrics by Joe Masteroff; Music by Edward Thomas
Book and Lyrics by Jon Marans; Music by Edward Thomas
Book by Kevin Kelly and Michael McLean; Music by Michael McLean
Book by Stephen Cole; Lyrics by Stephen Cole and Matthew Ward; Music by Matthew Ward
Book and Lyrics by Sean Hartley; Music by Jihwan Kim
Book by Randy Hugill; Lyrics by David Spangler, Jerry Taylor, and R.T. Robinson; Music by David Spangler and Jerry Taylor
Book by Brian Yorkey and Welly Yang; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey; Music by Woody Pak
Book by Steve Hayes; Lyrics by Steve Hayes and Peter Ekstrom; Music by Peter Ekstrom /p>
By Marion Adler, Adele Ahronheim, Raphael Crystal, Rick Cummins, Richard Engquist, Faye Greenberg, Alison Hubbard, Dan Kael, Kim Oler, Jimmy Roberts, Ben Schaechter, June Siegel, Carolyn Sloan, Thomas Tierney, Thomas Edward West, Greer Woodward
Please contact
Tracie Mahadeo
Donor Stewardship Manager
tracie@villagetheatre.org
(425) 392-1942 x151
It's a musical theater nerd's paradise and as a nerd one of my favorite times of the year. Jay Irwin - Broadway World
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Seattle website development. Swell Media Design