Contact: Marie Frederickson
(206) 529-3666
marie@taproottheatre.org
For Immediate Release
Kill Date: April 22, 2007
TAPROOT THEATRE PRODUCES NORTHWEST PREMIERE OF MARY’S WEDDING
An Award-Winning New Work by Canadian playwright, Stephen Massicotte
This heartfelt, critically acclaimed new work explores the beauty of love and the call of duty against the backdrop of World War I. On the eve of her wedding, Mary dreams of the first time she met Charlie. Memories of young love weave together through letters of their long distance courtship between the farmlands of Canada and the battlefields of France. Mary’s Wedding runs March 23 through April 21. All performances are held at Taproot Theatre at 204 N. 85th Street in Seattle. Mary’s Wedding is sponsored in part by 4Culture. Taproot Theatre’s 2007 Season partners include ArtsFund, The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, KUOW, and PONCHO.
About the Production
“So, tomorrow is Mary’s wedding, tonight is just a dream. I ask you to remember that. It begins at the end and ends at the beginning.” – Charlie, Mary’s Wedding Act 1
Mary’s Wedding takes place in a dream, traveling between the farmlands of Canada and the trenches of France during World War I. Taproot Theatre’s production dramatizes the simplicity and complexity of a dream world. Relying on the aesthetic of lighting and a constant soundscape to establish location, Mary (played by Jesse Notehelfer) and Charlie (Sam Wilson) move between a barn, tea party, shipyard and warfare trenches, maneuvering in and out of natural time and space. World War I images project against a pallid set as a constant reminder of the backdrop to the intimate love story. Blending stylized and natural movement
(choreographed by Bob Borwick and Kelly Balch), Charlie and Mary go in and out of authentic reality and Mary’s dream reality, including moments when she embodies Charlie’s officer, Sergeant Flowerdew.
“Mary’s Wedding is highly theatrical. In many ways this play has stretched us artistically,” says director Karen Lund. “There are scenic, sound and lighting elements we have never tried before on our stage. I am delighted to share this new work with our audience.”
Taproot Theatre’s production is staged under the direction of Associate Artistic Director, Karen Lund. Her production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon, and lighting designer Andy Duff. Rebecca Patterson serves as stage manager and Judy Naegeli as dramaturg.
Performance Dates & Tickets
Mary’s Wedding opens March 23 and runs Wednesday through Saturday through April 21. Midweek performances begin at 7:30 PM, Saturday matinees at 2:00 PM and Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM. Low cost previews are offered Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22 at 7:30 PM. There is a special pay-what-you-can performance on Wednesday, March 28. Tickets for that performance go on sale at noon the day of performance at Taproot Theatre’s box office. A dessert reception with the cast and director follows the opening night performance on Friday, March 23. Post-play discussions follow all Wednesday evening performances. A senior matinee performance is offered on Wednesday April 18 at 2:00 PM.
Tickets for Mary’s Wedding are $25 - $27 for midweek performances and Saturday matinees, and $29 - $32 for Friday and Saturday night performances. Preview performances are $19 - $21. Full-time students and seniors receive a $2 discount off all general tickets. Half-price student/senior rush tickets are available fifteen minutes prior to performance, subject to availability. Group discounts are available for parties of eight or more. Tickets may be ordered by phone by calling Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS.
About the Playwright
Stephen Massicotte initially set out to write an anti-war play using World War I as a setting. As the writing progressed, his personal experience of love and relationship found its way into the interactions between Mary and Charlie. The result was a critically acclaimed play with a prominent love story set against the backdrop of
World War I. Mary’s Wedding was Stephen Massicotte’s first full-length play, and has proven to be a success. Since its premiere at the 2002 playRites Festival at Alberta Theatre Projects, Mary’s Wedding has won the 2002 Betty Mitchell Award for Best New Play and the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for outstanding new publication. Mary’s Wedding has been produced in at least ten Canadian Regional Theatres, including Victoria’s Belfry, Regina’s Globe, Thunder Bay’s Magnus Theatre, the Brome Theatre in Eastern Townships, Theatre New Brunswick, and the Eastern Front Theatre, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. It has been produced in Washington D.C., San Jose, CA, England, and Scotland. His other award-winning plays include The Emperor of Atlantis, A Farewell to Kings and the one act plays Hombres and One Hard Pull. His plays, My Life of Crime and Boy’s Own Jedi Handbook series, have been Fringe Festival and Calgary Edmonton cult favorites.
Stephen is a member of the Alberta Playwrights Network, the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers and the Playwrights Guild. He is a member of the Alberta Union of Canada. Stephen is the playwright in Residence at Theatre Calgary and a frequent collaborator with Ground Zero Theatre. He has a degree in Drama from the University of Calgary.
Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.
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MARY’S WEDDING FACT SHEET
WHAT: Mary’s Wedding, by Stephen Massicotte. Directed by Karen Lund.
WHEN: Previews March 21 and March 22. Opens March 23 and runs Wednesday through Saturday through April 21. Pay What You Can Performance March 28. Senior Matinee performance April 18.
WHERE: Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th Street in Seattle
TICKETS: Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees, $25 and $27; Friday and Saturday evenings, $29 and $32; Wednesday and Thursday previews, $19 and $21; Student/Senior discount of $2 off per ticket. Group rates are available. For tickets contact Taproot Theatre’s box office at (206) 781-9707, box@taproottheatre.org or Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS.
SCHEDULE: Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday 8:00 PM, Saturday Matinee 2:00 PM
CALENDAR:
Wed. March 21 7:30 PM Preview
Thurs. March 22 7:30 PM Preview
Fri. March 23 8:00 PM Opening Night with Reception
Sat. March 24 2:00 PM
Sat. March 24 8:00 PM
Wed. March 28 7:30 PM PWYC Performance, Post Play Discussion
Thurs. March 29 7:30 PM
Fri. March 30 8:00 PM
Sat. March 31 2:00 PM
Sat. March 31 8:00 PM
Wed. April 4 7:30 PM Post Play Discussion
Thurs. April 5 7:30 PM
Fri. April 6 8:00 PM
Sat. April 7 2:00 PM
Sat. April 7 8:00 PM
Wed. April 11 7:30 PM Post Play Discussion
Thurs. April 12 7:30 PM
Fri. April 13 8:00 PM
Sat. April 14 2:00 PM
Sat. April 14 8:00 PM
Wed. April 18 7:30 PM Post Play Discussion
Thurs. April 19 7:30 PM
Fri. April 20 8:00 PM
Sat. April 21 2:00 PM
Sat. April 21 8:00 PM Closing Night
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