KIDSTAGE Co Originals Writes & Produces New Musical SAVE AS

Village Theatre KIDSTAGE Company Originals is back with a brand new musical production, created by the teens and adults of the KIDSTAGE Company. The characters, storylines, scenes, and songs are created through a process of improvisation and collaborative writing that aims to tell stories relevant to teens, with characters, conflicts, behaviors, and language reflective of the diversity of teens today.

Save As... asks the question: What happens when a popular advice blogger suddenly goes offline, leaving everyone - from the Queen Bee to the lovesick nerd - without a connection? Exploring the themes of faith, forgiveness, and healing, Save As... tells the story of high school senior Taylor and her best friend Natalie. After Taylor's brother and Natalie's soul mate, Jason, suddenly dies, Taylor decides to take over his advice blog in a misguided attempt to fix everything for everybody. Helped along by Jason's ghost-with the aid of the resident goth girl Elvira-the students of Taylor's school learn how to connect with each other again.

The Company Originals process begins with improvisation. Teen actors and writers work with an adult coach to learn improvisational skills and exercises, which they will put to use when developing a character to portray in the show. These characters are further developed in improvised conflicts and scenes. These scenes are then observed and eventually transformed into a written story, with the help of writing team mentor Suzy Conn-musical theatre composer, lyricist, and librettist whose previous writing work includes Plane Crazy, Beatrix Potter's The Tale of the Pigling Bland, The Mercer Girls, and more.

"Suzy Conn had the task of mentoring the students and helping them to shape the scenes they created based on the improvisation from the cast. She is fantastic to work with, very quick and focused both on maintaining the integrity of what the writers have put out and in telling a good story," director Eric Polani Jensen comments. When the script was nearly complete for Save As..., Conn worked alongside musical director Orlando Morales to create songs based on the ideas and conflicts in the improvisations and writing; from there, she and Jensen continued to work to assemble and edit the final script for performance.

"What makes this story special is that it comes from the students. It's through their ideas, their improvisations, and their talents. As we've mentioned to their parents what they are trying to achieve in four months-writing a musical-with six writers and 16 actors all pitching in their ideas, would take four to five years for professionals to do," Jensen comments.

Created by teens, for teens, Save As... strives to depict the teen experience honestly and authentically. The goal is that the serious issues raised will provoke thought and discussion among teens and their families, and move teens toward stronger communication, deeper understanding, and better choices.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Michelle Sanders, Public Relations manager at (425) 392-1942 x124 or at msanders@villagetheatre.org. Pre-production photos will be available on the Village Theatre website after Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

First Stage Theatre
120 Front Street North
Issaquah, WA 98027

March 6-15, 2009
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $12-$14 - ON SALE NOW
Box Office: (425) 392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org

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 and Everett 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.

Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. What began in 1979 with the vision of a small group of dedicated theatre artists has grown into one of the region's best-attended resident theatres, with over 18,000 Subscribers to the current season and 165,000 projected total attendance, youth education programs serving over 54,000 young people, families, and schools annually, and a nationally recognized program that has enabled the development of over 80 new musicals. Serving an expanding and diverse community, Village Theatre has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years with the start of our contract as the resident performing and management company at the Everett Performing Arts Center in 1998.

Mission of Village Theatre:
To be a regionally recognized and nationally influential center of excellence in family theatre
To promote a season of top quality productions
To commission and produce new musicals that achieve national exposure
To train young people in theatre skills for career opportunities and enriched lives
To develop a broad based appreciation for live theatre
To promote positive values through art