Paradise Theatre Announces New Season!

Paradise Theatre announces seven exciting and diverse shows for its 2017-2018 Season to be presented in their CURRENT Downtown venue as they continue their capital campaign "Act Local" to save LIVE theatre in Gig Harbor by creating a permanent home for the performing arts and arts education in Gig Harbor.

Auditions will be held July 9, 1-4pm for all seven shows! Email: info@paradisetheatre.org to audition for any of the upcoming shows.

See the full schedule below!

"SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. The musical is based on the 1973 play Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond. Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony's, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere.

Sept 15-Oct 7, 2017

"THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER! It tells the story of Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys, six delinquent children named the Herdmans who were engaged in misfit behavior for their age such as smoking, drinking jug wine, and shoplifting. They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers snacks. Despite protests from other church members, they are given roles in the Sunday school's Christmas play, in which they tell the Christmas story in a nonconventional fashion

Nov 17-Dec 9, 2017

"YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN" (Revised) is a fresh approach to the all-time 1967 classic, based on the beloved comic strip by Charles Schultz. Sally Brown joins Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and Snoopy in this charming revue of vignettes and songs. Based on the Comic Strip "PEANUTS" by Charles M. Schulz. Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Jan 12-Feb 3, 2018

"XANADU" This Tony Award-nominated, hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you, rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends, Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, Xanadu is hilarity on wheels for adults, children and anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired.

Mar 9-Apr 31, 2018

"ADVENTURES OF Tom Sawyer" Join Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Becky Thatcher in the greatest summer adventure ever told in this imaginative, highly theatrical adaptation of Mark Twain's incomparable classic. Featuring the thrill of mischief-making, the fickleness of first love, the cold shivers that linger after an adventure gone very wrong and the unbridled joy at discovering real buried treasure, this story is for anyone who has ever been a kid and celebrates all that is grand and glorious about childhood. This adaptation by Laura Eason was given a highly praised production by the Hartford Theatre Company.

Apr 13-May 5, 2018

"THE MUSIC MAN" By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.

June 15-July 7, 2018

"BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS This happy go lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors, and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona's cozy bordello until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution. Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music
Tony Award Nominee for Best Musical and
Best Book of a Musical

Aug 3-25, 2018

"This season is titled "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly!" with adventures that take you all over the map," says Vicki Richards, Executive Artistic Director of Paradise Theatre, Gig Harbor's only live theatre and performing arts education center, "as we launch our second season at our current downtown venue along with our ongoing capital campaign, 'Act Local'. We are taking this opportunity to create a permanent home for our uplifting, high quality, family-friendly theatre and to continue our mission of introducing young people here on the Peninsula to lifelong skills of goal-setting and teamwork through expressive arts education. We are asking our neighbors, businesses and local leaders to 'Act Local' and save LIVE theatre here in Gig Harbor."

The goals of the campaign are to raise enough capital to acquire and develop a performing arts center in Gig Harbor which includes a 250-seat main stage, dressing rooms, a music room, rehearsal space, classrooms plus fully equipped kitchen, scenic and costume shops. Act Local has completed PHASE I of a 4 PHASE campaign that included a new temporary relocation in downtown Gig Harbor where we currently are. We are currently in PHASE 2 with a goal of raising $120,000 toward the infrastructure of a permanent location. We have received grants from Dimmer Family Foundation, Key Bank, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Charitable Trust Fund and a $10,000 donation from an individual from our community. Act Local is also being supported by a $120,000 per year Google Ad Grant and a technology grant of CRM software (a $15,000+ annual value) from Salesforce Foundation.

"Please join us as we present some of Broadway's best for our 18th season for you and your family. The shows range from the dark London streets of SWEENEY TODD geared for our more mature audiences to the hilarious hit musical XANADU, a satirical take on the motion picture cult classic which will have the whole family singing and dancing in the aisles.

Full Season Subscriptions are available beginning June 16 through July 31, 2017. Individual show tickets will be available beginning August 1, 2017.

Vicki Richards states, "Throughout our season, we are providing special events to contribute to the Act Local Capital Campaign to enable us to keep live, Broadway-style theatre right here in Gig Harbor. There are also a variety of meaningful and permanent recognition opportunities available for those who would like to help us build our performing arts and education center. It's a great way to leave a legacy for generations to come! Join us for our exciting year of great storytelling and learn more about how your tax-deductible donation can support our mission. Act Local and save LIVE theatre arts in Gig Harbor!"

About Paradise Theatre:

Paradise Theatre was created to serve the community by providing both theatre education and professional grade, live entertainment to the Puget Sound Area. With a year-round season of family-friendly, Broadway-style shows, Paradise Theatre has been insuring that people of all ages get a chance to experience the magic of performing arts for over 17 years. Paradise Studio has provided dozens of classes, workshops, guest seminars and educational opportunities for hundreds of children, helping to instill an appreciation for the arts, while teaching the life skills of goal-setting, teamwork and leadership. Success of the Act Local Capital Campaign will provide a permanent home for live theatre and performing arts education in Gig Harbor. As a 501(c)3, all donations made to Paradise Theatre are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

About the Act Local Capital Campaign:

"Act Local. Saving LIVE theatre in Gig Harbor" project has been developed by the campaign consulting company, SocialRaise, headquartered in Chicago, IL.