SMT to Co-Produce All-Female 1776

Seattle Musical Theatre, Seattle's oldest musical theatre house, and West Seattle's Twelfth Night Productions are co-producing the nascent Reboot Theatre Company's maiden production of an all-female 1776 (Book by Peter Stone; Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards; Based on a concept by Sherman Edwards). This beloved Tony winner celebrates the founding of the United States of America with what is widely considered one of the most intelligent librettos in musical history. With Keith A. Gehrig at the directorial helm and music direction by Mark Rabe, 1776 runs one weekend only June 25-28, 2015 at Seattle Musical Theatre in Magnuson Park. For tickets ($20), visit www.brownpapertickets.com

A funny and compelling drama with a striking score and legendary book, this Tony Award-winning classic will get a brand new perspective with an all-female cast portraying historical figures such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and the rest of the colonial gang. Audiences will take a peek inside the hallowed halls of Congress and find it filled with crotchety drunks, Southern fops, innocent Quakers, a proud Scotsman, befuddled secretaries, sycophants, and passionate congressmen who are willing to go to blows for their beliefs.

A stalwart member of the Seattle theatre arts community for over 20 years, Director Keith A. Gehrig has worked with Civic Light Opera, Intiman, ACT, Evergreen Theatre Company, Village Theatre in Issaquah and Everett, Emerald City Players, Northwest Savoyards, Red Curtain, The Paramount, 5th Avenue and The Edmonds Driftwood Players as a director, actor, stage manager, lighting and set designer, or playwright. With a BA in Technical Theatre from San Jose University, Gehrig is pursuing an MFA in Arts Leadership at Seattle University.

Music Director Mark Rabe has been music directing and playing piano in the Seattle music theatre world and cabaret scene for over 25 years. He has music directed productions at ACT (Goblin Market), Seattle Rep (Oh, Coward!), Seattle Children's Theatre (Goodnight Moon, The Wizard of Oz), Showtunes (Nine, High Society, Singin' In The Rain), StageRIGHT (Floyd Collins), as well as productions at Renton Civic, Center Stage, SecondStory Rep, and numerous cabaret shows. In May 2015, he is conducting the Northwest Premiere of Big Fish at Shoreline Community College.

The production team boasts Sound Designer Caleb Dietzel, Lighting Designer Sarah Fairchild, Costume Designer Barb Klingberg, Props Master Kayla Rabe, and Set Designer Brandon Scalf.

A total of 26 local actresses will make up the second Continental Congress including Meredith Armstrong as Richard Henry Lee, Jenny Beuhler as John Hancock, Lisa Clarke as Martha Jefferson, Pat Haines-Ainsworth as Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Jasmine Joshua as John Adams, Rebecca Maiten as Edward Rutledge, Natalie Moe as Thomas Jefferson, Mandy Rose Nichols as John Dickinson, and Sarah Meadow Walsh as Abigail Adams. The rest of the colonial cast includes Rachel Rene Araucto, Walker Caplan, Kylee Gano, Amy Helms, Laura Holland, Dana Johnson, Barbara Klingberg, Amy Korver, Rebecca Lane, Mary Lou Mills, Cheryl Phillips, Jessica Robins, Jean Slight, Lani Smith, Sarah Stillion, Lisa Wright-Thiroux, and Samantha Victor.

The mission of Seattle Musical Theatre is to engage and entertain the community by producing new and traditional musicals. The theater nurtures local talent by providing training and artistic development opportunities for children, youth, and adults from all walks of life. SMT's vision is to enrich the entertainment and educational value of live theater in the Northwest region; provide a premier environment for nurturing artistic and technical talent; and develop the Magnuson Park theater facility as a key cultural resource for civic, arts, and other community organizations. SMT at all times will strive to demonstrate and inspire these values among the Board of Directors, staff, artists, volunteers, patrons, and donors.

Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is dedicated to building an inclusive, strong, artistically sound West Seattle community through the performing arts. The TNP ensemble provides a home for local artists to develop and practice their craft, an environment for students of all ages to learn about the performing arts, and a place for community members to participate in the arts in a variety of ways.

Reboot Theatre Company celebrates its inaugural production with an all-female cast of 1776. Reboot Theatre is dedicated to producing established works with nontraditional casting.

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