Seattle Repertory Theatre Proudly Presents Public Works Seattle

Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced the highly anticipated launch of Public Works Seattle. One of Artistic Director Braden Abraham's first major new artistic initiatives, Public Works Seattle creates theatre of the people, by the people, and for the people of our region. Adapted from the nationally recognized model built by New York City's prestigious The Public Theatre, this program seeks to engage audiences in new ways by making them creators and not just spectators. In September 2017, Seattle Rep will produce a large-scale production featuring over 100 community members on the Bagley Wright Stage, and today marks the celebratory public launch of this inaugural program's preparation.

"Creating a gathering space for collective imagination and offering the opportunity to connect more deeply through the work on our stages is at the heart of our mission at Seattle Rep," said Abraham. "With the launch of Public Works, we're building on both of these commitments, reaching more people across our city through long-term partnerships with community organizations and learning from one another through the collaborative process of making theatre. Over the next year, Associate Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski will assemble a team of professional artists in collaboration with a community ensemble to create an epic theatre event unlike anything this city has ever seen."

Working deeply with community-based organizations, Public Works Seattle invites a wide diversity of people to participate in workshops and classes, attend performances, and to join in the creation of an ambitious work of participatory theatre led by Working Theatre professionals.

"Seattle Rep is partnering with some of the most inspiring community-based organizations across our city including The Boys & Girls Clubs of King County, Jubilee Women's Center & Sojourner Place, Path With Art, Centerstone, and Sound Generations," states Kaminski, "This program is founded in a tradition of joyful participation and, in Public Works Seattle, there will be room for every person to join the process of making great theatre - as an artist, as a neighbor, and as a citizen of our beautiful region."

The first year of Public Works Seattle will culminate in a large-scale, spectacle production bringing these partner communities together with professional actors, regional performance groups, and Seattle Rep artists to launch the 2017-2018 season. To learn more about Public Works Seattle or to participate, visit www.seattlerep.org/publicworks.

About Seattle Repertory Theatre

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America's premier non-profit resident theatres, Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.

Leadership support for the launch of Public Works Seattle is provided by Theatre Communications Group. Additional support for Public Works Seattle programming has been provided by AT&T, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and the Fales Foundation Trust.

Public Works Seattle uses the methodology of the Public Works program of The Public Theater in NYC, conceived by Lear deBessonet under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham.