Village Theatre Announces 2011-2012 Season, Includes THE PRODUCERS

Village Theatre is excited to announce its 2011-2012 Mainstage Season, comprised of five productions with five diverse stories. For the fourth consecutive season, Village Theatre looks forward to producing two new musicals in the season line up.

Village Theatre's complete 2011-2012 Season schedule includes the following:

TAKE ME AMERICA
Book and Lyrics by William Nabel
Music by Bob Christianson
Issaquah: September 14 - October 23, 2011
Everett: October 28 - November 20, 2011

TAKE ME AMERICA was first seen by Village Theatre audiences as a staged reading at the Village Originals 9th Annual Festival of New Musicals in 2009. Author Bill Nabel (book and lyrics) is a recipient of a 2009 State of Connecticut Playwright Fellowship Grant and a finalist for the American Academy of Arts and Letters 2009 Richard Rodgers Prize for Take Me America. Composer Bob Christianson has composed for "Sex and The City," ABC Sports (EMMY Nomination), "Late Show/David Letterman," and much more. His composition for Take Me America was a finalist for the American Academy of Arts and Letters Richard Rodgers Prize. TAKE ME AMERICA  asks the question: What happens when your life is at stake, and the only chance you have at survival lies in the hands of a complete stranger? Audiences will follow the brutal process of several struggling refugees in their quest for asylum in the United States and the INS agents who are responsible for deciding their fates. As the dreams and fears of each refugee come to light, the INS agents struggle to find balance between their feelings for humanity, and the reality of their professional position. Inspired by true stories, this new musical balances heavy themes with light-hearted comedy that compliments a gripping, rock score.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Herbert Fields
Issaquah: November 9 - December 31, 2011
Everett: January 6 - 29, 2012

With music and lyrics by world-famous, American composer Irving Berlin, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was a 1946 Broadway grand slam running for more than 1,100 performances. The 1999 Revival took home a number of honors including the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical as well as several Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy Award. Village Theatre hits the bullseye this season with its fresh production of this Broadway diamond-a Wild West show-within-a-show that tells the ageless love story of the sharpest sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, the heart-throb of Buffalo Bill's traveling show. With classic, unforgettable tunes like "There's No Business Like Show Business," "I Got The Sun in the Morning," and "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better," Village Theatre celebrates one of Broadway's most enduring triumphs on the Mainstage next season.

THE ODD COUPLE
By Neil Simon
Issaquah: January 18 - February 26, 2012
Everett: March 2 - 25, 2012

Arguably the funniest comedy ever, this Neil Simon classic is one of the most famed stage plays in American history. The show received a number of 1965 Tony honors including Neil Simon for Best Author and Mike Nichols for Best Director. Meet Oscar Madison, a carefree, positively unkempt, divorcé, and his new roomie, Felix Unger, an uptight, fastidious man, recently separated from his wife and practically suicidal. While it would seem that bunking together would be a last resort for these two, the decision to do so mixes slob with neat-freak, leading to total madness for them, and laugh-out-loud comedy for us!

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU
Book and Lyrics by Brian Hargrove
Music by Barbara Anselmi
Issaquah: March 14 - April 22, 2012
Everett: April 27 - May 20, 2012

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU brought the house down with laughter from Village Originals audiences at the 10th Annual Festival of New Musicals in 2010. Prior to its first Village Theatre appearance, a 45 minute portion of the show was presented in New York City at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 21st Annual Festival of New Musicals in 2009-it has had a number of other developmental readings as well. Composer Barbara Anselmi is a member of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop; she has a number of New York-based director credits to her name including Piece the musical (workshop at The Duke) and The Audience (Transport Group, Drama Desk Nominee Best New Musical). Librettist and lyricist Brian Hargrove was a writer for television shows "Dave's World," "Caroline in the City," and he co-created the show "Titus," which ran for over three years on Fox. He created the sitcom "Nora" for TBS, and he wrote the book "My Life as a Dog" a mock-ography of Moose, the dog that played Eddie on Frasier - which he later turned into a television movie for NBC. In their new musical IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, wedding bells aren't ringing, they're clanging at the union of a Jewish bride and Catholic groom! The Steinberg and Howard families couldn't have less in common...aside from the fact that their children are about to tie the knot. When the big day comes, frenzied wedding mayhem ensues-emotions run high, schemes unfold, and a twist in the plot hysterically unveils what no one saw coming. Bursting with clever lyrics and melodies that'll stick, It Shoulda Been You follows two families at odds as they reluctantly make their way down the aisle only to find hope where they least expect it.

THE PRODUCERS
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music by Mel Brooks
Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Issaquah: May 9-July 1, 2012
Everett: July 6-29, 2012

Mel Brooks' record-breaking, 12-time Tony Award-winner, THE PRODUCERS is a hysterically outrageous hit! The original Broadway production ran for over 2,000 performances in New York and spawned a London production that lasted over three years, national tours, innumerable international and regional productions, and a 2005 film version. When an out-of-luck Broadway producer and his nervous accountant hatch a plan to mount a guaranteed Broadway flop in order to turn some quick cash, their wrongful scheming goes wildly awry. THE PRODUCERS is packed with glitzy production numbers, swingin' tunes, and a vaudeville feel that pair nicely with the loads of laughs and dazzling choreography that will surely leave stars in your eyes.

Village Theatre Mainstage Subscription packages are on sale now in Issaquah and Everett, and offer five shows for the price of four. General admission prices range from $145-$245 (Issaquah), and $144-$225 in (Everett), with additional discounts available for seniors (65+), youth (under 21), and Family Room seats in Issaquah. Single tickets will go on sale intermittently throughout the season beginning in August 2011 in Issaquah and September 2011 in Everett. Precise single ticket on-sale dates will be announced throughout the season. All tickets are available via Village Theatre's Box Office at (425) 392-2202 (Issaquah) and (425) 257-8600 (Everett), or online at www.villagetheatre.org. Performances take place at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah located at 303 Front Street North, and at the Everett Performing Arts Center located at 2710 Wetmore Avenue.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos