5th Avenue Theatre Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Marquee Lighting, 12/3

This Thursday, December 3 The 5th Avenue Theatre preludes its upcoming 30th Anniversary Celebration by lighting its brand new vertical marquee. At an event marked by song, celebration and seasonal treats, the Theatre honors its illustrious past while looking forward to an even brighter future.

Beginning at 6:30 on Thursday evening, 5th Avenue from University to Union Street will be closed to traffic, and an event that's open to the public will begin. On an outdoors stage local swing ensemble The Blue 4 Trio will perform, while the Fairmont Olympic and the WARM 106.9 Elves will provide the crowd with holiday treats. Neighboring bar Vessel will feature a special cocktail, The Marquee, to celebrate the evening.

At 7:00 several speakers, including Seattle Arts Commission Executive Director Michael Killoren and former Mayor (and past 5th Avenue Board Chairman) Norm Rice will address the crowd, and The 5th's popular singing trio The Daffodils will sing. Then at 7:15, two representatives of IATSE, Don MacDonald and Matt Hudson, will ready the switcheS. MacDonald, 91, holds Seattle IATSE card #1, and is still an active member of the Union. He attended The 5th's original opening in 1926, which his father worked as a klieg light operator. Hudson, 19, is one of IATSE's youngest members, and has worked for the past several years as an usher at The 5th Avenue. At 7:15 these two men will throw the switches and inaugurate a new era of entertainment and good times in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Since 1926 The 5th has had two marquees, one which was removed during the late 1930s and the second of which came down in 1977. While both signs, particularly the splendid original marquee, helped inspire designers Eric LeVine and Yusuke Ito of NBBJ, the new marquee (built by CREO Industrial Arts in Everett) is state-of-the-art, and features an aluminum frame weighing a remarkably light 5,500 lbs. as well as 2,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

The new marquee sign was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Christabel Gough, the daughter of founding UNICO chairman and legendary Broadway producer Roger L. Stevens. The sign honors both her father and his colleague and good friend James M. Ryan, CEO of UNICO Properties, who spearheaded the renovation efforts that saved The 5th Avenue and transformed it into Seattle's premier home of musical theater.

More details on the marquee and the lighting event are available at http://www.5thavenue.org/marquee/.

The 5th Avenue's revival of White Christmas, which sold out three years ago, also opens December 3, running till December 30. Tickets and multi-show subscriptions are available over the phone by calling 206-625-1900 / toll-free 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849), online at 5thavenue.org or in person at the box office at 1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle's premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of over 25,000 and an annual attendance of more than 287,000. It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org.

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