5th Avenue Theatre Presents Free Showing of ROSIE THE RIVETER

Families visiting The Museum of Flight can expect to get up close and personal with our nation's most powerful women when the story of Rosie the Riveter comes to life in a new children's musical from The 5th Avenue Theatre's Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company (AMT). Normally reserved for classroom performances, AMT is thrilled to offer a public performance of this inspiring and meaningful show developed in partnership with Washington Women in Trades at 2:00 PM, April 23, at the William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight (9404 East Marginal Way S). With local real-life "Rosies" in attendance and participating in a Q&A with Rosie the Riveter's creative team after the performance, this celebration of hard-working women will excite, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages.

During World War II, munitions and war supply manufacturers were in desperate need of workers. While many men were off at war, the country looked to its women to step into new roles. These women joined the workforce, drove the taxis, paved the highways and, yes, riveted the airplanes-all the while creating a new image of what it meant to be a woman. Elementary and middle school audiences will experience the can-do spirit of these "leading ladies" in a fast, funny, and stirring new musical: Rosie the Riveter.

The all-new, one-act musical follows the story of "Rosie," a young girl who finds herself at Boeing after her brother joins the army. As Rosie and her friends learn their new trade, the rest of the world learns to view women in a new light. Written by 5th Avenue Artistic Associate and composer Albert Evans (music & lyrics) and local playwright Stephanie Timm (book), six hard-working actors and one piano player bring this exciting and educational musical to life. As a part of The 5th Avenue Theatre's Education and Outreach programs, the Rosie cast will tour schools as far northwest as Neah Bay and as far southeast as Garfield County, ultimately introducing more than 50,000 children to live musical theater this year alone.

At a time when art and music programs are being cut from school budgets across America, The 5th Avenue Theatre is working harder than ever to expose new audiences to quality theater. Considering the logistical and financial difficulties associated with transporting large groups of young children to a theater performance, AMT was formed in 1994 to take new musicals created especially for K-8th graders directly to schools. Today, AMT performs at more than 100 elementary and middle schools across Washington and Oregon. The musicals are created by Northwest writers and composers, with subject matter that has a Northwest connection. The shows are designed to travel and can be performed virtually anywhere, from gymnasiums to cafeterias.

"For so many of these children, this performance is the first experience they've ever had with musical theater," 5th Avenue Producing Director Bill Berry explained. "The impact theater and the arts have on a child's development is irreplaceable, and with the cuts we're seeing in arts education, this program has become more important every year."

Members of the press are invited to experience AMT. Rosie will be touring the Northwest, through May 2011. Any member of the press interested in attending a school performance must contact Orlando Morales at The 5th Avenue Theatre at (206) 625-1418 or omorales@5thavenue.org.

More about The 5th Avenue Theatre
The 5th Avenue Theatre is one of the nation's premier incubators for new musicals. In the past decade, it has produced ten new musicals, four of which have been produced on Broadway, and two of which have won Tony Awards for "Best Musical" (Hairspray and Memphis). The 5th Avenue Theatre is also known for its world class, critically acclaimed productions of musicals chosen from both the contemporary canon and the Golden Age of Broadway.

Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, this exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater. Today, under the leadership of Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Managing Director Bernadine Griffin and Producing Director Bill Berry, The 5th Avenue Theatre attracts an annual attendance of more than 287,000 and ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies.

In addition to its main stage productions, The 5th Avenue Theatre is also committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its extensive 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. For more information about The 5th Avenue Theatre, its season and its programs, please visit 5thavenue.org

 

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