Centrestage Presents A JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 'Panto' 11/28-12/20

Can you really get a big heaping spoonful of traditional British holiday fun in Federal Way? Yes indeed. For the past three seasons Centerstage's managing artistic director, and British ex-pat, Alan Bryce has included a theatrical tradition from his homeland in the Centerstage Season -The English Pantomime (informally, panto). First with Cinderella, then with Aladdin, and now with the highly anticipated Jack and the Beanstalk this year's Christmas Panto promises to deliver even more laughter, song and silliness than ever before.

New this year, families can incorporate a little food or drink into their holiday outing through the Dinner & A Show package with Salty's at Redondo Beach, or the Wine with the Director night on December 5th. Choose the dinner or brunch package from Salty's which includes a ticket to the show and either a three-course meal or a bountiful buffet all for only $50 ($18 for children under 12). This family-friendly Wine with the Director starts at 7:00 pm. It features warm and cozy mulled wine and hot chocolate along with a director chat, Q&A and cast meet n' greet. Tickets to Wine with the Director are $10 and space is limited.

Panto is a boisterous, high energy musical designed for kids from 5 to 105 and Jack and the Beanstalk is full of painfully funny gags (many of which you have heard before), guys dressed as gals, gals dressed as guys, popular songs and glorious costumes. Audiences will marvel at the massive splendiferous giant created by Vashon Island's own puppeteer artists,The Zambini Brothers and this colorful production is guaranteed to brighten even the chilliest winter's day.

Three years ago Alan Bryce entered into this collaborative relationship with the "godfather" of the modern British pantomime, Paul Hendy (www.paulhendy.com); and each year Federal Way audiences have demonstrated their support and enthusiasm for the genre with a flurry of early ticket sales. Paul Hendy is thrilled to "spread the gospel of panto" through stateside collaborators like Alan Bryce. Hendy is best known as the host of England's Wheel of Fortune but remains dedicated and passionate about growing the genre through his own company Evolution Productions. Hendy has written, directed and acted in dozens and dozens of pantos for more than 25 years. He has written over 30 scripts and his vast inventory of sets and costumes have crisscrossed the Isle from Guildford to Sheffield, over to Canterbury and back again.

Direction, costumes and sets for this production however are a purely "American Affair." Roger Curtis directs, Eia Waltzer choreographs, Ron Leamon is designed costumes and the set/lighting designer is Craig Wollam. The cast of 15 locally-based actors, including four school-aged children, are: David Roby (Jack), Roger Curtis (Dame Trott),Melanie Moser (Fleshcreep), Rosalie Hilburn (Fairy), Scott Polovitch Davis (Billy) Alicia Mendez (Jill) and Dale Bowers (King),Tracy Lewis, RIan Wilson, Meghan Derr, Hannah Smith, Lesley Lemon, Ellis Cox-McAllister, Natalia Efremova, and Olivia Roberts.

Jack and the Beanstalk is part of the discounted 5-show Season Pass which is on sale now. Single tickets for all 15 performances are on sale now and available by phone, (253) 661-1444, online at www.centerstagetheatre.com, and in person at the Knutzen Family Theater box office. Single tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for seniors, military, students 18 & over with ID; and $10 for youth 17 & under. $17 tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. All shows are performed at the Knutzen Family Theatre and are general admission. There are 4 performances a week on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm plus a Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm.

ABOUT PANTOMIME
Pantomime (not to be confused with a mime artist or theatrical performer of mime) is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in Great Britain and mostly performed during the Christmas Holiday Season. It first arrived in England as entre' acts between opera pieces and evolved into separate stand-alone shows. British pantomime is now a wildly popular form of theatre and incorporates song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing, in-jokes, audience participation, and mild sexual innuendo. There are a number of traditional story-lines, and a fairly well-defined set of performance conventions including a guest celebrity and a Pantomime Dame role.

ABOUT CENTERSTAGE
Centerstage is Federal Way's resident Theatre Company. It was founded in 1977 and since 1998 has produced shows at the Knutzen Family Theatre on the shores of Puget Sound. Initially created as a performance conservatory for aspiring actors, Centerstage's mission has expanded and is now committed to producing "innovative, accomplished productions of popular work and for new work with the widest possible audience appeal." Hits like last season's Always...Patsy Cline certainly fall into the former category. Centerstage has produced many exciting new works in recent years including: 4 Christmases, commissioned from 5-time Grammy Nominee, John Forster; a new musical version of the Dickens' classic Nicholas Nickleby; Robin Hood the first full production of Tom Meehan, Peter Sipos and Martin Charnin's new project; Alan Bryce's Nightmare of a Married Man which won the Tacoma News Tribune's "Best New Play Award, 2007-2008 Season"; and two traditional English "pantomimes," from one of the masters of this uniquely British Theatrical art form, Paul Hendy. Perhaps the most ambitious project undertaken by Centerstage was the world premiere musical Carl Sagan's Contact. In April 2009, the City of Federal Way awarded the Knutzen Family Theatre management contract to Centerstage saving both the city and theatre company over $50,000.

ABOUT SALTY'S AT REDONDO BEACH:
Just minutes from Tacoma, Seattle, or Sea-Tac Airport, Salty's at Redondo makes guests feel like they're a million miles away from crowds, big cities, and stuffy formality. Built over the waters of Puget Sound, Salty's offers fabulous views of Maury Island and the Olympic Mountains enjoyed from the dining room or wrap-around decks come spring and summer. Salty's at Redondo Beach offers an extensive menu featuring the freshest seafood available, USDA prime aged charbroiled steaks, local produce, and delicious house-made desserts. An extraordinary Sunday Brunch is one of a kind-voted the Nation's Best Brunch by MSN-Citysearch.com-and the Bar-Café features live music on select evenings and Happy Hour daily. We accommodate business meetings and banquets for as many as 50 in-house, as well as catering from our Party Platters Menu. For reservations, please call 253-946-0636.

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