Stars Announced for New Staging of Irving Berlin's HOLIDAY INN at The 5th Avenue Theatre

This winter The 5th Avenue Theatre will warm hearts with the West Coast premiere of the Broadway smash hit Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn.

The cast will feature the talents of Seattle stars and 5th Avenue favorites Eric Ankrim (How to Succeed..., First Date, Paint Your Wagon) as Jim Hardy, Sarah Rose Davis (The Pajama Game, How to Succeed...) as Linda Mason, Matt Owen (ELF, Spamalot, A Room with a View) as Ted Hanover and Taryn Darr (The Pajama Game, A Chorus Line) as Lila Dixon.

The show will be co-directed by James A. Rocco and 5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong. Rocco, whose previous work at The 5th includes White Christmas and The Pirates of Penzance, will also choreograph. The 5th's production of Holiday Inn will feature the acclaimed sets and costume designs from the recent Broadway production.

Playing November 24 - December 31 (press opening Friday, December 1), tickets for Holiday Inn start at just $29 and are on sale now. Tickets (starting at $29) can be purchased at www.5thavenue.org, by phone at 206-625-1900 or at the Box Office at 1308 5th Avenue in Downtown Seattle.

Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn is a glorious new musical (inspired by the Oscar-winning film) that features 20 timeless Irving Berlin songs, including the beloved favorites "White Christmas," "Easter Parade" and "Blue Skies." In this holiday delight, Jim leaves the bright lights of show business to settle down on a farm in Connecticut-but he finds the simple life is not as simple as he thought. Called "Heartfelt musical eggnog" by The New York Observer, Holiday Inn is a heartwarming treat, sure to put your whole family in the best of holiday spirits.

The non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre is the nation's premier incubator for new musical theater. Since 2001, the Seattle-based company has produced 18 new musicals. To date, nine (including the sensational hit Disney's Aladdin) have moved on to Broadway premieres, earning a combined 15 Tony Awards, including two for Best Musical (Hairspray and Memphis). The 5th Avenue Theatre is also known for its world class, critically acclaimed new 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. Today, under the leadership of Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Managing Director Bernadine C. Griffin and Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry, this non-profit theater company attracts an annual attendance of more than 300,000, including over 20,000 subscribers-one of the largest theater subscriptions in North America.

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 programs. For more information about The 5th Avenue Theatre, its season and its programs, visit www.5thavenue.org.