'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST' Opens In Issaquah 1/22

Village Theatre is excited to announce that The Importance of Being Earnest will open in Issaquah at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 8:00 PM. A single preview performance will take place the night before, Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 8:00 PM. The show will open in Everett at the Everett Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM.

This incredible cast features some of Seattle's finest talents. In the role of John "Jack" Worthing, Paul Morgan Stetler shines. Stetler is a founder and co-artistic director of Seattle's newest professional theatre, New Century Theatre. Most recently, he played Mr. Zero in ACT's production of The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice. Previous Village Theatre credits include Bell, Book, and Candle (2002), Room Service (1995), Bus Stop (1995), and A Man For All Seasons (1994).

Making his Village Theatre debut as the cunning Algernon Moncrieff, is Seattle Times Footlight award winner Shawn Law. Some of Law's recent credits include Rochefort and The Three Musketeers at Seattle Repertory Theatre, and the title role in Hamlet at Greenstage. He has also been seen at a variety of venues around town such as Empty Space Theatre, Wooden-O, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Public Theatre, Theater Schmeater, and Annex Theatre.

Issaquah native and KIDSTAGE alum, Jennifer Lee Taylor will take on the role of Gwendolen Fairfax. Taylor is well known for her voice over role as Cortana in the ever-popular Xbox game Halo. With a number of voice-acting jobs for Nintendo under her belt, Taylor has also spent time performing internationally in Sydney, Australia, nationally in Los Angeles, San José, and Portland, and locally at theatres such as Intiman, Book-It Repertory, and Seattle Children's Theatre. She is also a founding member of New Century Theatre Company.

Local sensation Laura Kenny returns to Village Theatre for first time since 2007 to play the infamous Lady Bracknell. Kenny has appeared around Seattle at venues such as ACT, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Intiman, and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Nationally, Kenny has appeared at The Old Globe Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre in D.C., The McCarter Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, TUTS, and TAG. Film and television credits include Rose Red (Kay Waterman), Harry and the Hendersons, 10 Things I Hate About You, Mad Love, and Northern Exposure.

Additional cast members include Tony-nominated actor Clayton Corzatte (Village Theatre: On Golden Pond) as Merriman and Lane, Angela DiMarco (Theatre Schmeater: So Many Words; ReACT: Angels in America: Perestroika) making her Village Theatre debut as Cecily Cardew, and Jayne Muirhead (Village Theatre: Steel Magnolias; Village Originals: The Yellow Wood, The Last Starfighter, and Cold Turkey) as Miss Prism.

Village Theatre's production of The Importance of Being Earnest is directed by Brian Yorkey; scenic design by Bill Forrester; lighting by Tom Sturge; and costume design by Karen Ledger.

What: The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Brian Yorkey
Where: In Issaquah: Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
303 Front Street North
Issaquah, WA 98027
In Everett: Everett Performing Arts Center
2710 Wetmore Avenue
Everett, WA 98201

When:  Issaquah Dates: January 21-March 1, 2009 - ON SALE NOW
Wednesday through Saturday evenings: 8:00 PM
Sundays and selected Saturdays: 2:00 PM
Selected Tuesday evenings: 7:30 PM
Selected Sunday evenings: 7:00 PM                        
Everett Dates: March 6-29, 2009 - ON SALE: 1/28/09
Wednesday through Saturday evenings: 8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday Matinees: 2:00 PM
Sunday evenings: 7:00 PM

Tickets:          
Issaquah:
$22-$58, Box Office (425) 392-2202 or (866) 688-8049
Everett:
$16-$51, Box Office (425) 257-8600 or (888) 257-3722
www.villagetheatre.org
Student & Military Rush: ½ price 30 minutes prior to curtain for any available seat. Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

About Village Theatre:
Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining quality productions for the entire family since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's best-attended Equity theatres, with over 18,000 subscribers and 170,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having launched over 80 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow's audiences through its youth education programs, Pied Piper and KIDSTAGE, serving over 54,000 young people, families, and schools annually.

Village Theatre season sponsors are The Boeing Company, Continental Airlines, Microsoft, and Lombardi's - Village Theatre is also funded in part by 4Culture, ABODA, ArtsFund, ArtsUnited, Cascade Bank, City of Everett, City of Issaquah /Issaquah Arts Commission, Encore Arts Program, Frontier Bank, The Herald, Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter, National Endowment for the Arts, Overlake Hospital and Medical Center, PONCHO, Port Blakely Communities/Issaquah Highlands, Standing Ovation, WARM 106.9 FM, and Washington State Arts Commission. Village Theatre is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and Theatre Puget Sound.

**Detailed The Importance of Being Earnest Cast List:
John Worthing- Paul Morgan Stetler*
Algernon Moncrieff- Shawn Law*
Gwendolen Fairfax- Jennifer Lee Taylor*
Lady Bracknell- Laura Kenny*
Cecily Cardew- Angela DiMarco*
Merriman/Lane- Clayton Corzatte*
Miss Prism- Jayne Muirhead*
Rev. Canon Chasuble- Richard Ziman*

*The actors are members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

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