Theater Schmeater to Stage NW Premiere of IN ARABIA WE'D ALL BE KINGS

Theater Schmeater is pleased to announce the West Coast Premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis' early play, In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings. The winner of the 2015 Tony (for Between Riverside and Crazy), Guirgis weaves a desperate tale of people caught in the gears of progress fueled by faceless movers and shakers. Echoing William Saroyan, Guirgis characters' lives intersect in a run-down bar fated for demolition.

Kings is a sharp and clear-eyed expose' of the under-side of contemporary Americana. Set in Giuliani's NYC of the 1990's, a diverse group of people suffering from drug addictions, sexual abuse and dashed plans still cling hard to the mystery embedded in the hope of the American Dream.

"These are people that exist all over the world," says the play's director, Julia Griffin. "There are people that make these choices and that live these lives everywhere. They are dirty, and desperate, and raw and beautiful. Through the rough and the real, there are people with light in their eyes and stories to tell. And I think that those stories are universal and important."

Kings boasts a talented Seattle cast, including Draeko Damen, Nike Donor, Brandon Felker, Elena Flory-Barnes, Sam Hagen, Drew Hobson, Jacquelyn Miedema, Michael Ramquist, Andrew Shanks, Yolanda Suarez, and Ayo Tushinde.

The set is designed by Ahren Buhmann, with lighting by Angelo Domitri. Sound is by Dana Amromin. Costumes are by Julia Evanovitch, and Teri Lazzara is the property mistress. Jessamyn Bateman-Iino is the stage manager. The production is directed by Julia Griffin.

In Arabia We'd All Be Kings will have a Pay What You Can preview on Thursday, January 21st at 8:00PM. Opening night is January 22nd, and the production runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00PM through February 13th. General admission tickets purchased on-line in advance for all shows are $27.00 or $25.00 for students and seniors. General admission tickets purchased at the box office are $30.00 or $27.00 for students and seniors.

Advance tickets are available online at http://www.schmeater.org or through Brown Paper Tickets by phone at 1-800-838-3006. Thursdays are Pay-What-You-Can at the door for any same day, available unreserved tickets. Box office opens at 7:00 p.m. on day of show.

Theater Schmeater is located at The Schmee, 2125 Third Ave in Belltown. For more information about In Arabia We'd All Be Kings or any other Theater Schmeater event, please go to http://www.schmeater.org .