Village Theatre Presents New Musical IRON CURTAIN, 3/16-5/22

The second new musical in Village Theatre's 5-show season is the outrageous commie-dy, Iron Curtain, directed by Steve Tomkins, named one of Seattle Magazine's 'Most Influential of 2010.' From the writing team who brought the 2007 production of Once Upon a Time in New Jersey to the Mainstage, the new musical Iron Curtain is chock-full of talent, and some of Seattle's funniest, funny people are set to appear.

Footlight Award-winner Nick DeSantis returns to Village Theatre after appearing in ...Jersey as well as both the 2007 and 2008 Village Originals presentations of Iron Curtain as the whimsical character, Yengenyi Onanov. "After ... Jersey I was, of course, excited to work with Stephen Wiener [composer] and Susan DiLallo [librettis] again. Add Peter Mills [lyricist]-who wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, "Way Ahead of My Time" from Taxi Cabaret-and it's almost too much," DeSantis commented. "I love my character, the director of the Soviet Ministry of Musical Persuasion, because he's a guy who just loves Musical Theatre in a time and place where no one cares much about it." DeSantis has been seen at Village Theatre in Beauty and the Beast, Chasing Nicolette, CATS, and more. He has also been seen around town in such shows as I Am My Own Wife and Tick, Tick, BOOM! (ArtsWest) and Sunday in the Park with George (5th Avenue).

Long time Village Theatre favorite Matt Wolfe returns in the role of Howard Katz, one of the two unsuccessful New York theatre writers who are taken to Moscow. He has played this role in both the 2007 and 2008 Village Originals developmental readings of the show. He was last seen on the Mainstage in 42nd Street, Chasing Nicolette, The Who's TOMMY, and Million Dollar Quartet.

Along with many Village Theatre and Seattle favorites, Iron Curtain brings to the Mainstage a cluster of new Northwest faces-including Danielle Barnum in the role of the lovely chorus girl, Masha Petrovna. Barnum was last seen at Village Theatre in the recent Village Originals Festival reading of It Shoulda Been You; Iron Curtain marks her Mainstage debut. Broadway vet John Dewar makes his Village Theatre debut in the role of Sergei Schmearnov, an overbearing KGB agent. He has been seen in the original Broadway cast of Les Miserables as Joly, on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera as Monsier Reyer, the national tour of Beauty and the Beast as Monsieur D'Arque, on NBC's "Law & Order," and more.

Additional cast members include Allan Barlow (Khrushchev), Jared Michael Brown (Murray Finkel), Kristin Culp (Ensemble/Dance Captain), Casey Craig (Ensemble), John X. Deveney (Ensemble), Will Halsey (Ensemble), Bobbi Kotula (Hildret Heinz), CameRon Lewis (Ensemble), Carolyn Magoon (Shirley Dooley), Ellen McLain (Ensemble/Olgo), Christine Nelson (Ensemble), Casey Raiha (Ensemble), Victoria Spero (Ensemble), BRyan Tramontana (Ensemble). Meet the cast here: http://www.villagetheatre.org/ic_cast.php

Iron Curtain is directed by Steve Tomkins, with co-choreography by Steve Tomkins and Kristin Culp (42nd Street, Meet Me in St. Louis), music direction by Gregory Award-winner R.J. Tancioco (Anne of Green Gables, The Gypsy King), scenic design by Bill Forrester (Lost in Yonkers, Little Women); lighting design by Gregory Award-nominee Tom Sturge (The Full Monty, Lost in Yonkers); costume design by Karen Ledger (The Gypsy King); and sound design by Gino Scarpino (The Full Monty).

Iron Curtain will play in Issaquah from Mar. 16 - Apr. 24 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre at 303 Front Street North. It will then play in Everett from Apr. 29 - May 22 at the Everett Performing Arts Center at 2710 Wetmore Avenue. Tickets for the Issaquah engagement ($20-$60) are on sale now, and the Everett engagement ($19-$54) will go on sale on Mar. 23. For tickets, visit www.villagetheatre.org or call the box office. The Issaquah box office number is (425) 392-2202 or (866) 688-8049, and the Everett box office number is (425) 257-8600 or (888) 257-3722. A student/military rush is available one half-hour before curtain. Group rates apply to 10+.

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