AFTERWORDS, a New Musical By Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Zoe Sarnak & Emily Kaczmarek, Debuts at Seattle's Village Theatre

Newly announced 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipients Zoe Sarnak (music & lyrics) and Emily Kaczmarek (book) are thrilled to bring their new, original musical AFTERWORDS to the stage, as part of the Beta Series at Village Theatre, a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. The creative team also includes director Adrienne Campbell-Holt (What We're Up Against, Dry Land, Assoc. Director of Dear Evan Hansen), who will be honored this spring with The Lucille Lortel Visionary Director Award. A contemporary musical that fuses rock, pop and indie-folk, AFTERWORDS continues its development throughout its run at Village Theatre's First Stage Theatre in Issaquah, Washington, through February 25, 2018.

Reeling from the loss of their volatile mother, Kali and Simone are at odds as to whether to sell their costly childhood home. They compromise by renting out the attic, and into their lives walks Jo, an accomplished young war reporter. But her reasons for moving in are more complex than the sisters know: haunted by the death of her beloved mentor, Jo is hellbent on untangling the mysteries contained in his journals...whose pages point straight to Kali and Simone. As entanglements deepen and past collides with present, Kali, Simone, and Jo relay three sides of the same story through the show's music, set, and book. Featuring a rhythmic and soulful score that fuses pop, rock, and modern indie-folk, Afterwords is the story of three women bound by notes scribbled down on paper, and the art we make from the love that makes us.

Brandon Ivie, Village Theatre Associate Artistic Director, states "Village Theatre's Festival of New Musicals and Beta Series provide a platform and safe space to create bold new work. We are delighted to work with this creative team and be part of this show's development, which illustrates our comprehensive dedication to producing new musicals for the stage, which is one of our core missions."

The creative team also features music director Kris Kukul (Warner Brothers' Beetlejuice, Joan of Arc: Into the Fire at Public Theater). The team is rounded out by the same designers behind the previous Beta Series production of How to Break, which includes scenic designer Christopher Mumaw (Newsies at Village Theatre), costume designer Brynne McKeen (Green Day's American Idiot at ArtsWest), lighting designer Robert J. Aguilar (Seattle Repertory Theatre's Dry Powder), projections designer Gregory W. Towle (Into the Woods at Village Theatre), and sound designer Natalie Kinsaul.

The show will feature a cast of local Seattle favorites including: Andi Alhadeff (Ragtime at The 5th Avenue Theatre), Kirsten Delohr Helland (Les Misérables at Village Theatre, Lizard Boy at Seattle Repertory Theatre), Eric Polani Jensen (Billy Elliot, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof), Trent Moury (Peter and the Starcatcher at ArtsWest), Mari Nelson (Six Degrees of Separation on Broadway, Into the Woods at Village Theatre), Taylor Niemeyer (Newsies), Sarah Russell (Dreamgirls, My Heart is the Drum), and Saxton Jay Walker (Peter and the Starcatcher at ArtsWest).

Afterwords was originally a part of the 2017 Village Originals Festival of New Musicals. With the Village's Beta Series, Kaczmarek, Sarnak and Campbell-Holt continue their creative process in front of a theatre-savvy audience using minimal sets and costumes. After each performance, audiences are invited to ask questions and share their feedback with the writers. No two performances will be alike since the team will rewrite and make changes between shows. Audiences are encouraged to witness the evolution by seeing the performance multiple times.

Ashley DeSimone, a commercial producer and consultant developing the musical, stated "Afterwords is a daring piece of new, original work for the stage, from an exciting group of creatives. Village Theatre is providing a fantastic home for the project, particularly at this juncture, where audience feedback in an intimate space is crucial."

Zoe Sarnak's works include Secret Soldiers, The Years Between, Galileo, Teddy & Max, and musical short films Landed, Alma Mater, and Hold Your Peace. In addition to a 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipient, Sarnak is a Davenport Songwriting contest winner, NY Stage & Film's Founders Award finalist, Fed Ebb Award finalist, two-time Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award Honoree, and WP Theater Lab Artist. Her music has been featured on New York Times Live, Lilly Awards, Women of Note, and Cutting Edge Composers. She was educated at Harvard University. www.zoesarnak.com

Emily Kaczmarek is a New York-based writer, teacher, and performer. Her works include Sam & Lizzie, Afloat, American Kids, Paper & Glue, Anything New and musical short films Landed, Alma Mater, and Hold Your Peace. She is a recipient of the 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant, a 2018 Kleban Prize Finalist and a 2017 Premiere Stages Play Festival Semifinalist. She was educated at New York University. www.emilykaczmarek.com

Adrienne Campbell-Holt is the Founding Artistic Director of Colt Coeur, a Brooklyn-based theatre company. She is the Associate Director of the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen. Her most recent work includes What We're Up Against by Theresa Rebeck (WP Theater), Downstairs by Theresa Rebeck starring Tyne Daly and Tim Daly (Dorset Theater Festival), Empathitrax by Ana Nogueira (Colt Coeur), Cal in Camo by William Francis Hoffman (co-pro Rattlestick & Colt Coeur). Upcoming: The Big and the Small by Amelia Roper (Colt Coeur/NTYW Next Door). Adrienne is a New Georges Affiliated Artist and an alum of the Time Warner/WP Theater Lab, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and a Foeller Fellow (Williamstown). She has developed work with New York Theatre Workshop, La Jolla Playhouse, Roundabout Theater Company, Playwrights Horizons, Clubbed Thumb, Playwrights' Center and EST. She was educated at Barnard College, Columbia University. http://www.adriennecampbellholt.com/

Afterwords is on stage at Village Theatre's First Stage Theatre in Issaquah through February 25, 2018. For tickets, please visit www.VillageTheatre.org or call the Box Office at (425) 392-2202.

Website: https://villagetheatre.org/issaquah/beta-series-afterwords.php

Single Tickets: General: $30

Senior (65+): $25

Youth (18-): $25

Box Office: ISS (425) 392-2202 | Tues. - Sat. 11:00AM - 7:00PM

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