Book-It Repertory Theatre Announces Fifth Title for the 2017-18 Season

Book-It Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its 2017-2018 season. Book-It has been adapting great literature into great theatre for 28 years and will produce five mainstage shows and three school-touring shows.

"This coming season is such a strong indication of the miles and miles of places we can travel with our audiences. Every season we work hard to find a combination of stories that speaks to our mission and opens the doors to our community, inviting new perspectives of the human condition. This season feels primed for voices of all aspects of life to live in our work," says Founder and Founding Co-Artistic Director Jane Jones.

"Our 2017-2018 season is about finding and lifting our voices to create a new space that feels like home for everyone. Book-It is actively seeking to highlight stories that show humanity wins when we all listen and discover how we are, in Maya Angelou's words, 'more alike than unalike.' We want to connect more: with our patrons, with community organizations that are doing important work, and with new artists," says Founding Co-Artistic Director Myra Platt.

In the fall of 2017, Book-It presents Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, adapted by Platt and directed by Malika Oyetimein. During the holiday season, a musical adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones features music by Justin Huertas and stars Sara Porkalob.

After a smashing success with A Moveable Feast, Book-It kicks off 2018 by returning to Pioneer Square for a theatrical culinary collaboration with Café Nordo with one of the most popular detective novels The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett. In the spring, Book-It presents a touring show The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz in association with Young Audiences New York. This show marks the first time Book-It presents an adaptation of literature by another company. Book-It's final selection is Oscan Wilde's classic morality tale, The Picture of DorIan Gray.

Working with the theme "Where do you come from?", Book-It's Arts and Education Program is producing and touring three works of literature for young people including Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, and Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton. These productions are performed by professional actors/teaching artists and tour to schools, libraries, and community centers statewide. Tours may be booked by calling 206.428.6266.

Announcing the 2017-2018 Mainstage Season

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Adapted by Myra Platt

Directed by Malika Oyetimein

September 13-October 15, 2017
Premiered at Book-It in 2003

Adapted from Maya Angelou's masterpiece and directed by Malika Oyetimein, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings chronicles Angelou's experiences from age three through the birth of her son. Despite wrenching childhood trauma and racism, she finds her voice, rises above it, and learns to use her identity as a source of strength.

Howl's Moving Castle, A New Musical, by Diana Wynne Jones
Adapted and directed by Myra Platt

Music and lyrics by Justin Huertas

Conceived by Myra Platt, Justin Huertas, and Sara Porkalob
November 29-December 30, 2017
World Premiere Production

When Sophie (Sara Porkalob) unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, she finds herself transformed into an old woman. To break the enchantment, Sophie must strike a bargain with a fire demon and seek the help of the heartless wizard Howl before facing the Witch head-on. The award-winning novel-post-J.R.R. Tolkien, pre-J.K. Rowling-with music and lyrics by Justin Huertas inspires each of us to make our own destiny.

The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett

Adapted by Jane Jones and Kevin McKeon

Directed by Jane Jones
A theatrical culinary collaboration with Café Nordo in Pioneer Square

February 7-April 2, 2018
World Premiere Production

Step into Nordo's Culinarium in Pioneer Square for a thrilling evening of mystery! Adapted from one of the most popular detective novels ever written, The Maltese Falcon follows Samuel "Sam" Spade, a private detective in San Francisco. While on the case to find the alluring Miss Wonderley's sister and to recover the jewel-encrusted figurine, Sam finds himself to be both the hunter and the hunted.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz

Adapted and directed by Elise Thoron
April 19-May 6, 2018

Book-It presents a Young Audiences New York adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that chronicles the life of Oscar de Leon, an overweight Dominican boy growing up in Paterson, New Jersey. Oscar is obsessed with science fiction and fantasy novels, falling in love, and the curse that has plagued his family for generations. Performed by artist Elvis Nolasco of "American Crime" fame, this production shows the importance of facing fear with love. Limited availability.

The Picture of DorIan Gray, by Oscar Wilde [newly announced World Premiere adaptation]
Artistic team TBA
June 6-July 1, 2018
When the handsome DorIan Gray sees a portrait a male admirer has made of him, he laments, "how sad it is! I will grow old and horrible and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young ... if it were only the other way."-and a Faustian bargain is struck. Oscar Wilde's only novel scandalized Victorian England with its open examination of sex, drugs, and even murder, and its ultimate revelation that hiding from one's true self is the real sin.

Subscriptions for the 2017-18 season are available now by phone, in person, and online. Subscription packages range from $78-$269. Single tickets for 2017-2018 go on sale August 8, 2017 and start at $26. The box office is open Tuesday - Friday, noon to 5pm; call 206.216.0833.

Announcing the 2017-2018 Arts & Education Season
Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood Touring Fall 2017

An extraordinary true tale of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash. Ada Ríos dreams of playing the violin, but only until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrives does she fulfill her dreams.

Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton Touring Winter 2018
Lonnie loves rockets, robots, and inventing! With persistence and a passion for problem-solving, Lonnie uses his creative mind to become an engineer and work with NASA. Although he invented many things, the Super Soaker made the biggest splash in popular culture.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai Touring Spring 2018

A novel in verse of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing, this coming-of-age novel follows Hà as she flees from Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrates to Alabama.

2017-2018 Season Partnerships
Book-It is thrilled to partner with Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas, ACLU, Silver Kite Community Arts, Earth Pearl Collective, Café Nordo, and Table Flip for the upcoming season.

About Book-It Repertory Theatre

Book-It Repertory Theatre, a leader in the narrative theatre movement, was founded in 1990. Book-It is a non-profit organization with a dedication to great literature and quality theatre experiences employing simple, sensitive, and imaginative production techniques, and to inspiring its audiences to read. The company is funded, in part, by generous contributions from corporations and foundations, and hundreds of individuals who share its passion for literature.

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