The cast is set for A Sensible Theatre Co.'s production of Pageant: The Musical, co-presented with ACTLab June 15 - July 8, 2018. This fabulous production will coincide with Seattle PRIDE 2018. The announcement took place during A Sensible Debutante Ball last week at FRED Wildlife Refuge on Capitol Hill, Seattle.
The six contestants vying for Miss Glamouresse are Clayton Cooper (Mamma Mia) as Miss Great Plains; Paul Flanagan (Host at Seattle's CanCan Culinary Cabaret) as Miss Bible Belt, Jelani Kee (Dreamgirls) as Miss West Coast, Christian Quinto (The Odyssey) as Miss Industrial Northeast, Andrew Murray (Choreographer - Shakespeare In Love) as Miss Texas, and Nicholas James Tarabini (Ride the Cyclone) as Miss Deep South.
And introducing your emcee for the evening, Helen Roundhill (Return to the Forbidden Planet) as the one and only, Frankie Cavalier. Rounding out the cast is Coulson Bingham and MJ Jurgensen as contestant and Frankie covers, respectively.
The production features direction and choreography by Charlie Johnson, music direction by Garrit Gaudan, set design by Reiko Huffman, costume design by Pete Rush, lighting design by Robert Aguilar, sound design by Meghan Roche, prop design by Cedric Wright, and stage management by Kelly McGee.
Johnson adds, "This will be a production of PAGEANT unlike any ever done before - one that honors the camp, fabulousness, and charm of the material while also bringing the show into the context of 2018. In a time where we are finally trying to empower women and their voices, our PAGEANT will give audiences the fun and laughs they expect but also leave them asking questions about how we, as a society, define feminine beauty."
Pageant, written by two-time Tony nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and Frank Kelly, conceived by Robert Longbottom, and composed by Seattle treasure Albert Evans debuted Off-Broadway in 1991 at the Blue Angel in New York. The show takes the audience on a drag-tastic adventure into the timeless world of the Miss Glamouresse Beauty Pageant. Audiences will cheer for their favorites that include Miss West Coast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Industrial Northeast, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Texas and Miss Deep South. Audience judges (if you're quick to nab a spot when buying tickets!) tabulate scores for every performance - the show has a different ending based on who is voted Miss Glamouresse!
Both natives of the Pacific Northwest, Flanagan and Brown bring extensive resumes in the performing arts to their new joint venture. A Sensible Theatre Co. has already mounted four sizeable nightlife events, all of which expand the theatrical experience on either side with cocktails and some sensible kick-ball-change after the show. Rush the Runway: Sensible Fashion for All, held at Fremont Foundry in February, featured over 20 gorgeous costumes and gowns from Queer designers in Seattle to raise money for Pageant's costumes.
Pageant will be performed in The Bullitt Cabaret at ACT, 700 Union Street, in downtown Seattle. The production opens on June 15, 2018 and runs through July 8, 2018. Tickets start at $35 (Student discounts available). For tickets and more information, call 206.292.7676 or visit www.acttheatre.org.
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