Centerstage Announces World Premiere of CARDINAL SINS

Four years ago, the Centerstage Board commissioned its Artistic Director, Alan Bryce, to write three new shows. The first of these, For All That, was nominated for a Gregory Award as "Most Outstanding New Play of 2015". The second, Death on the Supermarket Shelf, about the Chicago Tylenol Murders of 1982, received critical acclaim. The third in the series, Cardinal Sins, opens on Saturday, May 13th.

"It was not my original intention to write three historically-based shows," said Alan Bryce, "but that's the way it turned out. I guess at my age, personal angst yields to bigger ideas...and that's what interests me now. WhileCardinal Sins is essentially a love story, it's told in the context of the story behind the birth of western principles of freedom and the origin of the concept of human rights."

Bryce was vacationing in England when he and his family came across a pub in the Surrey countryside: The "Stephen Langton". The pub was named for the Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1215, led rebellious barons against the tyrannical King John...and it was Langton who formulated the Magna Carta, the western world's foundation document that has been the inspiration for, and the cornerstone of, constitutional government, today considered the norm for civilized political life. "It shouldn't come as a surprise, but the story behind the creation of that iconic document is complex, stirring and fascinating. And we've added some of the mythic content surrounding the woman who inspired Langton to create those revolutionary words."

Centerstage has put together a brilliant creative team to mount this epic story. Director, John Henry Davis has directed at The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, The Dallas Theatre Center, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC and has directed opera at Lincoln Center in New York. A team of composers has created the score, led by 4-time Grammy nominee, John Forster, who was responsible for the music in For All That. Contributions have also come from Milton Reame-James, whose score for Lords of London was heard at the Cannes Film Festival. Other songs have come from LA-based Carl Johnson and Ron Barnett. Lyrics are byChana Wise, a Richard Rodgers Award finalist for the best lyrics by an American written in 2015.

Appearing as Stephen Langton is Brian Pucheu, who is ably supported by a cast of 17, including Gregory Award nominee, Caitlin Frances, Josh Williamson, Chris Shea, Martyn Krouse and Steve Grenley.

Tickets are available at www.centerstagetheatre.com and 253 661 1444. Prices range from $15 to $29. Cardinal Sins opens Saturday May 13th and runs through Sunday June 4th. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Centerstage is Federal Way's resident Theatre Company. It was founded in 1977 and for the past fourteen years has produced shows at the Knutzen Family Theatre on the shores of Puget Sound. Artistic Director Alan Bryce is committed to producing "innovative, accomplished productions of popular work and for new work with the widest possible audience appeal." In April 2009, the City of Federal Way awarded Centerstage the contract to manage the Knutzen Family Theatre, saving both the city and theatre company $60,000 per year.

Photo: BRIAN PUCHEU at Stephen; Caitlin Frances as Alais.

Photo Credit: Joseph Lambert

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