Hollywood's Classic Musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Splashes onto Stage at Village Theatre

What a glorious feeling! This holiday season, Village Theatre brings to the stage one of Hollywood's most beloved classics, Singin' in the Rain. Based on the MGM film, which is widely lauded as one of the greatest movie musicals of all time, Singin' in the Rain is a faithful adaptation by the original award-winning screenplay team, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. The production will be helmed by much of the same creative team that launched last season's hit musical, Billy Elliot, with Artistic Director Steve Tomkins once again in the director's chair.

Set in Hollywood during the waning days of the silent film era, the musical follows silver screen star Don Lockwood as he weathers the transition from silent films to talkies, alongside leading lady Lina Lamont and aspiring actress Kathy Selden. The show is brimming with exuberant dance numbers, romantic comedy, and familiar songs backed by a live 16-piece orchestra. "I've loved this story since I was 5-years-old," says Tomkins. "One of the challenges of this show is figuring out how to make a musical that is adapted from a well-loved film flow cinematically. I couldn't have asked for a more talented creative team and cast with which to make that happen. We're incorporating a number of technically challenging special effects to really bring the story to life on stage."

True to its name, an iconic moment in the musical portrays protagonist Don Lockwood dancing down the street in the middle of a downpour. Though some productions have used rice or digital projections to create the illusion of rain, Village Theatre's creative team had a different vision. "From the beginning, we said, 'We've gotta have wet rain,'" says Set Designer Bill Forrester. The creative and technical teams have worked diligently to devise a system by which nearly 320 gallons of heated, recycled water will fall onto the stage and the fleet-footed cast during each performance. And in a musical about black and white movies, theatre magic isn't the only essential ingredient. Incorporated into the musical are a number of short films, both silent and talking-a representative depiction of the acting careers of Lockwood and Lamont. In collaboration with local video Production Company ProMotion Arts, Village Theatre has created these films using the show's cast and additional actors, as well as custom scenery, props, wigs, makeup, and costumes.

In the role of Don Lockwood is John David Scott (Mary Poppins, Funny Girl), an accomplished dancer, local theatre instructor, and regular on Village Theatre's stage. Mallory King (Billy Elliot, Snapshots) joins the cast as Kathy Selden, and Lina Lamont is played by Village Theatre favorite Jessica Skerritt (No Way To Treat A Lady, Xanadu). Skerritt could be seen last season in The 5th Avenue Theatre's productions of The Sound of Music (Elsa Schraeder) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Hedy LaRue). Gabriel Corey (Mary Poppins, Funny Girl) plays Lockwood's old friend, CosMo Brown. Other cast members include Greg McCormick Allen as Diction Coach, Ethan Carpenteras Production Tenor, Kate E. Cook as Zelda Zanders, Bobbi Kotula as Dora Bailey and Phoebe Dinsmore, Brian D. Simmons as Rod, Jeff Steitzer as R.F. Simpson, Ty Willis as Roscoe Dexter, and Matt Wolfe as Sid Phillips. Two young actors, Kai Johnson and Bryan Kinder, step into the roles of Young Don and Young Cosmo, respectively. Pamela Turpen is the Featured Dancer during a uniquely envisioned version of the Broadway Ballet that harkens back to the film. Rounding out the ensemble are Caleb Adams, Adam Brozowski, Jenny Vaughn Hall,Carly Hebert, Rianna Hidalgo, Jordan Jackson, Nick Perry, Casey Raiha, and Shelby Willis.

Joining Tomkins on the creative team are Tim Symons and Bruce Monroe as Music Directors, Katy Tabb as Choreographer, Jessica Lowas Associate Director, Bill Forrester as Set Designer, Cynthia Savage as Costume Designer, Michael Gilliam on Lighting Design, andBrent Warwick on Sound Design.

Singin' in the Rain is on stage at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah November 10 - December 31, 2016, before moving to the Everett Performing Arts Center from January 6 - 29, 2017. The production is sponsored in part by ArtsFund, Microsoft, The Shubert Foundation, United, Rowley Properties, ProMotion Arts, Everett Bone and Joint, McLeod Construction, Peoples Bank, Twyla and Tom Lucas, and the Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter.

Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining, quality productions for the entire family since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's best-attended Equity theatres, with over 19,000 Subscribers, 200,000 projected total attendance each season, and an annual operating budget of over $12,000,000. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having launched over 150 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow's audiences through its youth education programs, Pied Piper and KIDSTAGE, serving over 55,000 young people, families, and schools annually.

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