Lakewood Playhouse & Tacoma Little Theatre to Launch Directors Exchange Program

For the first time in both of their histories, the South Sound's two oldest theatre companies are teaming up, and exchanging their Managing Artistic Directors, for the closing shows of their respective Seasons. Lakewood Playhouse's Managing Artistic Director, John Munn, will be directing Tacoma Little Theatre's Musical CABARET - The Final Show of their 96th Season opening on May 22nd, 2015. Tacoma Little Theatre's Managing Artistic Director, Chris Serface, will be directing Lakewood Playhouse's Musical DROOD: THE MYSTERY of EDWIN DROOD - The Final Show of their 76th Season opening on May 29th, 2015.

"We want to show everyone that we are truly a 'Community of Theatres' in the South Sound," Munn said, "Over the years there has always been the perception that all of the local theatres are competing with one another and that simply is not the case. I grew up at Tacoma Little Theatre and discovered Lakewood Playhouse soon after. I have been proud to be a director at TLT for two decades and to have worked under the supervision of five Managing Artistic Directors and I can honestly say that working with Chris as my "M.A.D." on CABARET, and feeling the wonderful positive energy that he and his staff have brought to the theatre, that Tacoma Little Theatre truly feels like home again."

"Having John come to TLT has been a great experience," Serface stated, "We both believe strongly that theatre begets theatre, and that by switching places, we are giving new cast, crew, and audience members to work and see different individuals."

In addition to their own theatres, Munn and Serface have been teaming up quite a bit with Jon Douglas Rake and Tacoma Musical Playhouse over the last year. They resurrected FREE THEATRE NIGHTS last October and were able to showcase each of their upcoming seasons. It was a huge hit and they hope to repeat it again this year. They also offered a Free Ticket to the Season Ticket Holders of each of the other theatres in the hopes that they would be able to experience the rich tapestry of shows being woven by the three theatres.

"We all have such a strong love of our community and a great respect for what each theatre create," Serface spoke, "We feel honored to have the support of our community, and our peers. There's a long history of theatre in Tacoma, and one that we should all be proud of."

"It's an amazing time for theatre in the South Sound," Munn Continued, " With so many smaller theatres joining our three theatres, I believe we are entering a new Golden Age of Theatre in the area. The 'Directors Exchange Program' is just another way of showing that, through cooperation, that all of us can succeed together."

At the dawn of the 1930's in Berlin, the Nazis are rising to power. In the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy cabaret full of interesting characters and decadent celebration, we find the naïve English cabaret performer Sally Bowles (Elise Campello), along with the cabaret girls and boys, and the infamous Emcee (Mauro Bozzo). We follow her relationship with American writer Cliff (Niclas R. Olson) as the Nazis begin their takeover of the city.

This production At the dawn of the 1930's in Berlin, the Nazis are rising to power. In the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy cabaret full of interesting characters and decadent celebration, we find the naïve English cabaret performer Sally Bowles (Elise Campello), along with the cabaret girls and boys, and the infamous Emcee (Mauro Bozzo). We follow her relationship with American writer Cliff (Niclas R. Olson) as the Nazis begin their takeover of the city.

This production also features Kyle Sinclair, Rosalie Hilburn, Joseph Grant, Rachel Fitzgerald, Jeremy Thompson, Amanda Jackson, LaNita Hudson, Haley Kim, Kathy Kluska, Stephen Nishida, Addison Daniels, Charlie Stevens, and Derek Wisher.

This wildly warm-hearted theatrical experience kicks off when the Music Hall Royale (a hilariously loony Victorian musical troupe) "puts on" its flamboyant rendition of Dickens' unfinished mystery. The giddy playfulness of this "play-within-a-play" is capped off by YOU choosing the solution to the mystery every night from one of 33 Possible Endings! Never the same show twice because you decide what the unusual, and hilarious, finale will be! WINNER of 6 TONY Awards!

A Lakewood Playhouse Premier

Parental Advisory: Because of the "Choose Your Own Ending" Nature of the Show, Audience Members will be asked to participate in Voting. Please be advised that the show will also feature some theatrical fog.

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