Meet the 100-Person Cast of THE ODYSSEY at Seattle Rep

It's nearly here! An initiative and production years in the making comes to the Seattle Repertory Theatre Bagley Wright Theatre stage in just two short weeks in the form of a musical adaptation of The Odyssey, featuring an over-100-person cast.

Professional actors and community members side by side will tell the tale of the mythic world that is TheOdyssey in a first-time endeavor by Seattle Rep. Public Works Seattle is a groundbreaking community engagement and participatory theatre initiative that has created theatre of the people, by the people, and for the people of the greater Seattle region, and The Odyssey is its culminating event, helmed and directed by Marya Sea Kaminski, Seattle Rep's Associate Artistic Director.

After months of community workshops with partner nonprofits, equity-focused casting, and conversations with unique regional arts groups - the cast for The Odyssey was completed and the rehearsal process is underway.

Professional actors Terence Archie as Odysseus, Justin Huertasas the Narrator, Alexandra Tavares as Penelope, and Sarah Russell as Calliope join a cast of 78 community members and 8 local arts groups in rehearsals taking place at Seattle Rep in the evenings and over the weekends leading up to the main event.

This version of The Odyssey was specially adapted by composer/playwright Todd Almond for this large-ensemble style production.

Community members - non-professional actors - take on roles such as Penelope's women and sea monsters, Scylla and Charybdis. The one-of-a-kind local arts groups are set to make cameos appearances in the production in roles that reflect what they truly do best. For instance, the role of Athena, a mentor who offers divine powers to Odysseus, is to be performed by The RL Manaway Choral Ensemble; the role of Circe, a goddess of magic, will be played by Tipsy Lee Rose a local drag performer; and the physically active role of the Phaecians will be performed by dance troupe, The Purple Lemonade Collective. From young to old, from Everett to Tacoma, from beginner to professional - the cast of Seattle Rep's The Odyssey represents a coming together never before seen in Seattle.

"The rehearsal room for this Odyssey is brimming with bright melodies, kids' laughter, and folks of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities standing together to tell a story about coming home," Kaminski comments. "This production is the culmination of three years of building partnerships with some of Seattle's most inspiring community-based organizations along with artistic innovators from across the country to discover what it is to try to create theatre that is truly with, by, and for the people of our region. After a month of intense rehearsals with our 80-person cast and outstanding cameo performers, including the Seahawks' Blue Thunder and The Purple Lemonade Collective, we will open our theatre (and our hearts) on September 8 to share our work with the city. In a time when Seattle is facing dizzying, aggressive change, our Odyssey brings people from across our region together and on to the stage to tell a story of love, courage, and deep community. We hope our audiences might see themselves in that. We hope we will see each other and, even for a brief moment, feel at home together in a new way."

Tickets to this production of The Odyssey are free to the public, but seating is limited and tickets must be reserved. To do so, go online to SeattleRep.org or call the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206.443.2222.

PUBLIC WORKS SEATTLE CAST:

Terence Archie (Odysseus)

Terence Archie, a Detroit native and graduate of The North Carolina School of the Arts, just completed a run of Guys and Dolls at the Old Globe Theatre where he'd also recently appeared inTwelfth Night. Other recent credits include the world premiere of the off-Broadway production ofJoan of Arc: Into The Fire at The Public Theater. Other notable credits include DCPA's productions of All the Way and The 12. Broadway credits include Ragtime and Rocky the Musical, which he also performed at Operettenhaus in Hamburg, Germany. He appeared off Broadway in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Second Stage Theater), and his solo shows include Frederick Douglass Free, Peanut Prince, and At the Pole (Urban Stages). Regional highlights include The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Geffen Playhouse), the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona, Edward II, andTamburlaine the Great (Shakespeare Theatre Company), The Arabian Nights (Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre), and A Year with Frog and Toad (Two River Theater). Television credits include "Law & Order," "Blindspot," "The Blacklist," "The Mysteries of Laura," "Madam Secretary," "Manhattan Love Story," "Blue Bloods," and "One Life to Live."

Justin Huertas (The Narrator)

Justin Huertas returns home to Seattle Repertory Theatre for the first time since the world premiere of his original musical Lizard Boy (Gregory Award, Footlight Award, Gypsy Rose Lee Award). Lizard Boy had its second production at San Diego's Diversionary Theatre, for which Justin received a Craig Noel Award for Lead Actor in a Musical. Credits include Speech & Debate at Seattle Repertory Theatre, In the Heights (Gregory Nomination) at Village Theatre, and Welcome to Braggsville at Book-It Repertory Theatre. Justin is the composer-lyricist of Book-It Repertory Theatre's upcoming Howl's Moving Castle, A New Musical.

Alexandra Tavares (Penelope)

Previously seen at Seattle Rep as Marianne in Constellations and C in Three Tall Women. Some productions she has appeared in are Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth), The Clean House (Mathilde), and Italian-American Reconciliation (Janice) at Actors Theatre of Louisville; the world premiere of the new Jane Martin play Somebody/Nobody, Sherlock Holmes and The Suicide Club at Arizona Theatre Company; Middletown and Rock 'n' Roll at ACT; Ellie in Heartbreak House and Irina in The Three Sisters at Intiman Theatre; Medea in Jason and the Golden Fleece at Seattle Children's Theatre, Medea in Medea at Seattle Shakespeare Company; as well as other productions at Strawberry Workshop Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and Washington Ensemble Theatre. She has also appeared as Nina in The Seagull and Masha in The Three Sisters with the Seagull Project, of which she is a founding member. She has an M.F.A. in acting from University of Washington.

Sarah Russell (Calliope)

Sarah Russell makes her Seattle Rep debut. Past credits include Dreamgirls, My Heart is the Drum(Village Theatre); Grease, Rent ( The 5th Avenue); The Lion, The Witch... (SCT), and Big Fish(Taproot Theatre Company).

PUBLIC WORKS SEATTLE CAMEO GROUPS:

The Purple Lemonade Collective is an artist group based out of Seattle, WA. Their objective is to create art that educates, inspires, and entertains. As a collective, they believe that every artist should have the means and a platform to present their work. They draw together their resources to ensure every artist can develop their craft to its fullest potential and create more avenues for expression. The PLC includes choreographers, dancers, models, stylists, graphic designers, videographers, and music producers working together to make art accessible to their communities whether they're across the street or around the globe.

The RL Manaway Choral Ensemble (RL) was formed under the vision of senior pastor, Reverend Robert Lee Manaway Sr. of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in 1985. RL serves as a young adult choir and inspires the congregation and community through contemporary gospel music. The Ensemble has also recorded a part live, part studio album and has been blessed to sing with many national and international gospel recording artists including Yolanda Adams, Crystal Aikin, and Pastor Hezekiah Walker. The group continually aims to be completely dedicated to ministry and finding out what God would have them to do.

Seattle Seahawks' Blue Thunder is the heartbeat of the fans. This high-energy entertainment drumline was established in 2004 at CenturyLink Field, performing throughout the stadium before, during, and after games. Not your typical drumline, Blue Thunder uses a variety of rhythms and visuals, incorporating rock 'n' roll drumming alongside drum-corps style, endearing them to Seahawks fans of all ages.

Oleaje Flamenco is a Seattle-based group of musicians and dancers who share a passion for flamenco music and dance. They continue to be deeply moved each day with the depth and power of flamenco, and are both honored and proud to represent this unique art form with humility, authenticity, and love. With a rich background in a variety of musical and movement styles, together they create exciting and mesmerizing flamenco shows that will leave you inspired.

Visual Artist Mandy Greer is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates heightened narrative space through fiber-based installation, photography, performance, film, and community-based action. A recent installation and performance was commissioned for the international fiber installation exhibition MINIARTEXTIL in Como, Italy and Paris, France. Mandy has received numerous awards including the Arts Innovator Award from Artists Trust/The Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation, and the prestigious Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at Centro di Cultura Contemporanea at Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy; Cathedral St. John the Divine in NYC; Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR; Catalyst Project, Washington, D.C; Aqua Art Miami; Tacoma Art Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, and Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA.

The Northside Drill Team has been teaching youth the principles of harmony, leadership, and discipline through performing arts and community service for the past 12 years. They are dedicated to providing children and youth with an artistic way of expression in order to prevent negative behaviors such as drug use, gang violence, and teen pregnancy. Northside's colors are majestic navy and optimistic silver.

Tipsy Rose Lee currently serves as the Associate Producer and Choreographer of Seattle's longest running drag brunch extravaganza, Mimosas Cabaret. She has really made a splash performing in cities all over North America including an extended run at Act II Stages in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Known as Seattle's Broadway Bombshell, Tipsy is known for campy portrayals of Tracy Turnblad in30 min-ish Hairspray, Velma Kelly in 30 minute CHICAGO and most recently as Glinda in The Wicked Wiz of Oz.

The Thalia Symphony Orchestra is Seattle's oldest community-based orchestra, established in 1948 and named for the ancient Greek muse of lyric poetry and comedy. With this legacy as inspiration, Thalia Allied Arts was formed the following year, primarily as an opera company, with the orchestra to support their productions. After first-season productions of Madame Butterfly and Hansel and Gretel, the organization's focus was redirected toward smaller scale projects and included symphonic and chamber music, and community workshops covering a wide variety of musical activities. The orchestra ultimately became the centerpiece of Thalia's operations, and has been a fixture in the musical life of the community ever since. Currently, the orchestra is directed by Joseph Pollard White and continues the tradition of inspiring, enriching and educating musicians and the community at large through the performance of outstanding symphonic music.

IF YOU GO:

THE ODYSSEY

adaptation/music/new lyrics by Todd Almond

original concept & direction by Lear deBessonet

directed by Marya Sea Kaminski

Travel with us on a story of high adventure and true love as over 100 Seattle citizens join professional actors and regional performance groups onstage to create the beautiful and dangerous world of The Odyssey. Odysseus leads his crew to wrestle ridiculous monsters, resist treacherous temptations, and face the darkest dangers of the high seas to find their way home. A theatrical celebration for the whole family, this musical adaptation of Homer's epic tale will bring our entire city together.

September 8-10, 2017

September 8 & 9 - 7:30 p.m.

September 9 - 2:00 p.m.

September 10 - 2:00 p.m.

At Seattle Repertory Theatre's Bagley Wright Theatre, located at Seattle Center at the corner of Second Ave. and Mercer St., Seattle, Washington

FREE - must reserve tickets in advance. For ticket reservations, call the Seattle Repertory Theatre Box Office at 206.443.2222 or toll-free at 877.900.9285, or go online at seattlerep.org.

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America's premier not-for-profit resident theatres, Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.

Title Sponsorship for Public Works Seattle is provided by Seattle Neighborhoods, Theatre Communications Group, and the Knossos Foundation. Producing Sponsors include the Nesholm Family Foundation, Nordstrom, Microsoft, and AT&T. This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Public Works Seattle uses the methodology of the Public Works program of The Public Theater in NYC, conceived by Lear deBessonet under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham.

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