STG 2011 - 12 Performance Season Begins

Seattle Theatre Group (STG)  kicks off its 2011 - 2012 performance season at the historic Paramount, Moore, and newly leased Neptune Theatres. The line up includes diverse dance, comedy, Broadway, silent film, concerts, and community performances.

Beginning in October, STG's 2011 - 2012 Season has something for everyone - from popular stand-up comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Kathy Griffin, to tributes featuring Washington state dance legends Merce Cunningham with THE LEGACY TOUR and Mark Morris Dance Group with Seattle Symphony premiering and celebrating 20 years of THE HARD NUT. Additional season highlights include: An Evening with Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert, Classical Encounter with Savion Glover, Jason Webley, Kronos Quartet, TAO: The Way of the Drum, long-standing community engagements MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE and DANCE This, and so much more!

STG and long time partners Broadway Across America present the 2011 - 2012 Key Bank Broadway at The Paramount series, complete with three fresh-off-Broadway tours and three favorites - Blue Man Group, revival of WEST SIDE STORY, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, MAMMA MIA!, Million Dollar Quartet, and Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT.

"This season we continue our commitment to partnerships and loyalty to artists and artistic development," said Josh LaBelle, STG's Executive Director. "I invite our patrons to be inspired by great performing arts - whether it be through dance, music, comedy, film, theatre, arts education - experience it with us!"

Subscription forms are available online at www.STGpresents.org. Orders can be completed online, or completed order forms can be mailed to STG Subscriptions, Attn: Renewals, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101, by fax at (206) 812-3284, call Subscriber Hotline at (206) 812-1114 (Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), or deliver in person at The Paramount Box Office (Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.). All subscriptions are processed in the order received.

The Paramount Theatre is located at 911 Pine Street; The Moore Theatre is located at 1932 Second Avenue; The Neptune Theatre is located at 1303 NE 45th Street. Tom Douglas Catering & Events provides handmade concessions at The Paramount and The Moore Theatres.
About STG: Our mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of our region's cultural identity while keeping three historic venues, The Paramount, Moore and Neptune, alive and vibrant. STG presents a range of performances from Broadway, off-Broadway, dance and jazz, to comedy, concerts of all genres, speakers and family shows - at these three iconic theatres in Seattle and venues throughout the Puget Sound region and in Portland, Oregon.

Based on Pollstar, the Concert Hotwire Hagazine's 2010 Mid-Year Worldwide Ticket Sales, STG ranked #43 of the Top 100 promoters and The Paramount (ranked #12) and The Moore (ranked #44) were placed very well among the Top 100 Theatre Venues.

STG is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization that operates the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres in Seattle, Washington.

SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP 2011 - 2012 Season (in chronological order)

AN EVENING WITH Jerry Seinfeld
Saturday, October 1, 2011 - The Paramount Theatre

Jerry Seinfeld's career in stand-up comedy took off after a successful stop on Carson's "The Tonight Show" and from then, has been making audiences laugh around the world. He teamed up with fellow stand-up comedian Larry David and created the hit NBC Television series "Seinfeld", which ran for 9 successful seasons.

Since the show's end, Jerry has been directing and producing. He even wrote and produced the box-office hit "Bee Movie". He can also be seen performing stand-up across the country on an ongoing basis.

Blue Man Group
October 7 - 16, 2011
The Paramount Theatre

Experience the Phenomenon. Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts, which combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The New York Times heralds the show as "One of the most delightful performance pieces ever staged." E! Entertainment News exclaims, "Blue Man Group is what every live performance aspires to be." This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else; guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget.

Merce Cunningham Dance Company
THE LEGACY TOUR Thursday, October 27 & Saturday, October 29, 2011 The Paramount Theatre

The legendary American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham, born in Centralia and a former student of Cornish College of the Arts, died last July at the age of 90. Celebrating Cunningham's lifetime of artistic achievement, THE LEGACY TOUR showcases seminal works from throughout Cunningham's career, and offers audiences around the world a final opportunity to see Cunningham's choreography performed by the company he personally trained.

Thursday, October 27 Repertory
Xover
Quartet
Biped

Saturday, October 29 Repertory
Rainforest
Duets
Split Sides

GLOBAL DANCE PARTY
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Moore Theatre

GLOBAL DANCE PARTY is a high-energy performance of cultural and contemporary dance and music. The performance features young local performers from STG's DANCE This celebrating the rich cultural traditions and artistic talent found in the Northwest. A not-to-be missed experience for all ages. Think Global, Dance Local!

Kathy Griffin
November 4 - 5, 2011
The Paramount Theatre

Two-time Emmy winner, NY Times bestselling author, Grammy nominee, 2009's GLAAD Vanguard recipient and 2011 Trevor Project Life Award honoree Kathy Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with rapid fire wit. She has been making audiences laugh for years discussing Hollywood gossip and celebrity blunders.

Kathy Griffin is known for doing it all - an accomplished stand-up comedian, gay rights activist, author and reality star. You won't want to miss this show!

Jason Webley
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Moore Theatre

The Seattle Times describes accordion troubadour Jason Webley as "one of Seattle's most talented musicians." Since his beginnings as a street performer at Bumbershoot and Pike Place Market, Webley has built a loyal following around the globe with his uninhibited live performances. Welbey organizes and headlines the annual Monsters of Accordion tour and has shared the stage with the likes of The Avett Brothers, Devotchka and Regina Spektor. His performance will be joined by many of Seattle's finest musicians and a number of his talented friends from around the world.

THE HARD NUT
Mark Morris Dance Group with Seattle Symphony December 1 - 4 2011
The Paramount Theatre

Celebrate 20 years and the Seattle premiere of Seattleite Mark Morris' THE HARD NUT - a shake up of E.T.A. Hoffmann's classic tale of the Nutcracker and Mouseking. This Mark Morris Dance Group production is at once a send up of the holiday dance classic and a tribute. Impeccably faithful to Tchaikovsky's original score, this hip and heartwarming work showcases beautiful music and dancing with glorious costumes and stylized sets inspired by the work of cartoonist and illustrator Charles Burns. If you enjoy a dash of spice along with your holiday cheer, you'll love THE HARD NUT.

Mark Morris, Choreography
Adrianne Lobel, Set Design
Martin Pakledinaz, Costume Design
James F. Ingalls, Lighting Design
Production based on the work of Charles Burns

BLACK NATIVITY
December 9th - 18, 2011
The Moore Theatre

Silent Night? No Way! Seattle's greatest holiday tradition continues for its second year at the historic Moore Theatre. Sing, dance, clap, stomp and celebrate the magic of Christmas with BLACK NATIVITY. Complete with gospel favorites and holiday classics, BLACK NATIVITY will move your spirit and inspire your heart. The show features the poetry of Langston Hughes, the beauty of gravity-defying dancers, the voices of Pastor Patrinell Wright and her choir of gospel singers, and that rockin' live band!

By Langston Hughes
Directed by Jacqueline Moscou
Choreography by Donald Byrd
Musical Director & Arrangements by Pastor Patrinell Wright

WEST SIDE STORY
January 10 - 15, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

More than fifty years ago, one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by its two-time Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere."

Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays
FIRST ACADEMY AWARDS
Mondays - Jan 23rd, Jan 30th, Feb 6th, Feb 13th, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

STG presents Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays FIRST ACADEMY AWARDS at The Paramount Theatre featuring TEMPEST on January 23, STREET ANGEL on January 30, LAST COMMAND on February 6 and WINGS on February 13, 2012. This all-classic film series, First Oscars, is accompanied by live music from the historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, one of the last three remaining organs of its kind to reside in its original environment, played by critically acclaimed organist Jim Riggs.

ANJELAH JOHNSON
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

Anjelah Johnson made a huge splash with one of the most successful, viral comedy videos of all time,
"Nail Salon." She was a series regular on MADtv and is proud to be one of the first Latina comedians to
be invited to join a sketch comedy series. She was honored with a 2008 ALMA Award nomination for "Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series."

Anjelah is currently touring the country, performing stand up comedy for her fans.

TAO: The Way of the Drum
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Moore Theatre

Athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography in a show that has critics waxing lyrical about TAO's extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina. The stars of TAO live and train at a compound in the mountains of Japan, reaching the highest level of virtuosity only after years of intensive study. The performers each bring nontraditional flair to the group by drawing on their diverse backgrounds. They offer a young and vibrantly modern take on a traditional art form.

Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

Bourdain and Ripert are two unlikely friends. Both are chefs with very different careers and very different philosophies. This frequent tag team appears often together - at the Gourmet Institute and both are regular judges on Top Chef. This special one-night-only event should be seen in person - the free flowing, frank and provocative back and forth about the restaurant business - from both ends of the spectrum. It'll be an evening to remember with two talented individuals with very little in common, other than friendship.

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
February 21 - 26, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

TALE AS OLD AS TIME, TRUE AS IT CAN BE. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to you! Based on the Academy® Award-winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!

MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE
Friday, March 9th, 2012
The Moore Theatre

MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE features exceptional young musicians mixing up diverse music styles. The performance celebrates the rich musical talent of youth in our community and provides musicians, regardless of what style they play, the opportunity to make music together.

The MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE program provides young artists training and rehearsal time with professional musicians, production and promotional support, and the opportunity to perform live at The Moore Theatre. Past professional mentors have included Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), Ernestine Anderson, Dave Dederer, Michael Shrieve, Bernadette Bascom and Alan White.

A CLASSICAL ENCOUNTER WITH Savion Glover
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Moore Theatre

Glover is truly the King of Tap. With gravity-defying rhythm and inventive sounds, A CLASSICAL ENCOUNTER WITH Savion Glover seems to achieve the impossible: a continuous flow of percussive taps with the subtlest of moves.

A CLASSICAL ENCOUNTER WITH Savion Glover will allow sounds to sweep through audiences like thundering, hypnotic hail while offering marvelous insight into the relationship between music and dance in a way that no contemporary dance performance could.

KRONOS QUARTET
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Neptune Theatre

For more than 30 years, San Francisco's Kronos Quartet-David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)-has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expanding the range and context of the string quartet. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than 45 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, collaborating with many of the world's most eclectic composers and performers, and commissioning more than 700 new works and arrangements for string quartet. Kronos' work has also garnered numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance (2004) and "Musicians of the Year" (2003) from Musical America.

MAMMA MIA!
March 20- March 25, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone's having the time of their lives!

Starbuck's HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

As part of Starbucks' ongoing commitment to supporting the local youth arts community, this benefit concert features Ellington Festival award winning jazz bands from five local high schools with all proceeds from ticket sales going to support each school's music program. Seattle area high school jazz musicians take the stage in a showcase of the city's finest young talent performing with their big bands. Past performing bands include Garfield, Roosevelt, Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Shorewood and Newport to name a handful.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN & THE MASTERS OF PERCUSSION
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Moore Theatre

Zakir Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon and one of the greatest musicians of our time. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have established him as a National Treasure of India, as well as one of its most esteemed cultural ambassadors. Along with his legendary father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha, he has elevated the status of his instrument with playing marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity.

Million Dollar Quartet
May 15 - 20, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

Million Dollar Quartet is the smash hit musical from Broadway, inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.

This thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock 'n' roll band for one unforgettable night. Don't miss your chance to be a fly on the wall of fame... at Million Dollar Quartet!

AMERICAN IDIOT
June 5 - June 10, 2012
The Paramount Theatre

Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their quest for true meaning in a post-9/11 world leads them on the most exhilarating theatrical journey of the season.

Based on Green Day's GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum album, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before.

Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays
EPICS & OPULENCE
Mondays in July 2012 (7/9, 7/16, 7/23 7/30)
The Paramount Theatre

STG presents Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays EPICS & OPULENCE at The Paramount Theatre featuring PICCADILLY on July 9, L'ARGENT on July 16, BEN HUR: A TALE OF CHRIST on July 23 and KING OF KINGS on July 30, 2012. This all-classic film series, Epics and Opulence, is accompanied by live music from the historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, one of the last three remaining organs of its kind to reside in its original environment, played by critically acclaimed organist Jim Riggs.

DANCE This
Friday, July 13th & Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Moore Theatre

DANCE This brings together teen performers from diverse communities for collaboration and to share their culture through the art of dance. The performance features young local dancers in collaboration with professional artists performing dances from across cultures-both traditionally rooted and contemporary in form. Audiences experience the rich cultural traditions and artistic talent of teens in the region.

Previous guest artists have included Savion Glover, The Joffrey Ballet, Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, Step Afrika!, Abdel Salaam, Jamel Gaines, Pat Graney, Donald Byrd, Sonia Dawkins, Daniel Cruz and Amy O'Neal.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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