Spring is the time for change: more sunshiny days, shorter skirts, new beginnings, and one ridiculously funny musical debut involving mistaken identities and sword fighting. Coming this spring, the world premiere of Monty Python-esque musical The King's Proposal (or the Marriage of Princess Guido) will be performed as part of Seattle Musical Theatre's 33rd season.
"We chose Seattle for a reason," says playwright Michael Govier, who currently lives in Chicago. "There's a rich history here, and this city is a hot spot for musical debuts-just look at Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, next to normal... there are dozens of big guns that have started here."
The King's Proposal tells the Mel Brooks-meets-Shakespeare story of an evil king who tries to marry his daughter to an unwanted suitor. A case of mistaken identities turns into a tale of forced marriage--not to mention forced cross-dressing, forced song singing, occasional sword fighting and the obligatory puppet scene. As Govier says, "If you're a fan of laughter, having fun, laughing while having fun, or having fun while laughing, this is the show for you!"
Govier has written three full-length plays, a dozen shorts and a musical. His work has been preformed around Chicago-where he works with The Neo-Futurist, Barrel Of Monkeys, Stage Left Theatre, and Noble Fool Theatre-and in Eugene, OR.
Curtis Williams, a Chicago-based musical director since 2003, wrote the show's music. He has written more than 100 songs for various shows and has acted as musical director for Chicago's Barrel of Monkeys, Second City Theatricals and Neo-Futurist.
The Pacific Northwest is a homecoming of sorts for Govier and Williams. They have family in Puyallup, WA and Gresham, OR, and met while they were attending the University of Oregon studying theater. Seattle Musical Theatre was interested in debuting new musicals for the first time in the theater's history, and, as Govier says, "We're very proud to be part of this new chapter at SMT. We can't wait to show our friends in the Northwest what a great story we've come up with!"
Dates:
Shows run March 20, 2011 through April 10, 2011
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm
(No show on Wednesday, March 23)
Where:
Seattle Musical Theatre
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Building No. 47 (at Magnuson Park)
Admission:
$20-$30
Tickets:
For reservations and information call the Seattle Musical Theatre at (206) 363-2809, or see their website www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org.
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