Theater Schmeater to Stage New Musical THE CROSSING

Theater Schmeater has announced the beginning of a new journey with the re-telling of an old one. The Crossing, an original chamber musical, will open at The Schmee on Friday July 15th and then run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through August 13th.

It's 1932 and America's Aviation Sweetheart is about to make a dangerous solo crossing of the Atlantic.

A procession of other women aviators has been swallowed by the Atlantic, but Amelia Earhart is determined to be the first to survive. In an effort to gain an advantage, she and her wealthy husband approach the best meteorologist they can find, Ray Spencer. Frozen by a past he can't shake, Spencer refuses to help. Based on the true story of Amelia Earhart and her solo flight, The Crossing is a haunting musical retelling of that story: a brave young woman risking all, a mature man withdrawing into a self-protective shell of doubt, and the unbound natural forces that ultimately control all men's fates, all come into sharp focus in this compelling new work.

Paul Lewis is a playwright and composer whose staged work includes musicals, plays, a children's opera and a choral requiem. Recent projects include his musical adaptation of the children's literature classic Caps for Sale (Boston Children's Theatre); the full-length play Oblivion (Driftwood Players, after staged readings at Atlantic Stage, Raven Players, and HRC Showcase Theatre); and The Hours of Life, A Musical (Theatre22). His one-act and ten-minute plays have been staged at play festivals across the country, winning Best of Festival awards at many of these. Paul is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and BMI.

Carrisa Miesner Smit (book), the current Managing Director at Theater Schmeater, has been the Executive Producer of the Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities series at the Edmonds Driftwood Players, bringing a number of original plays to the stage in festivals and second-stage productions. Starting as a dancer and actor, Carissa is a well recognized choreographer, with credits throughout the Puget Sound area. Playwriting credits include Timmy Perlmutter's Extraordinary Hanukah (also co-written with Paul Lewis), The Snow Queen, and Love is a Divine Accident.

Musical Director Britta Laree is a recent addition to the Northwest, coming from the Rocky Mountain wilds of Denver, Colorado, Britta Laree is an accomplished actor, singer, music director, director and producer. She's directed such shows as A Little Night Music, Songs for a New World, Once Upon a Mattress, Damn Yankees!, The Last 5 Years, Tick, Tick...Boom!, and served as Music Director for such shows as Forever Plaid, Altar Boyz, The Secret Garden, Oklahoma, and many more. In 2008 she had the tremendous honor of producing the world premiere of Breach: A New Rock Musical by Michael Domitrovich (ArtF***ers) and David Nehls (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) with the Denver theatre company she co-founded: Evolution Theatre Company.

Theater Schmeater has gathered a superlative cast for this first foray into musicals. Moren Comendant as Mary, Kendra Pierce as the Fury, Brian Lange as Ray Spencer, Olivia Lee as Riggens, Michael Ramquist as The Editor, Victoria Spero as Amelia Earhart and Chip Wood as Putnam.

Lighting design is by Mary Hefferman, with video design and compilation by Dave Hastings. The costumes are by Kelsey Murphy-Duford. Set construction is by Roger Huston. Additional sound is provided by Dana Amromin Set design and Direction are by Doug Staley. The production is stage managed by Mathew Ray. Piano accompanist is Loren Tempkin.

The Crossing opens on Friday July 15th, and runs on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays through August 13th. Thursday July 14th is a Pay What You Can Preview. General admission tickets purchased on-line in advance for all shows are $37.00 or $34.00 for students and seniors. General admission tickets purchased at the box office are $42.00 or $38.00 for students and seniors.

Advance tickets are available online at http://www.schmeater.org or through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2481026 or by phone at 1-800-838-3006. Thursdays are Pay-What-You-Can at the door for any same day, available unreserved tickets. Box office opens at 7:00 p.m. on day of show.

Theater Schmeater is located at The Schmee, 2125 Third Ave in Belltown. For more information about Creature or any other Theater Schmeater event, please go to http://www.schmeater.org.

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