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Please use the links above to learn more about how Taproot Theatre Company is responding to the Greenwood fire. If the information you are looking for is not listed as a link, you will most likely find the information in the Frequently Asked Questions 'FAQ' page.
Thank you to Taproot's friends and patrons, the Greenwood community, Seattle's Theatre community and Seattle as a whole for supporting Taproot during this difficult time.
Current press release:
TAPROOT THEATRE OPENS 2010 SEASON
WITH C.S. LEWIS’ THE GREAT DIVORCE
Regional premiere opens on January 29
SEATTLE – December 30, 2009 – Three months after the fire that caused severe damage to its Greenwood playhouse, Taproot Theatre is thrilled to reopen the theatre with the regional premiere of The Great Divorce, the first show in its 2010 Season. The theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ fantastical novel opens on January 29, a night full of celebration and new beginnings. The Great Divorce, adapted by George Drance and the Magis Theatre Company (NY) and directed by Scott Nolte, runs through February 27.
“Opening our 34th season would be exciting enough, but this one is extra special,” Nolte said. “After everything that’s happened, everything we’ve been through, these past months, I’m thrilled to be marking this new period in Taproot Theatre’s history with a premiere of C.S. Lewis’ fictional masterpiece.”
In The Great Divorce, one drizzly afternoon our author embarks on a supernatural voyage with a cast of eccentric, humorous characters that bear a remarkable resemblance to us. Theatrical, imaginative and thought provoking, it’s a bus ride through hell to heaven that, in the grand C.S. Lewis tradition, leaves you breathless and wanting more.
“I saw the world premiere of this play Off-Broadway in 2007, and was spellbound at how well the story—so full of imagination and a world beyond our own—translated to the stage,” said Nolte. “We often speak about creating productions that are theatrical and imaginative, and this one will demand the best of our actors and designers to tell this story.”
In this production, ten actors portray 25 characters, including C.S. Lewis himself and author George MacDonald, who is Lewis’ guide through the story.
“When the original co-founders of Taproot Theatre were just getting started, we often staged productions—including Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe— with little more than boxes and chairs—and the audiences' imaginations!” Nolte said. “The artists' ability to capture that imagination is where the magic of theatre is, and I'm excited to be directing such a unique play as The Great Divorce this winter.”
The Great Divorce features David Dorrian as C.S. Lewis and Nolan Palmer as George MacDonald, along with Ryan Childers, Jenny Cross, Nathan Jeffrey, Kim Morris, Pam Nolte, Faith Russell, Candace Vance and Sam Vance. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Jody Briggs. Anne Hitt serves as stage manager, Kate Forster as dialect coach and Judy Naegeli as dramaturg.
After The Great Divorce, Taproot Theatre’s 2010 Season continues with the regional premiere of Brooklyn Boy by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies (March 17-April 17), Brandon Thomas’s Charley’s Aunt (May 12-June 12), Man of La Mancha (a musical play by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion; original production staged by Albert Marre; originally produced by Albert W. Selden and Hal James; July 7-August 7), and the regional premiere of Wedding Belles by Alan Bailey and Ronnie Claire Edwards (September 22-October 23).
Taproot Theatre Presents Stage Readings Despite Greenwood Fire
SEATTLE – November 12, 2009 – Taproot Theatre presents two staged readings
of John Longenbaugh’s Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol this December 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University’s McKinley Hall. Forced to postpone the world premiere production until 2010 due to the Greenwood fire on October 23, Taproot Theatre producing artistic director Scott Nolte and playwright John Longenbaugh still wanted to offer a taste of what is to come.
“When the extent of the damage from the fire was clear and we had to make
the decision to postpone the show I was as heartbroken as anyone at Taproot,” said Longenbaugh, who has been actively involved in the Seattle theatre scene for years. “Scott had pulled together such an incredible cast for the show and rehearsals were giving me a chance to truly hone the script. I’m immensely grateful that the Theatre is giving the cast, and me, a chance to give Seattle a little peek at this play that we’re all so excited about.”
The Greenwood fire happened just days after the cast met for the first
rehearsal. While Alex Robertson, Jesse Notehelfer and Eric Riedmann were recast in Taproot Theatre’s new holiday production, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, at its temporary location, the other actors return to perform in the staged readings in the roles in which they were originally cast. Terry Edward Moore returns as Sherlock Holmes and David Nail as Watson, plus David Dorrian, Aaron Lamb and Pam Nolte. They are joined by Kevin Brady and Charity Parenzini.
“These readings should be a lot of fun and give audiences who were anticipating
the show something to whet their appetite,” Longenbaugh said. ”For me, the feedback from a live audience is crucial in developing this work, which we hope to be able to present to our audiences in a full production next year.”
The staged readings of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol take place at McKinley Hall at Seattle Pacific University, located at 3307 Third Avenue West. Tickets will be available on a paywhat‐you‐can basis at the door only, with proceeds benefitting the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund. For questions or more information, please call Taproot Theatre at 206‐781‐9707.
Taproot Theatre plans to produce the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol next year. In the meantime, it’s presenting It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, adapted for the stage by Joe Landry, at the Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College this holiday season from November 25‐December 30.
Taproot Theatre’s insurance increases Greenwood arson award to $25,000
SEATTLE – November 10, 2009 – Taproot Theatre is using its Burglary and Arson Insurance coverage to allocate $15,000 to the NW Insurance Council’s award for apprehending the Greenwood arsonist or arsonists, bringing the award up to $25,000.
“We recognize the impact the fires have on our entire community, from the businesses who lost everything on October 23 to the fear the fires have instilled in many others,” said Taproot’s producing artistic director, Scott Nolte. “It is our hope that the crimes will be solved before any more arsons are committed.”
The NW Insurance Council announced this morning that the Arson Award Fund, which it sponsors along with the Arson Alarm Foundation, is now at $25,000, and encouraged anyone with information to call their local authorities or the Arson Hotline at 800-55-ARSON.
Update from Thursday, October 29
Last Friday's fire is now being called arson. In response to the news, Taproot Theatre is renewing its commitment to the neighborhood, and has released the following statement:
Taproot Theatre Company is brokenhearted to learn that the fire that devastated four of our neighboring businesses and damaged our theatre was reported to have been deliberately set. When Taproot Theatre moved into Greenwood, crime in the neighborhood decreased almost immediately. In the years since, we’ve watched Greenwood blossom into a vibrant community that’s focused on the arts, promoting small businesses and protecting the environment—values that we promote, as well, and that represent the spirit of Seattle. Greenwood deserves to have a top-notch theatre in its midst, and we at Taproot Theatre love this neighborhood and will continue bringing people from across the region to Greenwood for years to come.
We are saddened for the four businesses that lost everything in this fire; those businesspeople are tremendous, hard-working, and also dedicated to their work in this neighborhood.
