A Summer Camp @ TLT production
Read More99TH SEASON OPENING GALA AND SILENT AUCTION
SEPTEMBER 9, 2017
6:00PM-9:00PM
Tacoma Little Theatre welcomes the community to join us at our special Gala and Silent Auction celebrating our 99th Season. This special fund raising event will be filled with fine wine, fine hors d’oeuvres, and fine entertainment.
The evening will begin with a social hour and then move into the auditorium where staff and board members will present a sneak peek of each of the seven shows in our 99th season which include: Rumors, Blithe Spirit, Seussical, Children of a Lesser God, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Pillowman, and Macbeth. Throughout the course of the evening attendees will be bidding on silent auction items and enjoying musical entertainment from local performers.
Tacoma Little Theatre’s 99th Season Opening Gala and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 6:00pm-9:00pm.
Tickets are $35.00 per person (includes hors d’oeuvresand one drink) and may be purchased online by clicking here, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.
Rumors
Directed by Erin Chanfrau
September 15th - October 1st, 2017
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, September 28th at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Neil Simon’s comic genius shines
Rumors is an uproariously hilarious comedy about lies, deceit and rumors. At a large, tastefully appointed Sneden's Landing townhouse, the deputy mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken and wife Chris must get "the story" straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.
Featuring:
Jess Allan as Chris Gorman
Mark Peterson as Ken Gorman
Jill Nicole Heinecke as Claire Ganz
Matt Garry as Lennie Ganz
Shelleigh-Mairi Ferguson as Cookie Cusack
Jeffery Swiney-Weaver as Ernie Cusack
Kristen Blegen Bouyer as Cassie Cooper
Houston White as Glenn Cooper
Neicie Packer as Officer Welch
Andy Bravo as Officer Pudney
Reviews
Blithe Spirit
Directed by Chris Serface
October 20th - November 5th, 2017
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, November 2nd at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Halloween is the perfect time for a comic haunting by your two dead wives!
Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit is a spook-tacular comic classic. After a “spirited” séance goes decidedly wrong, the cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine suddenly finds himself face to face with the ghost of his deceased wife, Elvira…much to the chagrin of his current spouse, Ruth. Love and marriage devolve into laughter and mayhem when Ruth is accidentally killed and united with Elvira on the “other side.” Together the paranormal pair of blithe spirits haunt their hapless husband with hilarious consequences.
Featuring:
Jed Slaughter as Charles
Deya Ozburn as Ruth
Brittany D Henderson as Elvira
Dana Messina Galagan as Madame Arcati
John P. Saunders as Dr. Bradman
Darla Smedley as Violet
SarahLynn Mangan as Edith
Reviews
Seussical
Directed by Jennifer York
Musical Direction by Terry O'Hara
Choreography by Eric Clausell
December 1st - December 24th, 2017*
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Special added performances:
Wednesday, December 20th at 7:30pm
Thursday, December 21st at 7:30pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, December 14th at 7:30pm
Group Rates for 10 or more. Contact the Box Office!
Click here to purchase tickets
Celebrate the holidays with your family in the world of Dr. Seuss!
The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
Reviews
Children of a Lesser God
Directed by Rick Hornor
January 19th - February 4th, 2018
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, February 1st at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Winner of the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle, and the Drama Desk Award as best play
After three years in the Peace Corps, James, a young speech therapist, joins the faculty of a school for the deaf, where he is to teach lip-reading. He meets Sarah, a school dropout, totally deaf from birth, and estranged both from the world of hearing and from those who would compromise to enter that world. Fluent in sign language, James tries, with little success, to help Sarah, but gradually the two fall in love and marry. At first their relationship is a happy and glowing one, as the gulf of silence between them seems to be bridged by their desire to understand each other's needs and feelings, but discord soon develops as Sarah becomes militant for the rights of the deaf and rejects any hint that she is being patronized and pitied.
Reviews
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Directed and Choreographed by Lexi Barnett
March 9th - April 1st, 2018
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, March 22nd at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece fills the stage with music and dance.
It seems especially fitting that the first rock opera, created as a concept album at the end of the turbulent '60s, should have at its center a social and political rebel. Jesus' meteor-like rise in renown provides, as the title suggests, a parallel to contemporary celebrity worship. As his radical teachings are evermore embraced, Judas increasingly questions the enlightened motives of this new prophet, resulting in betrayal. Christ's final days are dramatized with emotional intensity, thought-provoking edge and explosive theatricality. Propelled by a stirring score, by turns driving and majestic, satirical and tender, Jesus Christ Superstar illuminates the transcendent power of the human spirit with a passion that goes straight to the heart.
Reviews
The Pillowman
Directed by Blake R. York
April 20th - May 6th, 2018
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, May 3rd at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Gripping drama and intrigue that will have you thinking about things differently.
Martin McDonagh echoes the works of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm in this New York Drama Critics' Circle and Olivier Award winning script. The Pillowman is a viciously funny and seriously disturbing tale of Katurian, a fiction writer in an unnamed totalitarian state. Katurian and his brother Michael are brought in for questioning by two bulldog detectives, Tupolski and Ariel, when the content of his short stories — which involve disturbingly gruesome tales — begin to resemble real-life murders. The Pillowman weaves between reality and storytelling; and the result is an urgent work of theatrical bravura and an unflinching examination of the very nature and purpose of art.
Reviews
Macbeth
Directed by pug Bujeaud
June 1st - June 17th, 2018
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Pay What You Can: Thursday, June 14th at 7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets
Start your summer with Shakespeare and one of his best!
Macbeth is a brave and loyal Thane to King Duncan. After hearing a prophecy that he will become king himself, Macbeth is overcome by ambition and greed. Bolstered by the prophecy and his wife’s encouragement, he kills King Duncan and takes the throne. Afterwards, Macbeth’s guilt, fear, and paranoia lead him to commit even more murders to secure his power. His confidence in the prophecies eventually leads to his downfall and he is overthrown and killed by those he has wronged.
Reviews
Auditions for BLITHE SPIRIT
Sunday, August 13th from 6:00pm-9:00pm
Monday, August 14th from 7:00pm-10:00pm
Auditions by appointment only
Tacoma Little Theatre is holding auditions for its production of Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward, and directed by Chris Serface.
Auditions will be held Sunday, August 13th and Monday, August 14th at Tacoma Little Theatre. Audition appointments will be set between the times of 6:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday and 7:00pm-10:00pm on Monday. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, August 16th.
Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit is a spook-tacular comic classic. After a “spirited” séance goes decidedly wrong, the cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine suddenly finds himself face to face with the ghost of his deceased wife, Elvira…much to the chagrin of his current spouse, Ruth. Love and marriage devolve into laughter and mayhem when Ruth is accidentally killed and united with Elvira on the “other side.” Together the paranormal pair of blithe spirits haunt their hapless husband with hilarious consequences.
Please prepare a comedic monologue in the style of the piece with a British accent. Roles are available for 2 men/5 women and all ethnicities are welcome to audition. Roles available are Charles Condomine, Ruth Condomine, Elvira Condomine, Madame Arcati, Edith, Dr. Bradman, and Mrs. Bradman.
To reserve an audition time, email tlt@tacomalittletheatre.com, or call our Box Office at (253) 272-2281. Please provide: your name, phone number, email address, preferred audition time, and playable age.
Once cast, Blithe Spirit will run from Friday, October 20, 2017 to Sunday, November 5, 2017.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Roles are available for 5 women/2 men
CHARLES CONDOMINE
A novelist in his forties, Charles is bright, sophisticated, articulate, and debonair but somewhat at the mercy of his wives, past and present. His interest in spiritualism as a subject for a novel leads Charles to ask Madame Arcati to dinner and a séance. He is skeptical but becomes a believer when the ghost of his first wife appears—and stays. From then on, poor Charles is a shuttlecock between the women battling for his affections: Ruth, his living wife, and Elvira, his dead one. Charles prefers Elvira.
RUTH CONDOMINE
Charles’s second wife, Ruth is in her late 30's, early 40's. Like her husband, Ruth is witty and sophisticated, and she is quite the society matron. Ruth is a bit stuffy and a little predictable. She is convinced that Charles has lost his mind when Elvira appears, because at first she can neither see nor hear Elvira. Throughout much of the play, Ruth acts as a concerned wife, trying to restore Charles to normalcy.
ELVIRA
Elvira, the ghost of Charles’s first wife is between 25 and 30 years of age. Elvira is gray from head to toe, and only Charles can see or hear her. In life, Elvira was spirited, outgoing, wild, and carefree. In death, she is no different; she has cocktails with Genghis Khan. She does love Charles, if somewhat casually, and is jealous of Ruth. Her attempts to monopolize the attention and conversation of Charles after she reappears form the central tension of the play.
MADAME ARCATI
Madame Arcati, the local spiritualist and medium. Elderly but spry, Madame Arcati bicycles into the play wearing slightly outlandish clothes and talking to an eight-year-old contact on the other side. As everyone soon finds out, Madame Arcati is no fraud. She truly is in contact with the other world and inadvertently is the “medium” through which Elvira is called back to this one. The problem is that Madame Arcati cannot figure out how to return Elvira to the other side.
EDITH
Edith, the maid. Edith plays a tiny part in the bulk of the play but turns out to be a central character. Edith, not Charles, has the extrasensory powers that called Elvira back from the dead, and only Edith can make Elvira return.
DR. BRADMAN
A pleasant-looking middle-aged man, Dr. Bradman is a friend of the Condomines.
MRS. BRADMAN
The wife of Dr. Bradman, Mrs. Bradman is middle-aged and a bit faded.
Auditions for RUMORS
Tacoma Little Theatre is holding auditions for its production of Rumors, by Neil Simon, and directed by Erin Chanfrau.
Auditions will be held Sunday, July 9th and Monday, July 10th at Tacoma Little Theatre. Audition appointments will be set between the times of 6:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday and 7:00pm-10:00pm on Monday. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, July 12th.
Rumors is an uproariously hilarious comedy about lies, deceit and rumors. At a large, tastefully appointed Sneden's Landing townhouse, the deputy mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken and wife Chris must get "the story" straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.
Please prepare a comedic monologue in the style of the piece. Roles are available for 5 men/5 women and all ethnicities are welcome to audition. Roles are: Ken & Chris Gorman, Claire & Lenny Ganz, Ernie & Cookie Cusack, Glenn & Cassie Cooper, Officer Welch, and Officer Pudney
To reserve an audition time, email tlt@tacomalittletheatre.com, or call our Box Office at (253) 272-2281. Please provide: your name, phone number, email address, preferred audition time, and playable age.
Once cast, RUMORS will run from Friday, September 15, 2017 to Sunday, October 1, 2017.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Chris Gorman (Female): Tense publishing lawyer trying to kick the cigarette habit; a bundle of nerves gamely trying to cope with the ever increasing stress of the situation with wisecracks, lying, and alcohol.
Ken Gorman (Male): A lawyer fiercely protective of his client and friend, Charley; his early arrival at the party puts him at the heart of the frantic attempts to control the situation.
Claire Ganz (Female): Lenny’s high-society, acid-tongued wife who seems to be in on the latest rumors; does her level best to keep up with the goings on.
Lenny Ganz (Male): A short-tempered accountant with a whiplash injury; the poor, put-upon guy just isn’t having a good day, even before the party starts.
Cookie Cusack (Female): A loopy, yet amiable, TV cooking show host, who’s having major back spasms; very quirky and often the last to grasp what is going on.
Ernie Cusack (Male): A laid-back and clueless psychologist, comfortable in his own skin.
Cassie Cooper (Female): A high-maintenance trophy wife, vain and insecure, convinced her husband is having at least one affair.
Glen Cooper (Male): A self-protective, somewhat exasperated, “aspiring” state senator.
Officer Welch (Male): No-nonsense and not easily tricked police officer; seen and heard it all
Officer Pudney (Female): Welch’s younger partner
Fall Education @ TLT
Four great programs for all ages!
Read MoreTHE DEATH OF DR. PEPPER-A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
MAY 11-14, 2017
THURSDAY-SATURDAY AT 7:30PM
SUNDAY AT 3:00PM
Presented at The Social Bar and Grill
Tickets: $50.00 Click here to purchase
Tacoma Little Theatre invites you to join some of Tacoma’s finest actors for an evening of dinner, mystery, and murder presented at and with food by The Social Bar and Grill.
Dr. Pepper is searching for his wife. She was supposed to meet him at the mystery event. He asks everyone if they’ve seen her and leaves her messages with audience members. Obviously, he is very worried. He no sooner leaves than Mrs. Pepper arrives. And arrives. And arrives. Three women claim to be Mrs. Pepper. It would be very easy to identify the real one -- if only Dr. Pepper was still alive to tell us. Double (or is it triple?) jeopardy may allow a murderess to get away with murder.
Dinner includes: Appetizer, Salad, Main Entrée (Meat, Chicken, Vegetarian/Gluten Free) & Dessert. Coffee, Tea, Water and Soda are included, and alcohol is available for purchase at the bar or from your server.
THE DEATH OF DR. PEPPER will run May 11-14, 2017. Thursday-Saturday performances will begin at 7:30pm, and the Sunday performance will begin at 3:00pm. The event is held at The Social Bar and Grill, 1715 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
Tickets are $50.00 per person (includes dinner and show) and may be purchased by clicking here, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.
GRITTY CITY SIRENS AND TUSH PRESENT POLYGLAMOROUS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 2017
at 7:00pm & 10:00pm
Tickets: $18.00-$28.00
Tickets available by clicking here
Tacoma's Gritty City Sirens and Olympia's Own TUSH! Burlesque TOGETHER AGAIN! for one night of incredible entertainment.
Featuring all group acts! Duets, trios, small and large group numbers from both troupes AND special guests Jane Air, Mylo Precious, and JACK TOFT !
We promise you a POLYGLAMOROUS evening with unique and titlating neo-burlesque performances from two of the South Sounds favorite troupes!
GRITTY CITY SIRENS PRESENT BOOBTUBE
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 at 7:00pm & 10:00pm
VIP Seats: $25.00 General Admission: $20.00
Tickets available by clicking here
This spring the Gritty City Sirens are back at the Tacoma Little Theatre with an all new show! Tune in April 15th at 7p OR 10p for "Boob Tube " A titillating romp of television favorites!
Critics are raving and you will too!
The Sirens are sure to make you laugh, cry, and squeal with delight with performances by;
Adora Borealis
Ava D'jor
Dessi Devine
Heather Hostility
Ivanna Twirl
Kitty Kisses
Lady GoDiva
Pink Champain
Rosie Cheex
Appearances by;
Fedora Borealis
Oliva Phase
Mylo Precious
and
Special Guests from the Emerald City;
The Shanghai Pearl & Al Lykya
No show would be complete without the dynamic duo of Cha-Cha & Funny Face Fanny
SECOND SAMUEL - FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017 AT 7:30PM
All Tickets: $10.00
Tacoma Little Theatre is honored to be representing Washington State at the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) Regional Festival in Boise, Idaho with their performance of last season’s hit, Second Samuel, written by Pamela Parker, and directed by Chris Serface.
It was a simpler time in the late 1940’s, especially in South Georgia in a sleepy little town called Second Samuel. The Great Depression was quickly fading into memory, the war had been won, and "Give 'em Hell Harry" was still president. Folks in Second Samuel were ready for things to settle down and get back to normal. Except—this was the summer Miss Gertrude passed away, and deep dark secrets were about to be revealed. Nobody could have imagined how the death of one sweet little old lady would turn the entire town upside down. Would anything ever be normal again?
This production features Aaron Mohs-Hale (B Flat), Kerry Bringman (Frisky), Jermaine Lindsay (US), Bob Yount (Mansel), Tom Birkeland (Mr. Mozel), Diana George (Omaha), Jill Heinecke (Jimmy Deeanne), Neicie Packer (Marcela), Megan Saunders (Ruby), Michael Dresdner (Doc), and Marc Carvajal (June).
SECOND SAMUEL will present a special public performance prior to the festival, on Tuesday, March 28th at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $10.00 per seat for these special performances and they will be held at Tacoma Little Theatre. Tickets may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281.
About Tacoma Little Theatre: Tacoma Little Theatre’s mission is to enrich our community by creating quality live theatre experiences. Tacoma Little Theatre (TLT) employs professional standards of excellence, utilizing the performing arts as a means of building community. Founded in 1918 as the Tacoma Little Theatre and Drama League, TLT is among the oldest community theaters in existence in the United States.
About AACT: AACT helps theatres thrive and provides networking, resources, and support for America’s theatres. AACT represents the interests of more than 7,000 theatres across the United States and its territories, as well as theatre companies with the U.S. Armed Services overseas. The Region IX Festival will be held in Boise, Idaho on March 31st and April 1st. One company will be selected to move on to the National Festival in June. Visit www.aact.org for more details..
CLUB TLT SPRING SHOWCASE
Join the students of ClubTLT as they present an evening of theatre!
ANNUAL FUND DRIVE
Dear Patron of Tacoma Little Theatre:
Thank you for making our 98th Season start strong. The Underpants brought laughter to the theatre and was one of our most attended plays in the past three years. Last year you laughed with us, cried with us, and had a rock-n-rolling good time. We know that you’ll join us as we entertain you with the rest of our great season coming up. During last season, through your generosity, you helped us raise funds for the installation of a new air conditioning system that has made the auditorium more comfortable. In less than 11 months you were able to help us fully fund and complete that project. THANK YOU!
“My partner and I are absolutely in love with TLT and always have a great time at every show we go to—we always leave impressed and happy! Thank you!!!.” -A TLT patron
Tacoma Little Theatre has been your theatre for the past 98 years. We are one of only a handful of community theatres in the entire country that has survived this long. You've been with us through all the challenges, and all the successes that have come our way. Ticket sales alone can not sustain the performing arts in our community. It is only through the continued support of our community members that the arts can thrive. Last year we set our targets high with an Annual Fund drive of $15,000. You not only helped us reach that goal, but we were able to exceed it by $10,000. Because of this we retired some old debt, purchased a new lighting program, and acquired LED energy efficient lights to make your performance experience even better.
“As a long time season ticket holder, I am impressed with the improvements to TLT and how full the theatre is!” -A TLT patron
This season an anonymous donor (one of our angels) has pledged to match our Annual Fund donations dollar for dollar up to $20,000. That means that if you donate $100 today, that amount will be matched and will allow us to continue to present the high quality productions you have come to enjoy.
In addition to the improvements you helped us achieve last year, you also helped the future of theatre in our community. Twenty-two students were given scholarships to help them be a part of our After School and Summer Camp programs as a direct result of your donations. When you come to one of our youth performances this year, remember that some of those students are there because of you.
“My daughter loved ‘everything’ including learning and performing. I loved that I felt comfortable dropping her off each day and not worrying about her well-being.” -A parent of a Summer Camp @ TLT student
Tacoma Little Theatre continues to flourish thanks to your continued patronage. We offer a range of donation options that are listed at the bottom of this letter. You can even pledge your donation amount over a monthly or quarterly payment schedule. If you are interested in establishing a legacy gift of support through planned (estate) giving or stock transfers, please contact me directly. Remember that any amount helps us, from $1 to $10,000. TLT is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization making your donation fully tax-deductible.
If you have already donated to us this season, thank you! If you are considering donating to us now, thank you! Please go to www.tacomalittletheatre.com to make a donation online. To donate over the phone, you may call me personally at 253-272-2281. Having the chance to speak with you is one of the best parts of my job.
All my best,
Chris Serface
Managing Artistic Director
Parking
Unfortunately TLT does not have a designated parking lot for our patrons at this time.
We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes before curtain to find parking. Yakima Avenue, 2nd, I, and J streets are popular choices.
Please note: The 7-11 parking lot is NOT available for TLT patrons. Also, do not park in any of the private apartment lots. They will tow your vehicle.
TACOMA ARTS MONTH
Tacoma Arts Month is dedicated to showcasing the very best about our community. October is brimming with hundreds of arts and culture events, exhibits, and workshops for all ages. There is something for everyone to enjoy: music, dance and theater performances; hands-on experiences; visual art exhibits; literary readings; lectures; workshops; film screenings and cultural events.
And, while you are out enjoying arts and culture in Tacoma this October, take a selfie and post to the social media of your choice using #TacomaArts to be instantly entered into a drawing to win some fabulous prizes!
Enjoy culture. Explore Tacoma. Connect with your community.
Find out more at www.TacomaArtsMonth.com