Valley Center Stage announces its season lineup
August 28, 2008
By Emily Lee
There’s no need to travel to Seattle or even Issaquah to find quality shows.
Valley Center Stage has announced its first full official season, scheduled to open Sept. 6. The 2008-09 season includes more than 20 classes, musical performances, shows and events held at the studio theater in downtown North Bend.
“The theater is growing,” said Gary Schwartz, director and founder of Valley Center Stage. “In years gone by, I used to select plays based on who we had, but now I have enough of a repertoire of actors that I can find the right actors for (almost any) play.”
Since its opening five years ago, the theater has grown to include more aspects of the performing arts.
This season’s lineup offers performances by the local Cascade Jazz Trio, which will play themed-shows on the first Saturday of each month through May. Stand-up comedy and variety performances are scheduled throughout the year. Learning opportunities are also available through Belly Dance classes, as well as acting classes for adults and children.
“(Gary has) really mixed it up,” actor J.P. Giuliotti said of the variety of performances and opportunities for locals to participate in. “(Valley Center Stage) is more an entertainment center instead of a theater hall.”
The first theatrical performance of the season is the A.R. Gurney comedy “Sylvia”, set to open Sept. 12.
The show features a 40-year-old man, Greg, who finds himself bored with life until he encounters an outspoken, flirty dog named Sylvia. The dog, originally played by Sarah Jessica Parker in the Broadway play, becomes the subject of his wife’s jealousy as the three entertain with hilariously witty dialogue.
“The dialog is very sexy and saucy,” Schwartz said. “(The play) touches on all the issues of love and marriage and middle-age, and by the end you’re going to have your hankies out.”
The cast, made up of local volunteer actors, has been rehearsing for the play since June and put in six-to-seven hours a week throughout the summer.
“It’s funny how this role came at the time it did,” said Giuliotti who, at 42 years of age, relates to his character. “(Like Greg) I’m looking for something essential myself in life.”
Apart from “Sylvia”, which welcomes adult audiences, the rest of the season’s theatrical performances feature family friendly plays.
The fourth installment of the comedy radio show “Bride of Leisure Time” will play in October and is written by local playwright Jamie Gower. The Christmas favorite, “A Christmas Carol” is back in December for the fifth time. The theater will also entertain its first drama, “Our Town” starting in the spring.
The Valley Center Stage is a nonprofit community theater, which also offers learning opportunities for both adults and children. The acting and improv classes are taught by Schwartz, who studied under widely-regarded improvisation teacher Viola Spolin for 15 years.
“Teaching is what I really love to do,” Schwartz said. “Theater is fun, but teaching gives me the most joy.”
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