Press release:
If Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul then Stacie Calkins is surely the Princess! The star of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ and LADY DAY AND THE BLUES, Stacie brings her own unique sparkle to the music of one of America’s greatest divas. RESPECT, THINK and CHAIN OF FOOLS…with a full 9-piece band. This night will be a rockin’, sockin’ night of soul music.

In Alec Clayton’s blog Stacie was dubbed: “Powerhouse vocalist Stacie Calkins, undoubtedly the best torch singer in this area and well beyond”.

Ms. Calkins has also appeared at Centerstage in I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD and at theatres throughout Western Washington with her interpretation of Billie Holliday in LADY DAY AND THE BLUES. Stacie also played Effie White in DREAMGIRLS, Aida in AIDA IN CONCERT and Sarah in RAGTIME at Tacoma Musical Playhouse.

ARETHA AT THE APOLLO is the brainchild of Centerstage resident Music Director, David Duvall. In addition to creating Centerstage hits such as AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’; I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD and ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, David has 2 Emmy nominations and over 300 productions to his credit, including a national tour of COWBOY! He was commissioned by Seattle Shakespeare Company to write a new musical celebrating the sonnets of William Shakespeare…which will premier in 2012.

There will be two performances only of this dynamic interpretation of an American legend.

Tickets for both performances are on sale and available by phone at (253) 661-1444, online at www.centerstagetheatre.com, and in person at the Knutzen Family Theater box office. Single tickets are $19.50.

Centerstage is Federal Way’s resident Theatre Company. It was founded in 1977 and for the past fourteen years has produced shows at the Knutzen Family Theatre on the shores of Puget Sound. Artistic Director Alan Bryce is committed to producing “innovative, accomplished productions of popular work and for new work with the widest possible audience appeal.” Hits like Always…Patsy Cline (which also ran for a month at ACT Theatre) or Ain’t Misbehavin’ fall into the former category. Exciting new works include: 4 Christmases, commissioned from 5-time Grammy Nominee, John Forster; a new musical version of the Dickens’ classic Nicholas Nickleby; Robin Hood - the first full production of a Tom Meehan and Martin Charnin show; Alan Bryce’s Nightmare of a Married Man which won the Tacoma News Tribune’s “Best New Play” Award; and the “English Christmas pantomimes,” including the wildly popular Sleeping Beauty, by Paul Hendy. Perhaps the most ambitious project undertaken by Centerstage was the premier musical Carl Sagan’s Contact, which also won the News Tribune’s “Best New Play” award. In April 2009, the City of Federal Way awarded Centerstage the contract to manage the Knutzen Family Theatre, saving both the city and theatre company $60,000 per year.