In addition to its regularly-scheduled season at the Knutzen Family Theatre, the Federal Way Company will be taking its productions to two other major theatres in the region.
In December, after running its Holiday Show Aladdin for 13 performances at the Knutzen Family Theatre (Nov 29-Dec 14), the show will be moved to the Theatre On The Square in Tacoma for four additional performances.
And then in February 2009, Centerstage will move this season's smash hit, Always...Patsy Cline to ACT Theatre, one of Seattle's premier theatres, for a four-week run.
Centerstage Board President, Chad Stalder said: "Since December of last year, Centerstage has produced the three top-selling shows in our history. The other play in the season: Nightmare of a Married Man, won the 'Best New Play of the Year' Award from the Tacoma News Tribune."
"It has been a real team effort under the leadership of Alan Bryce, our Artistic Director," Stalder added.
Mr. Bryce is a former Theatre Consultant to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and was previously Artistic Director of both Proctor's Too in Albany, NY and London's Overground Theatre.
When asked if these moves to venues outside the Federal Way area were a signal that CST would eventually leave the city, Bryce said, "Absolutely not."
"However," he added, "The current economic climate has drawn into sharp focus the fact that our relationship with the city has to be redesigned to address the economic realities of operating a professional theatre company in a smaller market like Federal Way."
The City of Federal Way is currently considering Centerstage's proposal to manage the Knutzen Family Theatre.
Centerstage believes its proposed plan would actually save taxpayer money and at the same time insure its survival within the City of Federal Way.
Due to resistance from some within the Knutzen Family Theatre management team, the Arts Commission has recommended instead that Centerstage receive an annual subsidy. The City Council is expected to rule on the matter in November.
Peggy LaPorte, Arts Commission Chair and founder of Fusion said, "in my estimation, it would be a great travesty if Centerstage had to shut down, or move to another city."
