I attended a very interesting production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" - or "Twelfe Night," as they're choosing to call it - which opened Sept. 19 at Seattle Repertory Theatre. We were greeted by searchlights, valet parking and all the excitement of opening night, but his time there was something extra, the feeling of a truly special occasion. Ladies in off-the-shoulder evening gowns, black lace and sparkling sequins accompanied by tuxedo-clad escorts arrived to occupy the front-row-center seats. We were all there to attend a reception and after-party celebrating the Rep's 45th season.
Looking back, the Rep has come a long way since its creation in 1962. That same year the World's Fair had put Seattle on the map, Seattle Repertory Theatre was born. Under the leadership of Bagley Wright, Founding Artistic Director Stuart Vaughan organized an acting company that included Seattle native Marjorie Nelson and a young associate member out of the University of Washington, John Gilbert. Both became mainstays on the Northwest stage.
1963: In October my late husband Hal, a Seattle native and UW music and drama major, and I arrived from England. In November saw an excellent production of "King Lear," directed by Stuart Vaughan. We had connections with the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon. This started a long association with the Rep.
1964: The first summer Shakespeare in the Park started with "The Taming of the Shrew," which helped us feel right at home after settling in on Queen Anne Hill.
Also, there was the first Northwest tour of "Twelfth Night," directed by new executive director Donald Foster.
Peter Donnely, young management intern, joined the Rep on a Ford Foundation Grant.
1965: Hal began an affiliation with KXA Radio (classical music) and KING FM, creating and presenting "British Hour Radio USA" (news, nostalgia, history and humor; words and music of the British Isles). And the title of Linda of London was created. The program had many local connections with the arts, especially those with a British flavor, featuring the opera, Shakespeare and many interviews of stars from the Rep.
1966-68: Allen Fletcher followed Stuart Vaughan as Seattle Rep's second Artistic Director and was invited to the Bergen International Festival.
1970: Peter Donnely, previously General Manager, became the second executive lead by becoming Seattle Rep's Producing Director; he later went on to head the Seattle Arts Commission.
W. Duncan Ross, from England, would become the Rep's third Artistic Director and form a close association with "British Hour Radio." He presented a great production of "Hamlet" with the prince as a rock star in a silver jumpsuit and a nude Ophelia in a close-fitting pink body stocking. Shakespeare's words remained loud and clear, and the show was a great success.
1971: Richard Chamberlain starred in "Richard II." Great performance, great production, great parties, great excitement.
1972-74: Seattle Repertory Theatre's artistic role in the state was acknowledged with the Washington State Governor's Arts Award. Seattle began the "Rep 'n' Rap" summer tour program with "Thurbermania." Special Presentation of "Promenade All" was directed by Hume Cronyn and starred Jessica Tandy - Mrs. Cronyn - and Biff McGuire with Russ Thatcher. The Rep also began "The 2nd Stage" with Max Frisch's "Biography."
1975: Seattle Rep conducted a tour of Western states with "Seven Keys to Baldpate" by George M. Cohan.
1977: Seattle Center Bond Issue was passed by voters, providing the initial $4.8 million for a capital campaign to build a new theater for Seattle Rep. "British Hour" celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Affiliate programs with Seattle Opera and Seattle Rep.
1978: Dorothy Simpson assumed the role of chief capital campaign drive organizer. Her leadership and commitment, with a $1-million naming gift from Bagley Wright and a consortium of friends, resulted in the funds to complete the new theater in 1983.
1979: An important step in the education program: First "Mobile Outreach Bunch" (MOB) toured Washington and Idaho schools with "The Energy Show," launching SRT's education programs. John Hirsch joined the Seattle Rep as Consulting Artistic Director with Daniel Sullivan as Resident Director. Plays in Progress, initiated by Sullivan, began workshopping new plays for the stage at Seattle Rep.
1981: Seattle Rep held its first Elegant Elephant, a sale of costumes (of great interest to me). The sale continued annually for almost two decades.
On Dec. 29, 1981, Seattle Rep broke ground for the new Bagley Wright Theatre.
1983: The Bagley Wright Theatre opened with the world première of Michael Weller's "The Ballad of Soapy Smith," directed by Robert Egan and featuring a cast of Seattle's finest actors, including Dennis Arndt (in the title role), John Aylward, Frank Corrado, Paul Hostetler, Richard Riehle, Michael Santo, Marjorie Nelson, Ted D'Arms, Kurt Beattie, Clayton Corzatte and William Ontiveros. Also in the cast were Kevin Tighe and Kate Mulgrew. "British Hour" won award for its Churchill program. Queen Elizabeth 11 visited Seattle; Linda of London and Hal Greenwald were presented to HM.
1984: Herb Gardner's "I'm Not Rappaport" starring Harold Gould, Cleavon Little and David Strathairn opened at Seattle Rep prior to its Broadway run. Seattle Rep began the Dollar Theatre with "Big and Little," selections from Botho Straus.
1985: Benjamin Moore was appointed Managing Director of Seattle Rep, only the third administrative director in the theater's history.
1988: Seattle Rep premièred Bill Irwin's "Largely/New York."
1989: "The Heidi Chronicles" by Wendy Wasserstein premièred at Seattle Rep.
1990: Seattle Rep was awarded the Tony for Outstanding Regional Theatre.
1991: "Inspecting Carol," developed by Daniel Sullivan and the SRT company, premièred as part of Seattle Rep's Stage 2 productions. The Rep also premièred "Conversations with My Father" by Herb Gardner.
1992: National tour of "Inspecting Carol."
1994: Seattle Rep premièred "London Suite" by Neil Simon and "The Sisters Rosenzweig" by Wendy Wasserstein.
1995: Seattle Rep, with Tom Hulce and Jane Jones, developed "The Cider House Rules," adapted by Peter Parnell from John Irving's novel as part of the New Play Workshop Series.
1996: The Leo Kreielsheimer Theatre (the "Leo K") opening celebration was in December, in great part thanks to a generous $2-million naming gift from The Kreielsheimer Foundation, a $1-million gift from board chair Marsha S. Glazer and the leadership of capital campaign chairs Ann Ramsay-Jenkins and Stanley Sevage.
1997: Sharon Ott became Artistic Director of Seattle Rep and produced "As You Like It," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Amy Freed's new play, "The Beard of Avon." In conjunction with the Leonardo exhibit at Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Rep staged "The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci," written and directed by Mary Zimmerman, in the new Leo K Theatre.
1999: Rep produced "Oh Coward!" "British Hour" offered complete program of music by and personal interviews with Noel Coward. Seattle Rep premièred "Sisters Matsumoto" by Philip Kan Golanda and presented the first Stars and Stories special event to benefit SRT's education programs; the event featured readings by a variety of community leaders and artists, including Lesley Stahl, Charles Johnson, Phyllis Campbell, Marjorie Nelson, Tina Podlodowski, John Aylward, Nancy Guppy, Kevin Tighe, Marcie Sillman, Barbara Dirickson, Dan Sullivan and Robert Fulghum.
2000: Lily Tomlin's one-woman show by Jane Wagner, "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," played at the Rep prior to its engagement on Broadway.
2001: Seattle Rep led a consortium of theaters in presenting Peter Brook's "Hamlet" (excellent) in the Mercer Arts Arena. Daniel Sullivan returned to direct "Proof," for which he won the Tony on Broadway, launching his national tour. The Rep announced a $15-million Endowment Campaign under the leadership of Chap Alvord and Janet True.
2003: Seattle Rep celebrated its 40th Anniversary Season.
2005: David Esbjornson became the Artistic Director of Seattle Rep.
2006: The Rep premièred "Cathay: Three Tales of China," Ariel Dorfman's "Purgatorio" and "Restoration Comedy" by Amy Freed, which went on to be nominated for Best New Play by the American Theatre Critics Association. Seattle Rep put on a moving tribute to the late August Wilson, featuring performances from all 10 of his plays.
2007: With "Gem of the Ocean," directed by Phylicia Rashad, Seattle Rep became the only theater in the country to have produced all of August Wilson's. In addition, Seattle Rep was the first regional theater to stage "Doubt" and "My Name Is Rachel Corrie."
For four decades, Seattle Repertory Theatre has been the Northwest's leading regional theater and is an acknowledged national leader. During that time the Rep has also produced 48 Shakespeare plays, plays by Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and other notable English playwrights past and present. Supported by a strong board and many dedicated volunteers, the Rep will continue for many years to come.
Congratulations, long may you flourish!
P.S. "Twelfe Night" runs through Oct. 20. Tickets are available at the usual outlets.
P.P.S. news flash. Somewhere in Time Unlimited invites you to a costume and accessory sale Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m. at Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave. W. Admission $5. And it's just in time for Halloween!
TTFN
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