Taproot Theatre opens its 2013 season with Jeeves in Bloom on ...

Scott L. Nolte
Produc<strong>in</strong>g Artistic Director
Mail<strong>in</strong>g Address
P.O. Box 30946
Seattle, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton 98113
Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative Office
312 North 85 th St., Suite 103
Seattle, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton 98103
206.781.9705
(Fax) 206.297.6882
Box Office
204 North 85 th St.
Seattle, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton 98103
206.781.9707
(Fax) 206.706.1502
E-mail
<strong>in</strong>fo@taproottheatre.org
www.taproottheatre.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:
Kill Date: March 3, <strong>2013</strong> Heidi Staub
Communications Manager
206-529-3676
heidis@taproottheatre.org
<strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> <strong>opens</strong> <strong>its</strong> <strong>2013</strong> <strong>season</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong> on February 1
Laugh away the w<strong>in</strong>ter blues <strong>with</strong> P.G. Wodehouse’s <strong>Jeeves</strong> and Wooster!
SEATTLE – January 17, <strong>2013</strong> – Laugh away the w<strong>in</strong>ter blues <strong>with</strong> P.G. Wodehouse’s
classic characters <strong>in</strong> <strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong>, open<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> on February 1. Peace.
Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While duck<strong>in</strong>g
romance, flee<strong>in</strong>g a cleaver-wield<strong>in</strong>g chef and burgl<strong>in</strong>g his uncle, Bertie’s trail of mischief
and mayhem is set right by his unflappable valet, <strong>Jeeves</strong>. Based on characters created by
author P.G. Wodehouse, this confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily
gr<strong>in</strong>d. Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund directs Margaret Raether’s adaptation of
P.G. Wodehouse’s stories. <strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong> <strong>opens</strong> February 1 and runs through March 2,
<strong>with</strong> previews on January 30 and 31.
Wodehouse’s <strong>Jeeves</strong> series is considered by many to be some of the most humorous
writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the English language. The characters rose <strong>in</strong> popularity and were made
<strong>in</strong>famous <strong>in</strong> the 1990’s BBC comedy series, <strong>Jeeves</strong> and Wooster, starr<strong>in</strong>g Hugh Laurie
and Stephen Fry. The <strong>Jeeves</strong> character also <strong>in</strong>spired the phrase “right ho, <strong>Jeeves</strong>” and
the <strong>in</strong>ternet search eng<strong>in</strong>e, askjeeves.com. Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse was a
master of English prose who was admired by his contemporaries and successors alike.
The fact that his stories are go<strong>in</strong>g strong after nearly 100 years is proof that P.G.
Wodehouse is an English language paragon of humor, so it is no wonder that when
Margaret Raether first encountered Wodehouse’s The Code of the Woosters <strong>in</strong> college
she was <strong>in</strong>spired. Raether is a found<strong>in</strong>g member of Artists’ Ensemble <strong>Theatre</strong> and spent
two <strong>season</strong>s as Playwright <strong>in</strong> Residence at New American Theater. Raether’s adaptation
of <strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong> first premiered <strong>in</strong> September of 2009 at Artists’ Ensemble <strong>Theatre</strong> <strong>in</strong>
Ill<strong>in</strong>ois. Other productions of this script were mounted at First Folio <strong>Theatre</strong> <strong>in</strong> Chicago
and Old Log Theater <strong>in</strong> M<strong>in</strong>neapolis.
<strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong>’s production of <strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong> is directed by Associate Artistic
Director Karen Lund and features Matt Shimkus as <strong>Jeeves</strong> and Aaron Lamb as Bertie
Wooster, accompanied by the talented Marianna de Fazio, Stephen Grenley, Parker
Matthews, Kim Morris and Randy Scholz. The production team <strong>in</strong>cludes scenic and
sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and light<strong>in</strong>g designer
Roberta Russell. Micah Lynn Trapp serves as stage manager, Christ<strong>in</strong>e Marie Brown as
dialect coach and T<strong>in</strong>a Polz<strong>in</strong> as dramaturg.
– more –
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<strong>Jeeves</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bloom</strong>
adapted by Margaret Raether from the stories of P.G. Wodehouse
directed by Karen Lund
WHEN: January 30-March 2 (Wednesday-Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday-Saturday, 8 pm; Saturday mat<strong>in</strong>ees,
2 pm)
Dates to note:
Previews: January 30 & 31, 8 pm
Open<strong>in</strong>g night: February 1, 8 pm
Pay What You Can: February 6, 7:30 pm
Senior Mat<strong>in</strong>ee: February 13, 2 pm
Student Mat<strong>in</strong>ee: February 5, 10 am
Post-play Discussions: Wednesday nights, exclud<strong>in</strong>g preview
WHERE: <strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> Company, 204 North 85th Street, Seattle, WA 98103
TICKETS: Tickets are available onl<strong>in</strong>e at www.taproottheatre.org/buy-tickets/ and through <strong>Taproot</strong>
<strong>Theatre</strong>’s box office by call<strong>in</strong>g 206.781.9707 or visit<strong>in</strong>g the box office located at the front of the theatre.
Tickets range from $20-40, depend<strong>in</strong>g on the performance. <strong>Taproot</strong> offers a $5 senior/student discount
off regular priced tickets (excludes previews or specially priced performances). Tickets for the midweek
senior mat<strong>in</strong>ee are $20. Discounts are available for parties of 8 or more through Group Sales; call
206.781.9708. Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance are available day of show at the box office
w<strong>in</strong>dow; contact the box office for details.
ABOUT: Peace. Tranquility. The English countryside. Then Bertie Wooster pays a visit. While duck<strong>in</strong>g
romance, flee<strong>in</strong>g a cleaver-wield<strong>in</strong>g chef and burgl<strong>in</strong>g his uncle, Bertie’s trail of mischief and mayhem is
set right by his unflappable valet, <strong>Jeeves</strong>. Based on characters created by author P.G. Wodehouse, this
confectionary treat is a delightful respite from the daily gr<strong>in</strong>d.
Cast
(In Order of Appearance)
<strong>Jeeves</strong> Matt Shimkus
Bertie Wooster Aaron Lamb
Anatole Parker Matthews
Madel<strong>in</strong>e Basset Marianna de Fazio
Dahlia Travers Kim Morris
Augustus F<strong>in</strong>k-Nottle Randy Scholz
Thomas Travers Stephen Grenley
Production
Director Karen Lund
Scenic/Sound Design Mark Lund
Costume Design Sarah Burch Gordon
Light<strong>in</strong>g Design Roberta Russell
Stage Manager Micah Lynn Trapp
Dramaturg T<strong>in</strong>a Polz<strong>in</strong>
Dialect Coach Christ<strong>in</strong>e Marie Brown
ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
<strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> Company is a professional, non‐profit theatre company <strong>with</strong> a multi‐faceted production program.
Founded <strong>in</strong> 1976, <strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> serves the Pacific Northwest <strong>with</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>stage Productions, Tour<strong>in</strong>g Productions
and the Act<strong>in</strong>g Studio. <strong>Taproot</strong> exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g
hope to our search for mean<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> Company is a member of <strong>Theatre</strong> Communications Group (TCG),
<strong>Theatre</strong> Puget Sound (TPS), Ph<strong>in</strong>ney Ridge Neighborhood Association (PNA) and the Greenwood‐Ph<strong>in</strong>ney Chamber
of Commerce. Support for <strong>Taproot</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong>’s <strong>2013</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>stage <strong>season</strong> is generously provided by 4Culture,
AmericanWest Bank, ArtsFund, ArtsWA, National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural
Affairs, and St. John’s Lodge No.9.
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