During this upcoming winter season, Studio East and StoryBook Theater will present three shows.
Studio East will present the non-stop Caribbean song and dance, “Once On This Island”and its annual Shakespeare show, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” And for younger audiences, StoryBook Theater will present a 55-minute, musical adaptation of everyone’s favorite wooden puppet, “Pinocchio.”
According to a press release, “Once On This Island” is essentially the story of the Little Mermaid but on land. With themes of dance, travel, love and family, the musical centers on Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When she returns Daniel to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice and hate.
The show features a directorial team of Faith Bennett Russell as director, David Duvall as musical director and Andrew Coopman as choreographer.
“Once On This Island” is recommended for ages 6 and older and has a running time of 90 minutes, plus an intermission.
Adult tickets are $19, while students and seniors are $17. Tickets can be purchased at www.studio-east.org.
All performances are at the Studio East Mainstage Theater located at 11730 118th Ave. N.E. in Kirkland. Performances run Jan. 26 through Feb. 10, with performances on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
There will be a special gala show that starts at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, and there will be no 2:30 p.m. show on Jan. 27.
Simon Pringle will direct Studio East’s annual Shakespeare show, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
According to the release, this comedy is fraught with confusion, mystery, passion and magic. It tells the story of four young friends who stumble into a haunted wood. They wrestle with their own passions and troubles, all while the powerful spirits of the wood play havoc with their hearts and minds.
This show is recommended for ages 9 and older and has a running time of about two hours, with intermission.
Adult tickets are $19, while students and seniors are $17. Tickets can be purchased at www.studio-east.org.
All performances are at the Studio East Mainstage Theater. Performances run March 2-3, with the following show times: March 2 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Finally, StoryBook Theater is bringing audiences “Pinocchio” as its winter musical.
With colorful characters and creative songs comes the classic tale of the wooden puppet boy and his father, Gepetto. Pinocchio yearns to be a real boy so he can read, run and make friends like other children. But his new friends, the clever Cat and Fox, have other plans for this eager-to-please talking puppet. In this show, young audience members will learn the lesson of telling the truth.
“Pinocchio” is recommended for ages 3 and older and has a running time of 55 minutes.
Tickets are $15 (including service fees) and can be purchased at www.storybooktheater.org or (425) 820-1800.
Kirkland performances can be purchased at kpcenter.org or (425) 893-9900.
The musical will be shown at the Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave. in Kirkland. Show dates are Feb. 3, 10-11 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. The Feb. 11 shows will be ASL interpreted.
