Studio East, which was founded in 1992 to provide theatre arts education for youth on the Eastside, will launch its 30th year this September. Seven performances will encompass the 30th anniversary season, where artistic director Lani Brockman carefully selected each with the theme of inclusivity.
“One core pillar that comes to mind is a sense of belonging: feeling respected, valued for who you are, feeling a level of supportive energy and commitment from others so you can do your best,” said Brockman.
According to Brockman, the shows were selected for audience members to witness and understand the challenges of characters, including personal experiences with exclusion and embracing characters finding their own sense of self and safety.
The season will kick off with Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka musical, which will run from October 7 to October 16. A Kirkland tradition, ‘Twas the Night… will be presented at the Kirkland Performance Center from December 2 to December 4.
Quilters, a musical about the joys, sorrows, strength, and perseverance of pioneer women will take place in February of 2023, and will be followed by Wrestling Season, a play that tackles peer pressure and the search for identity.
Springtime will bring a lively musical told through video games, Ready! Player! Wonderland! written by local artists Samuel J. Pettit and Justin Beal. May of 2023 will welcome a Studio East favorite, Into the Woods, and the season will conclude in June with the presentation of the annual Shakespeare in the Park, The Comedy of Errors.
“Studio East has proudly served the Eastside community, and beyond, for the last 30 years,” said Jennifer Tucker, managing director. “And we are so looking forward to kicking off our celebration season this September. We hope you’ll join us as our talented youth bring these shows to life!”
Patrons, families, and community members are encouraged to sponsor a performance at the presenting, artistic, or technical level. Each sponsorship level includes benefits, such as billing on posters, tickets to performances, and backstage access—on top of supporting student performers.
For more information visit https://studio-east.org/2022-23-season/
