If you look at the resume of shows The Attic Theatre has done, you begin to see a pattern: “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “The Miracle Worker,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Our Town,” “The Screwtape Letters” and “The Mousetrap.”
That pattern will continue when Attic’s upcoming production of “It’s a Wonderful Life The Musical” is added to the list. These are plays with meaning, plays that send a message. These plays are picked with purpose.
Attic Theatre sprung from a desire to bring “theater with a message” to the community. The group’s mission statement is to showcase plays of “hope, quality and meaning,” and to “build deep theatrical, spiritual and community relationships,” with an emphasis on the spiritual and the wholesome, said Attic’s artistic director, Jane Reinhardt.
“I wanted a theater company where you could bring a 10-year-old and an 80-year-old and … there would be a message,” Reinhardt said. “I believe most people on some level are in a spiritual journey and are looking for meaning in their life. ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ or ‘The Miracle Worker’ and ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ all have inherent messages.”
Along with producing powerful plays and building what she calls her “Attic family,” Reinhardt has a “huge passion” for strong community theater. Coming from the Chicago area, Reinhardt was surprised to find so little community theater here, especially in communities like Kirkland, Bothell, Mill Creek and south Everett.
“Theater is a common cultural unifier. It crosses cultural lines and brings out themes that are universal,” Reinhardt said. “It really pulls people together.
“And the arts is a great educator for our youth,” she said. “It taught me discipline and it gave me a focus in my life. It’s given my life meaning. … This is another way to give meaning to our lives.”
So Reinhardt, with her own seed money after liquidating her 401k, started the Attic Theatre company in 2003. The Bothell-based company has 12 board members and a core cast of between 10 and 15 people. The company has drawn actors from the Theatre of Puget Sound as well as locally.
The two leading actors in “It’s a Wonderful Life” live in Everett.
Reinhardt came up with the name “Attic Theatre” because one of the first books she read was “The Diary of Anne Frank.” In that book, the attic was the safe place. “I wanted that sense of safety, where creativity could live.”
The Attic Theatre has performed in various locations since it began. The performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be the first time the company has done a show in the new Northshore Performing Arts Center in Bothell. Though that venue is expensive to rent, Reinhardt said she’s excited about it and hopes that one day the center could be a permanent home for Attic productions.
Meanwhile, the actors are rehearsing in the Silver Lake area preparing for the musical stage version of what some have called one of the most inspiring films of all time.
“It’s a Wonderful Life – The Musical” is faithful to Frank Capra’s classic movie starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. But this musical version, rarely heard by audiences, provides a fresh approach into the story of George Bailey of Bedford Falls, who overcomes his own disappointment and the greedy Mr. Potter. Bailey is encouraged to go on living by Clarence, an angel-in-training. In the end, George learns that his life is truly wonderful because of his friends and what he has done for others.
Reinhardt called the musical version “a true undiscovered jewel.”
“There are so many musicals where you know three or four great songs. But this one, I could sing you all the songs right now … you wouldn’t want me to, but I could,” Reinhardt said. “It’s a wonderful, beautiful, melodic score.”
There are more than 20 in the cast. The show stars Ryan Childers as George Bailey and Donna Austin as Mary Hatch Bailey. The production team is led by Julia Harrison. The play is directed by Reinhardt with musical direction by Sue Timpe.
“It’s a show that needs to be seen even though it’s 60 years old and needs to be heard,” Reinhardt said, adding that there’s a moratorium on this version of the script so it may not be heard again for some time.
Reinhardt said the show also needed to be performed for personal reasons.
Reinhardt’s best friend had given her tremendous support to start the Attic company. The last show that friend was in, before dying of cancer in September, was “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“I knew I wanted to do this,” Reinhardt said. “She did for me what George did for Clarence. She helped me earn my wings.”
Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
O ther selected highlights of the holiday season include:
Stage
“Little Women”: Dec. 1 through 16, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley. $15, $12 senior/youth, $10 matinees, 800-638-7631, 360-221-8268, www.wicaonline.com.
The center’s Web site says: “Emma Reeves’ touching adaptation of the March family saga, combined with Deana Duncan’s gently nostalgic yet contemporary direction, and a superlative ensemble cast promises to make ‘Little Women’ a shimmering, heartfelt tribute to family strength for the holiday season.”
“Miracle on 34th Street”: New Everett Theatre production at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 24 through Dec. 10, Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. $10 to $17, 425-258-6766, www.everetttheatre.org.
The bearded, elderly Kris Kringle looks just like Santa Claus. In fact, he believes he is the real Santa. His employer tries to prove he’s wrong. But Kringle, and a belief in Christmas,win out.
“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”: Driftwood Players production at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 24 through Dec. 17, Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. $17 to $86, 425-774-9600, www.driftwoodplayers.com.
Driftwood brings to life the story of Virginia O’Hanlon, a girl who wrote reporter Frank Church about whether Santa exists, prompting the immortal title quotation in his reply.
“A Christmas Story”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 1 through 16, Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $14, 360-679-2237, www.whidbeyplayhouse.com.
This is humorist Jean Shepherd’s story that became the much-loved Christmas movie from 1983 about a boy and his Red Ryder BB gun.
Dance
Olympic Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”: Dec. 2, 3, 16 and 17, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. $30, $24 senior/student, $18 children 10 and under, 425-774-7570 or Ticketmaster. Also Dec. 9 and 10 with the Everett Symphony Orchestra at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett. Ticket prices range from $12 to $32, available from the Everett Symphony, 425-257-8382, www.everettsymphony.org.
“The Nutcracker”: Ballet Bellevue accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra performs the holiday favorite. The show runs at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 25, 2 p.m. Nov. 26, 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Dec. 3, Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell. $29.50 to $44.50, 800-992-TIXX, www.ticketswest.com or www.npacf.org.
“Nutcracker”: Pacific Northwest Ballet’s version features Maurice Sendak’s sets and costumes, Kent Stowell’s choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music performed by the PNB Orchestra. The show runs Nov. 24 through Dec. 28 at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. $18 to $108, 206-441-2424, 206-292-ARTS, www.pnb.org, www.ticketmaster.com.
Holiday community celebrations
Lynnwood’s Civic Lights Winter Celebration: This free community celebration will feature choral and musical performances by local students, karaoke family sing-along sponsored by Rock-It Music, hands-on arts workshop and story-time reading.
Also featured is a performance by the Brian Waite Band, Christmas photo opportunities with Lifetouch Portraits and Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive decorations, a Polar Bear Swim and Penguin Hill snow play area. There will be refreshments at various sites throughout the evening. Nonperishable donations will be accepted for a food drive benefiting the Lynnwood Food Bank.
The celebration is from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 at Lynnwood’s Civic Center Campus, 19000 44th Ave. W. For more information, call the Lynnwood Recreation Center at 425-771-4030 or visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/parks.
Holiday music
Messiah Sing-A-Long: Everett’s First Presbyterian Church will resonate with the sounds of George Frideric Handel, members of the Everett Symphony Orchestra and the voices of the audience in the symphony’s seventh annual sing-along. The performance is at 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. $10.
“Sweet Songs of Christmas”: Opening its 41st season, the 80-voice Everett Chorale, under the direction of Lee Mathews, will be joined by The Mosaic Brass Quintet for a concert of traditional holiday anthems and carols. Chorale accompanist Gary Hatle will be featured at the organ and piano.
This concert will present a first performance of Northwest composer Carol Sams’ “Winter Cantata,” which was commissioned by the Everett Chorale through a grant from the Everett Cultural Commission.
The stage for this concert will be decorated with presents purchased and wrapped by Chorale members for distribution to needy children through the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador program.
The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. $10 and $14, 425-257-8600.
The Gift of Music is the theme for this year’s Sixth Annual Christmas Spectacular to support the Volunteers of America Food Bank.
Special guest this year is pianist and songwriter Dehner Franks. The master of ceremonies is Brian Tracey, former co-host of Evening Magazine.
Also featured are The Imagine Children’s Museum Singers, the Everett Chorale, the Northwest Sound Barbershop Chorus and the color guard from the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The concert is from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 17, at the Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. Suggested donation is $10, $5 with two food items, or several food items per person.
Holiday visual arts
Holiday shopping and studio tour: Four studios will be open for a December weekend of holiday shopping north of Arlington. The event is presented by the Arlington Arts Council.
The tour features the working pottery studios of Persis Gayle of Frailey Mountain Clay Works, 9525 Cedarvale Loop Road. Also on the tour are:
* Pam Summers, 2323 258th St. NE, will show her sculptures and jewelry. She is joined by her daughter, Lisa Summers, in creating jewelry from their own lampwork beads.
* Marguerite Goff, 25404 31st Ave. NE, does functional and sculptural pottery, which is complemented by her daughter’s crystal jewelry.
* A wood-turner, Lucinda Van Valkenburg, 3015 Finn Settlement Road, shares her garage-studio with other members of the Arlington Arts Council.
The studios are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 with Friday night openings, Dec. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Goff’s, Summers’ and Van Valkenburg’s. Persis Gayle’s is not available Friday, but is open the weekend before, Nov. 25 and 26.
The studios are tucked away in the woods from Kackman Road near I-5 east to Frailey Mountain and north to Finn Settlement Road. Maps are available at Favorite Pastime, Robin Miller’s craft shop at 315 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington, or call Lucinda VanValkenburg at 360-435-5051 to request a map.
Annual Group Art Exhibit: Each year, the Annual Group Art Exhibit takes place at The Sisters Restaurant, 2804 Grand Ave., Everett.
This year, there are 31 entries with each artist represented by a single work. The artists this year will donate part of their commission to animal rescue organizations.
Although there was no theme, many entries reflect the artists’ attraction to animals. There are landscapes, still lifes and abstract paintings represented in media including oil and acrylic paint, watercolors, pastels, collages and photography.
The exhibit runs from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 7. For more information, call curator Lyussy Hyder at 425-501-2448 or e-mail lyussy@earthlink.net.
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