BELLEVUE, WASH.- The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival has invited the Bellevue Community College Drama Department to present its production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Urinetown in February at the American College Theatre Region VII Festival in Pasco.
Area theater-lovers will have one more chance to see this production, just before the cast and crew leave for the festival, in a free, open dress rehearsal at 8 p.m. in BCC’s Carlson Theatre.
The Kennedy Center invitation recognizes BCC’s Urinetown production as representative of the best graduate and undergraduate theatre in seven states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Alaska.
BCC’s production was one of only four invited from among all the region’s college and university drama programs. Community college productions are rarely invited.
Forty BCC students will make the trip to Pasco Feb. 20 for the six-day event. There they will present Urinetown and take part in acting competitions. The students also will attend workshops and lectures and attend plays written by other students.
The musical was previously presented at BCC as the Fall 2005 student production. However, one more local campus performance will be presented prior to departure for the Festival. A free, open dress rehearsal of Urinetown will be offered at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in BCC’s Carlson Theatre on the main campus (3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, WA).
Winner of three Tony Awards, the highly-regarded Urinetown portrays a drought-stricken future where urination is no longer free.
BCC’s production of the musical is directed by Drama Instructor Tammis Doyle (of north Seattle), with technical and musical direction by BCC faculty members Brian Healy ( of north Seattle) and Julie Denninghoff (of Bothell), respectively. Lead roles are portrayed by students Danny Osborne (of Issaquah), Teya Patt (of north Seattle), Ashlyn Smith (of Kirkland), Bradetta Vines (of north Seattle), Josh Moore (of Renton), Sean Payne (of Kent) and BCC faculty member Michael Warner (of Bellevue).
Sponsored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the nation-wide American College Theater Festivals honor excellence of overall production and individual achievement. Up to six of the best regional productions will be showcased at a national festival at the Kennedy Center in the spring.
Approximately 200 students annually become involved in BCC Drama Department classes and productions. The department offers a comprehensive curriculum which serves non-major, exploratory and serious drama students. The program melds academic work with experience by encouraging full student participation in productions and offering studio theater and colloquium classes.
Presenting a play every quarter, the department offers all student actors many opportunities to audition and perform. The student Stage Fright Drama Club also produces an annual student-directed and -acted play.
