FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2013   CONTACT:Alan Bryce artisticdirector@centerstagetheatre.com253 661 1444 Press Photos:http://www.centerstagetheatre.com   Centerstage presents ALADDIN A CLASSIC English holiday “panto” for all the family   Run Dates: November 30th– December 22nd; Press Night: Saturday November 30th   For most Brits, a visit to the local theatre to see the pantomime is as much part of the Christmas season as Turkey is to an American’s Thanksgiving. What is particularly appealing to the Brits, and now to Federal Way audiences, are the exuberant traditions of “panto”. Thiskind of pantomime is anything but silent. It’s loud, boisterous, full of music, ridiculous humor and audience involvement.   The semantic confusion over the word “pantomime” began in 1712, when an Italian theatre company brought a mime show to London. The performance was preceded by a spoken synopsis. Producers noted that audiences preferred the spoken word, so the dumb show was eliminated and the dialogue retained - but the shows retained the name “pantomime”.   As the centuries passed, so many beloved traditions emerged: the Dame (an ugly self-obsessed older woman played by a man) and the principal boy (the male lead played by a woman). Add to that stock comic routines, which are re-cycled year after year; the juvenile ensemble; characters representing Good and Evil; the fairytale plot; vaudeville humor; parodies of popular music of the day and last but not least, audience participation.   This year will be Centerstage’s eighth excursion into this wonderful world, with our production of Paul Hendy’s ALADDIN. Mr. Hendy is one of the most successful practitioners of this beloved art in England. Each year he produces half a dozen or more of his shows at regional theatres throughout the country. Britain’s Daily Telegraph wrote about Hendy’s ALADDIN: “Paul Hendy always gets the magic right and so it proves again with Aladdin.  What’s the secret?  Well, Hendy’s scripts are always lively and packed with gags… You could describe the secret of his pantos in a single word – heart.  This is a real humdinger of a show.”   Playing Aladdin is Casey Raiha, one of Seattle emerging young musical theatre performers, who has worked at the Village Theatre and at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Kate Alden stars as Princess Jasmine and Terry Edward Moore portrays the arch villain, Abanazar. Also in the cast are Anna Marie Clausen, Alan Bryce, Dale Bowers, Brynne Geiszler and Joshua Williamson. Aladdin is directed by Roger Curtis, choreographed by Amy Johnson, music direction by David Duvall, designed by Steffon Moody, with costumes by Deborah Skorstad.   Aladdin runs Fridays at 7:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $28 for adults; $24 for seniors and military; $10 for 25 years and younger. Special discounts are available for some performances. Information and tickets at 253 661 1444 or http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/     CENTERSTAGE …is Federal Way’s resident Theatre Company. It was founded in 1977 and for the past fourteen years has produced shows at the Knutzen Family Theatre on the shores of Puget Sound. Artistic Director Alan Bryce is committed to producing “innovative, accomplished productions of popular work and for new work with the widest possible audience appeal.” Hits like Always…Patsy Cline or Ain’t Misbehavin’ fall into the former category. Exciting new works include: a musical version of the Dickens’ classic Nicholas Nickleby; Robin Hood - the first full production of a Tom Meehan and Martin Charnin show; Alan Bryce’s Nightmare of a Married Man which won the Tacoma News Tribune’s “Best New Play” Award; and the pantomimes, including the wildly popular Sleeping Beauty, by Paul Hendy. Perhaps the most ambitious project undertaken by Centerstage was the premier musical Carl Sagan’s Contact,which also won the News Tribune’s “Best New Play” award.  In April 2009, the City of Federal Way awarded Centerstage the contract to manage the Knutzen Family Theatre; saving both the city and theatre company $60,000 per year.   END