901 Broadway, Suite 700 Tacoma , WA 98402 253.591.5890
901 Broadway, Suite 700 Tacoma , WA 98402 253.591.5890
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2008
CONTACT:
Lacey Leffler, Associate Director of Marketing – 253.573.2360 – laceyl@broadwaycenter.org
Celebrate Tacoma’s Long History of Live Theater
A Salute to Vaudeville: Voice of the City
The Pantages and Rialto Theaters Turn 90
The Broadway Center Celebrates 25 Years of Service
Sponsored by The Commencement at Ruston
Media Sponsored by Puget Sound Public Radio KUOW 94.9
Tacoma, WA – In honor of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts’ 25th Anniversary and the Pantages Theater’s 90th birthday, A Salute to Vaudeville: Voice of the City takes stage at the Pantages Theater on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 7:30pm. Featuring Kevin Joyce of EnJoy Productions and the best of regional novelty artists, the evening will transport the audience to the Vaudeville Era in a multi-media performance brimming with music, comedy, acrobatics and much more!
“Vaudeville” is derived from the French expression, “voix de ville” or “voice of the city.” From the early 1880s to 1930, Vaudeville was the leading form of entertainment in North America. The diverse performances offered affordable entertainment to thousands of people. Each show presented a dozen or more acts and lasted around one hour. The Pantages Theater was originally built as a Vaudeville house and accommodated vaudeville greats such as Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, the Marx Brothers and W.C. Fields.
As one of the leading creative artists in the Pacific Northwest, Kevin Joyce has become well-known as a theater artist and stage composer. Starting as a vocalist, he toured with the University of Salamanca throughout Europe. As Co-founder and Artistic Director of UMO Ensemble, he composed most of the organization’s music, and put together the majority of its esteemed educational programs. As a primary performer and Director of Teatro Zinzanni, the circus/dinner phenomenon in San Francisco and Seattle, Kevin Joyce has acted alongside many world famous circus, vaudeville and variety entertainers. His first CD, “Say It” was released in 2006. As part of the Vaudeville show, Kevin Joyce will lead and produce this memorable performance.
Other “new” vaudevillians included in the show will be:
“There is so much to celebrate at the Broadway Center – new programs and services to the community, upgraded performances, increased support from all sectors of the community, doubling of our audience and those touched by our education programs, and we’re still enjoying the new Pantages lobby,” says Executive Director, David Fischer. “We think reviving a vaudeville show is the perfect way to celebrate our history and our recent resurgence.”
Single tickets to the Vaudeville show are available now for $25, $45 and $65. Tickets may be purchased at the Broadway Center Box Office located on 9th & Broadway or by calling the Box Office at 253.591.5894. To purchase online at any time or for information about upcoming events visit www.broadwaycenter.org.
The Broadway Center is home to nine Resident Arts Organizations, including: Northwest Sinfonietta, Puget Sound Revels, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma City Ballet, Tacoma Philharmonic, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Tacoma School of the Arts, Tacoma Youth Symphony Association. The Resident Arts Organizations utilize the Broadway Center’s theaters for their productions, classes, and many other events.
The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the following for support of the 2008-09 Season: ArtsFund, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, The Boeing Company, City of Tacoma, Forest Foundation, The News Tribune, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Pierce County Arts Commission and Sequoia Foundation Pierce County Program.
###