Faculty Showcase Season Announcement:

These titles and descriptions were announced at the Faculty Showcase. More information on the season including show dates is coming soon!

The Wall and the Woods 

By Daniel Repp

Directed by Mike Lion

YTN Alumni Daniel Repp has developed an original play based on the ideas of the actors who were involved in our New Works Conservatory this season.  After having a staged reading, he is revising the play for it to be fully mounted production this fall on our stage. Come see this story of a secluded society in the woods, surrounded by walls, and one girl’s courage and determination to find what is beyond. 

A commissioned work based on Jewish folk tales

By Clare Fumiko Bierman

YTN has commissioned Clare Fumiko Bierman, the playwright of last fall’s Theseus, Minotaur and The Other Six to create an original play for our youngest actors to perform based on a collection of Jewish folk tales. As a Jewish heritage playwright based in NY, Clare has written other plays on similar themes and is thrilled to return to YTN as a contributing artist.  Title and more details will be revealed during summer.  

New Works Staged Reading

Directed by Gillian Jorgensen

Now in our fifth year, this program will devise an original play based on YTN actors’ ideas and contributions much like The Wall and The Woods. Led by one of Seattle’s best theatre educators Gillian Jorgensen who was the Education Director for Book-It Repertory Theatre and has taught for two decades at Seattle Children’s Theatre among other places.  Gillian is also the playwright of The Wizard of Oz YTN mounted in 2021 and has written and directed several other plays in the past at YTN.  The group of actors selected will work with a professional playwright and Gillian to create a play from scratch and mount a staged reading in February. Next fall, this show will be fully mounted on our stage. 

Into the Woods

Directed by Mimi Katano

Musical Direction by Heather MacLaughlin Garbes and Peter Garbes 

One of Sondheim's most popular works, Into the Woods is a compilation of everyone's favorite storybook characters with a dark twist. The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. 

This is a Conservatory program for high school students, who will get to experience what it’s like to perform a Sondheim’s show which requires impeccable rhythm and diction among other vocal requirements, as well as the strong acting chops to convey each character desire.  

Neverending Story 

Directed by Cory Southwell 

Performed on the YTN stage back in 2013, Neverending Story is about Bastian, a lonely boy, who stumbles into a curious bookshop where he discovers a curious book. As he begins to read, a huge adventure about Atreyu and orphan hero and his friend Falkor, the Luck Dragon embark on a quest to funfolds in front of him. Full of unique characters and worlds, Neverending Story will be a fantastic season closer on our YTN stage.  

Film Conservatory  

After a very successful first year with our Film Conservatory, we will continue the program with season 2!  Young film makers will gather to learn the basics of film making, and break up into teams to write, plan, cast, shoot, and edit a 10 min film. In May their films will show in a real movie theatre for a premier!  

Around The World in 80 Days: Radio Drama 

Radio Drama is back! Next season, YTN actors will perform Mercury Theatre’s Radio Play of Around The World in 80 Days from 1930s, with some updates.  Actors will learn the art of voice acting and live sound effect, and perform in front of live audiences as well as go to a professional recording studio to record.  The audio version will play at Mercer Island High School’s radio station as well as being available on Sound Cloud.  The cast will also tour various senior living homes. 

Proceeds from all ticket sales and donations for the event go towards YTN scholarships to support kids who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate in drama.