Spotlight Night, Show Talks and More for In the Heights!

The 5th Avenue Theatre offers special programming to complement first show of the 2010-11 season

SEATTLE, WA –As The 5th Avenue prepares for the first show of its 2010-11 season, the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights (September 28-October 17), it announces several special events designed to enhance and support the performances, including a TV special on KCTS 9, a dedicated Spotlight Night, and a series of Show Talks during the production’s run.

First up KCTS Channel 9 will be airing In The Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams, a special episode of the PBS Series Great Performances. The show chronicles the Broadway opening of the show, and the critical and audience success that followed. Airing of this special takes place on Sunday September 5 at 2:00 PM.

Then on Thursday September 16 it’s the first 2010-11 installment of our enormously popular Spotlight Night series. This free event is a favorite of theatergoers who love some insight into what happens on the other side of the curtain. In a program celebrating both In the Heights and Memphis, our smash hit from the 2008-2009 season, The 5th’s Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the work of a theatrical producer, as well as presents a sampling of upcoming music from the season. The Spotlgiht Night special guest is Kevin McCollum, the man responsible for bringing not only In the Heights to Broadway, but also producing one of the most amazing string of hit shows ever produced, including Rent, Avenue Q, The Drowsy Chaperone, White Christmas and the current Broadway revival of West Side Story. McCollum and Armstrong will be joined by 5th Avenue Producing Partner Kenny Alhadeff, who talks about the effort involved in taking Memphis from workshop to full production and from Seattle to Broadway where it earned four 2009 Tonys, including Best Musical. The evening also includes Seattle artists performing musical excerpts from Vanities: A New Musical, Next to Normal, 9 to 5: The Musical and A Christmas Story: The Musical!—all of which are featured in our upcoming season!

During the run of In the Heights The 5th will also be hosting Macy’s Show Talk: the 5th Avenue Discussion Series before select performances. These Talks feature guest speakers discussing the themes and inspiration behind the show. Confirmed guests include Matt Barreto, Associate Professor at the UW and author of Ethnic Cues: the Role of Shared Ethnicity in Latino Political Behavior, who will speak on politics and Latino Culture, and The 5th Avenue’s Artistic Associate Albert Evans, who will chart the history of musicals that feature New York City in a “starring role.” For dates and details on Show Talks as they develop, go to5thavenue.org/education/showtalk.aspx.