The Pavilion
Oct-10 to Nov-9, 2019
12th Ave Arts
1620 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA, 98122
DETAILS
"At every single moment, the whole creation is beginning again, stretching the tent of the present moment to bursting. And the waves that push up through the oceans, and the waves that push up through the stars; and the waves that push upwards through history are the same waves that push up through us."
These are the words of The Narrator in Craig Wright's 2007 play The Pavilion, playing at Strawberry Theatre Workshop October 10-November 9. The story uses a 20-year high school reunion to demonstrate the hazards of regret and nostalgia, and ultimately paints life as an ongoing cycle of rebirth. Allison Standley (My Fair Lady at The Village, Proof at Strawshop) plays Kari, a small-town woman who is building a life for herself in the town she grew up in. Quinlan Corbett (People of the Book at ACT) is her high school sweetheart, Peter, who abandoned Kari and Pine City, Minnesota, as a youth, and sees the reunion as a chance to redeem himself.
The Pavilion strives to be so focused on Kari and Peter that none of the other hundreds of reunion guests are cast. Rob Burgess (The Government Inspector at Seattle Shakes, Our Town at Strawshop) is the afore-mentioned Narrator, and while he provides some exposition, he also morphs into nearly twenty different scene partners for the conflicted couple to play against. Director Greg Carter (Take Me Out) loves theatrical devices to engage audiences in surprising ways—like he did in critically acclaimed productions of The Laramie Project, This Land, and Our Town. Here, he uses Burgess' versatility as an actor for both comedy and gravity, and to keep this simple story to just over an hour.
At its heart, The Pavilion is both a fiercely romantic and life-affirming exploration of human connectedness. Ideas that Strawshop is known for putting on stage at 12th Ave Arts. The Narrator says:
"And so, we have to say 'yes' to time, even though it means speeding forward into memory; forgetfulness; and oblivion. Say 'no' to time; hold on to what you were or what she was; hold onto the past, even out of love and I swear it will tear you to shreds."
Strawshop's The Pavilion is designed by company favorites Reed Nakayama (Lydia, Proof, Frost/Nixon) and Adam Zopfi Hulse (Prelude to a Kiss), as well as newcomer Jyles Rodgers.
The play previews Thursday and Friday, October 10-11, and opens for the press on Saturday, October 12.
VENUE
12th Ave Arts
1620 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA, 98122
CAST AND CREW
written by Craig Wright (2007)
directed by Greg Carter
performed by
Allison Standley
Quinlan Corbett
Rob Burgess
designed by
Reed Nakayama
Adam Zopfi Hulse
Jyles Rodgers
stage managed by
graphic design by Melanie Wang
PRESS KIT
Listing Information
Title: The Pavilion
Previews: Thu-Fri October 10-11, 2019
Opens: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Plays: Thu-Fri-Sat and Mon, 7:30 pm
Venue: Mainstage Theatre at 12th Ave Arts
Address: 1620 12th Ave, Capitol Hill, Seattle
Ticket Prices: $36 General, $24 Mondays
Phone Sales: 1-800-838-3006
Online Sales: strawshop.bpt.me