Falling - Fury Creative Services

News from Seattle Men’s Chorus
and Seattle Women’s Chorus
WINTER/SPRING 2011 VOL. 7 NO. 2
I N S I D E: S M C
Falliinng
Again
April 2 & 3 - McCaw Hall
S WC: S W I N G I N TO L AU G H T E R
with Guest Star Kathy Najimy
B L AC K T I E & S E Q U I N S
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DIRECTIONS
Artistic
One of the best “perks” of my job as artistic director of Flying House Productions (FHP)
is the opportunity I get to collaborate with celebrated guest artists. These have ranged
from singing legends like Rosemary Clooney and Debbie Reynolds, to authors like Maya
Angelou and Armistead Maupin, and composers like Gian Carlo Menotti and Ned Rorem.
The partnerships with these acknowledged geniuses shed new light on existing music and
often give birth to new creations. That’s why I’m so jazzed by the programs that we’ll bring
you these next few months.
Kathy Najimy is not only a brilliant comedienne and film star, but is also one of the
fiercest allies that the gay and lesbian community has in the United States. The Kathy and
Mo Show introduced her off-beat humor to us. Her starring roles in films include Sister
Act, Sister Act II, and Hocus Pocus; she is the voice of Peggy Hill on the television series
King of the Hill, and she has made recent guest appearances on Ugly Betty, Ellen, and
Veronica’s Closet.
Kathy Najimy guest stars with Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) on February 20
(Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia) and February 25 and 26 (The
Paramount Theatre, Seattle). She joins SWC in an evening of comedy that will feature a
fun-filled tribute to The Sound of Music and a romp through Texas with a special segment
P h oto by J o h n Pa i
devoted to that big-footed Texas momma, Peggy Hill, along with other comedic treasures.
Kathy will also treat us to a couple of monologues that she uses as a national speaker about
women’s and LGBTQ rights. There will be plenty of music from SWC besides, with songs like “9 to 5,” Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were
Made for Walking,” “Big D,” and “The Song that Goes Like This” from the musical Spamalot. Smiles and laughter are guaranteed.
In April, Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) will present a concert titled Falling In Love Again that will take a look at Germany during and
after the Weimar Republic between the two World Wars. Prior to the Nazi takeover in the 1930s, Berlin experienced a blossoming of artistic
freedom and gay liberation unknown before. Join us as we use Act One of our program to revisit this fascinating period with music from
Kurt Weill, Marlene Dietrich, and a gay pride anthem from 1920 that was rediscovered by Ute Lemper. We’ll sing songs like “Who’s Afraid
of the Big Bad Wolf,” “Mack the Knife,” and “Bei Mir Bist du Schoen.” We’re also pleased to welcome actor Nick Garrison, star of the 5th
Avenue Theatre’s production of Cabaret, as well as gifted dancers from Spectrum Dance Theater who will lend their considerable talents to
helping us recreate this vibrant world.
Sadly, the artistic and personal freedom of this period was crushed by the Nazi takeover. Act Two of our concert features For a Look or a Touch,
the story of love lost and then found again in Hitler’s Germany. Based on a true story told in the 2000 film documentary Paragraph 175,
this musical drama tells of two of the 100,000 German gay men who were arrested because of their sexual identity between the years 1933
and 1945. Fewer than 4,000 of these men survived the death camps, and those who survived were forced back into the closet to live a life of
secrecy and fear in post-war Germany. One of these men, Gad Beck, is still alive and living in Germany, and it is his powerful story of love
and redemption that is told in For a Look or a Touch.
Composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer originally wrote this work for Music of Remembrance, a Seattle organization dedicated
to keeping alive the music of the Holocaust and creating new works to honor it. Last year, Seattle Men’s Chorus and Boston Gay Men’s
Chorus commissioned the expansion of the work to include a men’s chorus. SMC’s production will feature renowned baritone Morgan Smith
and local acclaimed actor David Pichette, supported by the full Men’s Chorus. Andrew Russell, associate producer at Intiman Theatre, will
stage direct, and members of the Seattle Symphony will provide the instrumental backdrop for the performance. Far from being negative or
depressing, For a Look or a Touch celebrates the resilience of the human spirit that faces tyranny and triumphs time and time again.
As you can see, it’s quite a line-up we have for you in the next months! From Kathy Najimy to the Berlin cabaret scene to a powerful new
musical drama, your life will be enriched by the creative artistry of this season’s crop of wonderful guest artists, working together with the
talented singers of Seattle Men’s Chorus. Please join us!
Dennis Coleman
Artistic Director
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 3
Seattle Men’s chorus | Seattle Women’s Chorus
Presented by Flying House Produc tions
319 12th Avenue, Seattle WA 98122–5504
Information 206.323.0750
Fax 206.323.9425
Website flyinghouse.org
Artistic
Artistic direc tor Dennis Coleman
Assistant Artistic Direc tor/Direc tor Captain Smart ypants Eric Lane Barnes
Assistant conduc tor, Seattle women’s chorus Rhonda Juliano
Principal accompanist, Seattle Men’s Chorus Evan Stults
Principal accompanist, Seattle Women’s Chorus Nancy Otness Bent
ASL interpreter, Seattle Men’s Chorus Kevin Gallagher
ASL interpreters, Seattle Women’s Chorus Jody Mayer, Debra Westwood
Direc tor, Sensible Shoes Lori Surrency
Administration
Executive direc tor Stuart Rosenthal
Office/Company Manager Randy Bowren
Finance
Finance direc tor Cliff Goodman
Staff Accountant Amy Alesio
De velopment
De velopment MANAGER Colleen Dodson
ma jor & pl anned gifts manager Lynn G. Schrader, CFRE
De velopment associate Thom Courcelle
Marke ting
Marketing direc tor Frank Stilwagner
Advertising Sales manager Gerry Kunkel
Box office manager Kevin Carson
marketing & Graphics Jennifer Jacobs-Springer
Public Rel ations Jennifer Rice LLC
Produc tion
GP Cleaning
Services Inc.
Residential & Commercial
Stage manager Nancy Hautala
Assistant stage manager Billy Frantz
LIBR ARIAN T.J. Elston
Board of Direc tors
President Jim Bachand
vice–president Mark Schmitt
Secre tary Andy McKim
Treasurer Steven B. Crandall
Michael Amend, Gina Bourgeois, Deb Brewer, Howard Bye, Daniel R Cox, Craig Darling,
Jimmy Harrop, Elisa Jaffe, Christine Keff, Sid Kimball, Scott William Schwalbach,
Sandy Stutey, Don Weston, Constance Wilkinson
Our vision A world that accepts and values its gay and lesbian citizens.
Our mission Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus entertain, enlighten, unify, and
heal our audience and members, using the power of words and music to recognize the value of gay
and straight people and their relationships.
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4 | F LY I NG HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /S pring 2011
Contac t Gerry Kunkel at 206.388.1404 or [email protected].
Flying House Maga zine is marketed and published by Flying House Productions for
Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus.
Change of address Write: Flying House Productions, 319 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA
98122–5504; email: [email protected]; or call: 206.323.0750. Editorial queries Write:
Marketing Director, Flying House Productions, 319 12th Avenue, Seattle WA 98122–5504; email:
[email protected]; or call: 206.323.0750. Visit our website flyinghouse.org to learn more
about us or to purchase merchandise. Copyright © 2011 Flying House Productions. All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
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Contents
F e at u r e s
Fa l l i n g i n Lo v e A ga i n Cabaret, Love Lost, Love Regained
11
S w i n g I n to Laught e r SWC "Sings" Into Laughter
14
G u e s t A rt i s t: Kath y N A j i m y Performer and Passionate Activist
Kathy Najimy Speaks Her Heart
16
A n n ua l Au c t i o n The Perfect Night:
Dinner, Dance & Auction
This issue
winter/Spring 2011
D i r e c t i o n s - A rt i s t i c 3
D i r e c t i o n s - e x e c ut i v e 9
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8 | F LY I NG HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /S pring 2011
DIRECTIONS
Executive
Flying House Productions in 2010-2011:
On Track and Going Places!
The Choruses had a terrific holiday season, capped by nine wildly-acclaimed performances of
Seattle Men’s Chorus’(SMC) Holiday Glee program between November 27 and December 21,
and two wonderful guest appearances by Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) with folk icon Cris
Williamson on December 15 and 16. Is the economic “malaise” finally fading into history?
Judging by the thousands of upbeat and enthusiastic audience members who came out to
share FHP’s brand of terrific choral entertainment in December, we’d say “Yes!”
Fresh from these triumphs, Flying House Productions (FHP) is springing into the New Year
artistically vibrant, financially stable, and ready to share a brand new line-up of entertaining,
moving performances with music lovers throughout the Northwest. In the following pages
you’ll hear about SWC’s zany Swing Into Laughter program, featuring the hilarious Kathy
Najimy, coming your way at The Paramount Theatre in late February. You’ll also discover
the fascinating true story behind SMC’s sexy, provocative, and inspirational Falling In Love
Again program—including a world-premiere musical event—in early April.
On May 14 (mark your calendar!) we bring you Black Tie & Sequins—FHP’s 15th Annual
Dinner, Dance and Auction, returning for a second year to the inviting ambience of Fremont
Studios. Our annual auction is a grand affair in every sense of the word, featuring the talents
P h oto by J o h n Pa i
and hard work of a dozen committees and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Why not be part
of the adventure? Over the coming weeks, your time, your talents, your donations of auction
items, and especially your physical presence at the Big Bash will be eagerly sought (and sincerely appreciated). There’s a spot for everyone on
our auction team, and I urge you to join the fun by contacting FHP’s development manager, Colleen Dodson, at [email protected].
Covered in our next magazine will be the Women’s Chorus’ May outreach tour to central and eastern Washington state, and, in June, the
grand finale of the Men’s Chorus season—Heartthrobs—a high-energy, light-hearted visit with “boy bands” from the Beatles to the Jonas
Brothers that you and all those Facebook friends of yours won’t want to miss.
In short, FHP is on track and going places! Why not hop aboard and be part of this wonderful, fun, and immensely rewarding ride?
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Love
Again
CABARET,
LOVE LOST, LOVE REGAINED
By Bryn Nelson
An 80-year-old German man named Gad sits alone in his bedroom, illuminated by the
soft light of the moon. For six decades, he has tried to forget his past. But on this night, the
insistent ghost of his young lover, Manfred, will lead him back to the golden years of Berlin
before Hitler’s rise to power.
Do you remember?
Do you remember when night was for more than sleep?
Oh, my love.
The opening lines of For a Look or a Touch, a groundbreaking work about the fate of
gay lovers in Nazi Germany and the redemptive power of memory, debuted in Seattle’s
Benaroya Hall in May 2007. Written by the critically acclaimed duo of composer Jake Heggie
and librettist Gene Scheer, the musical drama chronicles what Heggie says is the relatively
untouched and unknown subject of the persecution of gays during the Holocaust.
Mina Miller, artistic director of the Seattle-based chamber music organization Music of
Remembrance, commissioned the piece as a way to recapture and honor that history. With a
new commission by Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) and Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, an expanded
version of For a Look or a Touch will premiere at McCaw Hall on April 2 and 3 as part of
SMC’s ambitious spring concert, Falling in Love Again. Rising opera star Morgan Smith, who
was handpicked for the original role of Manfred, will reprise his command performance, and
will be partnered with heralded local actor David Pichette in the role of Gad Beck. Rounding
out the cast will be musical theatre performer Nick Garrison and dancers from Seattle’s
Spectrum Dance Theater, returning to the SMC stage to help interpret a riveting chapter of
gay history.
It’s a period that SMC artistic director
Dennis Coleman has wanted to visit
muscially for decades, and will explore in a
program that captures both the comedy and
freedom of German cabarets of the ‘20s and
early ‘30s, and the tragedy that subsequently
befell gay men under the Third Reich.
“…Ultimately, we are
liberated by remembering
and embracing our
past rather than just
ignoring it…”
Entertain
Entertain
Falliinng
Fa l l i n g i n Lo v e Ag a i n
11
S w i n g I n t o L au g h t e r
14
gu e s t art i s t:
Kathy Na j i m y
16
A n n ua l F r e e
K i d s ' Co n c e rt
19
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 1 1
Berlin itself has the starring role in
the first half, titled Life is a Cabaret, a
recreation of the final days of Germany’s
free-wheeling Weimar period that ended
with Hitler’s ascendancy in 1933. The
concert’s elaborately staged second half, For
a Look or a Touch, will tell the story of Gad
and Manfred, with the Chorus playing the
roles of nightclub singers and concentration
camp prisoners. Coleman said the pairing of
the two halves offers a balanced look at a
period that has always fascinated him.
A C T I : LIFE IS A C A B A RE T
N i c k G a r r i s o n T akes on the
role of emcee in act I
Eric Lane Barnes, SMC’s assistant artistic
director, was given the difficult task of
researching, selecting, and arranging the
pieces for the concert's first half. “I loved
creating the atmosphere of this half,” he said.
“The whole Weimar period is so culturally,
artistically, philosophically and theatrically
rich. There is so much documentation of
the period; it’s been so fascinating and
rewarding to learn about it.”
The opening and closing numbers may be
familiar to fans of the movie and Broadway
hit, Cabaret, based on novelist Christopher
Isherwood’s evocative depictions of preWWII Berlin.
The concert also features some of the best
known songs of the day, with a mix of the
silly, sinister, and sublime. Before Bobby
Darin introduced American audiences to
a swing version of “Mack the Knife,” for
example, the much darker original by Kurt
Weill and Bertolt Brecht opened a musical
drama about a bloodthirsty killer (“kind of
like a forerunner to Sweeney Todd,” said
Lane Barnes). Marlene Dietrich, on the
other hand, popularized the sweet, flirty
ballad Falling in Love Again, in her role as
a cabaret performer in 1930’s Der Blaue
Engel (The Blue Angel).
Lane Barnes also found inspiration in the
works of German singer and band leader
Max Raabe, who has reinvigorated a host
of period classics with his Palast Orchester.
Raabe has even put his hilarious cabaret
spin on modern pop hits by artists such as
Prince and Britney Spears, hearkening back
to the Weimar embrace of the unusual and
unexpected.
A particularly astonishing find was Lane
Barnes’ discovery of a song written in 1920
and entitled, “Das Lila Lied,” or “The
Lavender Song,” one of the first known gay
liberation songs. German cabaret singer Ute
Lemper recently released her own version,
calling out the bigotry of those who “make
our lives hell here on Earth/poisoning us
with guilt and shame.”
With a chorus that begins, “We’re not
afraid to be queer and different,” the song
delivered a bold statement in its day, even
for Weimar-era Berlin. Nonetheless, several
surviving recordings by major band leaders
suggest that it was a popular cabaret act.
A Disney song even made its way to Berlin
in 1933, when “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad
Wolf” from the animated film Three Little
Pigs became wildly popular. “It’s incredibly
fun, and it’s interesting just how quickly that
song became such a huge hit worldwide,”
Lane Barnes said.
Ironically, the Fuehrer himself was a big
fan of another American song, “Bei Mir Bist
du Schoen,” (“To Me, You Are Beautiful”)
that was first written as part of a short-lived
1932 Yiddish musical. The song caused a
sensation when later sung by two black
performers at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, and
a publisher reworked it into a smash hit by a
new group called the Andrews Sisters. When
the Nazi Party discovered the song’s Jewish
origins, the popular tune was immediately
banned from Germany’s airwaves.
1 2 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
A C T II :
FOR A LOO K OR A T OU C H
In contrast to the treasure trove of
recordings and texts from pre-war Berlin,
composer Heggie had far less to go on
when he began researching the experiences
of gay men in Germany immediately after
World War II. “I couldn’t figure out why I
couldn’t find absolutely anything,” he said.
“Then I found out the horrible fact that
after the war was over, homosexuals were
still considered criminals. So they were
released from concentration camps, but
M o r g a n Sm i t h returns to play
the role of M anfred L ewin
Sp e c t r u m D a n c e T h e a t e r joins
S M C in bringing to life the
weimar period
risked being arrested and imprisoned again
for being gay.”
Heggie finally came upon the powerful HBO
documentary, Paragraph 175, which refers
to a provision in Germany’s legal code that
criminalized homosexuality from 1871 until it
was scaled back in 1969 and finally repealed
it in 1994. Most of the stories, he discovered,
were missing because of the stigma and threat
of arrest that effectively silenced the survivors.
One of the survivors profiled in the
documentary was Gad Beck, a man who later
led an underground effort to help Jews escape
to Switzerland. In the film, Beck talks about
trying to rescue his own Jewish lover, Manfred,
from a concentration camp where he and his
family had been sent. But in spite of a chance
at freedom, Manfred refused to leave his family
and was later murdered at Auschwitz.
If I leave my family now, I’ll never be
free again. I have to go with them. I am
the strong one.
—Manfred, For a Look or a Touch
Beck himself was later arrested, and upon
his release was unable to tell his story publicly
until he was 80, more than a half-century
after the remarkable gay pride of the Weimar
period first threw open the closet doors. “These
men who had experienced this freedom now
had to go back into the closet, and deny
themselves and live in shame for decades”
Dennis Coleman said.
Heggie knew he wanted to retell the true
stories he heard, including passages and poetry
from Manfred’s diary. He found his muse in
Morgan Smith, a baritone nurtured by Seattle
Opera’s Young Artists Program and introduced
to him by Music of Remembrance’s Mina
Miller. Smith has since won rave reviews as first
mate Starbuck in Heggie and Scheer’s operatic
version of Moby Dick. But Smith said the role
of Manfred in For a Look or a Touch helped him
break new ground technically, emotionally, and
dramatically. “Having a number of really close
gay friends and hearing their stories and hearing
the difficulties that they’ve had to endure, it was
a particular honor to be able to give voice to that
struggle on a larger scale,” he said.
D a v i d P i c h e t t e takes on the
role of G ad B eck
The role of Gad Beck will be played by
acclaimed Seattle actor David Pichette, who
has been a fixture in the city's theatre scene
since moving from New York 28 years ago.
In recent seasons, he has performed at The
5th Avenue Theatre, ACT Theatre, Seattle
Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory
Theatre, and Seattle Shakespeare Company.
Currently, he is in the classic mystery/thriller
Sleuth at Village Theatre.
Along with Smith and Pichette, SMC’s
expanded and reworked production will
feature instrumentalists from Seattle
Symphony, as well as a new percussion
part and a significant role for the Chorus.
In a new choral interlude that hearkens
back to the popular tangos of the late ‘20s,
the Chorus provides a bridge between the
carefree years of Berlin and the suffering
of the concentration camps. Titled, “A
Hundred Thousand Stars,” the haunting
melody honors the estimated 100,000 men
arrested for being gay between 1933 and
1945. Only 4,000 survived.
One by one. One by one. A hundred
thousand stars, love, have fallen from the sky.
Heggie said he wrote the song
remembering his best friend in high school,
who died from AIDS at the age of 34. “The
piece resonates very, very strongly for me on
that level of being singled out and isolated
and treated differently because you’re gay
or because you happen to have this illness
that people don’t understand.”
Coleman believes the song will stand on
its own as a powerful anthem that other
gay men’s choruses will embrace. He also
hopes to persuade more groups to present
the entire composition, which he said is
“fundamentally a love story and a story of
reconciliation.”
Do you remember when…
Night was for more than sleep?
Oh my love, my love
We stayed awake so often!
“Ultimately, we are liberated by
remembering and embracing our past
rather than just ignoring it,” Heggie said.
For Gad, Manfred’s gentle urging finally
provides a sense of closure and peace. Far
from being depressing, the universal love
story ultimately ends with a feeling of hope
and redemption.
For audiences first visiting the “Cabaret,”
then sharing this powerful story of love lost
and then regained, the night may prove
simply unforgettable. n
Seattle Men’s Chorus’ Production of Falling
In Love Again is sponsored in part by Diane &
Stephen Heiman, and Robin L. Godfrey, Hamerick
Investment Counsel, LLC, David Haney & Roger
Klorese, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle,
Paul Johns, Richard Snyder, and presented in
partnership with Washington State Holocaust
Education Resource Center, Jewish Chorale,
Music of Remembrance, AJC Seattle Jewish Film
Festival, and Seattle Opera.
Fa l l i n g i n Lo v e A g a i n
MCC A W H A L l
Saturday, April 2, 8:00pm
Sunday, April 3, 2:00pm
T i c k e t s o n s a l e F e bruar y 1 9
Online: flyinghouse.org
Phone: 206.388.1400 (M-F Noon-7:00pm)
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 1 3
Seattle Women's Chorus
"SINGS" INTO LAUGHTER
By Julianne Brian
There’s a popular board game in which the players are given a
list of three items and challenged to determine the common bond.
If you were playing such a game and drew a card that read: “shoes,
chocolate, workplace,” chances are excellent most every woman you
know would holler out, “women’s issues!” And, they would be exactly
right that these are topics that Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) will
address in their upcoming show, Swing Into Laughter.
What? Women’s issues in a show called Swing Into Laughter? You
read that right. At first glance, the juxtaposition seems incongruous,
but already SWC is enjoying uproarious rehearsals as they prepare to
shine the bright lights of humor and music on these matters.
Artistic director Dennis Coleman and one of SWC’s favorite
arrangers, Kathleen McGuire, worked to create a show that primarily
features humor and fun, yet also includes food for thought on relevant
issues. Together with guest artist Kathy Najimy and assistant artistic
director Eric Lane Barnes, they have developed a show around four
broad themes that generate both funny and meaningful perspectives:
nuns, working women, body image, and Texas. Happily, there’s plenty
of music to reflect those perspectives!
McGuire, who served as artistic director and conductor of San
Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus from 2000-2010, and arranged much of
the music for SWC’s Lullaby of Broadway show in the spring of 2009,
1 4 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
P h oto s by J o h n Pa i
describes herself as “passionate about finding ways to communicate
important messages through music.” Within the variety of music in
Swing Into Laughter will be thought-provoking messages that will
stand side by side with the humor—topics like equal pay, queerquestioning teens, homelessness, and food addiction. Don’t worry:
with her arrangements, McGuire has given the audience
plenty of opportunity to laugh. A lot.
Dennis Coleman described the first segment
on nuns (and Catholic school girls) as a “riff
off [Najimy’s] role in the Sister Act I and II
movies” in which she memorably played the
irrepressibly cheerful, giggling young nun Sister
Mary Patrick. For those who enjoyed “Sweeney
Todd In 5 Minutes” at last summer’s show Glitter
and Be Gay, tell your friends to look forward to another,
potentially even funnier musical Cliff Note: “The Sound of
Music in 5 Minutes.” Rumor has it there will be over 200
wimples on stage!
Another segment is based around the “joy and travails
of being working women,” said Coleman. From “Ooh
My Feet!” to working “9 to 5,” this portion of the show
will also feature Najimy singing the poignant "Millwork"
song from Working.
The second act opens with the women
singing as only they can about…chocolate.
Songs about body image includes “Your
Feet’s Too Big,” and a variation on the
ubiquitous choral piece “How Can I Keep
From Singing” that provides a light-hearted
look at a serious issue, food addiction—
“How Can I Keep From Eating”—along
with making wonderful fun of the glut of
arrangements this
song has seen.
Also in this
segment, Australianborn McGuire
transcribed a song
that originated
with one of her
countrywomen,
Judy Small, called
“A Song for the
Roly Poly People.”
Similar perhaps to
Holly Near and Meg
Christian in the U.S.,
Small is famous in
her country as a
f o l k p e r f o r m e r,
feminist, and
lesbian. McGuire’s
Aunt Alison (who
also happens to be
lesbian) originally gave her a songbook
containing “…Roly Poly People.”
“This is a song that singers get
excited about singing,” said
McGuire. It delivers
touchy truths in a
matter-of-fact and
h u m o r o u s w a y.
You’ll know it when
you hear it.
The final theme of the show centers on
Texas. Coleman reported this segment is
inspired by Najimy’s character Peggy Hill
on TV’s animated series King of the Hill.”
Delightful fun is made of Texas the state,
the boots, the accent. McGuire noted
that knowledgeable gay listeners may be
reminded of “gaydar” when they hear
“Big D”—a choral arrangement from the
musical The Most Happy Fella in which two
Texans recognize
each other from
their Dallas accents.
Rumor has it Peggy
Hill, independent
feminist and loyal
wife and mother in
King of the Hill will
make her presence
known.
Najimy will
be participating
throughout the
show, drawing from
her wide array of
talents in comedy,
song, character
voice, and her
personal, long-held
commitment to
social equality for
LGBT citizens.
Swing Into Laughter isn’t just a concert,
it’s a production! Costumes, lights, set
pieces, dance—lots of movement and
visual entertainment will combine with the
exquisite choral magnificence audiences
know they’ll hear whenever Coleman takes
the conductor’s podium. You’ll want to
bring tissue—to wipe the tears of laughter
and perhaps tears of recognition. One final
word of advice…be sure to hit the bathroom
before the show begins.
Turns out even hard-core feminists
and lesbians have a sense of humor.
Imagine that. n
Swing into Laughter
T h e P ara m ou n t T h e atr e
Friday, February 25, 8:00pm
Saturday, February 26, 2:00pm
Tickets
Online: flyinghouse.org
Phone: 206.388.1400 (M-F Noon-7:00pm)
Lunch: 11:30-2, M-F
Happy Hour: 4-7 Daily
Dinner: 5-11 Daily
300 Westlake Ave N.,
Seattle, WA 98109
206.728.8595
www.flyingfishseattle.com
Performer and Passionate Activist
Kathy Najimy Speaks Her Heart
B y M i r ya m G o r d o n
Kathy Najimy is a woman who lives and loves passionately. That’s evident from a biography filled with acting successes, but also awards
and accolades from organizations ranging from PETA’s Humanitarian of the Year (2000) to Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year (2004) to the
L.A. Shanti’s Founders Award for her many, many years of HIV/AIDS activism. It’s evident when you speak with her, as I did in preparation
for her guest appearance with Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) at the end of February.
I asked Ms. Najimy what drives her to take all these positions and get out there so visibly?
“It’s something I inherently feel; I have a really strong reaction to things that are unjust, unequal, and unfair. I think what propels me to
do my part is that it eases the (inner) frustration a bit. Not only hopefully helping the cause or issue, but easing the feeling of unrest about
inequality. I feel strongly about basic rights for all people (and animals), and especially for women to have the right to choice regarding their
reproductive system, and lives. I am a fierce supporter of equality, equal opportunity, self-esteem, and self-worth for women and girls. I have
a 14-year-old daughter and I’d like her to have at least the same rights as our generation did with Roe v. Wade (reproductive rights case),
since now we’re in danger of falling backwards.”
Ms. Najimy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Dan Finnerty, and daughter, Samia, and knows the pressures of that particular city and
its obsession with weight and size. She’s passionate about protecting her daughter from the pressures that surround her.
“My stance on body image is that women should try (as much as possible) to be happy, healthy, and joyful, with the body and the skin that
they’re in. Live whatever life that you desire and dream. And don’t wait…do it right now. I jump out of airplanes, ride motorcycles, dance;
I try to follow my passions, not what society says I am allowed to do. I’m not perfect, and don’t always succeed, but I try hard not to limit
myself to what people think women should do based on their rigid ideas of size.
“It’s almost impossible to combat (those pressures), especially
in Los Angeles. Squashing women into one unattainable option
doesn’t reflect our family philosophy. Yes, [my daughter is] a
product of the society, especially as a teenage girl in Los Angeles.
We hope we have exposed her to lots of examples of people of all
sizes who are living a good, fun, authentic, worthwhile, fulfilling
life and that being healthy is important but trying to be unnaturally
thin is not necessarily going to make you healthy or happy. In fact
it’s sometimes dangerous. Try to assess the best you can how to
make your way in the world with joy.”
I asked what her feelings were about recent events like the
signing of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT).
“I’m happy and pleased about it. I was part of the Clinton
campaign—both of them actually—and when he (President
Clinton) came out with DADT, it was a step forward for that
time. It wasn’t enough, but I thought it was the most he could do
at that time. Then, in the true spirit of democracy, Obama took
the next step and it was the right thing to do.
“I think there should be no big deal made either way, just as it’s
normal for a dating or married heterosexual person to have their
personal life brought up during their military life… ‘yes, this is my
boyfriend/fiancée/husband,’ it should be equally as normal, and
legal, for all people—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender—to clearly
have the right to express the truth about their personal lives with
no repercussions. They have the right to say whatever and however
they feel. When people bring up the ridiculous, insulting, and lame
1 6 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
retort, ‘What about the same sex showers
and locker rooms?’ I respond ‘Don’t flatter
yourself—don’t assume any gay person
would automatically be attracted to you.’
They are part of the most American of the
Americans and they deserve to serve with
dignity, pride, and honesty.”
By now Ms. Najimy is on fire and segues
into gay marriage:
“What’s the argument against gay
marriage? If it’s not for you, don’t marry
a gay. How is someone else’s love choice
any of your business? It seems obvious
that fear and shame must play a big part
for the people who object. Maybe not
understanding others or their own possible
scope of attraction. Or those who try to hide
their homophobia behind religion, reading
passages and spouting judgments? I’m not
saying I’m against the Bible. I am just not
sure it was written with the purpose of
spreading hate. I am betting their intention
was to spread love.
Her compassion is boundless, reaching
to other members of the extended human
family: “I love my husband and my
daughter, but I also am crazy about my
dogs. I have two rescue dogs and encourage
everyone to rescue dogs. Petie and Princess
are hilarious—make me laugh hard on a
daily basis.”
A new direction in Kathy Najimy’s busy
life is creating clothing solutions for women
and selling them on the Home Shopping
Network (HSN). Ch’Arms is a long-sleeve
undergarment that she created for herself
with a pair of scissors, because she wanted
to be able to wear something sleeveless or
short-sleeved and still have her arms covered
in some way. Designed to wear as a base
layer, this light-weight, sheer, arm-covering
garment can be worn underneath just about
anything.
Now we’ve expanded with new colors, new
fabrics, and new styles. I have even created
a new women’s swimwear line that solves
various problems for women, giving them
more freedom and choice. Selfishly, I created
things I need myself. Now I am an inventor.
Who knew?”
So when the upcoming Seattle Women’s
Chorus performance is over, what would she
most like people to feel as they walk away?
“I hope they think I added to their party.
It’s SWC’s party. I’m just a guest. I want
people to feel like I was a good, exciting
guest, who had a good time at your party.”
I can’t imagine that we will all be anything
less than thrilled with our guest of honor! n
“I’ve never done a commercial or
endorsed any product in my life…but I
found something I really wanted for myself,
and now I run this company! We sold out of
my garment on its first appearance on HSN!
“It’s absurd that we’re talking about it.
It’s un-American that people can’t be 100%
themselves. Love is love and gay people pay
taxes and they should have the right to do
what every other citizen chooses. Love is a
privilege and rare gift. Years from now we
will be telling our grandchildren that people
couldn’t get married if they were gay and
they will just say, ‘What? Why?’”
VICKI LAWRENCE
Friday | March 11
$50–$55, $15 youth
7 ( 5 5 <
Sponsored by Jan and Benny Teal
7(55<99(+56
9 ( + 5 6
RED CHAMBER
Saturday | March 19
There is a brief pause before Ms. Najimy
remarks wryly, “For a comedy show with
the Women’s Chorus, this is getting kind of
deep!”
Activism is a family affair for this
passionate artist. Recently, she made a
30-second short (video) with husband Dan
Finnerty (at www.wegiveadamn.org) in
support of gay marriage. She explains:
$25–$30, $15 youth
Sponsored by Julie Long
ARTURO SANDOVAL
Friday | March 25
$35–$40, $15 youth
Sponsored by Irwin Zucker, age 8
JOHNNY CLEGG
Thursday | April 28
“It’s not unusual for Dan or me to do
charity work. We’ve just never done one
together. Dan and his The Dan Band have
done performances for the Trevor Project
dedicated to supporting suicidal youth. This
organization was named after a Jody Foster
film about a young gay boy who killed
himself.”
$35–$40, $15 youth
ec4arts.org | 425.275.9595
FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
410FOURTHAVENUENORTHEDMONDSWA98020
110ECA-FLYING_HOUSE_2.11.11.indd 1
7:45
W W W. F LY I N G H1/18/11
OUSE.O
R G PM
| 17
Make a Difference As a Teacher
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Graduate Teacher Preparation
Master’s in Education
Endorsements in Special Education and Library Media
www.antiochseattle.edu/ed
2326 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 | 206-268-4202 or 888-268-4477
[email protected]
Celebrate 2011 with Wolfgang Puck Catering!
You provide the venue and we’ll bring Wolfgang’s world-class a la minute
catering to you! Whether in the convenience of your office, the comfort of your
home, or staged in a landmark Seattle venue, our mission at Wolfgang Puck
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1 8 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
Annual (FREE!) Kids’ Concert for families
and “kids” of all ages
B y S ta f f o f F ly i n g H o u s e P r o d u c t i o n s
Flying House Productions (FHP) has long appreciated the impact
our Choruses have on people of every age, especially children. In
addition to sponsoring an active Youth Ticket Program, Seattle
Men’s Chorus (SMC) and Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) come
together each spring to perform a family-friendly Kids’ Concert in
order to extend the reach of the Choruses’ mission to young people.
Now in its twelfth year, the annual Kid’s Concert was originally
conceived to fulfill a two-fold purpose. First, it gives kids a concert
hall experience and an introduction to choral music that is both
fun and entertaining. Second, it provides an opportunity for LGBT
families to share a safe, enjoyable performance experience together.
After the success of the 2010 Kids Concert, FHP’s artistic director,
Dennis Coleman is delighted to welcome the young performers from
Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE program back to the stage again this
year as the Choruses’ special guests. “This is a perfect opportunity
for both of our organizations to contribute to a cross-cultural and
cross-generational experience,” he said. “There is always a great
deal of costuming, dance, and visual interest that goes into the
Kids’ Concert, and we are once again looking forward to working
with KIDSTAGE to put on a wonderful, high-energy, family-friendly
show.”
This year KIDSTAGE will have approximately 30 actors, singers,
and dancers participating in the concert, performing numbers from
13 The Musical, Footloose, and Once on the Island. This year’s crop
of young actors ranges in age from 11-19 years old, and is drawn
from both of the Theatre’s Issaquah and Everett programs.
Since 1988, KIDSTAGE has “used theatre to foster life skills
in children aged 4-20,” said Kati Nickerson, director of youth
education for Village Theatre. In classes and rehearsals, the kids
cultivate their creative talent and learn flexibility and improvisation
in ways that “increase self-confidence and improve their futures”
P hoto : V i l l ag e T h e atr e K i d s tag e
whether or not they are on a path to Broadway.
Nickerson says that KIDSTAGE jumped at the chance to
participate again in this year’s Kids’ Concert. “We provide a safe
space for a diverse array of kids, and importantly we take kids outside of their comfort zone to give them opportunities to stretch, grow,
and mature into young adults,” she said. “All of us at KIDSTAGE are excited to showcase our kids’ talent in an on-stage partnership with
the men and women of the Choruses.”
Thanks to the generosity of lead sponsor Debbie Killinger and other underwriters, concert tickets are FREE. Tickets will be available online
via the flyinghouse.org website starting on Monday, February 21 or by calling the Box Office at (206) 388-1400 Monday through Friday
Noon-7:00pm. Please note that there is a limit of ten tickets per household.
For more information on Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE program please visit www.villagetheatre.org. n
A n n u a l K I D S ' C ON C ERT
MCC A W H A LL
Saturday, April 2, 2:00pm
T i c k e t s A v a i l ab l e s tart i n g F e bruar y 1 9
Online: flyinghouse.org
Phone: 206.388.1400 (M-F Noon-7:00pm)
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 1 9
The Perfect Night
Dinner, Dance & Auction
By E r i c A n d r e w s - K at z
The tension builds as the clock ticks down on the silent battle taking place before you.
Your bid is the latest and highest on the silent auction item’s bid sheet. A bead of sweat
appears on your brow as another bidder approaches; thankfully, they write their bid on the
item next to yours. The final seconds tick away, and the auctioneer announces the close of
bidding! You’ve won, and it feels so good. Sample the taste of sweet victory on Saturday,
May 14, 2011, when Flying House Productions hosts its 15th Annual Dinner, Dance and
Auction, Black Tie & Sequins.
(With last year’s switch to the more intimate surroundings of Fremont Studios, the annual
action) moved away from a Broadway-inspired theme to focus on the fabulousness of the
guests themselves. Colleen Dodson, development manager for Flying House Productions,
notes that the most important elements of the event remain: delectable food, fine wine,
and the chance to support the Choruses in the company of friends old and new.
“We’re taking a cue from this year’s Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) spring show
and giving the event a festive ‘cabaret’ feel,” said Dodson. When the doors open at
5:30pm, with live instrumental music establishing the sophisticated party atmosphere,
the silent auction tables will already be open for bidding. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and
conversation will all be in the mix as guests enjoy mingling and browsing over the auction
items on display. The simple stroke of a pen will be sufficient to make a bid. Other interested
bidders can retaliate with bids of their own, with the excitement escalating right up to the
moment each silent auction segment closes.
As always, there will be treasures of every kind up for auction, all donated by individual
and business supporters of the Choruses. Bottles of wine, fine dining, vacation packages, and
works of art will be offered, as will tickets to performances of every kind. With as many as
300 items up for bid, there will be something of interest for every taste and budget.
Next, the party moves to the main dining area for an elegant sit-down dinner and first-class
entertainment. Performances by talented members of the Men’s and Women’s Choruses, in
groups small and large, will spice up the evening’s schedule, continuing the cabaret/nightclub
theme.
Between courses, conversation, and musical interludes, the main event will unfold: the
gala Live Auction, featuring an exciting parade of one-of-a-kind treasures and experiences.
Two thirds of the way through the Live Auction segment, the real heart of the proceedings
will be introduced: the traditional Fund-A-Need segment, where attendees will raise their
auction paddles to make direct, tax-deductible contributions in support of Chorus programs.
As the Live Auction concludes, seasonal desserts will complete the evening’s food service
on a sweet note. One of Seattle finest DJ’s will be on hand as an elegant affair transforms
into a hot dance party to help you work off those extra calories from dinner.
Black Tie & Sequins will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Fremont Studios (155
N. 35th Street, Seattle). The location is easily accessible from various directions, and valet
parking will reduce party-planning stress. The doors open at 5:30pm. The admission price is
$175 (Patron) and $225 (Benefactor) if purchased before April 15th.
Call the Flying House box office (206) 388-1400 for tickets. For general information about
the Auction, visit flyinghouse.org. For more specific questions, or to donate an auction item,
contact Colleen Dodson at (206) 388-1410 or via email at [email protected]. n
B l a ck T i e & S e q u i n s
1 5 th a n n u a l d i n n e r , d a n c e a n d A u c t i o n
F r e m o n t Stu d i o s
Tickets
Saturday, May 14, 5:30pm
Online: flyinghouse.org
Phone: 206.388.1400 (M-F Noon-7:00pm)
B y S ta f f o f F ly i n g H o u s e P r o d u c t i o n s
On December 20th, the Choruses were pleased to bring a little “Holiday Glee” to five lucky
audience members, as we announced the winners of this year’s holiday raffle on closing night
of the Men’s Chorus holiday show. Besides being a lot of fun, the annual raffle is a vital part
of Flying House Production’s overall fundraising program, providing over $60,000 annually
in support of our many programs.
We would like to publicly thank all the sponsors who helped make this year’s Holiday
Raffle possible by providing all the exciting prizes, the dozens of Men's and Women's
Chorus members who were in the lobby at every show diligently selling those tickets, and
the thousands of audience members who chose to be part of the fun and bought a raffle
ticket (or two or ten).
Here are this year’s winners, listed with their prizes, and the generous sponsors who made
it all possible.
• Grand Prize – 2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5i provided at cost by Carter Subaru: Liz Campeau.
• First Prize – 7-day cruise for two on Holland America Lines: Anne Greenia
• Second Prize – two first-class airline tickets on Alaska Airlines: Steve Henderson
• Third Prize – seven-day stay in a luxurious condo in Puerto Vallarta for four guests courtesy
of Wes Green: Genevieve Carr
• Fourth Prize – Flying House Productions Chorus Fanatic Package: Cyndy Ottaway
And remember: if you did not win this year, don’t worry…there is always 2011! n
ENLIGHTEN
ENLIGHTEN
And The Winners Are…
T h e P e rf e c t N i ght:
D i n n e r , Da n c e & Au c t i o n
20
A n d T h e W i n n e r s A r e...
21
Spo n s or s h i p:
Ma k i n g Dr e a m s Co m e T ru e
23
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 2 1
wi e
The swankiest party of the year!
ALL NET PROCEEDS GO TO:
::
::
::
::
::
BOKA Kitchen + Bar heavy appetizers
Specialty Ciroc cocktail at arrival + 2 drink tickets
Swag bags, red carpet photo ops
Prizes for best celebrity look-alikes & best outfits
Live entertainment & telecast of the event
Order tickets at hotel1000seattle.com
SPONSORSHIP:
Sponsorship:
MAKING
Making DREAMS
Dreams COME
Come TRUE
True
BY
y ER
r Ii C
c AN
nD
dR
rE
eW
wS
s-KA
aT
tZ
z
Have you ever wanted to be a
Fairy Godmother or Godfather
and make someone’s dream
come true? How about helping
to make over 700 “someone’s”
dreams a reality? You’ve got
your chance this year as Seattle
Men’s Chorus and Seattle
Women’s Chorus unwrap their
new Sponsorship Program,
through which individuals and
businesses directly underwrite
specific concerts and projects, turning ideas into reality for FHP
singers and their audiences.
Sponsorship is a timehonored way for artists of
every kind to find the support
they need to pursue their artistic
dreams. With FHP’s program,
sponsors will not only help
to cover the costs of concerts,
but also make it possible for
the Choruses to bring the gift
of music to every corner of the
Seattle area and beyond. For
those who would like to “see
their name in lights” as concert
sponsors, there are opportunities to underwrite every one of this
year’s shows, not only for the two larger choruses, but for FHP’s
small ensembles (Captain Smartypants and Sensible Shoes) as well.
Individual donations and sponsorships provide the majority of
the funding for the Choruses to reach out to the community with
a variety of outreach projects, including FHP’s well-known Youth
Ticket Program. Now serving over 1000 students a year, the Youth
Ticket Program supplies tickets to students who self-identify as
LGBTQ—many from high school Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)
programs—allowing them to attend Chorus concerts for free
along with friends and family. This experience provides not only
an exposure to culture and an exciting social outing, but a sense of
pride, and a safe communal atmosphere for young people who are
just starting their lives as LGBT persons, or who are otherwise in
the process of coming to terms with their sexuality.
Another beloved outreach
program is the Choruses’
annual Kids’ Concert, featuring
both the Men’s and Women’s
Choruses, in a family-friendly
performance suitable for musiclovers of all ages.
Local businesses and
corporations also play
an important role in the
sponsorship program. Besides
underwriting concerts and
other performance events, area businesses are particularly invited
to get involved by sponsoring a table at FHP’s annual Auction.
Employees, clients, and other guests enjoy a great night out for a
fun cause, and each business sponsor earns valuable exposure as a
supporter of the Choruses, something that is absolutely noticed by
FHP’s large community of singers and fans.
“Sponsorship is a wonderful
opportunity to support a show
or event that perhaps moves or
touches you in some way,” says
Colleen Dodson, development
manager, who joined the ranks
of FHP’s management team in
September, but has worked in
the development/fundraising
field in Seattle for over ten
years.
“The key this year for
our sponsors is flexibility
and customization,” Dodson continues. “Whatever a sponsor is
looking for—concert tickets, admission to private events, exposure
to potential customers, great publicity, or the benefits of tax
deduction—we stand ready to accommodate them.”
(Continued on Page 25)
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 2 3
seattle repertory theatre
presents
Promote
print design
“The greatest piece of writing by an American
playwright under 30 in a generation or more.”
—Chicago Tribune
publications project management
communications documents
Provoke
SeaSon
SponSor
fund-raising + development materials
producing
partnerS
Media
SponSor
UNDer 25?
tICKets oNly $12
WWW.seattlerep.orG
206-443-2222
identity + stationery systems
advertising + marketing collateral
Persuade
Inventive design in support
of your message
seattle repertory theatre
presents
OF MICE
AND MEN
BY JOHN STEINBECK’S
DIRECTED BY JERRY MANNING
MARCH 18 TO
APRIL 10, 2011
“...the enduring power of John Steinbeck’s
dramatization of his 1937 novel... grabs its
audience by the heart and never lets go.”
–The New York Times
STONEWOrK
DESIGN STUDIO
206.932.3437
2 4 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
SeaSon
SponSor
titLe
SponSor
producing
partnerS
Media
SponSor
WWW.seattlerep.orG
UNDer 25?
tICKets oNly $12 206-443-2222
Specific benefits vary depending on the different levels of
sponsorship, but might include:
• Advertising in Flying House Magazine (40,000
•
households per issue) or concert programs (over
40,000 distributed each season)
• Public recognition of your name or business name at
•
particular shows or events
•
• Your name or business logo included on marketing
and PR materials for that particular event, including
eBlasts seen by thousands each month
• Online recognition at flyinghouse.org, viewed by over
•
12,000 unique monthly visitors
• A chance to further the Choruses’ vital mission of
•
using words and music to promote a world that
accepts and values its LGBT citizens, and honors
diversity of all kinds
• A handy tax deduction
•
Sponsorships are available for as little as $1,000, with the specific
cost depending on the expense of the show or project.
Your leadership as a sponsor will allow Seattle Men’s Chorus
and Seattle Women’s Chorus to continue to spread the incredibly
energetic and positive messages they bring to our community. Why
not make this the year to stride to the head of the pack and inspire
others to follow your lead in supporting a true community treasure?
For more information on how to be a sponsor, please contact
Colleen Dodson at [email protected] or (206) 388-1410,
or visit the website at flyinghouse.org. n
MAKE a
A Donation—Make
DONATION—MAKE Dreams
DREAMS Come
COME True
TRUE
Make

Yes! I want to help Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus continue to make their voices heard.
Re
E ct
CTo
Or
Rs
S C iI r
Rc
Cl
Le
E Le
Ev
Ve
El
L G iI v
V iI n
Ng
G
D iI r
 Director $500
 Conductor $1,000
 Maestro $2,500
 Patron $250
 Sponsor $100
 Donor $50
 I pledge a contribution of $ _____________________
To be paid on the following schedule:
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Reaching Out
and Coming Together
People come together for many reasons: in times of danger…for survival; when there’s
sadness or loss…for support; in the wake of significant events…to commemorate; and during
moments of joy…to celebrate.
Seattle Men’s Chorus’ (SMC) spring production, Falling In Love Again, so successfully
captures all of the elements listed above—danger, sadness, commemoration, and joy—that
it is only natural that the Chorus should come together with other Seattle-based community
organizations to present this important project.
Falling In Love Again musically contrasts the personal and social freedoms of pre-Nazi
Germany with the oppression and loss felt by so many individuals and communities under
Hitler’s authoritarian rule. (See article on page 11)
To help us tell this story off-stage as well as on, Seattle Men’s Chorus has partnered with the
Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center—and the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.—to bring a powerful exhibit to Seattle in conjunction
with its April performance. The exhibit photographically explores why homosexual behavior
was identified as a threat to Nazi society and how Hitler’s regime attempted to eliminate
it. Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 German men were arrested on charges
of homosexuality. Most spent time in prison, and all too many were sent to concentration
camps where they perished. Their stories and others are a part of this compelling exhibit—an
important reminder of why we must never forget and must never grow complacent.
The exhibit will be on display in McCaw Hall the weekend of the SMC performances.
Docent tours of the exhibit by the Holocaust Education Resource Center and special
education sessions for teachers, community leaders and other interested Seattleites will be
available. For more information, contact Dee Simon at the Holocaust Education Resource
Center at (206) 774-2201.
Complementing the exhibit will be a series of pre-concert lectures/discussions with Mina
Miller of Music of Remembrance (a Seattle-based chamber music organization which works
to preserve the musical legacy of Holocaust musicians), the Holocaust Resource Center, and
Seattle Opera. For a full listing of pre-show events and outreach activities, please visit our
website at flyinghouse.org, after March 1, 2011.
Other outreach efforts for Falling In Love Again include collaborative partnerships with
the Jewish Federation of Seattle, the Seattle Jewish Chorale, University of Washington Hillel,
and synagogues throughout the Puget Sound area. In fact, SMC was recently awarded a
grant from the Jewish Federation’s Special Initiatives Fund—a competitive program which
encourages new and innovative programming. The grants committee was impressed with the
Chorus’ effort to connect with the Jewish community and, in particular, to promote tolerance
and respect through outreach to youth and student groups.
All of these efforts are part of Flying House Productions’ ongoing commitment to
community outreach. The arts community in Seattle is one of the most robust and vital
in the country. But—more than ever before—arts organizations of all genres are facing
similar challenges: how to “tell their story” to audiences in new and more powerful ways.
By coming together with other organizations, Flying House Productions hopes to build a
network of mutual support that will have a profound impact on the Seattle arts scene and
the communities we serve.
We invite you to “come together” with us to hear and be inspired by the countless stories
being told on- and off-stage during the upcoming Seattle Men’s Chorus performance,
Falling In Love Again. Be a part of the ongoing story, and this opportunity to experience, to
understand, and to celebrate. n
UNITY
UNITY
By Mark Schmitt
R e ac h i n g O ut a n d
Co m i n g Tog e th e r !
27
A rt s A rou n d
for E v e ryo n e
29
Ma k i n g a D i ff e r e n c e
o n e Co n c e rt at a T i m e
31
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 2 7
MURDER ON THE
HIGH SEAS!
Join Argosy Cruises for an evening of “who-doneit” intrigue during a Murder Mystery Cruise. Your
evening includes a Puget Sound cruise, seatedserved, northwest-inspired buffet, coffee, tea &
soda, and a great evening of murder and mayhem!
Murder Mystery Cruises occur twice monthly.
For Reservations and Information:
(206) 623-1445
argosycruises.com
2 8 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
Arts Around for Everyone
By Michelle Sanders
For many arts organizations
in the Puget Sound, it has long
been a goal to see an increase
in arts-related media coverage
on local television newscasts.
Seattle’s arts community is one
of the most prolific in the United
States, offering communities in
and outside of Seattle-proper
with a wide variety of art forms to
experience. From the performing
arts—plays, musicals, and dance—
to visual arts, this beautiful city
has become nationally known for
more than Microsoft and Nirvana;
it has also become a flourishing, almost untapped, destination arts scene.
In July 2010, the Market The Arts Task Force—a group comprised of marketing
professionals from various arts organizations in the area—teamed up with Q13 Fox (KCPQ)
to create a bi-weekly television segment called Arts Around, covering all areas of the arts in
greater Seattle. Hosted by Kaci Aitchison, one of Seattle’s favorite morning news faces, Arts
Around, like Seattle, embraces diverse cultures and creative ideas in an effort to share with
viewers the endless opportunities there are to experience art, heritage, and culture happening
around the Sound. From Everett to Tacoma and West Seattle to Issaquah, not to mention
Seattle proper, dozens of local organizations are being featured on Arts Around every other
week, including Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus.
“The great thing about these segments is being able to give the arts around our community
an uninterrupted spotlight,” host Kaci Aitchison commented. “We do more than simply throw
a name or two out there, we get to literally immerse ourselves in the art form for each segment
and discover, along with our viewers, just what makes it so unique and such a positive part of
our community. I love that even as a Northwest native, I’m still finding so many wonderful
things in the art scene here to either explore for the first time, or experience in a new way.”
So, what do viewers get to see exactly? Arts Around’s creators build segments that offer
viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes action, interviews with cast and artistic team members,
information on upcoming exhibits, and sometimes exciting visits with characters from a show
in town. Ever wonder how to apply stage make-up, how far in advance a museum exhibition
is planned, or how a set gets built? What about discount offers and the latest arts festival
happenings? Where do you typically get your broad range information on these topics? Arts
Around offers viewers all of this information as well as the exclusive opportunity to come
inside the artistic process in an exciting new way.
Of course, Arts Around would not be possible without the support of its wonderful
sponsors, 4Culture, Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Q13 Fox. Their dedication
and commitment to keeping the arts a vibrant part of our lives and community is greatly
valued and appreciated. n
Catch Arts Around with Kaci Aitchison on Q13 Fox on Thursday mornings at 9:45am.
To view past Arts Around segments or to share what you’ve seen on TV with friends, visit:
www.q13fox.com/news/artsaround
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 2 9
3 0 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE CONCERT AT A TIME
By Wendy Wartes
When Flying House Productions asked PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays) to set up and staff an information table at Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s
Chorus concerts, we were so honored! PFLAG's mission is to offer support, education, and
advocacy for LGBT people, their families and friends. Being at the concerts is a chance to
do all three on behalf of all 20 of our Washington chapters, as concert attendees come from
throughout the State.
Over the course of more than a year of “tabling” at SMC and SWC concerts, we’ve learned
that chorus audiences are very grateful for our presence. Interestingly, we give away fewer
informational materials here than we do at other public venues, like street fairs, presumably
because chorus audiences are more educated on LGBT issues than the general population. Still,
while many concertgoers simply stop by to thank us for what we do out in the community,
others see us and realize that this is an easy way to pick up a brochure for a friend or family
member.
At one recent concert, two sisters stopped by to pick up materials to help their siblings whose
children had recently come out; a school counselor wanted to learn more about PFLAG's
Speakers Bureau; and several teens took brochures to give to their moms and dads. One night
we gave away five Straight Spouse brochures. New PFLAG booklets for educators and health care providers are also popular.
People also stop by to say hello. We had at least three sets of PFLAG parents from home cities in Hawaii, Illinois, and California stop to say
“hi” to fellow PFLAG members. One straight childless couple was so excited about our mission that the volunteer at the table asked if they might
be interested in fostering or adopting a gay teen. They were, so they went away with information about another great organization, Families Like
Ours, that facilitates such arrangements.
There are many conversations around the PFLAG table with proud parents whose sons or daughters are on the risers as singers. PFLAG always
encourages parents to be openly proud of their children and this fall we gave away hundreds of pins with a variety of captions such as: I Love my
Gay Son; I Love my Gay Daughter; My Church
is Gay Friendly; and I Support Gay Equality, all
made by PFLAG member Jeaneane Hill. We hope
these pins will be seen around town and start
conversations. Proud PFLAG parents frequently
inspire other parents to become advocates for
their children.
Members of Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle
Women's Chorus also serve as important role
models for our PFLAG youth members and their
families. We often encourage parents to take
their newly-out sons or daughters to a concert.
We encourage LGBT people who stop by our
table to bring their parents to a PFLAG meeting
or attend a meeting themselves as role models to
offer support to other parents.
We’re proud to partner with and support the
Choruses in a mission we both share: building a
world that accepts and values its LGBT citizens. A musical satire
about shady
underworld dealings
Book and Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
Music by Kurt Weill
English Adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
Directed by Stephanie Shine
Limited Engagement. Only 14 Performances.
Feb 17–Mar 6, 2011
Performed at Intiman Theatre at Seattle Center
Ticket Office: 206-733-8222
www.seattleshakespeare.org
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 3 1
2009-2010 Audit
During the 2009-2010 fiscal year (October 1,
2009-September 30, 2010), Flying House Productions
(FHP) continued to weather the travails of the on-going
recession from a position of strength, balancing robust
artistic and box office performance with some continuing
challenges in fundraising.
At fiscal year end, FHP emerged with a $77,289
surplus, marking continuing improvement in our financial
performance. Just as importantly, we continue to maintain a
healthy cash reserve balance, pointing to an overall state of
financial stability.
In the income column, our audited financials once again
include an impressive $585,000 in "in-kind" contributions on
the part of FHP's singers. On the expense side, program costs
represent a full 75% of spending activity, demonstrating that
fulfillment of our mission always comes first.
With the conclusion of another successful season, we are
grateful as always for the hard work and dedication of our
singers, volunteers, staff and Board, and particularly for the
steadfast support of our donors. Even in challenging times,
the Choruses continue to inspire their audiences and members
with a strong, positive vision of a world that accepts and
values its gay and lesbian citizens.
For more details on the 2009-2010 season, you may
download our most recent “Year in Review” publication at
http://flyinghouse.org/yearend.pdf n
Discover AlAskA,
Discover Yourself
Alaskan Explorer | ms Westerdam
July 23-30, 2011 | roundtrip seattle
Join
Robert V Taylor, acclaimed speaker, nationally
recognized leader and author, on an inspiring
cruise to the Last Great Frontier. Cruise roundtrip from
Seattle to Southeast Alaska’s forested isles and
spectacular, icy-blue glaciers. Along
the way, enjoy exclusive access to daily
Morning Meditation and three Waking
Up for Life! workshops.
From $1,199 pp + $25 pp SBC
For information and reservations contact Shannon Nelson
206 285-5600 | [email protected]
www.cruisespecialists.com or www.robertvtaylor.com
Fares are per person, based on double occupancy in US Dollars, include non-discountable amounts and participation in Waking
Up for Life! workshops. Taxes are additional. Cruise Specialists amenities and speaker based on a minimum participation. Holland
America Line reserves the right to reinstate the fuel supplement for all guests up to $9 per person per day should the price of
light sweet crude oil increase above $70 per barrel according to the NYMEX. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands. UBI #601123743
TAG Holdco LLC, dba Cruise Specialists CST 2096145-50 AD181 BS 8/10
3 2 | F LY ING HOUSE MAGAZINE | winter /Spring 2011
Stuart Rosenthal
Executive Director
O p e rat i n g R e v e n u e s
Sour c e s :
Ticket Sales and Concessions
1,076,987
Advertising & Publishing
135,058
Contributions and Grants
686,808
Fundraising Events
153,243
In-Kind Support*
613,268
Release of Designated Contributions Received in Previous Periods
129,716
Total Operating Revenue
2,795,080
O p e rat i n g E x p e n s e s
Program (Performances and Other Mission-Related)
2,045,929
Administration
286,691
Fundraising
385,171
Total Operating Expenses
2,717,791
Change in Unrestricted Net Assets
77,289
Net Asset Balances
Unrestricted
501,772
Temporarily Restricted
295,931
Permanently Restricted
229,251
Total Net Assets
1,026,954
Ticket Sales & Concessions
5%
Adversing & Publishing
22%
39%
Clef
Notes
Clef Notes
2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 F i n a n c i a l H i gh l i ght s
Contribuons & Grants
Fundraising Events
5%
In-kind Support
25%
5%
Release of Designated
Contribuons Received in
Previous Periods
14%
Program (Performances &
Other Mission-Related)
11%
Administraon
Fundraising
75%
2009 - 2010 Au d i t 32
Choru s N i ght O ut E v e n t s
35
Ca l e n d ar &
G e n e ra l I n for m at i o n
35
*Note: Includes $585,000 in “in-kind” contributions on the part of FHP’s singers.
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 3 3
© 2008 BILLY BROADWAY, LLC
ON SALE NOW!
MARCH 22 - APRIL 3, 2011
THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE
STGPRESENTS.ORG • 877-STG-4TIX
Groups of 10 or more, call 888.214.6856
®
For more information, visit BillyElliotTour.com
Contains some adult language. Parental discretion advised.
All single tickets now sold through Tickets.com. Additional fees may apply.
All sales final, no exchanges or refunds. Prices, shows, dates, schedules and artists are subject to change.
General Information
Calendar
Recordings
SWC
Swing Into Laughter
To purchase our CDs please call 206.388.1400 or visit flyinghouse.org.
The Washington Center
for the Performing Arts
Chorus Auditions
Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus conduct auditions twice a year. Auditions
are by appointment only. To request an audition, visit flyinghouse.org.
Group Sales
Groups of 10 or more qualify for special discounts and advance purchase privileges.
Group tickets can be purchased at anytime, unlike single tickets they are not restricted by
on-sale dates. 10-49 receive a 10% discount, 50 or more receive a 20% discount.For more
information on group rates contact the box office at 206.388.1400 Monday-Friday, Noon to
7pm or [email protected].
S tay C on n e c t ed
SWC
Swing Into Laughter
The Paramount Theatre
SWC
Swing Into Laughter
The Paramount Theatre
smc
Life is a Cabaret
Edmonds Center for the Arts
smc
Falling in Love Again
Follow us on:
McCaw Hall
smc
Chorus Night OUT events
s u pp o r t t h e c h o r u s e s & e n j o y a s h o w a t t h e p a r a m o u n t t h e a t r e
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
Falling in Love Again
McCaw Hall
FHP annual auction
Black Tie & Sequins
with music by Elton John
Thursday, March 24, 2011, 7:30pm
Thrilling audiences worldwide and winning ten 2009 Tony Awards® including Best
Musical, BILLY ELLIOT is a joyous celebration of one young boy’s triumph against the
odds. Called “The most inspiring show I’ve seen in years”by Ben Brantley of The New York
Times, the story follows Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring, into a ballet
class and discovers his dream to dance.
MARY POPPINS
Fremont Studios
smc
Heartthrobs
McCaw Hall
smc
Heartthrobs
McCaw Hall
SUN.
2/20/11
7:30pm
FRI.
2/25/11
8pm
SAT.
2/26/11
2pm
SAT.
3/26/11
7:30pm
SAT.
4/2/11
8pm
SUN.
4/3/11
2pm
Sat.
5/14/11
5:30pm
Fri.
6/24/11
8pm
Sat.
6/25/11
8pm
Sunday, May 15, 2011, 6:30pm
One of the most popular Disney films of all time is now one of Broadway’s biggest hits—
MARY POPPINS, the high-flying musical sensation! This Tony® Award-winning show has
astonished over 5 million people with its own brand of pure Broadway magic. From the
irresistible story to the unforgettable songs, from the breathtaking dance numbers to the
jaw dropping stagecraft, MARY POPPINS overflows with everything you could ever want
in a Broadway show.
Buy tickets now, ordering is easy by following the instructions below. A portion of each
ticket sold (minimum of $10 per ticket) will benefit the work of Seattle Men’s Chorus and
Seattle Women’s Chorus (donation included in total per ticket price). Offer is good only while
tickets are still available – so order your tickets today.
T o or d e r y our t i c k e t s :
• Visit the website:
flyinghouse.org/theparamount
• Click on Find Tickets
• Enter the exclusive
password: flyingtix
• Log in or create an account
• Follow the instructions on the
order page
**For customer service inquiries please
call 1-888-214-6856 or email
[email protected].
Be sure to use the password: flyingtix
W W W. F LY I N G H O U S E . O R G | 3 5
A fr ica
A l ask a
Asia & Pacific
Austr a lia
New Zea l a nd
Ca nada
New Engl a nd
Car ibbea n
Ber muda
Europe
H awaii
M ex ico
Pa na m a Ca na l
South A mer ica
Wor ld Voyage
Evocative
We invite you to rediscover. To reconnect in a way only a day at sea
will allow. To dance, to dine, to raise a glass to the horizon. We invite
you to consider our ship an elegant backdrop, and make it your own.
We invite you, and we are at your service. To learn more, call your
Travel Professional or 1-877-SAIL HAL, or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands