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{{Short description|American theatre company, founded 1972}} |
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| theatre_festival_name = Intiman Theatre Festival |
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| name = Intiman Theatre |
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| location = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] |
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| founded = 1972 |
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| founders = Margaret "Megs" Booker |
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| website = {{URL|http://www.intiman.org}} |
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| formed = {{Start date|1972}} |
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| disbanded = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |
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| genre = |
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| location = [[Seattle]] |
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| members = |
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| notable = |
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| homepage = {{Official URL}} |
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'''Intiman Theatre''' is a resident theater company in [[Seattle, Washington]], founded in 1972 by Margaret "Megs" Booker, who named it after [[Strindberg's Intimate Theater]] in Stockholm.<ref name="Intiman History">{{Cite web |title=Our History |website=intiman.org |date=16 August 2023 |url=https://www.intiman.org/about/our-history/ |access-date=2024-05-20}}</ref> Through its history, the professional theatre company has been based at various venues in Seattle; since 2021, it has been located as theatre-in-residence at [[Seattle Central College]], performing in two venues on that campus. |
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==Organization== |
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⚫ | In April 2011, Intiman Theatre recognized the need to pause, reflect and relaunch with a financially sustainable and artistically vibrant new model. After listening to input from artists, audiences, funders and the community, Intiman launched its first summer [[theatre festival]] in July and August 2012 under the leadership of Artistic Director Andrew Russell and Managing Director Keri Kellerman. The festival, curated from the impulses of an [[artist collective]], featured four plays and a repertory company of 17 actors who stretched through over 40 roles.<ref name="Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival Opens With Ibsen, Shakespeare and Savage">Laura Dannen, [http://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-entertainment/articles/intiman-theatres-summer-festival-opens-with-ibsen-shakespeare-and-savage-july-2012 Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival Opens With Ibsen, Shakespeare and Savage], Seattle Met, June 20, 2012. Accessed online 2013-3-20.</ref> The Intiman Theatre Playhouse was renamed the Cornish Playhouse in 2013 and is now managed by the [[Cornish College of the Arts]].<ref>[http://blogs.seattletimes.com/artspage/2013/05/06/new-name-same-theater-at-seattle-center/ New name, same theater at Seattle Center]</ref> |
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⚫ | With a self-declared focus on "a resident acting ensemble, fidelity to the playwright's intentions and a close relationship between actor and audience", the Intiman soon called itself as "Seattle's classic theater".<ref name="Intiman History" /> Its debut season in 1972 included ''[[Rosmersholm]]'', ''[[The Creditors]]'', ''[[The Underpants]]'', and ''Brecht on Brecht''.<ref name="Intiman History" /><ref name="Backer premiere">Paula Becker, [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7838 Intiman Theatre launches its debut season in Kirkland on December 13, 1972], HistoryLink, September 10, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-07.</ref> The theater has been host to [[Tony Award|Tony]]-nominated Director [[Bartlett Sher]] (who served as both a director and artistic director), Tony-nominated actress [[Celia Keenan-Bolger]], and film actor [[Tom Skerritt]]. It was also home to the world premieres of the Tony-winning [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[musical theatre|musical]] ''[[The Light in the Piazza (musical)|The Light in the Piazza]]'',<ref name="The Light in the Piazza">Ernio Hernandez, [https://archive.today/20130411153240/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/79812-The-Light-in-the-Piazza-Shines-as-World-Premiere-Lucas-Guettel-Musical-Starts-in-Seattle-May-31 The Light in the Piazza Shines as World Premiere Lucas-Guettel Musical Starts in Seattle, May 31], Playbill, May 31, 2003. Accessed online 2013-3-20</ref> [[Craig Lucas]]'s ''Singing Forest''<ref name="Singing Forest">Ernio Hernandez [https://archive.today/20130411153111/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87620-Craig-Lucas-Singing-Forest-World-Premiere-Opens-at-Seattles-Intiman-July-30 Craig Lucas' Singing Forest World Premiere Opens at Seattle's Intiman, July 30], Playbill, July 30, 2004. Accessed online 2013-3-20</ref> and [[Dan Savage]]'s "Miracle!".<ref name="Miracle">Adam Hetrick [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/167320-Streamlined-Intiman-Theatres-Summer-Festival-to-Premiere-Dan-Savages-Miracle Streamlined Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival to Premiere Dan Savage's Miracle!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110040501/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/167320-Streamlined-Intiman-Theatres-Summer-Festival-to-Premiere-Dan-Savages-Miracle |date=2012-11-10 }}, Playbill, June 21, 2012. Access online 2013-3-20</ref> Lucas also served as the Associate Artistic Director. Intiman won the 2006 [[Regional Theatre Tony Award]].<ref name="Tony">Joe Adcock, [http://www.seattlepi.com/theater/270505_intiman17.html Intiman Wins Tony as best regional theatre], Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 17, 2006. Accessed online 2008-06-02</ref> |
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⚫ | In April 2011, Intiman Theatre recognized the need to pause, reflect and relaunch with a financially sustainable and artistically vibrant new model. After listening to input from artists, audiences, funders and the community, Intiman launched its first summer [[theatre festival]] in July and August 2012 under the leadership of Artistic Director Andrew Russell and Managing Director Keri Kellerman. The festival, curated from the impulses of an [[artist collective]], featured four plays and a repertory company of 17 actors who stretched through over 40 roles.<ref name="Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival Opens With Ibsen, Shakespeare and Savage">Laura Dannen, [http://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-entertainment/articles/intiman-theatres-summer-festival-opens-with-ibsen-shakespeare-and-savage-july-2012 Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival Opens With Ibsen, Shakespeare and Savage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308154012/http://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-entertainment/articles/intiman-theatres-summer-festival-opens-with-ibsen-shakespeare-and-savage-july-2012/ |date=2013-03-08 }}, Seattle Met, June 20, 2012. Accessed online 2013-3-20.</ref> The Intiman Theatre Playhouse was renamed the Cornish Playhouse in 2013 and is now managed by the [[Cornish College of the Arts]].<ref>[http://blogs.seattletimes.com/artspage/2013/05/06/new-name-same-theater-at-seattle-center/ New name, same theater at Seattle Center]{{Dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The 2013 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Trouble in Mind" by [[Alice Childress]]; (2) "[[We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!]]" by [[Dario Fo]]; "(3) [[Lysistrata]]" by [[Aristophanes]]; and (4) "STU For Silverton", a new musical about [[Stu Rasmussen]], American's first known [[transgender]] mayor. |
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In 2017, Phillip Chavira became Intiman's first Executive Director, and first person of color to lead this organization. At the end of 2017, Andrew Russell completed his tenure as Producing Artistic Director and Jennifer Zeyl became Intiman's seventh Artistic Director. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Seattle - Intiman courtyard.jpg|thumb|Courtyard of the Intiman Playhouse. Photographed 2009.]] |
[[File:Seattle - Intiman courtyard.jpg|thumb|Courtyard of the Intiman Playhouse. Photographed 2009.]] |
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Intiman's original location was a 65-seat theater in [[Kirkland, Washington]].<ref name="Intiman History" /><ref name="Backer premiere" /> Under the leadership of artistic directors Megs and John Booker, the Intiman officially incorporated as a non-profit theatre in 1973. |
Intiman's original location was a 65-seat theater in [[Kirkland, Washington]].<ref name="Intiman History" /><ref name="Backer premiere" /> Under the leadership of artistic directors Megs and John Booker, the Intiman officially incorporated as a non-profit theatre in 1973.<ref name="Intiman History" /> Over the next few years, the company mounted productions at [[Cornish College]]<ref name="Backer premiere" /> and [[Gary Austin]]'s{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} Second Stage Theatre in Seattle,<ref name="Backer premiere" /> growing in attendance and budget each season. By 1978, Intiman called itself "Seattle's Classic Theatre"<ref name="Intiman History" /> and featured a resident company of fourteen actors,{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} including Megan Cole, Clayton Corzatte, Ted D'Arms, John Gilbert, Patricia Healy, Richard Riele, Peter Silbert, Meg Hilton, Barry Mulholland, and Jean Smart.<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
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In 1977, Intiman opened year-round administrative offices in [[Pioneer Square, Seattle |
In 1977, Intiman opened year-round administrative offices in [[Pioneer Square, Seattle|Pioneer Square]] and hired Simon Siegl as its first general manager.<ref name="Intiman History" /> With a season of five{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} classic plays, Intiman also began a parallel program "New Plays Onstage", staged readings of contemporary works directed and performed by members of the ensemble.<ref name="Intiman History" /> Over the next several years, Intiman was awarded institutional status by the [[King County, Washington|King County]] and Washington State Arts Commissions and received an [[National Endowment for the Arts|NEA]] challenge grant.<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
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After a three-year planning process Intiman participated in the 1982 |
After a three-year planning process Intiman participated in the 1982 Scandinavia Today, an international exposition of [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] culture, which took place in five American cities. Intiman presented staged readings of five contemporary works and two great classics on its main stage: ''[[The Wild Duck]]'' and ''[[A Dream Play]]'', in collaboration with top [[Scandinavia]]n directors, designers and playwrights.<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
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Meanwhile, Second Stage, Intiman's venue for nine theatrical seasons, faced demolition to make way for the [[Washington State Convention Center]]. For several years, Intiman, unlike any other professional resident theatre in the area, operated without a permanent home. Under the continued leadership of Booker and Siegl, Intiman rented various performance venues around the city on a short term, basis, including Broadway Performance Hall on the campus of [[Seattle Central Community College]].<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
Meanwhile, Second Stage, Intiman's venue for nine theatrical seasons, faced demolition to make way for the [[Washington State Convention Center]]. For several years, Intiman, unlike any other professional resident theatre in the area, operated without a permanent home. Under the continued leadership of Booker and Siegl, Intiman rented various performance venues around the city on a short term, basis, including Broadway Performance Hall on the campus of [[Seattle Central Community College]].<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
||
This picture changed radically after 1985, when Peter Davis came aboard as Intiman's first managing director. Davis—a former scenic designer who had worked for both Intiman and [[Seattle Repertory Theatre]]—completely restructured Intiman's finances and administration. He successfully negotiated the plan for Intiman to operate and manage a theatre facility on the grounds of [[Seattle Center]].<ref name="Intiman History" /> That facility, the Seattle Center Playhouse (later Intiman Playhouse and later Cornish Playhouse) had been built for the [[Century 21 Exposition]] (the 1962 Seattle [[World's Fair]]), and had then served as the original home of the Seattle Repertory Theatre. In 1982, the Rep had moved to a new facility elsewhere on the Seattle Center grounds.<ref name=Becker-Intiman>Paula Becker, [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7841 Intiman Theatre inaugurates its new home, the Playhouse Theatre, at the Seattle Center, on June 10, 1987], HistoryLink, September 21, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-06.</ref> Intiman received a 22-year lease from the City. After a |
This picture changed radically after 1985, when Peter Davis came aboard as Intiman's first managing director. Davis—a former scenic designer who had worked for both Intiman and [[Seattle Repertory Theatre]]—completely restructured Intiman's finances and administration. He successfully negotiated the plan for Intiman to operate and manage a theatre facility on the grounds of [[Seattle Center]].<ref name="Intiman History" /> That facility, the Seattle Center Playhouse (later Intiman Playhouse and later Cornish Playhouse) had been built for the [[Century 21 Exposition]] (the 1962 Seattle [[World's Fair]]), and had then served as the original home of the Seattle Repertory Theatre. In 1982, the Rep had moved to a new facility elsewhere on the Seattle Center grounds.<ref name=Becker-Intiman>Paula Becker, [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7841 Intiman Theatre inaugurates its new home, the Playhouse Theatre, at the Seattle Center, on June 10, 1987], HistoryLink, September 21, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-06.</ref> Intiman received a 22-year lease from the City. After a US$1.2 million renovation, in 1987, for the first time in its history, Intiman had a single facility with performance, rehearsal, production, shop and administrative areas.<ref name="Intiman History" /> As it moved into its new facility, Intiman hired a new artistic director, Elizabeth Huddle, who served for the next six years, succeeded in 1993 by [[Warner Shook]].<ref name="Intiman History" /> |
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In 1994, Intiman became the first regional theatre company in the country to be awarded the rights to produce [[Tony Kushner]]'s [[Tony Award|Tony]]- and [[Pulitzer Prize|Pulitzer]]-winning two-part epic ''[[Angels in America]]''. ''Part One: Millennium Approaches'' closed Intiman's 1994 season, and ''Part Two: Perestroika'' opened the 1995 season. Directed by Shook, the complete ''Angels in America'' was the most commercially successful production ever to be produced at the theatre, reaching more than 63,000 attendees over its two-year run.<ref name="Intiman History" /> Over the next decade, Intiman produced plays by such provocative and influential American writers as [[Edward Albee]], [[Moisés Kaufman]], [[Ellen McLaughlin]], [[Terrence McNally]], [[David Rabe]], [[Anna Deavere Smith]], [[Paula Vogel]], and [[Chay Yew]].{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} |
In 1994, Intiman became the first regional theatre company in the country to be awarded the rights to produce [[Tony Kushner]]'s [[Tony Award|Tony]]- and [[Pulitzer Prize|Pulitzer]]-winning two-part epic ''[[Angels in America]]''. ''Part One: Millennium Approaches'' closed Intiman's 1994 season, and ''Part Two: Perestroika'' opened the 1995 season. Directed by Shook, the complete ''Angels in America'' was the most commercially successful production ever to be produced at the theatre, reaching more than 63,000 attendees over its two-year run.<ref name="Intiman History" /> Over the next decade, Intiman produced plays by such provocative and influential American writers as [[Edward Albee]], [[Moisés Kaufman]], [[Ellen McLaughlin]], [[Terrence McNally]], [[David Rabe]], [[Anna Deavere Smith]], [[Paula Vogel]], and [[Chay Yew]].{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} |
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==Recent history== |
==Recent history== |
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* In 2008 Intiman completed a project entitled |
* In 2008 Intiman completed a project entitled ''The American Cycle'', a series of five plays written by prominent Americans— four of which were not originally written as plays. They were: |
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# [[Thornton Wilder]]'s ''[[Our Town]]'' (2004) |
# [[Thornton Wilder]]'s ''[[Our Town]]'' (2004) |
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# adapted [[John Steinbeck]] novel ''[[The Grapes of Wrath]]'' (2005) |
# adapted [[John Steinbeck]] novel ''[[The Grapes of Wrath]]'' (2005) |
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# adapted [[Robert Penn Warren]] novel ''[[All the King's Men]]'' (2008) |
# adapted [[Robert Penn Warren]] novel ''[[All the King's Men]]'' (2008) |
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* A new project, |
* A new project, ''The New American Cycle'', began in 2009 with [[Robert E. Sherwood]]'s ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]''.<ref>{{cite web | author=Intiman PR | title=Intiman Theatre Announces the First Free Events Scheduled for Its New American Cycle |url=http://www.intiman.org/press/july27_09.html | work=Intiman Website | date=27 Jul 2009 | access-date=2009-08-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
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⚫ | * During 2008–2010 Intiman was transitioning from one group of leaders to the next. Laura Penn departed as Managing Director in March, 2008. Her replacement, Brian Colburn, officially started in November, 2008 but did not move to Seattle until early 2009.<ref name="NYTMAY18" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Gianni Truzzi | title=ACT and Intiman get new CEOs to guide them through a rough economy | url=http://www.seattlepi.com/theater/375946_fanfare22.html| work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date=21 Aug 2008 | access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref> Colburn resigned Nov. 1, 2010. [[Kate Whoriskey]] succeeded [[Bartlett Sher]] as Artistic Director in 2010. Originally the plan was for them to jointly manage the first season of the transition, but that changed when Mr. Sher departed in March, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | author=Intiman PR | title=Acclaimed Director Kate Whoriskey to Succeed Bartlett Sher as Artistic Director of Seattle's Intiman Theatre | url=http://www.intiman.org/press/june18_09.html | work=Intiman Website | date=18 Jun 2009 | access-date=2009-08-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
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⚫ | * In November, 2010 the Intiman had found that the theatre was $2.3 million in debt and had begun a fundraising effort to pay overdue expenses and reduce debt. On April 16, 2011 the board of trustees voted to temporarily close the Intiman Theatre and lay off the entire staff, including Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey. The board engaged Susan Trapnell, a consultant, to advise it on a plan to reopen the theatre in 2012.<ref name="NYTMAY18">[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/theater/intiman-theater-in-seattle-and-its-financial-crisis.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=intiman&st=cse&scp=1 "Prestige Can’t Halt Downfall of Theater"], by Kate Taylor, New York Times, May 18, 2011 |
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⚫ | * During |
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⚫ | * |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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* On August 5, 2011 the first performance of Seattle Theatresports took place, the show having previously been performed in the [[Gum Wall|Gum Wall Theatre in Pike Place Market]]. |
* On August 5, 2011 the first performance of Seattle Theatresports took place, the show having previously been performed in the [[Gum Wall|Gum Wall Theatre in Pike Place Market]]. |
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⚫ | * The 2013 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Trouble in Mind" by [[Alice Childress]]; (2) "[[We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!]]" by [[Dario Fo]]; "(3) [[Lysistrata]]" by [[Aristophanes]]; and (4) "STU For Silverton", a new musical about [[Stu Rasmussen]], American's first known [[transgender]] mayor. |
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* The 2016 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Stick Fly" by Lydia R. Diamond; (2) "Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White" by Alice Childress. |
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* The 2017 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Barbecue" by Robert O'Hara; (2) "Dragon Lady", a new musical by Sara Porkalob. |
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==Notable Intiman |
==Notable Intiman artists== |
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* [[Bartlett Sher]] |
* [[Bartlett Sher]] – former Artistic Director, 2000–2010 |
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* [[Craig Lucas]] |
* [[Craig Lucas]] – Associate Artistic Director |
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* [[Tom Skerritt]] |
* [[Tom Skerritt]] – Actor |
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* [[ |
* [[Stacy Keach]] – Actor |
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* [[Reiko Aylesworth]] |
* [[Reiko Aylesworth]] – Actor |
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* [[John Aylward]] |
* [[John Aylward]] – Actor |
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* [[Celia Keenan-Bolger]] |
* [[Celia Keenan-Bolger]] – Actor |
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* [[Patti Cohenour]] |
* [[Patti Cohenour]] – Actor |
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* [[Laurence Ballard]] |
* [[Laurence Ballard]] – Actor |
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* [[Jeanne Paulson]] |
* [[Jeanne Paulson]] – Actor |
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* |
* [[Jean Smart]] - Actor |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{Official website}} |
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* [http://www.intiman.org Intiman Playhouse official website] |
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* {{IBDB name |
* {{IBDB name}} |
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{{Seattle Center}} |
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{{TonyAward RegionalTheatre 2001-2025}} |
{{TonyAward RegionalTheatre 2001-2025}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:1972 establishments in Washington (state)]] |
[[Category:1972 establishments in Washington (state)]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Seattle |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Seattle]] |
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[[Category:Culture of Seattle |
[[Category:Culture of Seattle]] |
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[[Category:Seattle Center]] |
[[Category:Seattle Center]] |
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[[Category:Theatre companies in Washington (state)]] |
[[Category:Theatre companies in Washington (state)]] |
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[[Category:Tony Award winners]] |
[[Category:Tony Award winners]] |
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[[Category:Regional theatre in the United States]] |
[[Category:Regional theatre in the United States]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Seattle]] |
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[[Category:Festivals established in 1972]] |
Latest revision as of 01:21, 15 June 2024
47°37′27.49″N 122°21′8.79″W / 47.6243028°N 122.3524417°W
Formation | 1972 |
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Type | Theatre group |
Location | |
Artistic director(s) | Jennifer Zeyl |
Website | www |
Intiman Theatre is a resident theater company in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1972 by Margaret "Megs" Booker, who named it after Strindberg's Intimate Theater in Stockholm.[1] Through its history, the professional theatre company has been based at various venues in Seattle; since 2021, it has been located as theatre-in-residence at Seattle Central College, performing in two venues on that campus.
Organization
With a self-declared focus on "a resident acting ensemble, fidelity to the playwright's intentions and a close relationship between actor and audience", the Intiman soon called itself as "Seattle's classic theater".[1] Its debut season in 1972 included Rosmersholm, The Creditors, The Underpants, and Brecht on Brecht.[1][2] The theater has been host to Tony-nominated Director Bartlett Sher (who served as both a director and artistic director), Tony-nominated actress Celia Keenan-Bolger, and film actor Tom Skerritt. It was also home to the world premieres of the Tony-winning Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza,[3] Craig Lucas's Singing Forest[4] and Dan Savage's "Miracle!".[5] Lucas also served as the Associate Artistic Director. Intiman won the 2006 Regional Theatre Tony Award.[6]
In April 2011, Intiman Theatre recognized the need to pause, reflect and relaunch with a financially sustainable and artistically vibrant new model. After listening to input from artists, audiences, funders and the community, Intiman launched its first summer theatre festival in July and August 2012 under the leadership of Artistic Director Andrew Russell and Managing Director Keri Kellerman. The festival, curated from the impulses of an artist collective, featured four plays and a repertory company of 17 actors who stretched through over 40 roles.[7] The Intiman Theatre Playhouse was renamed the Cornish Playhouse in 2013 and is now managed by the Cornish College of the Arts.[8]
In 2017, Phillip Chavira became Intiman's first Executive Director, and first person of color to lead this organization. At the end of 2017, Andrew Russell completed his tenure as Producing Artistic Director and Jennifer Zeyl became Intiman's seventh Artistic Director.
History
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Seattle_-_Intiman_courtyard.jpg/220px-Seattle_-_Intiman_courtyard.jpg)
Intiman's original location was a 65-seat theater in Kirkland, Washington.[1][2] Under the leadership of artistic directors Megs and John Booker, the Intiman officially incorporated as a non-profit theatre in 1973.[1] Over the next few years, the company mounted productions at Cornish College[2] and Gary Austin's[citation needed] Second Stage Theatre in Seattle,[2] growing in attendance and budget each season. By 1978, Intiman called itself "Seattle's Classic Theatre"[1] and featured a resident company of fourteen actors,[citation needed] including Megan Cole, Clayton Corzatte, Ted D'Arms, John Gilbert, Patricia Healy, Richard Riele, Peter Silbert, Meg Hilton, Barry Mulholland, and Jean Smart.[1]
In 1977, Intiman opened year-round administrative offices in Pioneer Square and hired Simon Siegl as its first general manager.[1] With a season of five[citation needed] classic plays, Intiman also began a parallel program "New Plays Onstage", staged readings of contemporary works directed and performed by members of the ensemble.[1] Over the next several years, Intiman was awarded institutional status by the King County and Washington State Arts Commissions and received an NEA challenge grant.[1]
After a three-year planning process Intiman participated in the 1982 Scandinavia Today, an international exposition of Nordic culture, which took place in five American cities. Intiman presented staged readings of five contemporary works and two great classics on its main stage: The Wild Duck and A Dream Play, in collaboration with top Scandinavian directors, designers and playwrights.[1]
Meanwhile, Second Stage, Intiman's venue for nine theatrical seasons, faced demolition to make way for the Washington State Convention Center. For several years, Intiman, unlike any other professional resident theatre in the area, operated without a permanent home. Under the continued leadership of Booker and Siegl, Intiman rented various performance venues around the city on a short term, basis, including Broadway Performance Hall on the campus of Seattle Central Community College.[1]
This picture changed radically after 1985, when Peter Davis came aboard as Intiman's first managing director. Davis—a former scenic designer who had worked for both Intiman and Seattle Repertory Theatre—completely restructured Intiman's finances and administration. He successfully negotiated the plan for Intiman to operate and manage a theatre facility on the grounds of Seattle Center.[1] That facility, the Seattle Center Playhouse (later Intiman Playhouse and later Cornish Playhouse) had been built for the Century 21 Exposition (the 1962 Seattle World's Fair), and had then served as the original home of the Seattle Repertory Theatre. In 1982, the Rep had moved to a new facility elsewhere on the Seattle Center grounds.[9] Intiman received a 22-year lease from the City. After a US$1.2 million renovation, in 1987, for the first time in its history, Intiman had a single facility with performance, rehearsal, production, shop and administrative areas.[1] As it moved into its new facility, Intiman hired a new artistic director, Elizabeth Huddle, who served for the next six years, succeeded in 1993 by Warner Shook.[1]
In 1994, Intiman became the first regional theatre company in the country to be awarded the rights to produce Tony Kushner's Tony- and Pulitzer-winning two-part epic Angels in America. Part One: Millennium Approaches closed Intiman's 1994 season, and Part Two: Perestroika opened the 1995 season. Directed by Shook, the complete Angels in America was the most commercially successful production ever to be produced at the theatre, reaching more than 63,000 attendees over its two-year run.[1] Over the next decade, Intiman produced plays by such provocative and influential American writers as Edward Albee, Moisés Kaufman, Ellen McLaughlin, Terrence McNally, David Rabe, Anna Deavere Smith, Paula Vogel, and Chay Yew.[citation needed]
Recent history
- In 2008 Intiman completed a project entitled The American Cycle, a series of five plays written by prominent Americans— four of which were not originally written as plays. They were:
- Thornton Wilder's Our Town (2004)
- adapted John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath (2005)
- adapted Richard Wright novel Native Son (2006)
- adapted Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird (2007), and
- adapted Robert Penn Warren novel All the King's Men (2008)
- A new project, The New American Cycle, began in 2009 with Robert E. Sherwood's Abe Lincoln in Illinois.[10]
- During 2008–2010 Intiman was transitioning from one group of leaders to the next. Laura Penn departed as Managing Director in March, 2008. Her replacement, Brian Colburn, officially started in November, 2008 but did not move to Seattle until early 2009.[11][12] Colburn resigned Nov. 1, 2010. Kate Whoriskey succeeded Bartlett Sher as Artistic Director in 2010. Originally the plan was for them to jointly manage the first season of the transition, but that changed when Mr. Sher departed in March, 2010.[13]
- In November, 2010 the Intiman had found that the theatre was $2.3 million in debt and had begun a fundraising effort to pay overdue expenses and reduce debt. On April 16, 2011 the board of trustees voted to temporarily close the Intiman Theatre and lay off the entire staff, including Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey. The board engaged Susan Trapnell, a consultant, to advise it on a plan to reopen the theatre in 2012.[11]
- On August 5, 2011 the first performance of Seattle Theatresports took place, the show having previously been performed in the Gum Wall Theatre in Pike Place Market.
- The 2013 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Trouble in Mind" by Alice Childress; (2) "We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!" by Dario Fo; "(3) Lysistrata" by Aristophanes; and (4) "STU For Silverton", a new musical about Stu Rasmussen, American's first known transgender mayor.
- The 2016 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Stick Fly" by Lydia R. Diamond; (2) "Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White" by Alice Childress.
- The 2017 Summer Festival featured productions of: (1) "Barbecue" by Robert O'Hara; (2) "Dragon Lady", a new musical by Sara Porkalob.
Notable Intiman artists
- Bartlett Sher – former Artistic Director, 2000–2010
- Craig Lucas – Associate Artistic Director
- Tom Skerritt – Actor
- Stacy Keach – Actor
- Reiko Aylesworth – Actor
- John Aylward – Actor
- Celia Keenan-Bolger – Actor
- Patti Cohenour – Actor
- Laurence Ballard – Actor
- Jeanne Paulson – Actor
- Jean Smart - Actor
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Our History". intiman.org. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ a b c d Paula Becker, Intiman Theatre launches its debut season in Kirkland on December 13, 1972, HistoryLink, September 10, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-07.
- ^ Ernio Hernandez, The Light in the Piazza Shines as World Premiere Lucas-Guettel Musical Starts in Seattle, May 31, Playbill, May 31, 2003. Accessed online 2013-3-20
- ^ Ernio Hernandez Craig Lucas' Singing Forest World Premiere Opens at Seattle's Intiman, July 30, Playbill, July 30, 2004. Accessed online 2013-3-20
- ^ Adam Hetrick Streamlined Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival to Premiere Dan Savage's Miracle! Archived 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, June 21, 2012. Access online 2013-3-20
- ^ Joe Adcock, Intiman Wins Tony as best regional theatre, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 17, 2006. Accessed online 2008-06-02
- ^ Laura Dannen, Intiman Theatre's Summer Festival Opens With Ibsen, Shakespeare and Savage Archived 2013-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, Seattle Met, June 20, 2012. Accessed online 2013-3-20.
- ^ New name, same theater at Seattle Center[dead link]
- ^ Paula Becker, Intiman Theatre inaugurates its new home, the Playhouse Theatre, at the Seattle Center, on June 10, 1987, HistoryLink, September 21, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-06.
- ^ Intiman PR (27 Jul 2009). "Intiman Theatre Announces the First Free Events Scheduled for Its New American Cycle". Intiman Website. Retrieved 2009-08-09. [dead link]
- ^ a b "Prestige Can’t Halt Downfall of Theater", by Kate Taylor, New York Times, May 18, 2011
- ^ Gianni Truzzi (21 Aug 2008). "ACT and Intiman get new CEOs to guide them through a rough economy". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ Intiman PR (18 Jun 2009). "Acclaimed Director Kate Whoriskey to Succeed Bartlett Sher as Artistic Director of Seattle's Intiman Theatre". Intiman Website. Retrieved 2009-08-09. [dead link]