SPOTLIGHT: Sharing Stories. Creating Connections.

SPOTLIGHT is taking a brief hiatus. Please check out our 2020-21 Digital Programming for our other online offerings.

• Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 pm
  “Climb Every Mountain” with Iris Elton
• Jerry and Iris share their professional history and long colorful friendship, along with discussing Iris’s foundation focused on suicide prevention. The amazing power of friendship can light even the darkest corners of our lives.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm
  “Defying Gravity” with Alex Crozier and Paul Flanagan
• Jerry, Paul, and Alex discuss how artists are inspiring others to push through, build opportunity, take ownership of their careers, and create their own journeys. From the challenging times of a pandemic, social unrest, and economic stress, we can make opportunity in and for the world around us.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 pm
  “Make Them Hear You” with Sara Porkalob
• Actor/Activist Sara Porkalob, who has appeared on our stages in String, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and XY, delves into how a theatre artist balances the messages inside of existing musical theatre with their own views and sensibilities. What would happen if we all became the highest version of ourselves whenever we communicate?
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 pm
  “We Tell the Story (Part One)” with Rodney Hicks
  
• Broadway actor turned playwright Rodney Hicks discusses his connection to Village Theatre (Jim in Big River, Charles in Hart Island) before diving into the brave and arduous task of writing for the theatre. We can all be inspired by a story about turning a life challenge that endangers our ability to do what we love into a discovery of an awakening talent that allows us to recapture and continue.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30 pm
  “We Tell the Story (Part Two)” with Keiko Green and Lamar Legend
  
• These Seattle-based actors turned playwrights continue to explore what motivates an actor to expand their talented voices, and views, by writing for the stage. We have countless stories to be tell, and as many ways to tell them. What’s your story? How would you tell it?
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30 pm
  “Mama, A Rainbow” with Shaunyce Omar and Diana Opong-Parry
  Guest host: Jessica Spencer
  
• This evening belongs to Village Theatre’s Casting Director Jessica Spencer as she invites two professionals into the spotlight to connect on their own parenthood journeys. Let’s acknowledge and discuss, in a communal way, the challenges of being an artist and a parent—specifically a mother.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 pm
  “We Are the Champions” with Eliana Coe and Nathan A. Smith
  
• Village Theatre Youth Education alums Eliana and Nathan express their experiences during and beyond their times in the footlights. Change-makers in their own right, young artists step up to confront contemporary challenges, explore current cultures, and count themselves ready for the future.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, November 4 at 6:30 pm
  “I Believe” with Karen Lund and Joseph Tancioco
  
• Director Karen Lund and actor/musician Joseph Tancioco join Jerry Dixon for a discussion of personal faith in public theatre. They’ll explore how to navigate one’s religious and/or spiritual beliefs in the secular world of theatre. Ancient civilizations had theatre and religion; both started as tools of healing and gathering. Can we recognize the commonalities, even today?
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, November 11 at 6:30 pm
  “The Circle of Life” with Eric Polani Jensen and Michele Gray Ankrim
• At the intersection of funeral-directing and nursing, we’ll celebrate these performers as caregivers and the specific dignity they provide: “We want to be there for you when you need us the most.” What does this tell us about front-liners, who so often share words of assurance and comfort, and can it motivate us into actions of grace?
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 pm
  “True Colors” with Trina Mills, Iris Elton, and Danny Haengil Larsen
  
• A candid talk about the impact of being ethnically stereo-labeled, and exploring the effect of “imposter syndrome.” Three artists share deeply personal experiences of how these issues affect their lives and reflect on lessons that apply to us all.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Monday, November 23 at 6:30 pm
  “What I Did for Love” with Bobbi Kotula
  
• How do you rediscover yourself after enduring a relationship that was cloaked in the disguise of love? Join this brave heart as she charts her journey from trauma to truth, from harm to hope!
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, December 2 at 6:30 pm
  “Corner of the Sky” with Faith Bennett Russell and Dr. Daniela Ferdico
  
• What can we learn about ourselves from these mothers of neuro-diverse sons? Dr. Daniela Ferdico is a pediatric neuropsychologist who consulted on our production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Faith Bennett Russell is an actor, educator, & writer.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, December 9 at 6:30 pm
  “Everything Changes” with Jasmine Joshua (they/them) and Rachel Spencer-Hewitt (she/her)
  Guest host: Jessica Spencer (she/her)
• Join Jessica Spencer, Jasmine Joshua (nonbinary actor, producer, Artistic Director of Reboot Theatre Company), and Rachel Spencer-Hewitt (actor and founder of PAAL, Parent Artist Advocacy League) to continue the conversation on being a parent and caregiver in the arts.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30 pm
  “If I Only Had One Day” with Tom Kitt
• The Tony & Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of Next To Normal returns to Village Theatre and talks of the gift of creating theatre that is getting him through these challenging times.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, January 27 at 6:30 pm
  “Who Tells Your Story” with guest host Brandon Ivie and special guest Alex Crozier
• Village recently announced the Northwest Creator Residency – dedicated to supporting BIPOC artists to create the beginnings of a new musical in digital residence. Come hear Co-Producer Alex Crozier and Associate Artistic Director Brandon Ivie discuss the genesis of the program, how the residency works, and learn more about the inaugural residents!
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Wednesday, February 10 at 6:30 pm
  “Golden” with guest host Jessica Spencer and special guest Dedra Woods
  Jessica Spencer and Dedra Woods sit down to share and discuss NextStage, Village Theatre’s new FREE online class series designed to illuminate, support, and encourage the professional artistic experience through practical instruction and conversation.
• Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube

• Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30 pm

  “How Far I’ll Go” with guest host Aaron Alonso and special guests Maurianna Zingarelli and Joel Arpin

  Join KIDSTAGE alumni administrators Aaron Alonzo, Maurianna Zingarelli and Joel Arpin as they discuss their evolving roles with KIDSTAGE and the idea of Legacy and Impact within their work with KIDSTAGE.

  Watch the recording on Facebook or YouTube