Intiman Kicks Off FREE Tickets For “The Events” Opening July 18th

Photos: Joe Moore

It was a bit of a shock this spring when Intiman Theatre announced that their summer production of David Greig’s play THE EVENTS would offer FREE tickets to the public…and, not just a handful for each show. The majority of tickets available will be free of charge for every performance of the play which runs through August 10th at the Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill. It’s made possible by financial support from a number of community members including US Bank who are underwriting the cost of every seat available during the play’s run.

Intiman, founded in 1972 was the youngest of Seattle’s 3 major regional theater companies along with Seattle Repertory Theatre and ACT but became a major national player that resulted in the company winning the 2006 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. After artistic director Bartlett Sher left the theater for a Tony Award winning career on Broadway, the company found itself in financial danger and shut the doors in 2011 to restructure itself. It reopened in 2012 with a summer festival of productions and a much leaner budget as the company pared away at a debt of over $2m.

That debt was successfully retired early this year and Intiman has emerged as a fiscally prudent, artistically challenging company that produces its shows in a variety of venues throughout Seattle.

The company has announced casting and production information about The Events, copied down below, but we need to provide the nitty gritty on how this new “free ticket” system works. You have options.

One: Go to  intiman.org to reserve your free general admission seats (up to 2 per order). OR, if you’re a gambling sort or like to make up your mind about entertainment options at the last minute, just show up at the box office at the Erickson (1524 Harvard Ave between Pike and Pine Streets, immediately behind the Egyptian cinema)  on the day of the show, beginning 2 hours before curtain to claim your 1 or 2 free tickets.  Intiman is guaranteeing walk up ticket availability for all shows (except opening night, July 18, 2019). Once all tickets for a performance have been given away, a wait list will be started at the box office for cancellations / no shows.

If you’re a nervous nellie about tickets and prefer assigned seating, you CAN buy tickets at well over HERE for $25 as long as those seats are available. 

Note that many nights are already “sold out” for advanced tickets…not surprising since the tickets are FREE! (And, the Erickson is not a huge theater.)

Here’s more info about this play and this production including its terrific cast, Sarah Harlett and Conner Neddersen both excellent local actors, and director Paul Budraitis.

Sarah Harlett and Conner Neddersen in THE EVENTS at the Erickson Theatre July 18 to August 10, 2019. Photo: Joe Moore

INTIMAN ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE EVENTS BY DAVID GREIG 

Starring Sarah Harlett and Conner Neddersen

Directed by Paul Budraitis

Intiman Theatre is thrilled to announce that local actors Sarah Harlett and Conner Neddersen will star in their upcoming production of THE EVENTS by David Greig. Intiman’s production will be the Seattle premiere and it will be directed by Paul Budraitis. It will play at The Erickson Theatre at Seattle Central College (1524 Harvard Ave.) from July 18th – August 10th, 2019. Tickets to the production are Free for Everyone, and can be reserved online at Intiman.org, or audiences can get tickets on the day of the show starting two hours before curtain by walking up to the box office at the theatre. Intiman is guaranteeing walk up availability for all shows (except opening night, July 18th), so even if your ideal performance date has sold out online, come to the theater on the day of the show to receive one or two tickets per person. 

About the play: In the wake of a mass shooting, lone survivor Claire yearns to find the compassion, understanding, and peace she needs to overcome her trauma—but thoughts and visions of the shooter haunt her every step. A timely exploration of violence, obsession, and our desire to fathom the unfathomable, THE EVENTS explores our search for healing and forgiveness in the wake of gun violence. Each showing will integrate a different community choir into the performance. The NYTimes says THE EVENTS is “a solemn, searching and ultimately very moving play (…) gutsy.” 

“This play and David’s words need to be shared now and in Seattle because we need to do what we can around gun issues and Intiman is dedicated to sharing stories that fight inequities like gun violence,” says Jennifer Zeyl, Intiman’s Artistic Director. “Our design team is creating a unique space where you will enter a threshold to sit together in community to hear this unfortunately relevant story so we can heal together.” 

“This play needs to be shared now because it’s time to take action on gun violence and Intiman is committed to sharing stories like this that fight inequities,” says Jennifer Zeyl, Intiman’s Artistic Director. “Our design team is creating a unique space that will foster a community healing experience. where you will enter a threshold to sit together in community to hear this unfortunately relevant story so we can heal together.” 

Greig wrote THE EVENTS in response to the mass shooting in Norway in 2011 that killed 77 people and injured over 300 others. July 22nd will mark the 8 year anniversary of this tragic event. The Intiman production will be set in a nondescript town in the USA, but some homages to the original Nordic setting remain, including two traditional Norwegian choral numbers. 

Joining the cast of two will be a rotating roster of community choirs. The choirs will never have rehearsed with the actors, and will not be familiar with the full script. They will be woven into the performance, providing music, and at times interacting with the lead character, Claire, who plays a choir director in the story. There will be one mass rehearsal for all of the choirs to gather together and learn the Norwegian pronunciations and meet with the director, otherwise each of these community groups is coming into the performance almost as audience members observing the story for the first time. Featured choirs will include the Seattle Labor Chorus and Northwest Firelight Chorale. Additional choirs and a full schedule including performance dates will be available online in the coming weeks. 

After each performance, Intiman will host the audience for a community conversation about the themes of the play. To prepare for the challenging conversations related to gun violence the play will provoke, Intiman has partnered with Sound (formerly known as Sound Mental Health), to develop a trauma-informed creative practice for the production. This partnership, called “Sound Talk” includes ongoing conversations and a specially-developed workshop including Sound teams, Intiman staff, board, and production team members. The goal is to help us delve into this complicated material safely, while supporting ourselves and the communities we invite to join us. Sound will participate in the community conversations on dates to be determined. 

The Intiman cast features: Sarah Harlett as Claire. This is Sarah’s first production at Intiman Theatre since her season internship following college graduation. Regional credits include: Richard III in Richard III and Bring Down The House (upstart crow/Seattle Shakespeare Company, Gregory Award winners “Best Ensemble” and “Best Production”), Frost/Nixon (Gregory Award Nominee), The Birds and Memorandum (Strawberry Theater Workshop), Middletown and A Christmas Carol (ACT Theater), Titus Andronicus and King John (upstart crow), Frog and Toad, The Hundred Dresses, Bunnicula, and The Neverending Story (Seattle Children’s Theater), Dancing at Lughnasa (Tantrum Theater-Ohio), Rich Grandeur of Boxing (On The Boards). Internationally, she performed at the Centre de Danse in Paris, France with the Megan Murphy Company. Sarah is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Gaety School for Acting (Dublin) and BADA (Oxford). Sarah teaches at Cornish College and Freehold Theater. 

And Conner Neddersen as The Boy. This is Conner’s Intiman debut! Theater: ACT, SCT, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Opera, Strawberry Theater Workshop, New Century Theater. Y.A.C.T. San Francisco. Most recent credits include: The Diary of Anne Frank (SCT) and Alls Well that Ends Well at Seattle Shakespeare Company. Film / TV: Danger Diva, Catbox (amazonprime), NBC’s Grimm, A&E, and Discovery ID. Other select theater credits include: 9 Circles at Strawberry Theater Workshop (2016 Gregory Award nominee outstanding performance as a leading actor), Hamlet with Seattle Shakespeare company (2016 Seattle Times Footlight Award, rising star), and Mary’s Wedding at NCTC Theater (2015 Gregory Award nominee outstanding performance as a leading actor). 

The creative team for Intiman’s THE EVENTS includes Jennifer Zeyl (Intiman Artistic Director and Producer), Paul Budraitis (Director), Ahmed Alabaca (Music Director), Timothy White Eagle (Scenic Designer), K.D. Schill (Costume Designer), Geoff Korf (Lighting Designer), Trevor Kushman (Lighting Design Assistant), Erin Bednarz (Sound Designer 1.0), Matt Starritt (Sound Designer 2.0), Emma Pihl (Stage Manager), Alison Kozar (Assistant Stage Manager), Lily Raabe (Community Engagement Liaison). (Additional cast and creative team bios here.) 

THE EVENTS runs approximately 80-minutes with no intermission. There will be a community conversation after every performance. Tickets are Free for Everyone and can be reserved in advance at intiman.org. For audiences who are looking for a more traditional ticket experience with a reserved seat, those are available online for a reserve fee of $25. The Intiman Box Office can be reached at (206) 315-5838. There will be ASL interpreted performances on August 1 and 3.

About the Production: THE EVENTS produced by Intiman Theatre runs from July 18 to August 10, 2019 at The Erickson Theatre at Seattle Central College (1524 Harvard Ave). To receive free general admission tickets for THE EVENTS, audiences can go to intiman.org or show up in person to the box office on the day of the show beginning 2 hrs before curtain. Each person can receive 1 or 2 free tickets online or in person – Intiman is guaranteeing walk up ticket availability for all shows (except opening night, July 18, 2019). Once all tickets for a performance have been given away, a wait list will be started at the box office for cancellations / no shows. For those audiences who may prefer a more traditional experience, a small amount of advance reserved seating is available for a fee, pending availability (free tickets have priority). 

Visit intiman.org to learn more or to reserve your tickets today, or contact the Intiman Box Office at (206) 315-5838. 

About the Playwright: David Greig is an acclaimed and multi award-winning playwright who became the Artistic Director of The Lyceum in 2016. David’s most notable plays include The Events, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Midsummer, Dunsinane and Europe. Most recently, David has teamed up with original creators Bill Forsyth and Mark Knopfler, to adapt the international hit film Local Hero for the stage – this premiered in Edinburgh in 2019 . David also wrote the stage adaptation of Joe Simpson’s best-selling 1988 memoir Touching the Void, which was co-produced by The Lyceum and Bristol Old Vic. His other adaptations recently seen on The Lyceum stage include Strindberg’s Creditors (2018) and Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women (2016). David wrote the book for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opened in the West End in 2013 and then transferred to Broadway in 2017. His adaptation of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax opened at The Old Vic for Christmas 2015. Looking ahead, David will be producing a new stage adaptation of Solaris, based on Stanisław Lem’s 1961 soviet science fiction novel, which will be co-produced by The Lyceum in Edinburgh and Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne Australia. 

About the Director: Paul Budraitis is happy to be making his debut with Intiman. Blackbird (White Rabbit / 18th & Union), 140 LBS (On the Boards – NWNW Festival), Smoked (Cafe Nordo), The Realistic Joneses (New Century Theatre Company), The People’s Republic of Valerie (On the Boards), The Seagull (Whitman College), Fireface (SPLINTER GROUP), Sauced (Cafe Nordo), Knocking Bird (SPLINTER GROUP / Umbrella Project), Three Sisters (Cornish College of the Arts), The Salesman is Dead and Gone (SPLINTER GROUP), Bo-Nita (Seattle Repertory Theatre), Mud (Cornish College of the Arts), Fefu and Her Friends (Cornish College of the Arts), Hamlet (Cornish College of the Arts), Edmond (Balagan Theatre), King Lear (Rough Play Productions), The Ferryman (Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre – Vilnius, Lithuania), Measure for Measure (State Youth Theatre of Lithuania), Mavra (opera – Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre and “Gaida” Music Festival), The Saint Plays (State Youth Theatre of Lithuania). Associate Director (lead director – Jonas Vaitkus) for The Merchant of Venice (Kaunas State Drama Theatre), Assistant Director / Performer (lead director – Oskaras Koršunovas ) for Cantio (contemporary opera – Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre and the Munich Bienale Festival). Paul will be returning to Lithuania this fall to reprise his role as Trofimov in Kristian Smeds’ innovative production of The Cherry Orchard at the State Youth Theatre of Lithuania. He would like to thank the cast and production team for their remarkable work, as well as all of the participating community choirs for making this experience possible. 

About Intiman Theatre: Intiman Theatre wrestles with American Inequities. Intiman Theatre is a professional theater company in Seattle, Washington, that won the 2006 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and is overseen by Artistic Director Jennifer Zeyl, Executive Director Phillip Chavira, and Board President Dan Nye. Since its founding in 1972, Intiman has presented over 225 productions to Seattle audiences. Among the more recent of these are ANGELS IN AMERICA by Tony Kushner, TROUBLE IN MIND and WEDDING BAND by Alice Childress, BOOTYCANDY and BARBECUE by Robert O’hara, HIR by Taylor Mac, CAUGHT by Christopher Chen, and DRAGON LADY by Sara Porkalob.