Book-It Repertory Theatre
Book-It Repertory Theatre is a regional theatre located in Seattle, Washington. It is a 501-c registered nonprofit corporation, and is devoted to "transforming great literature into great theatre through simple and sensitive production and to inspiring its audiences to read". Founded in 1987, it is now led by Co-Artistic Directors Jane Jones and Myra Platt, and is a 2012 Governor's Arts Award winner and 2010 Mayor's Arts Award winner. It is a member of Theatre Puget Sound and a part of The Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Program.
History
Book-It Repertory Theatre's history begins in 1986, when Co-Artistic Director Jane Jones led the 29th Street Project in New York City, an artistic collective that comprised graduates and company members from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, to experiment with performing short stories for the stage.After moving to Seattle in 1987, Jane Jones, Tony Pasqualini, Mark Jenkins, Robyn Smith, and Sarah Brooke, among others, formed The Collective at the Pasqualini/Smith acting studio in a three-story walk-up on Pine Street in Seattle's Capitol Hill. Myra Platt, Book-It's future Co-Artistic Director, joined The Collective in 1988. Members of The Collective began to experiment with the concept of Book-It by adapting literature into theatre. They began by experimenting with the performance of short stories. It became an official registered nonprofit under the name Book-It in 1990, and at this time mainly toured schools and libraries with its performances. Book-It established its first main stage home in 1995, in a 50-seat theatre on Westlake Avenue. Several early shows were performed on Seattle Repertory Theatre stages, until in 2000 Book-It was able to move to their current location at Seattle Center.
When Book-It first moved to Seattle Center, their location was called the Center House. It is now known as The Armory.
In 2019, Book-It announced that founding co-artistic directors Jane Jones and Myra Platt would step down from their roles in summer of 2020.
Book-It announced their closure in June 2023, with the last show scheduled for July 9, 2023. The 2023–24 season, which had already been scheduled, was cancelled and refunds were issued to patrons.
Co-productions
In October of 2024, Jones and Platt produced The Story of Edgar Sawtelle with the Vashon Repertory Theatre using a script produced for Book-It. Charlotte Tiencken, Book-It’s managing director from 2006-14 and Vashon Repertory Theatre’s founder and artistic director, has been quoted saying she would like to do a co-production with Book-It once per season.Book-It Style
All of the shows produced by Book-It adhere to a specific style called "Book-It Style," which preserves the author's exact words in the script rather than changing them for the stage. The words and phrases in the book are acted out in dialogue on stage, including descriptions and even taglines. The Book-It Style doesn't rely on a designated narrator for these moments but instead distributes the narrative: descriptions, inner thoughts, etc., among the characters, giving the audience clues about a character based on "point of view."Arts and Education Program
Book-It Repertory Theatre's Arts and Education Program involves a host of different activities aimed at promoting literacy and a love of reading in children. Book-It was able to expand this program thanks to a grant from the Hearst Foundation.Touring series
The touring series involves several adaptations of books for children or young adults, and travels to libraries, community centers, and schools in the Seattle area. These performances include a book for each student as well as a study guide and interactive workshop. One of the shows that tours every year is called "Danger: Books!" and features actors reading from books that have been banned or challenged in the US.Family Fun Series
This series takes place on the main stage, and usually hosts about three shows per season. They include a short play based on a children's or young adult book, a book-themed craft project, and workshops for younger and older children to participate in after the performance. Parents are encouraged to attend these performances with their children.Student Matinee Series
Like many theatres, Book-It hosts student matinees for some of their main stage shows, offering a low-cost option for teachers to bring students to the shows on school trips.Residencies
Book-It describes a teacher residency as a "long-term customized program designed with classroom teachers to address specific curricula, academic standards, and students' needs." These programs include a touring series production as well.Teacher training
Book-It offers workshops for groups of teachers and also participates in a five-day summer program in collaboration with other Seattle area theatres called Bringing Theatre into the Classroom.Mainstage Productions
1999-2000
Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëOwen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingDouble Indemnity by James M. CainThe Awakening by Kate Chopin2000-2001
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenOwen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingSilver Water by Amy BloomSweet Thursday by John SteinbeckIn a Shallow Grave by James Purdy2001-2002
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. LawrenceOwen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingEthan Frome by Edith WhartonIf I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home by Tim O'BrienHowards End by E.M. Forster2002-2003
Cowboys are My Weakness by Pam HoustonOwen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingA Christmas Memory by Truman CapoteA Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan ThomasI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya AngelouHard Times by Charles DickensBreathing Lessons by Anne Tyler2003-2004
Dracula by Bram StokerRed Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley BreathedPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenCry, the Beloved Country by Alan PatonTravels with Charley by John Steinbeck2004-2005
Waxwings by Jonathan RabanRed Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley BreathedRebecca by Daphne du MaurierGiant by Edna FerberThe Awakening by Kate Chopin2005-2006
Don Quixote by Miguel de CervantesLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottBud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul CurtisPlainsong by Kent HarufHouse of Mirth by Edith Wharton2006-2007
Broken for You by Stephanie KallosBud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul CurtisA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensRhoda: A Life in Stories by Ellen GilchristThe House of Spirits by Isabel Allende2007-2008
Snow Falling on Cedars by David GutersonPeter Pan by J.M. BarriePersuasion by Jane AustenThe Highest Tide by Jim Lynch2008-2009
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins My Antonia by Willa CatherMoby Dick by Herman MelvilleThe Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw MengestuNight Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry2009-2010
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy TooleEmma by Jane AustenThe River Why by David James DuncanThe Cider House Rules: Part 1 by John Irving and adapted by Peter Parnell2010-2011
The Cider House Rules: Part 2 by John Irving and adapted by Peter ParnellRed Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley BreathedGreat Expectations by Charles DickensSense and Sensibility by Jane AustenBorder Songs by Jim Lynch2011-2012
Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingPrairie Nocturne by Ivan DoigThe Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein2012-2013
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie FordOwen Meany's Christmas Pageant by John IrvingAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyAdventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainThe Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter2013-2014
She's Come Undone by Wally LambFrankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary ShelleyTruth Like the Sun by Jim LynchThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon2014-2015
I Am of Ireland: A Collection of Stories, Song, and Dance from short story authors Frank O'Connor, W. B. Yeats, Mary Lavin, and Paul Vincent CarrollPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenThe Dog of the South by Charles PortisLittle Bee by Chris CleaveSlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut2015-2016
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond CarverEmma by Jane AustenThe Brothers K by David James Duncan2016-2017
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth OzekiTreasure Island by Robert Louis StevensonA Moveable Feast by Ernest HemingwayWelcome to Braggsville by T. Geronimo Johnson2017-2018
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya AngelouHowl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesThe Maltese Falcon by Dashiell HammettThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DíazThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde2018-2019
Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëMy Ántonia by Willa CatherAmerican Junkie by Tom HansenReturning the Bones by Gin HammondBehold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue2019-2020
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran FoerHowl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesThe Turn of the Screw by Henry JamesThe Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski2020-2021
Childfinder by Octavia E. ButlerThe Canterville Ghost by Oscar WildeMañanaland by Pam Muñoz RyanThe Effluent Engine by N.K. JemisinThe Mandala of Sherlock Holmes by Jamyang Norbu2021-2022
Zen and the Art of an Android Beatdown by Tochi Onyebuchi The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Beowulf adapted by Julian GloverMrs. Caliban by Rachel IngallsThe Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan2022-2023
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia AlvarezAusten Unbound, an improvised playThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha ChristieSolaris by Stanislaw LemCircumbendibus
Circumbendibus was a late-night series. Launched in the fall of 2012, it featured adaptations of three non-traditional texts: one based on food writing and cookbooks, one based on geek literature and graphic novels, and one based on a collection of short stories. The short story collection was Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson, adapted for the stage by Johnson and Jeff Schwager.For the 2013 Circumbendibus series, Jesus' Son was expanded and re-located to Seattle's West of Lenin venue.