Intiman Theatre plays up community in 2004 lineup

By Misha Berson
Seattle Times theater critic

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"History, community. Connections and stories. Celebratory, but clear-eyed."

Those are some phrases Intiman Theatre artistic director Bartlett Sher tosses around in reference to his company's first show of the season, "Crowns."

But the words also apply to the theatrical themes that most interest Sher lately, and are tucked into the Intiman's 2004 playlist of new works and classics.

Before we get to that, note that Sher has spent most of the Intiman's winter hiatus toiling like mad out of town. He directed the Chicago premiere of the Adam Guettel-Craig Lucas musical, "The Light in the Piazza" (which debuted at Intiman, and goes next to Lincoln Center in 2005), staged Shakespeare's "Pericles" at Brooklyn Academy of Music, and reprised his Seattle Opera mounting of "Mourning Becomes Electra" for the New York City Opera.

Despite his in-demand status as a freelancer, Sher insists he's happy being back in Seattle to zero in on Intiman's affairs. Given the stressful economy for nonprofit arts groups, Sher and Intiman managing director Laura Penn, like many other theater managers, are trying to balance artistic risk with fiscal conservatism.

Intiman still carries a longstanding deficit (of about $800,000). But if it wasn't chipped away last year, Penn says, it also wasn't compounded — in fact, the company took in $75,000 more than it spent in 2003.

In 2004, Penn hopes to match or exceed last year's attendance stats (about 80,000) and subscription rate (about 8,500). The company has a good start on the latter: so far 7,900 subscribers signed on before the season's official start.

After the kickoff run of "Crowns," here is the rest of the Intiman 2004 lineup:

• "The Play's the Thing" (June 11-July 11). British humorist P.G. Wodehouse adapted Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnár's stylish 1925 farce (originally titled "Play at the Castle") about life imitating theater (and vice versa). The 1926 Wodehouse adaptation receives a new staging by actor-director John Michael Higgins, best known for his comic film roles in "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show."

• "Singing Forest"(July 23-Aug. 21). A world premiere drama by Craig Lucas, which Sher (who will direct) terms "a great combination of hilarity, history and complexity." Set on the eve of World War II in Vienna, and in New York circa 2000, the play examines psychoanalysis, celebrity and history via acolytes of Dr. Sigmund Freud.
 
• "Love and Taxes" (Aug. 27-Oct 2). Tim Eyman take note: Solo actor-performer Josh Kornbluth makes his Intiman debut, with this pro-tax, Off-Broadway monologue "about a guy who falls in love, screws up, owes the IRS a lot of money, but in the end makes the most beautiful argument imaginable about why we should all pay taxes," explains Sher.

• "Our Town" (Oct. 8-Nov. 20). Intiman embarks on a multiyear "American Cycle" presentation of major homegrown dramas. Sher's staging of the Thornton Wilder classic about small-town New England life and death comes first, with Seattle film-TV star Tom Skerritt as the narrating Stage Manager. Sher promises his rendition will "still be a period piece, but one that reflects who we are in this country today."

Intiman Theatre will also present its annual holiday show, "Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play," and continue its series of onstage talks with local theater artists, "On Being an Artist."

Subscriptions range from $114 to $226. (Details and orders: 206-269-1900; www.intiman.org)

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com