Two new musicals plus 'The Producers' to show at Village Theatre

In its 2011-12 season, the Village Theatre in Issaquah will keep up its practice of debuting new musicals, developed at the company's Village Originals Annual Festival of New Musicals, alongside well-known Broadway classics.

Each show plays first in Issaquah, followed by a run at the Everett Performing Arts Center in Everett.

The 2011-12 roster (with dates for Issaquah):

"Take Me America": With book and lyrics by Bill Nabel and rock-music score by veteran TV composer Bob Christianson, this world premiere Village Originals show considers several "struggling refugees in their quest for asylum in the United States and the INS agents who are responsible for deciding their fates." (Sept. 14-Oct. 23)

"Annie Get Your Gun": The 1946 Irving Berlin classic, about a sharpshootin' and romancin' Annie Oakley. (Nov. 9-Dec. 31)

"The Odd Couple": Felix is a fussbudget, Oscar is a slob. And both have had a long, long spell as roomies in Neil Simon's hit 1965 comedy, also a popular movie and TV sitcom. (Jan. 18-Feb. 26, 2012)

"It Shoulda Been You": The frantic preparations and family issues leading up to the wedding of a Jewish bride and a Catholic groom is the backdrop of this new musical by TV writer Brian Hargrove ("Dave's World," "Caroline in the City") and composer Barbara Anselmi. (March 14-April 22, 2012)

"The Producers": The Mel Brooks megahit musical, based by Brooks on his uproarious film comedy about a pair of crooked show producers. (May 9-July 1, 2012)

Information: 425-392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com

Bill Nabel wrote the book and lyrics for "Take Me America." His name was misspelled in an earlier version.