Originally published Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 1:04 AM

Book-It Repertory to adapt Western tales for 2011-12 season

Jim Lynch's "Border Songs," Ivan Doig's "Prairie Nocturne" and Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain" will be adapted for the stage by Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre next season.

By Misha Berson

Seattle Times theater critic

Top comments Hide / Show comments

No comments have been posted to this article.
Start the conversation >

Western tales by popular Pacific Northwest authors are in the wings for Book-It Repertory Theatre's 2011-12 season.

The Seattle company will open its season in September with a new dramatization of Olympia writer Jim Lynch's acclaimed novel "Border Songs," about a lanky, naive bird-watcher who joins the U.S./Canada border patrol.

Also planned is "Prairie Nocturne" (postponed from last season), an adaptation of Montana native Ivan Doig's same-titled novel. Set in Montana in the 1920s, it concerns a white female music teacher who mentors an African-American chauffeur with a remarkable singing voice, and it opens in February 2012.

Book-It also plans to dramatize Seattle writer Garth Stein's best-seller, "The Art of Racing in the Rain," a story narrated by a loyal family dog with the soul of a philosopher. It premieres in April 2012.

During the holiday season, Book-It will reprise its popular holiday show, "Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant," drawn from a John Irving novel.

Details and ticket information: www.book-it.org or 206-216-0833.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com