Monday, June 18, 2007
Seattle’s Favorite Musical
Returns to The 5th Avenue Theatre –
On the Silver Screen
New Line Cinema & Washington Mutual Present the Northwest Movie Premiere of HAIRSPRAY to Benefit The 5th Avenue Theatre, Enterprise Community Partners and Cascade Land Conservancy
SEATTLE - Five years after its triumphant debut at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle’s favorite musical returns as a major motion picture. The Northwest premiere of New Line Cinema’s HAIRSPRAY will be held at The 5th Avenue Theatre on July 16, 2007 at 7 p.m. as a celebration of community to benefit The 5th Avenue Theatre, Enterprise Community Partners and Cascade Land Conservancy. Based on John Waters’ 1988 cult classic and the critically-acclaimed, Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical, HAIRSPRAY features the all-star ensemble of John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton, James Marsden as Corny Collins and Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, as well Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Elijah Kelley as Seaweed, Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton, Jerry Stiller, Paul Dooley and introducing eighteen-year-old newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. HAIRSPRAY opens nationwide on July 20.
In June 2002, the musical HAIRSPRAY had its pre-Broadway world premiere at The 5th Avenue Theatre, where the show received great critical and audience acclaim. The musical moved directly to New York where it won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Five years later, HAIRSPRAY is still one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Now, Seattle’s favorite musical has become a major motion picture – one of this summer’s most anticipated films.
This event is a one time opportunity to see the film at the historic 5th Avenue Theatre, where the musical was born, and to help support three non-profit community organizations. The event will include the Premiere advance screening of HAIRSPRAY, a big hair contest, a 1960s dance lesson, all-you-can-eat popcorn, and HAIRSPRAY door prizes.
Tickets cost $25 for reserved seating and popcorn, and $100 for reserved prime seating, a pre-movie reception in The 5th Avenue’s Producer’s Club Lounge from 6-7 p.m., and popcorn. Tickets are available over the phone by calling 206-625-1900 (toll free 888-5TH-4TIX), online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 24,000 and an annual attendance of more than 225,000. It ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected musical theater companies. The theater is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, First Friday Workshops, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org.
Enterprise Community Partners is a national non-profit with local offices in 22 cities, including Seattle, whose mission is to see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for fit and affordable housing and to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life. Visit www.enterprisecommunity.org.
The Cascade Land Conservancy is a regional land trust operating in Washington State with headquarters in Seattle and principal offices in King, Kittitas, Mason, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. The CLC was founded in 1989 and has conserved nearly 120,000 acres of working forests, farmlands and natural areas. Since 2005 it has been the host organization of The Cascade Agenda, which links conserving great lands with creating great communities. Visit www.cascadeland.org and www.cascadeagenda.com.
Please contact Molly Fortin, Public Relations Manager, at (206) 625-1418 with questions or to schedule individual interviews. Photos available upon request.