Seattle Rep Announces Final Programming Changes For 2008-2009 Season

Seattle, WA - On October 14, Seattle Repertory Theatre announced final programming changes for its 2008-2009 season. Changes include the replacement of Waiting for Godot with Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca (January 15 - February 14, 2009) an emotional drama depicting a South African artist's future, and a brand new piece by NPR humorist Kevin Kling called Breaking Hearts and Taking Names (April 9 - May 10, 2009) will replace Rollick.

The Rep is pleased to present The Road to Mecca, a beautiful drama from celebrated South African playwright Athol Fugard, directed by Leigh Silverman (Blue Door) and starring Marya Sea Kaminski (My Name is Rachel Corrie). In addition Kevin Kling and singer/accordionist Simone Perrin team up again for a new project, on the heels of last spring's How? How? Why? Why? Why? performed at Seattle Rep. Breaking Hearts and Taking Names will explore the hidden world of love, love gone right, gone wrong and everything in between.

Both Waiting for Godot and Rollick had to be replaced due to production conflicts. The production of Waiting for Godot was planned as a Broadway transfer that relied on the cooperation and financial support of a commercial partner. That partner decided not to go forward with a New York production of Godot and with the loss of this co-producer, plans for a Seattle to Broadway transfer were abandoned. The production of Rollick was dependent on aligning the schedules of all three band members of the cast. One of the band members is no longer available for the project. In order to accommodate schedule changes the dates for Betrayal have been moved to February 19-March 22, 2009.

"The theatre business is an unpredictable and ever-changing business, but with change comes opportunity" says Jerry Manning, Producing Artistic Director. "Both of these season additions have allowed us to present an even stronger season. Seattle audiences loved Kevin Kling and Simone Perrin in How? How? Why? Why? Why? and to be given the opportunity to present another world-premiere by this talented story-teller has been both an honor and a privilege. Kling considers Seattle Rep his theatre home and we welcome that title. The Road to Mecca allows us a diversity to our season that we know our patrons love. We welcome the challenges of theatre and we think the second half of our season is one that Seattle audiences will enjoy."

Final schedule for 2008/2009 season:

The Night Watcher by Charlayne Woodard September 25 - October 26, 2008

The Three Musketeers by Ken Ludwig October 2 - November 15, 2008

Boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb November 13 - December 14, 2008

You Can't Take It With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman November 28, 2008 - January 3, 2009

The Road to Mecca by Athol Fugard January 15 - February 14, 2009

Betrayal by Harold Pinter February 19 - March 22, 2009

The Seafarer by Conor McPherson February 26 - March 28, 2009

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher April 2 - May 3, 2009

Breaking Hearts and Taking Names Written and Performed by Kevin Kling and Simone Perrin April 9 - May 10, 2009.