Burien Arts Theater (BAT) is taking it to the streets (well, the parks anyway) with a beautiful adapation by Rachel Rene of the family-friendly comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. Set in 1985 with all of the big hair and Valley Girl charm that goes with that, this show will make you laugh out loud.

Oscar Wilde’s farce follows the story of two men who use fictitious personas to escape the social standards of the Valley Girl era. The show is full of dramatic, romantic proposals that are thwarted by the fearsome Lady Bracknell--and the insistent of the two women the men are infatuated that they can only marry a man if his name is Ernest.

Often touted as a perfect comedy, BAT is bringing The importance of Being Earnest to:

·      Des Moines - Sunday, July 14, 2019, at 3 pm at Wooton Park at Redondo, 28336-28464 Redondo Way S, Des Moines, WA 98198

·      Burien - Friday, August 2, 2019, at 8 pm at Town Square Park, 480 SW 152nd St, Burien, WA 98166 (part of Burien's First Friday)

·      Normandy Park - Sunday, August 4, 2019, at 5 pm at Marvista Park, 19990 4th Avenue SW, Normandy Park, WA  98166

·      SeaTac - Friday, August 9, 2019, 7 pm at Angle Lake Park, 19408 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188

“This is BAT’s first time performing outside of its roost,” said Eric Dickman,  BAT’s artistic director. “We are so excited to perform in your park!”

The performances are free, so come see them all.

Performances run approximately 90 minutes, and are sponsored by the Discover Burien Association and the cities of Des Moines, Normandy Park and Burien.

THE CAST, DIRECTOR AND DESIGNERS

Stage director Rachel Rene directed the talented cast of Shawn Backstrom (Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff0, Adrian Cerrato (John “Jack” Worthing), Simone Elbrecht (Cecily Cardew), Stephen Kelsey (Rev. Chasuble), Cheryl Olson (Miss Prism), Janette Oswald (Lady Bracknell), Sara Schweid (Gwendolyn Fairfax), and Rex Waters (Merriman/Lane).  Zachary Naayers is the show’s stage manager.

The creative team for the show is:  Rachel Rene, script adaptation; Maggie Larrick with Cyndi Baumgardner and Diane Gaskill, set; Cyndi Baumgardner, props; Rachel Rene with Maggie Larrick, costumes; and Rachel Rene, sound.

ABOUT BURIEN ACTORS THEATRE

Exciting live theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Actors Theatre is a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas.

BAT gives audiences an intriguing and invigorating theatre experience with unusual and fantastical productions they can’t stream online or see anywhere else. The company’s mission is to treat audiences to productions of the highest artistic integrity that excite, engage and involve both the local and expanding theatrical communities in the Puget Sound region.

BAT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers.