Bellingham TheatreWorks 2017 Season

Mrs. Bave Presents the Pig War

Written by Steve Lyons     Directed by Mark Kuntz
September & October 2017

World Premier!

The almost true story of a play that nearly happened about a war that never occurred

Bellingham TheatreWorks continues its commitment to celebrating stories of significance to the Pacific Northwest by premiering Steve Lyons' comedy Mrs. Bave Presents the Pig War. At the center of this play is the Pig War of 1859, which was a border dispute between the United States and Britain over the San Juan Islands. This war is significant because ultimately there was no war! Peace was chosen over war.

This is the wacky tale of Emilia Bave and her San Juan Saga. Mrs. Bave's play was originally presented in 1959 on San Juan Island in celebration of the centennial of the Pig War. The premier of the play featured local acting talent. However, when she wanted to re-mount the play the following year, she found the locals had not been bitten by the acting bug. No one wanted to be in her play! Undaunted, she re-wrote the script to be a narration with the reluctant actors replaced by mannequins.

She presented her pageant to unsuspecting visitors for nearly 20 years.

In Mrs. Bave Presents the Pig War, Mrs. Bave's Pig War mannequins spring to life, but with Mrs. Bave still firmly in control as ring master. But can she whip these cantankerous Pig War characters into shape before opening night? And will Captain Pickett ever keep his hands to himself?

The Pig War is one of the only examples in our country's history in which peace is chosen over war. And we have this amazing story in our own backyard!!

BELLINGHAM
Where: Firehouse Performing Arts Center
1314 Harris Ave, Bellingham, (Fairhaven area)
Dates: Friday Sept. 8, Saturday Sept. 9, Sunday Sept. 10;
Friday Sept. 15, Saturday Sept. 16, Sunday Sept. 17;
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 at the door or online

SAN JUAN ISLAND
Where: San Juan Community Theatre
100 2nd Street, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Date: Saturday October 7
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: $19 at the door or San Juan Community Theatre

VILLAGE BOOKS PRESENTS A READING BY AUTHOR MIKE VOURI
Where: Village Books
1200 11th Street, Bellingham (Fairhaven)
What: Mike Vouri, author of The Pig War: Standoff at Griffin Bay, tells stories of the Pig War
Date: Wednesday Sept. 13
Time: 7:00pm
FREE!

Sandcastle

Written by Teague Parker     Directed by Mark Kuntz
July 2017 (PAST EVENT)

World Premier!

Husband and wife Andreas and Rowen are stranded on a desert island when they decide to get a divorce. Bellingham TheatreWorks presents the world premiere of the Rhythm-n-Blues inspired world of Sandcastle. This dark comedy, by local playwright Teague Parker, showcases a world of two people left with nothing but each other and their imagination.

Where: Firehouse Performing Arts Center
1314 Harris Ave, Bellingham, (Fairhaven area)

Dates: Friday July 14, Saturday July 15, Sunday July 16;
Friday July 21, Saturday July 22

Time: 7:30pm

Tickets: $15 at the door or online

Cast:
Rowen: Lauren Senechal
Andreas: Teague Parker

Playwright Bio:
A recent graduate from Western Washington University, Teague Parker received the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region IIV best play award for his previous play, Smooth, Smooth Jazz. His work has been produced both at Western and as part of the Sylvia Center’s New Work Festival.