BELLINGHAM THEATREWORKS
2025 SEASON
Fairhaven Summer Repertory Theatre presents…
In Search of a Common Language
June 24-July 20
Firehouse Arts and Events Center
1314 Harris Avenue, Fairhaven, WA
This Summer, Bellingham Theatreworks is producing three award winning and thought-provoking plays written by authors who explore how language can both set us apart and bring us together.
The Foreigner by Larry Shue,
Directed by Mark Kuntz
In a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, a tragically shy proofreader for a science fiction magazine tries to hide from life, only to put himself in the middle of a family squabble over money and power. This hilarious comedy earned multiple Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production.
Mark Kuntz…
Video by Ava Nicholas and Adeline Roesler-Begalke
The Language Archive by Julia Cho,
Directed by Cara Phipps
George is consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of the world. At home, however, despite all the languages he speaks, words fail him in his marriage with his wife. This heartfelt bittersweet comedy won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for new plays.
Cara Phipps…
Video by Ava Nicholas and Adeline Roesler-Begalke
Translations by Brian Friel,
Directed by Kayla Adams
A British soldier falls in love with an Irish peasant girl, with a backdrop of the British Army’s campaign to change the names of native Gaelic locations. This lyric play explores language as the soul of a nation, during a time of complicated social upheaval.
Kayla Adams…
Video by Ava Nicholas and Adeline Roesler-Begalke
Audience members will experience the intimacy of being in the round at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center, sitting with the actors while they explore a hilarious satire, a lyric look at the past, and a heartfelt comic hug. All three plays have multiple scenes where the characters desperately want to communicate with each other but are faced with a language barrier. This summer’s offerings promise to explore how language is deeply aligned with culture and identity, and how it can lead to unexpected interpersonal challenges.
Our company combines many members of the community: students and educators, parents and children, as well as guest artists from far beyond Bellingham Bay, all working together to bring these three plays to life.
All performances take place in the historic Firehouse Arts and Events Center at
1314 Harris Avenue in Fairhaven, WA.
POST SHOW DISCUSSIONS
“The Language Archive,” Sunday, June 29th
following the performance at approx. 7:45 and followed by a reception at 8:30 in the Firehouse garden
Led by Whatcom Community Foundation President & CEO Mauri Ingram, and Brad Tuininga, VP of Philanthropy. The vision of the Whatcom Community Foundation is “Everyone who lives here thrives.” Achieving it means cultivating neighborliness, lifting community voices, and investing in equity and hope.
“Translations,” led by Josh Krenz & Heather Jefferson, Sunday July 6th following the performance at approximately 7:30 pm
Josh Krenz is a writer, producer, and educator who believes that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways that we make sense of the world, and each other. He holds a MFA in screenwriting and has been the Director of Educational Programming for the Bellingham Script Studio since 2016, where he’s helped develop and mentor screenwriters across the region. Josh also has moderated the CASCADIA International film festival script studios for the past five years. He currently is the Director of Content Services at Steyer Content, a full-service agency supporting enterprise clients where he’s led creative teams since 2021.
Heather Jefferson is a Lummi Nation member, a mother and grandmother, and an educator who is committed to providing high-quality education with humility and grace. She brings a wealth of experience from over 30 years of working in classrooms with students from Pre-K through adult professionals. For the past 8 years, she has been supporting local schools and social agencies with training and facilitation on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and REACH (Respecting Ethnic and Cultural Heritage).
“The Foreigner,” Led by Marlowe Lawson, Sunday, July 13th following the performance at approx. 7pm
Marlowe Lawson is a 2025 WWU graduate in Energy Policy and Management. Through the research undergone for their capstone, they have developed and led discussions centered around applied hope and community joy, and how to use these concepts to restore agency during times of crisis. They believe that fostering strong communities is the first step to widespread change and through building mutual respect and finding common ground, a better future can be made. They have facilitated conversations on a wide variety of topics including civic involvement and stakeholder engagement.
Tickets for all three shows
at a discounted rate
COMPLETED WORKS FOR THE SEASON…
New Play Cafe - six readings of new plays by Pacific Northwest Playwrights, selected from dozens of submissions. From wacky comedies to mind bending dramas to a staunch believer in Bigfoot, these plays represent the cutting edge of work coming out of the Pacific Northwest.
Sync by Shanna Allman
Friday April 4
Directed by Ashley Albertson
So what if my boyfriend is a robot!?!?
What an Impossible Idea by Tommer Peterson
Saturday April 5
Directed by Suzie Mackay
Poetic journey into Indigenous lives.
One Day, We Will All Join Hands by Dane Wheaton
Sunday April 6
Directed by Dallas Milholland
Completely mind-bending drama. Nothing is as it seems.
Bigfoot by Meghan Endres Brown
Friday April 18
Directed by Ann Smith
A true believer, with a podcast, is willing to sacrifice her family for Bigfoot.
Born a Clown by Rand Higbee
Saturday April 19
Directed by Carol Makela
A genetic scientist is hilariously upended by her research.
Ugly Cry Christmas by Brianna Barrett
Sunday April 20
Directed by Megan Markham
A sweet exploration of a fragile teenager befriending an elderly woman online.
Bellingham TheatreWorks in partnership with Options High School drama department presents the musical WORKING, based on the book by Studs Terkel. WORKING tells stories of working people’s jobs and lives. Characters in the musical have jobs as varied as receptionist, stonemason, schoolteacher, flight attendant, trucker, cleaning woman, migrant worker, editor, tech support, and fast-food worker.
With nine student actors/singers from Options High School and seventeen adults from Bellingham TheatreWorks, this is a major, feel-good production! Come enjoy this jubilant celebration of everyday people. WORKING!
WORKING 2012 REVISED VERSION is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.
CAST
Ann Smith: Ella
Dallas Milholland: Joy Mead
Dany Shaw: Mary
Kellyann Walbeck: Leslie
Breeann Dunivent: Ali
Ethel Stephens: Mayor Annie
Matthew Twining: John
Robert Frederiksen: Chris
Kua Patten: Gary / the whale
Jordan Cruminty: Alexander / Karl
CREW
Mark Kuntz: Director
Johncen Oxales: Assistant Director
Charlie Muroya: Costumer
Ella Jeon: Assistant Stage Manager
Autumn Hahn: Props Manager
Zane Borman: Stage Manager
Katelyn Coleman: Stage Manager
Allissa Flood: Projections
Pam Kuntz: Projections
Ace Yatsuk: Light Board Operator
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn
Photo by David Cohn