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Seattle, Washington – Taproot Theatre Company has plenty to celebrate this holiday season. In addition to the world premiere of Le Club Noel, a Christmas play with music written by Candace and Sam Vance, it will open the long-awaited addition to its building, The Kendall Center, which houses a new café and wine bar, lobby, black box theatre, scene shop, and administrative offices.
Guests are invited to a ribbon-cutting and celebration in the new glassed-in lobby and future café – located next door to the original theatre – prior to the opening night of Le Club Noel. The celebration, “Christmas in Paris,” begins at 6:30 pm with Parisian desserts and a hot chocolate bar enjoyed to music from The Inverse Opera and Dickens Carolers. From there, patrons will continue their European experience as they take their seats to watch Le Club Noel, a Christmas play with music set in a 1933 Parisian Cabaret.
“We’re closing 2013 with a grand opening that brings Taproot full circle from what was a tragedy four years ago to the opening of a brand new building that will create dozens of opportunities for training new actors, developing new works, theatrical performances, concerts and all kinds of wonderful things,” said Scott Nolte, artistic director. “The café will be a vibrant hub for our neighborhood, and in the theatre building itself we are producing a world premiere written by artists whom we have invested in for two decades. The chance to see something that began as a disruption and caused so much chaos become something so positive puts us on the cusp of an exciting, new beginning.”
The Theatre’s new 12,000 square foot addition was constructed offsite by Method Prefab when Taproot opted for modular construction to expand into the space previously occupied by the Eleanor Roosevelt Building. The new building was installed in 21 modules over two days and took a total of 10 months to complete. Outside finish details by Buchanan unite the new modular components with the existing theatre building. Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership, the targeted LEED Silver building renovation and expansion takes design cues from the early 1900’s era neighborhood setting, adding improved energy efficiency, public green space in a congested traffic corridor, and the use of environmentally friendly materials.
About Method Prefab
Method Prefab (Method) is a custom manufacturer of precision-built prefabricated structures. The company offers fully custom prefabrication of any design by any architect. Founded with a mission of adding innovation to the future of construction, Method is guided by the core value of thoughtful, sustainable design. Prefabrication allows Method to reduce construction timelines and control costs while building custom projects in a controlled environment, minimizing exposure and waste. As such, Method can focus on sustainability and cutting edge design. Method’s structures ship 80 to 95 percent complete, resulting in project timelines of two to five months.
About Taproot Theatre Company
Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, nonprofit theatre company with a multi‐faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and the Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association (PNA) and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.
About The Miller Hull Partnership
Founded in 1977,The Miller Hull Partnership specializes in award-winning, performance-based design for public and private buildings that actively engage their communities through simple, innovative and authentic designs. Current projects include the Bullitt Center in Seattle–the first commercial building to target Living Building status, along with the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry border crossing between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico–the busiest border crossing in the world. The Miller Hull Partnership is the recipient of the National Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects.
