July 31, 2007                                                                                                                                                    Associate Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                             Phone: 253.573.2360

                                                                                                                                                                             Email: laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

Celebrating Summer Success -

Broadway Center Conservatory presents

Final Performance of Jungle Book

Tacoma , WA - The Broadway Center Conservatory, the Broadway Center's newly formed arts conservatory training program, will showcase over 30 students in the August 3rd performance of Jungle Book by northwest playwright Bryan Willis.

Jesse Michener, former Education Director of Tacoma Actors Guild (TAG), joined the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in March after the theatre closed its doors. “With important and noticeable changes, the Broadway Center Conservatory Summer Sessions are the natural evolution to the program formerly known as STAR Camp. We're looking forward to further success with the newly implemented School Year programs that will begin in September 2007,” says Michener.

Changes include smaller class sizes, a move towards more contemporary plays and a highly-trained staff of working theatre professionals including a cracker-jack team of college-aged interns. David Fischer, Executive Director believes, “With a staff to student ratio of 1:4, we are able to devote deep focus on the individual experience as well as the group experience. First, we are honoring the process of learning about ‘self and team' as much as the outcome of each production.”

Jungle Book , written by northwest playwright Bryan Willis and musical score by Seattle-based Edd Key, recounts the adventures of young Mowgli within his jungle home. Based on the Rudyard Kipling novel, the story is familiar but differs a great deal from the animated versions. Friday's performances mark the close of the Summer Sessions at the Broadway Center Conservatory. “It's been an amazing summer - the best I've had since I began facilitating these programs for TAG,” says Michener.

Catch Jungle Book this Friday, August 3 at 1pm and 4pm in Downtown Tacoma's Theatre on the Square. Tickets are $7 each and are on sale now. To order tickets call Broadway Center Box Office at 253.591.5894, online at www.broadwaycenter.org or visit the Box Office at 901 Broadway in Tacoma 's Theater District.

School year Conservatory classes are announced on the Broadway Center website August 1, with programming for kids as young as 4 through adult training. For more information about the Conservatory, visit www.broadwaycenter.org or call 253.573.2517.

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