I've talked a bit over the years on how theaters have a tendency to pull their theater seasons together by drawing from a fairly shallow well of works. Generally, theaters want to stage shows that people readily want to see, actors want to perform in, and ones that have name recognition with non-theatergoers in hopes that the familiarity will fill those otherwise vacant seats.



Because of this practice, it is not unusual to have one theater in the South Sound stage a show one year only to have another theater do the work the following year — either out of coincidence or out of some drive to tap into the energy already in the works.



Cabaret, Man of La Mancha and Rumors come to mind this year. These are all great plays in their own right; don't get me wrong. They are just ones that have been staged somewhere in the South Sound every year for the last decade or so. Frankly, I appreciate every time I see Cabaret and La Mancha.



This year we have an incident where a South Sound theater is going head-to-head with a regional theater in Seattle by staging a show — not just during the same season, but back-to-back.



Federal Way's Centerstage Theater is set to open its production of My Fair Lady just as Seattle's Paramount Theater ends its run of the classic musical about language, love, upbringing, and social order. I don't know if this is a throwing down of the gauntlet or just an oversight in scheduling. But whatever the case, Centerstage is likely going to fill its seats.

Centerstage’s production will be directed by noted Seattle actor John Farrage, designed by Craig Wollam and choreographed by Kerry Christianson. Musical direction will be by Karen Knoller. In the prized roles of Higgins and Eliza Doolittle are Sean Mitchell and Natalie Moe. The production also features Eric Hartley, Rosalie Hilburn, Ryan Hilders, and Anthony Tribolini.



Centerstage hasn't been making leaps in its staging in recent years as much as it has been catapulting itself to the higher rungs of South Sound theater. Its rejuvenation has been so remarkable, in fact, that it should be a case study for anyone looking at starting or running a theater. Artistic Director Alan Bryce is simply a genius. If anyone can make this work, Bryce can make it shine.



[Knutzen Family Theater, My Fair Lady, May 9-June 1 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday- Sunday, $8-$25, 3200 S.W. Dash Point Road, Federal Way, 253.661.1444]