Book-It Repertory Theatre facts for kids
The Seattle Center House (now the Seattle Center Armory)
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| Formation | 1987 |
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| Type | Theatre group |
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Book-It Repertory Theatre was a special theater group in Seattle. It was often called "Book-It" for short. This group was a nonprofit organization. Its main goal was to turn great books into amazing plays. They wanted to inspire people to read more.
Book-It was founded in 1987. It was led by Jane Jones and Myra Platt for many years. The theater group won several awards. These included the Governor's Arts Award in 2012. They also won the Mayor's Arts Award in 2010. Book-It was part of the Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Program.
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History of Book-It
The idea for Book-It started in 1986. Jane Jones, one of the future leaders, was in New York City. She worked with a group called the 29th Street Project. They tried performing short stories on stage.
After moving to Seattle in 1987, Jane Jones and her friends formed "The Collective." They met in a studio on Pine Street. Myra Platt joined them in 1988. This group started to turn books into plays. They focused on short stories at first.
Book-It became an official nonprofit group in 1990. At that time, they mostly performed for schools and libraries. In 1995, Book-It got its first main stage theater. It was a small 50-seat space on Westlake Avenue. By 2000, Book-It moved to its main home. This was at the Seattle Center.
The Seattle Center location was first called the Center House. Today, it is known as The Armory. In 2019, Jane Jones and Myra Platt announced they would leave their roles. They stepped down in the summer of 2020.
Sadly, Book-It announced its closure in June 2023. Their last show was on July 9, 2023. The plays planned for the 2023–24 season were canceled. People who bought tickets received refunds.
Working with Other Theaters
In October 2024, Jane Jones and Myra Platt worked with another theater. They produced a play called The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. This was done with the Vashon Repertory Theatre. Charlotte Tiencken, who used to work for Book-It, leads the Vashon theater. She hopes to work with Book-It on a play every season.
Book-It Style of Performance
Book-It had a special way of performing plays. It was called "Book-It Style." This style meant they used the author's exact words. They did not change the book's words for the stage.
Words and phrases from the book became dialogue. This included descriptions and even small notes. The actors would say these parts out loud. No single narrator told the story. Instead, different characters shared the narration. This helped the audience understand each character's thoughts.
Arts and Education Program
Book-It Repertory Theatre had a great program. It was called the Arts and Education Program. It used to be known as "Book-It All Over." This program helped kids learn to love reading. It grew a lot thanks to a grant from the Hearst Foundation.
Touring Shows
The touring series brought plays to many places. These plays were based on books for kids and teens. They traveled to libraries, community centers, and schools. Each student got a book and a study guide. There was also an interactive workshop. One popular show was "Danger: Books!" Actors read from books that some people tried to ban.
Family Fun Series
This series happened on the main stage. It usually had about three shows each season. These shows included a short play based on a children's book. There was also a book-themed craft project. Workshops for younger and older kids took place after the show. Parents were encouraged to come with their children.
Student Matinee Shows
Like many theaters, Book-It offered special shows for students. These were called student matinees. They were a low-cost way for teachers to bring students. Kids could enjoy a play on a school trip.
Teacher Programs
Book-It also offered programs for teachers. They had "residencies" which were long-term programs. These were designed with teachers to fit their lessons. They also included a touring play. Book-It also held workshops for groups of teachers. They were part of a summer program too. This program was called "Bringing Theatre into the Classroom." It worked with other Seattle theaters.
Mainstage Productions
Over the years, Book-It Repertory Theatre performed many plays. These plays were all based on famous books. They brought stories from authors like Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens to life on stage. They also performed works by modern authors.
