“Noises Off”is ON, hitting a new stage Feb. 21, 2014 as Burien Actors Theatre has received permission to use the old Staples retail space, located in the southwest corner of the Burien Town Plaza (14907 4th Ave SW).
Because of the arson fire at the Burien Annex, BAT had to find a new home for this production.
“If you know your away around Burien, the old Staples store is located near Bartell Drugs and Ace Hardware – both of which agreed that BAT could use the old Staples space (BAT needed their approval to make this deal work),” reads an announcement. “Thanks to both of them.”
One hundred or so residents also wrote to the Burien City Council, asking the council, as BAT’s landlord, to rebuild. As we first reported Feb. 4, the city issued a contract to Belfor Property Restoration for repairs to the fire-damaged Annex Auditorium. Work is expected to be completed by the end of April.
“Thanks to to the Council and City staff who helped keep theater alive in Burien by deciding to rebuild,” said Eric Dickman.
After BAT partnered with the Highline Historical Society to house performances of “Coney Island Christmas,” they had to turn their attention to finding a space for “Noises Off.”
However, this play is a special case, in that requires a two-story, 16’6″ tall set.
“If BAT were to stay in Burien, BAT needed to find a tall space,” Dickman added. “This ruled out many spaces that BAT first looked at. After a few weeks, BAT was down to 4 viable options. BAT kept working each one to see what was possible. One by one an impossible condition was placed in BAT’s way. Some were financial, others were permitting. It is not easy to open a pop-up theater, and it is far too cold to ‘take it to the streets,’ even if the ‘Noises Off’ set could be placed on the street.”
When BAT chose “Noises Off” for this season, the set designer, Abli Clamenti and BAT had many meetings to make sure it would work in BAT’s regular – but now unusable – theater. To make it work, the set was going to be on the back wall of the space, opposite the stage, and the audience seating was going to be turned completely around.
“A lot of work to make it happen, but it was fun and will be a whole different feel for BAT’s audience,” Dickman said.
Then there was the fire.
“It will once again be a whole different feel for the audience, but not in the way BAT had originally hoped,” Dickman added. “This is a great show and the cast and crew have worked hard to make it one of the funniest shows in BAT’s history. It will be more than a good time in an otherwise unused space. Art happens everywhere, given a chance.”
BAT moved the set into the old Staples store this weekend.
Of course, the rent is steep at the Staples space, much more than BAT’s typical rent, but BAT wanted to stay in Burien if that was possible. To pull off keeping better live theater in the Burien downtown area is a win-win. Of course, BAT is accepting tax deductible donations to off-set these added costs: http://click4tix.com/
“Noises Off” a comedy by Michael Frayn:
“The funniest farce ever written…” This manic comedy whisks you backstage to flubbed lines, false entrances and a million laughs – as a troupe of oddball actors takes their terrible show, a sex comedy titled “Nothing On,” out on the road. “Noises Off” will leave you in stitches the entire evening.
Click button to get tickets online:, or send an email with your request to: tickets@burienactorstheatre.org!
- Friday – February 21 at 8:00 p.m – Opening Night!
- Saturday – February 22 at 8:00 p.m. – Date Night!
- Sunday – February 23 at 2:00 p.m. – $7 Sunday
- Friday – February 28 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday – March 1 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday – March 2 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday – March 7 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday – March 8 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday – March 9 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday – March 14 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday – March 15 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday – March 16 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday – March 21 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday – March 22 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday – March 23 at 2:00 p.m.