‘Greater Tuna’ kicks off new season at SecondStory Rep

SecondStory Repertory, the professional theater ensemble at Redmond Town Center, announces its 10th season of plays, running July 2008 through June 2009. Under the new artistic management of technical director Nicholas Lazarro and artistic director Susanna Wilson, the season will open July 25 with “Greater Tuna” (through Aug. 23, 08) starring SecondStory regulars Robert Bogue, Sean Mitchell and Hayden Heibert, the trio who brought us the entire “Complete Works” series.

SecondStory Repertory, the professional theater ensemble at Redmond Town Center, announces its 10th season of plays, running July 2008 through June 2009. Under the new artistic management of technical director Nicholas Lazarro and artistic director Susanna Wilson, the season will open July 25 with “Greater Tuna” (through Aug. 23, 08) starring SecondStory regulars Robert Bogue, Sean Mitchell and Hayden Heibert, the trio who brought us the entire “Complete Works” series.

This production will be followed by Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” (Sept. 5-27, 08).

Ripped from the pages of supermarket tabloids, “Bat Boy, the Musical,” opens appropriately on Halloween (Oct. 31-Nov.29, 08) followed by the spine-tingling ghost story “The Woman in Black” (Jan. 9-31, 09).

Next is Alfred Uhry’s moving portrayal of a Jewish family in the south, “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” (March 6-28, 09).

“HMS Pinafore” brings Gilbert and Sullivan’s first big hit to the SecondStory stage (April 3-May 2, 09) and the season finishes with the hilarious “I Hate Hamlet” (June 5-27, 09)

This is also the 10th anniversary season of SecondStory Repertory’s SPROUTS Children’s Theatre series, performing hour-long musicals adapted from a classic fairy tale for children ages 4 and up.

The season starts with “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (Oct. 3-19, 08) followed by “The Elves and the Shoemaker” (Dec. 5-21, 08), “Rapunzel” (Feb. 6-22, 09) and closing with “Little Red Riding Hood” (May 8-24, 09).

Tickets are $8.75 each, with subscriptions starting at $29.

Subscribers who sign up before the season starts also receive an extra perk: two tickets to Split Second Improv (Oct. 3-18 and Dec. 5-20, 08 and Feb. 6-22, May 8-24, 09) an improvisational comedy team co-produced between SecondStory Repertory and Unexpected Productions.

Other special events during SecondStory Repertory’s 10th season include the teen program “Godspell” (July 11-19, 08), Thistle Theatre’s “Aesop’s Fables” (Jan. 2-4, 09) and the “The 24-Hour Teen Play Festival” (Feb. 28, 09).

Times and ticket prices vary. Check the Web site or box office for details at www.secondstoryrep.org or (425) 881-6777.