It’s official. We have the dates and we are rolling out the press release to local and national media as I post this. The second edition of NewsWrights United’s Living Newspaper: The New New News will be delivered at three—count ‘em, THREE!—theatrical doorsteps throughout Seattle: North, South and Central. I am enclosing the release, authored by our magnificent Managing Producer, Jim Jewell, so that you can have all the coveted details:
*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2011
Media Contact: Jim Jewell, Managing Producer
jim@newswrightsunited.org
206.359.1738
NewsWrights United presents…
The New New News:
A Living Newspaper about
Journalism in the Age of New Media
SEATTLE, WA – NewsWrights United will be delivering the next edition of their Living Newspaper to neighborhoods throughout Seattle this spring with The New New News: A Living Newspaper, opening February 18, 2011 at Olympic Theatre at South Seattle Community College (SSCC). The New New News will remain at Olympic Theatre through February 20, 2011 before moving to Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill February 24-27, 2011 and finally to Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College (NSCC) March 2-13, 2011.
The New New News: A Living Newspaper was written by NewsWrights Executive Producer Paul Mullin and Creative Producer Dawson Nichols, in collaboration with Editing Producer Tom Paulson, and will be directed by Nichols.
The New New News: A Living Newspaper examines journalism in the age of new media, paying special attention to the implications to information and democracy created by the collapse of newspapers, the 24-hour news cycle and the demands of monetizing media. The play follows the staff of The New New News, an online news provider dedicated to coverage of online news, after their primary financier has given them just 12 hours to double website traffic or be shut down. Coverage of the Maurice Clemmons manhunt and The Seattle Times’ subsequent Pulitzer win, NW sports-writing legend Art Thiel’s efforts to launch and monetize his own sports site, hyper-local political bloggers, live-and-mobile streaming and the ascendance of Twitter underscore The New New News crews’ efforts to create immediate and compelling news. The New New News examines the choices journalists make when their livelihood is on the line and success is measured by the eyeball and the minute.
This is the second Living Newspaper produced by NewsWrights United, serving a similar function as the first while breaking new ground. “It’s Not In The P-I was about the death of a newspaper,” says Nichols. “The New New News is about journalism in the new media environment – who produces it, who consumes it, how it is different from the journalism we have known. Like the first play, this one is local and timely, addressing these issues through stories and people that are rooted in Seattle.”
These are familiar themes for NewsWrights, as they view part of their mission as the revitalization of both theatre and journalism, and localism as a key to success. Jokes Mullin, “Immediacy comes in two basic flavors: one of time and one of space. When you bring journalism into a theatre, you bring the two different flavors together for an explosively tasty combination! It’s better than peanut butter and jelly.”
This newest Living Newspaper will once again be produced in cooperation with NSCC’s theatre program (which is led by NewsWrights’ producer Nichols), and will bring together professional actors with NSCC students. The professional cast includes Michelle Chiachiere, Mark Fullerton, Joe Ivy, Catherine Kettrick, Joe McCarthy and Jordan Williamson. Dan Schuy from NSCC serves as Technical Director, Lighting Designer and Set Designer.
The full performance schedule for The New New News: A Living Newspaper is as follows:
Olympic Theatre at South Seattle Community College (SSCC)
6000 16th Ave. SW, Seattle, 98106
Friday February 18 and Saturday February 19 @ 7:30pm
Sunday February 20 @ 2pm
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/148545
The Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill (part of Seattle Central Community College)
1524 Harvard Ave, Seattle, 98122
Thursday February 24, Friday February 25 and Saturday February 26 @ 7:30pm
Sunday February 27 @ 2pm
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/148614
Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College (NSCC)
9600 College Way North, Seattle, 98103
Wednesday March 2 at Noon
Friday March 4, Saturday March 5, Friday March 11 & Saturday March 12 @ 7:30pm
Sunday March 6 and Sunday March 13 @ 2pm
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/148619
All performances Pay What You Will. Advance reservations available at Brown Paper Tickets for each performance venue as listed above.
NewsWrights United would like to thank 4Culture, Vulcan, Shunpike and their many individual donors for supporting The New New News and other programs of NewsWrights United.
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About NewsWrights United
NewsWrights United was founded in 2009 by playwrights Paul Mullin and Dawson Nichols and former P-I reporter Tom Paulson to produce It’s Not in the P-I: A Living Newspaper About a Dying Newspaper. Managing Producer Jim Jewell and Dramaturg Wes Andrews joined the team in summer 2010. NewsWrights United’s mission is to produce and advance the form of the Living Newspaper – local, topical stories pursued with journalistic rigor and presented through the medium of live theatre.
About Shunpike
Shunpike is a 501(c)(3) non-profit art service organization whose mission is to strengthen the Seattle arts community by partnering with small and mid-size arts groups to develop the business tools they need to succeed. Working in close partnership with these groups, Shunpike helps solve problems quickly and impart vital skills in finance, organizational management and arts administration.
