Village Theatre Announces Key Artistic Team Updates and Leadership Renewals

Village Theatre Announces Key Artistic Team Updates and Leadership Renewals

Issaquah, WA (November 3, 2025) – Village Theatre is thrilled to announce several exciting updates to its artistic leadership team, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to bringing vibrant storytelling and artistic excellence to audiences on Seattle’s Eastside and throughout the North Sound.

Adam Immerwahr, Village Theatre’s Artistic Director, has renewed his contract for an additional five years, ensuring continued visionary leadership and creative innovation. Since joining the organization, Immerwahr has deepened the theatre’s artistic impact across the region, driven strategic enhancement of its world-class youth theater education program, and developed more than 15 new works at all stages of the creative process. He recently directed Village’s productions of Dial M for Murder, Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood, and The Fantasticks. Immerwahr is responsible for Village Theatre’s season selection and also oversees the artistic, education, and production departments.

Joining the artistic team is Aislinn Frantz-Nava, who steps into the role of Associate Artistic Director. Frantz-Nava brings a wealth of experience in theatrical development and a passion for cultivating dynamic new musical theater works. In her role with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Frantz-Nava produced the North American premiere of Six and world premiere of The Notebook, along with many Shakespeare productions for audiences of all ages. In the same role with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, she supported nationally renowned programming like the National Music Theater Conference and Young Playwrights Festival.

Arika Matoba has been appointed Casting Director & Producing Associate, a role that will further strengthen the theatre’s commitment to intentional casting and seamless producing support. Matoba’s casting expertise and collaborative spirit are already making a meaningful impact behind the scenes.

Additionally, R.J. Tancioco has renewed his contract as Artistic Associate, continuing his invaluable partnership with the artistic team, including Resident Music Supervisor Tim Symons. Tancioco and Symons’ work has been instrumental in shaping the theatre’s sound and supporting all its artists. Tancioco’s recent Village credits include music direction of Jersey Boys and the Youth Education production of Les Misérables; Symons’ recent Village credits include music direction of Brigadoon and Legally Blonde.

“We are incredibly proud of the team we’ve built and the direction we’re heading,” said Derek Watanabe, Village Theatre Managing Director. “These updates reflect Village Theatre’s dedication to creating truly excellent, locally produced professional musical theater that resonates deeply with our audiences.”

For more information about Village Theatre, upcoming productions, youth education programs, and artist opportunities, please visit VillageTheatre.org.

ABOUT ADAM IMMERWAHR
Adam Immerwahr is the Artistic Director for Village Theatre, where he is responsible for season selection and also oversees the artistic, education, and production departments. He recently directed Village’s productions of Dial M for Murder, Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Fantasticks. He previously served as Artistic Director of Theater J, the Associate Artistic Director at McCarter Theatre, and the Resident Director of Passage Theatre. Adam’s producing credits include new works by Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, Danai Gurira, Fiasco Theater, Will Power, Stephen Wadsworth, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Ken Ludwig, several of which have transferred to Broadway or off-Broadway. As a director, Adam’s work has been seen from Aspen to Zimbabwe, including at some of the top theaters in the country: The Public and Theater Row (both for Summer Play Festival), Ensemble Studio Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, McCarter Theater, Cleveland Play House, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Theater J, Passage Theater, Hangar Theater, Bristol Riverside, and many others. He serves on the Board of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and is an inaugural member of the Drama League Director’s Council.
  
ABOUT AISLINN FRANTZ-NAVA
Aislinn Frantz-Nava is a producer, dramaturg, and advocate for new work who recently served as Associate Producer for Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where she helped produce the world premieres of The Notebook and It Came From Outer Space, and the North American premieres of Six, Nell Gwynn, and Peter Pan—A Musical Adventure. Previously, Frantz-Nava was Associate Producer at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, supporting major programs including the National Playwrights and Music Theater Conferences and working with artists like Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok, Fat Mike (NOFX), and Mervyn Millar (War Horse). She also co-produced a concert version of Tales of the City on Broadway. Frantz-Nava has held leadership roles with Ring of Keys and worked as a Junior Agent at Bret Adams, Ltd., representing artists like Sarah Ruhl, Idris Goodwin, and Donnetta Lavinia Grays. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Michigan, where she received the Hopwood Award for Drama.

ABOUT ARIKA MATOBA
Arika Matoba is a theater professional on and off stage, having performed with several of Seattle’s professional companies like Village Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, and Taproot Theatre. Matoba has worked in the Village casting department since 2021, moving from Casting Assistant to Casting Director. Matoba now leads event management and audition coordination for groups of 200+ artists at a time; participates in season planning; collaborates on artistic and marketing projects; and supports mainstage productions from beginning to end.

ABOUT R.J. TANCIOCO
R.J. Tancioco’s career as Music Director and Keyboardist has spanned more than 25 years and extended into the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Select music direction credits include: Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Newsies (Village Theatre); Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, RENT (The 5th Avenue Theatre); As You Like It, Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep); Violet, American Idiot (ArtsWest); Sister Act, Bright Star (Taproot Theatre). A 2010 Gregory Award and 2011/2014 Gypsy Rose Lee award recipient, Tancioco is a vocal coach, arranger, and composer who enjoys educating theatre to youth and cultivating new musicals.

ABOUT TIM SYMONS
Tim Symons is the Resident Music Supervisor at Village Theatre, where he has overseen all aspects of music for the company since 2005. Select credits include Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon, The Color Purple, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Fantasticks, Songs for a New World, and The Who’s Tommy (Village Theatre); Rock of Ages and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Assassins (ACT Theatre); and Man of La Mancha and Xanadu (Arizona Theatre Company).

ABOUT VILLAGE THEATRE
Based in Issaquah, Wash., with operations in Everett, Wash., Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theater in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining, quality productions since 1979, Village has grown into one of the region's best-attended theatres. Village is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having supported the creation of more than 180 new works to date; and also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow’s audiences through its Youth Education programs, serving thousands of young people and their families annually. 
 
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