Producers hope to perform ‘This Is Now’ on a stage in Seattle.

After three sold-out shows on Bainbridge, the all-youth-produced “This Is Now…That Was Then” is hoping to cross the pond to play Seattle.

“People really want to see this,” said creator and choreographer Vince Palazzolo, a Bainbridge High School senior. “The response was tremendous. It was such a beautiful thing. People left laughing, crying, with motivational reactions like, ‘I have to do something.’”

Roughly 1,300 people saw the show in late March, and many others were turned away.

Assistant producer and BHS freshman Danielle Yocom said many viewers told them to take the show to other audiences around Washington.

The troupe plans to do exactly that, with shows planned June 2-3 at Seattle’s Moore Theater, which has a capacity of about 1,300.

Now the challenge is to raise the $7,500 deposit as soon as possible to reserve the dates before someone else claims the theater first.

Early June shows would let schools bring students to see it before summer vacation starts.

The show’s dances and songs deal with issues confronting teens today, including personal battles, eating disorders and suicide – but also love.

After the debut performances, Palazzolo said one adult he knew as particularly conservative told him the piece “Love is Blind” – performed by gay, straight and lesbian couples – changed his views. Another woman, after seeing the domestic violence sequence, decided to get out of an abusive relationship.

Karen Vargas, chair of the school district’s multicultural advisory council, told Palazzolo, “You have put (issues) in a non-threatening form through art and dance that will spark conversation and open the lines of communication so young people see they are being heard.”

Via her contacts in youth service organizaions, Vargas hopes to bring students from King County schools to see the show.

To raise money, the group will host a fund-raiser April 16 at Grace Episcopal Church. Earlier that day, members will perform excerpts at the Kitsap Youth Rally on human rights at the high school.

Proceeds from the shows at the Playhouse in March reaped an excess of $5,000, which was donated, as originally pledged, to youth organizations: Bainbridge Youth Services, Bainbridge Island Teen Center, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Human Rights Campaign and the National Eating Disorder Association.

The group also donated $2,000 to found the Rob Goldsworthy Grant, named for the Bainbridge High School English teacher who recently died of AIDS.

The goal, Palazzolo said, was to “push youth to reach for new levels of artistic expression in themselves that has to do with youth and community, and educating all of them (while) making it financially possible.”

“I finally feel like I’m working, doing what I want to do and affecting people in positive ways. We’re going to inspire people to do something about anything.”

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Moore money

A benefit to raise money to secure space at Seattle’s Moore Theater for June 2-3 shows, will be from 6-9:30 p.m. April 16 at Grace Episcopal Church. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and mingle with the show’s costumed characters, who will perform show excerpts. Tickets are $40 each and available at Hallmark, Embellish, Winslow Drug and Island Fitness.

Donations may be sent to This Is Now Fundraising Inc., 16364 Reitan Road, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110. For information, call 842-0622 or email thisisnowproductions@hotmail.com.