Issaquah’s Village Theatre Presents The 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals: An Optimist’s Guide to the Dark Ages
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Music by Michael Kooman
Book and Lyrics by Christopher Dimond
The Dark Ages: A time of plagues, pestilence, and poor personal hygiene.
But in the midst of the mud and the muck, Percival von Schmootz remains impossibly hopeful. In fact, he is the world's one and only optimist, which does not go unnoticed by the jaded residents of his hometown, who are constantly irritated by his positive worldview.
When the Bubonic Plague wipes out the entirety of said hometown, Percival sets out on a quest to personally end the Dark Ages. His efforts meet with hilarious failure at every turn, until he ultimately learns what enlightenment truly means.
With the signature humor of Village favorites Kooman & Dimond (The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, The Break) and a ridiculously fun musical theater score, An Optimist's Guide to the Dark Ages will have audiences walking out with a sunnier outlook—and an urge to wash their hands.
AN OPTIMIST'S GUIDE TO THE DARK AGES, formerly titled THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PERCIVAL VON SCHMOOTZ, was originally commissioned by the Canadian Music Theatre Project. It received further development from the American Music Theatre Project, Adirondack Theatre Festival, and the Bloomington Playwrights' Project. The show will be presented in New York City as part of the Stagedoor Foundation's inaugural New Next Now festival in early 2027.