FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 18, 2008
Contact: Emma F. Caro
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 2071
CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS ELLA,
A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF LEGENDARY
JAZZ SINGER ELLA FITZGERALD
(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park closes its Marx Theatre season with a glittering tribute to America's First Lady of Song, ELLA. This swinging new musical begins previews April 22 and continues through May 25.
It’s 1966 in Nice, France, and singer Ella Fitzgerald is preparing for one of the most important concerts of her career. As she and her fellow musicians finish with rehearsal the afternoon of the concert, her manager, Norman, throws her a curve: He’d like Ella to cut one of the usual numbers in order to add room for some “patter” with the audience. The concert is going to be taped for television, and Norman wants Ella to convince them that she’s doing alright following the death of a close family member.
With this daunting task before her she begins to reminisce, uncovering a past the public never knew — from her childhood with an abusive stepfather to getting a big break at the famous Apollo Theater’s amateur night. She also looks back on the men in her life — her managers, husbands and her son — her secrets and the love of music that ultimately made her soar. All of her most famous hits will be performed, including “A Tisket, A Tasket,” “How High the Moon,” “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take that Away from Me.”
Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra. ELLA premiered at TheatreWorks in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2005 and has toured numerous regional theatres across the country. The show features a book by Jeffrey Hatcher, an idea conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison and musical direction and arrangements by Danny Holgate.
Broadway veteran Tina Fabrique reprises her critically acclaimed performance as America’s “First Lady of Song”. Her Broadway credits include Dessa Rose, Ragtime, Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, Truly Blessed, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Gospel at Colonus and Harlem Song.She was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for the role of Ella Fitzgerald in the Arena Stage production in Washington, D.C. Thecast also features Harold Dixon as Norman Granz, George Caldwell (Piano/Conductor), Thaddeus Wilson (Trumpet), Rodney Harper (Drums) and Clifton Kellem (Bass). Joilet F. Harris is the understudy for the role of Ella Fitzgerald.
ELLA is directed by Rob Ruggiero, Associate Artistic Director of TheatreWorks in Hartford, Connecticut. He has worked on both plays and musicals at many regional theatres including Arena Stage, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Arizona Theatre Company and San Jose Repertory Theatre among others. He directed and conceived Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn, which ran off-Broadway in 2007. Other members of the production team include Michael Schweikardt (Set Designer), Alejo Vietti (Costume Designer), John Lasiter (Lighting Designer) and Michael Miceli (Sound Designer). The production stage manager is Jenifer Morrow and the stage manager is Suann Pollock.
Prices for ELLA range from $43-$56, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $40 for the preview performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. The official opening night is Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased at the Playhouse between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Some restrictions apply. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.
Tickets to ELLA are on sale now. For more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office, there is a $3 convenience fee per call.
Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair.
The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Special Performances
Meet the Artists
These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.
Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, May 15 at 8 p.m.
Audio Described Performance
4 p.m. Saturday, April 26
Signed Performance
2 p.m. Sunday, April 27
Dining Options
Karlo's Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $25, which does not include gratuity.
Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required.
Sponsors
Production Sponsor:
Bartlett & Co. and James and Mary Miller
Design Sponsor:
Skidmore Sales & Distributing Company, Inc.
Artist Sponsor:
Neyer Construction, Inc.
The 2007-2008 Marx Theatre Series is presented by
The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.
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