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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL ACE, WINNER OF THE MICKEY KAPLAN NEW AMERICAN PLAY PRIZE, (CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park continues its Marx Theatre season with the world premiere musical Ace, winner of this year’s Mickey Kaplan New American Play Prize. With music by Cincinnati native Richard Oberacker and book and lyrics by Mr. Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the show begins previews on October 17 and continues through November 17. Ace tells the story of a 1950s boy searching for a sense of family and identity in the unlikeliest of places. As the show begins, 10-year-old Billy Lucas is a troubled young man about to be placed with a foster family. Billy’s mother is suffering from severe depression, and she’s told Billy that his father abandoned them before he was born. Billy initially is resentful of his foster family and his new school, where he is taunted by several of the other children. One day, Billy’s foster father, searching for a way to connect with the boy, brings home a model airplane. That night, while falling asleep, Billy tugs the plane into bed with him. Suddenly, the door to his room swings open and Ace steps through. A young man in his early 20s dressed in a full World War II Air Force pilot’s uniform, Ace calls out to Billy to come with him in his dreams. In doing so, Ace unlocks the door to a fantastic new world. He takes Billy on a series of heroic and haunting adventures, beginning in 1917 at a small military airstrip in Texas and jumping forward through both World Wars. As Ace’s visits continue, what Billy discovers reveals not only the secrets of his past but also the key to his future. Ace initially was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in 2005. This run is the show’s first full production, a world premiere in collaboration with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where the show runs from September 6 to October 1. Richard Oberacker is currently the conductor for Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ in Las Vegas. A graduate of Anderson High School and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), he also has written the musicals Dracula: The Game of Love, In that Valley, A Little Theatre, Southern Cross, The Gospel According to Fishman, and Journey to the West. Robert Taylor tours as a violinist with Disney’s The Lion King. He has taught foreign languages and ornithology in New York and English and music in China; founded and directed several nonprofit organizations; and worked as a freelance musician and writer in Manhattan, a translator in Europe and Asia and a lecturer on opera and art history. The cast for Ace includes several members with Cincinnati connections. Real-life husband and wife Jessica Boevers and Matt Bogart will portray Elizabeth and Ace. Both are 1994 graduates of CCM and have numerous Broadway credits to their resumes, including In My Life, Oklahoma!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Les Misérables and Rent (hers) and Aida, Miss Saigon, The Civil War and Smokey Joe's Café (his). Amy Bodnar, who portrays Louise in Ace, spent a year as a soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet, while Gabrielle Stravelli (Anique/Ensemble) is also a 2001 CCM graduate. Other members of the cast include Heather Ayers (who has appeared in Playhouse productions of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Beehive; and The Last Five Years) as Ruth, Kelli Barrett as Nurse/Ensemble, Richard Barth as Lieutenant Sanders/Sullivan/Ensemble, Gabrielle Boyadjian as Emily, Noah Galvin as Billy, James Judy as Toy Store Owner/Colonel Whitlow/Chennault/Ensemble, Duke Lafoon as Edward/Stampley, Chris Peluso as John Robert, Kevin Reed as Tennaman/Stein/Ensemble, Danny Rothman as Cooper/Myron/Ensemble, Susan Kokot Stokes as Teacher/Ensemble and Traci Lyn Thomas as Mrs. Crandall/Clara Whitlow. Two local children also appear in the show. Milford native Evan Martin, who has spent four seasons in the Playhouse’s production of A Christmas Carol as Tiny Tim and Boy Scrooge, will play the Sidekick while Wesley Zurick of Hyde Park will make his Playhouse debut as the Bully. Ace is directed by Stafford Arima. Mr. Arima directed the off-Broadway production of Altar Boyz, which received the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical. For his 2004 West End production of Ragtime in London, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for best director. Other members of the production team include Andrew Palermo (Choreographer, 1995 CCM graduate), David Kreppel (Music Director, 1992 CCM graduate), Greg Anthony (Orchestrator, 2003 master’s degree CCM graduate), David Korins (Set Designer), Marie Anne Chiment (Costume Designer), Christopher Akerlind (Lighting Designer), John H. Shivers (Sound Designer) and David Patridge (Sound Designer). The first stage manager is Andrea L. Shell and the second stage manager is Jenifer Morrow. The Playhouse is offering two opportunities to go behind the scenes for Ace. On Sunday, October 29 at 6 p.m., the Playhouse Perspectives Series will welcome Richard Oberacker to discuss the ideas behind and evolution of his exciting new show. No reservations are needed for this free event at the Playhouse, which is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Roderick and Barbara Barr. For more information, contact the Playhouse at (513) 421-3888 or visit www.cincyplay.com. On Monday, November 6 at 7 p.m. at the Playhouse, theatre fans are invited to spend an evening with Matt Bogart and Jessica Boevers. They’ll offer a peek at the making of a new musical by delving deeper into today’s Broadway, the actor’s life and creating new works in this casual question and answer session with two of Broadway’s brightest young stars. No reservations are needed for this event. A minimum $5 donation at the door will benefit the League of Cincinnati Theatres and the Acclaim Awards Theatre Artist Project Fund. There will be a cash bar and free parking. For more information, e-mail acclaim@cincinnati.com. Prices for Ace range from $41.50-$54.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $38.50 for the preview performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 17 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 18. The official opening night is Thursday, October 19 at 8:00 p.m. All Saturday matinee performances of Ace take place at 4 p.m. Please note the earlier time. Any 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. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available. Tickets to Ace 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. |
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Meet the Artists 2 p.m. Sunday, October 22 Audio Described Performance Signed Performance Playhouse Perspectives 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 $21, 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: Design Sponsor: Artist Sponsors: The 2006-2007 Marx Theatre Series is presented by The Marx Season Design Sponsor is ### |
