Friday, November 22, 2013

Baseball, heroes, and dreams.


I'll be there tonight, say hello if you are too. Watch for my post late this evening with my reaction to the play. 

John Wren 

By Steven Dietz
From the book by Dan Gutman

WHEN & WHERE:                        
November 15 – December 22 in The Space Theatre
Media Night: Thursday, November 21 @ 6:30pm

PERFORMANCE DATES:                                                                       
Thursday, November 21                                             6:30pm
Friday – Sunday                                                         7:30pm
Saturday & Sunday matinee                                       1:30pm

There will be 15 student matinees. For more information, please contact agriesmer@dcpa.org.


ABOUT:
This engaging, family-friendly show about a time traveling Little Leaguer plucks all the right heartstrings. Joey Stoshack jumps back in time to witness Jackie Robinson break the baseball color barrier for a school project. When Joey’s skin color changes in the process, he learns how different the world can look and how important it is to have a hero.

CAST:
Joey Stoshack                                     AARON M. DAVIDSON                
Jackie Robinson                                  WILLIAM OLIVER WATKINS                                         
Coach                                                  MICHAEL SANTO              
Bobby Fuller                                       RYAN WUESTEWALD                              
Mom                                                    DIANA DRESSER   
Dad                                                     TIMOTHY MCCRACKEN
Mrs. Levitt                                          KRISTEN ADELE
Flip                                                      MICHAEL SANTO
Leo Durocher                                      JUSTIN WALVOORD
Branch Rickey                                                MICHAEL SANTO
Rachel Robinson                                 KRISTEN ADELE
Ant                                                      RYAN WUESTEWALD
Dixie Walker                                       JOHN M. JURCHECK
Eddie Stanky                                      LEIGH NICHOLS MILLER
Pee Wee Reese                                    JUSTIN WALVOORD                                             
Mrs. Herskowitz                                 DIANA DRESSER                                       
Delivery Man                                      TIMOTHY MCCRACKEN
Policeman                                            LEIGH NICHOLS MILLER
Ben Chapman                                     RYAN WUESTEWALD
Babe Ruth                                           MICHAEL SANTO

ARTISTIC STAFF:
Director                                               STEPHEN WEITZ
Set Designer                                        LISA M. ORZOLEK
Costume Designer                               MEGHAN ANDERSON DOYLE
Lighting Designer                               CHARLES MACLEOD
Sound Designer                                  JASON DUCAT       
Dramaturg                                           DAVID SAPHIER
Voice and Dialect Coach                    KATHRYN G. MAES, Ph.D

INTERESTING FACTS:
·         Author Steven Dietz was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and received his BA from the University of Northern Colorado.
·         Adapter Dan Gutman is best known for his Baseball Card Adventures book series which started off with Honus & Me. The series revolves around a child travelling back in time to meet a baseball legend.
·         The set was created to feel like a baseball stadium and its floor was hand-painted with baseball cards from the 1800’s until today.
·         In 1949, Jackie Robinson was selected as the National League’s Most Valuable Player of the Year and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
·         In 1997, Major League Baseball "universally" retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams; he was the first pro athlete in any sport to be so honored. Initiated for the first time on April 15, 2004, Major League Baseball has adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", on which every player on every team wears #42.
·         Robinson's retired #42 hangs in tribute in every big-league stadium.

QUOTES:
As a life-long baseball fan, I love the way this play speaks to the place of the game in our culture. Baseball provides the perfect platform for a young boy's journey of growth and understanding.  The play also shows the historical significance of the game in America.  For every significant moment in modern American history, there's a story about baseball that encapsulates that moment.” – Stephen Weitz, Director

“Since I was a little boy, I have had two loves in my life, sports and the arts. Too often I have seen people who are a lover of one of these humanistic expressions dismiss the other, but to me they couldn't be more similar. They both are about doing the impossible, testing physical and mental limits, about the dreams of kids that can become realities as adults. It’s about seeing something you never imagined could happen and then dreaming about it for yourself. I hope that with Jackie & Me we can bring lovers of both sports and theater to the Denver Center and make them discuss, think, and dream.” – Aaron M. Davidson, actor playing the role of Joey Stoshack 

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
The cast and artistic staff of Jackie & Me are available for interviews. Please send requests to agriesmer@dcpa.org.

EVENTS:
American Sign Language Interpretation/Audio Described Performance | December 8, 1:30pm

Ø  CONNECT
Spark a dialogue today when you connect through our free discussion series.

Perspectives on the Play | November 15 at 6pm
The DCTC’s creative team provides the audience a unique perspective on the production. In The Jones Theatre.

General Talkback | November 24, post-show
Join us for a discussion with the actors from the show.

Talkback hosted by the Higher Education Advisory Council | December 8, post-show
Join the cast for a discussion led by members of our academic community.


Denver Public Library Workshop
Prepare for Jackie & Me through a participatory workshop designed to introduce the characters and explore the themes of the play and novel.

TICKETS:
Single tickets for Jackie & Me start at $29 (non-SCFD) and also are available for $10 (SCFD 10 for $10 program).  To purchase, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100.  For groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829.  TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582.  Tickets also may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby.  Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.orgStudent rush $10 tickets are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability.  Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. No children under four will be admitted to any theatre.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).  Please visit our website at www.denvercenter.org.

GENERAL:
This production of Jackie & Me is generously supported by Producing Partners The Corley Legacy Foundation and Keith & Kathie Finger. Jackie & Me is part of the Denver Center Theatre Company 2013/14 season, which is generously supported by Daniel L. Ritchie, Larimer Square, The Steinberg Charitable Trust and Wells Fargo.

About the Denver Center Theatre Company
The Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theatre Company, helmed by Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson, is currently in its 35th season of offering classic, contemporary and new works to the American West.


**Please be advised that The Denver Center for the Performing Arts – denvercenter.org – is the ONLY authorized online seller of tickets for Denver Center Attractions (the Broadway touring productions) and the Denver Center Theatre Company (the resident theatre company productions). Currently there are scalpers, also known as ‘second party vendors,’ selling tickets online at a rate more than double the standard price – and up. Tickets bought through these vendors MAY NOT BE VALID. You could not only be refused admission, but also lose your entire investment.


The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit organization.

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