Alliance Theatre Extends ETHEL Through May 1

The Alliance Theatre has announced its a final extension of the smash hit, ETHEL, written by and starring accomplished Atlanta performer Terry Burrell. ETHEL is a glimpse into the magnificent and very complicated life of the legendary stage and film star ETHEL Waters. ETHEL will close the Alliance's Hertz Stage season at the Alliance Theatre. The show was scheduled to close on April 17, and had already extended once to April 24. This is a final extension and the show MUST CLOSE on May 1, 2016.

A versatile actress who epitomized the glamour of Black Vaudeville while successfully and lucratively crossing over into traditionally white performance venues, Waters inspired directors, singers, and songwriters with her talent and versatility. Waters was the first to record "Stormy Weather" later starring in the remarkable Cabin in the Sky. Terry Burrell brings this amazing performer to life in a one-woman play with music, band, and the larger than life wit of ETHEL Waters.

Terry Burrell has performed at the Alliance in productions including The Women of Brewster Place, Jar the Floor, and Sophisticated Ladies. Her Broadway credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Three Penny Opera, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, Honky Tonk Nights, and more. Her career also includes many Off-Broadway and regional productions, as well as jazz concerts, voiceover work, and commercials.

The creative team for ETHEL is led by Director Kenneth L. Roberson (Broadway: All Shook Up, Avenue Q; Alliance: The Women of Brewster Place). The team also includes Set Designer Kristen Robinson, Costume Designer Kara Harmon, Lighting Designer Liz Lee, Sound Designer Elisheba Ittoop, and Music Director Tyrone Jackson.

Performances of ETHEL are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, through May 1, 2016. There will be no 2:30 pm performance on Sunday, April 17.

Tickets start at $20 and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office in person or by calling 404.733.5000. Tickets are also available online at www.alliancetheatre.org/ethel. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404.733.4690. Discounted rates are also available for members of the military, seniors and students. The Alliance Theatre is located at the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, in Midtown.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

AfterWords at ETHEL

Following every Saturday and Sunday matinee performance

Free to ETHEL ticket holders

AfterWords events offer audience members the opportunity to interact with cast members during a Q&A moderated by an Alliance Theatre staff member. Get your ticket at www.alliancetheatre.org/ethel.

Play After Work at Article 14

Wednesday, April 13, 6:00 p.m.

$40 package includes happy hour and a ticket to see ETHEL

Come play after work! Featuring happy hour at Article 14 (1180 Peachtree St. NE) with complimentary light bites and drinks, followed by ETHEL on the Hertz Stage. Use code PAW40 at www.alliancetheatre.org/playafterwork.

*Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with any other offer. Subject to availability.

PROMOTIONS:

Dinner Gift Card and Show

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights

$50 package includes two tickets to ETHEL and a $20 gift card for any Fifth Group Restaurant

Enjoy dinner at any Fifth Group restaurant and a performance of ETHEL on the Hertz Stage. Use code DSCARD50 at www.alliancetheatre.org/ethel

*Tax and fees NO T included. Not to be combined with other offers and not valid on previously purchased tickets. Subject to availability.

**Patron will receive one (1) $20.00 gift card for every two (2) tickets purchased. Maximum of eight (8) tickets sold and four (4) gift cards allowed per order. Gift cards and tickets must be picked up in person at the Alliance Theatre box office by initial ticket purchaser with valid ID. $20.00 restaurant gift cards will be redeemable at any Fifth Group restaurant. Show and restaurant gift card package is based on availability. Package sales will close once all restaurant gift cards are redeemed. Offer valid for 3/29, 3/31, 4/3, 4/5, 4/6, 4/7, 4/10, 4/12, 4/13, 4/14, 4/17, 4/19, 4/20, 4/21, 4/24, 4/26, 4/28, and 5/1, evening performances.

The Alliance Theatre is Atlanta's national theater, expanding hearts and minds on stage and off. Founded in 1968, the Alliance Theatre is the leading producing theater in the Southeast, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people. Reaching more than 165,000 patrons annually, the Alliance delivers powerful programming that challenges adult and youth audiences to think critically and care deeply. Under the leadership of Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director, the Alliance Theatre received the Regional Theatre Tony Award in recognition of sustained excellence in programming, education and community engagement.

Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance has premiered more than 95 original productions including Tony Award winners The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, Aida, by Elton John and Tim Rice, and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo. The Alliance has a reputation for developing important American musicals with a strong track record of Broadway, touring, and subsequent productions, including the world premieres of Sister Act: The Musical, Come Fly Away, Bring It On: The Musical, Stephen King and John Mellencamp's Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Harmony - A New Musical by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, and most recently the world premiere of the new musical Tuck Everlasting. The Alliance also creates and nurtures the careers of playwrights through the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, producing the world premiere for the competition winner as part of the regular season, and the Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab, providing developmental support and production resources for three performing arts projects each year.

Annually the Alliance Theatre Acting Program and Education Department reaches over 50,000 students through performances, acting classes, drama camps, and in-school initiatives. The Alliance creates and produces plays for young audiences at every age level: from the Collision Project, where high school artists create and perform new work based on a classic text, to the ground breaking Theatre for the Very Young, creating interactive shows for infants and toddlers. The Alliance also offers community education classes for all ages and abilities of theatre interest; and adult student productions of unproduced plays in development, working with local and national playwrights.

An active participant in Georgia classrooms, the Alliance has developed programs using theatrical techniques to aid in student learning through storytelling and problem solving. The Alliance Arts for Learning Institute equips teachers with theatrical techniques that link directly to school curriculum, align with the Common Core Georgia

Performance Standards, and increase student learning. These programs include Georgia Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts, which focuses on literacy skills for children in Pre-K - 2nd Grade, and Dramaturgy K-12, in which students create research material that informs Alliance productions and prepares peer audiences. Twice recognized by the U.S. Education Department as leaders in arts education, these programs reflect the Alliance's commitment to city wide arts access.

The work produced by the Alliance allows locally based artists the chance to create on a nationally watched stage, building and sustaining Atlanta's artistic community. The vision of the Alliance Theatre is to be a beacon of leadership for the national field, while remaining deeply rooted in and reflective of our local Atlanta community.

Photo Credit: Greg Mooney

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