2 PIANOS 4 HANDS to Play Rubicon, 10/15

Rubicon Theatre of Ventura opens the company's 17th Season (The Search...) with 2 Pianos 4 Hands, written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. Winner of the coveted Dora Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Tony), 2 Pianos 4 Hands is a musical comedy for anyone who has ever had a dream. Directed by Thomas Frey, this hilariously funny production features two actors, two pianos and multiple characters as fifteen years of piano playing unfolds in all its glory. Stories of crazy instructors, obsessed parents, torturous recitals, and other high points of musical training are accompanied by musical selections ranging from classical to pop to jazz. Along the way, these virtuoso actors/pianists portray a dazzling range of characters and display piano wizardry featuring the music of Beethoven, Bach, Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. 2 Pianos 4 Hands opens October 18 with low-priced previews October 15 - 17. Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays through November 16. For tickets, call 805.667.2900 or go to rubicontheatre.org.

Christopher Tocco (Richard) makes his Rubicon debut with 2 Pianos 4 Hands, which he also performed at City Theatre in Pittsburgh. Other credits include One Slight Hitch (George Street Playhouse/W.H.A.T.), War Music, A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theatre), The Lion in Winter (Dorset Theatre Festival), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (S.R.T. - Santa Rosa). Internationally, Tocco was seen in Zorro: The Musical (Shanghai). NY credits include Strictly Dishonorable (The Flea), Bojko and the Glacier (JACK), The Poor of New York (Connelly Theatre), A Dream Play (Billy & Co.), and The Satin Slipper (Storm Theatre). TV, film and web credits include "Elementary," "Lonely Boys" and "The Smackdowns." Additionally, Tocco co-developed new ensemble works with semi:theatre and with Mabou Mines through an artistic residency. He also worked with Theatre Group Dzieci (dziecitheatre.org) and with the SF/NY performance group Odyssey Works developing immersive theatrical experiences for an audience-of-one (odysseyworks.org). Christopher earned his MFA from American Conservatory Theatre.

Actor and director Thomas Frey (Ted and Director) began his association with 2 Pianos 4 Hands over 15 years ago, performing it nearly 700 times all over the United States and Canada. Other credits include Arms and The Man, The Admirable Crichton, and The 39 Steps (Peterborough Players); Dirty Blonde (Cleveland Play House and Pittsburgh Public Theater); Souvenir (7 Angels Theatre); Woman In Black and Free Man of Color (Penguin Repertory); and Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes and Billy Bishop in Billy Bishop Goes To War. Thomas most recently played Wilson Mizner in the American regional theatre premiere of Sondheim's Road Show (Stages Repertory in Houston). He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Professional Actor Training Program.

2 Pianos 4 Hands opened at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto in April of 1996, and is arguably one of the most successful plays in the history of Canadian Theatre. The play won the Dora Award in 1996 for Outstanding Production and a Chalmers Award (Canadian National Award) for Playwriting in 1997. The show opened Off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre in October of 1997 where it ran for 231 performances. 2 Pianos 4 Hands was listed as a "Top 10" for that year by Clive Barnes of the New York Post.

Low-priced previews of 2 Pianos 4 Hands begin Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m., continuing Thursday, October 16 at 8 p.m. and Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. The production premieres Saturday, October 18 at 7 p.m. and runs through Sunday, November 16. Regular performances are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Facilitated talkbacks with the actors are scheduled after Wednesday 7 p.m. performances on October 22, October 29, November 5, and November 12.

Ticket prices range from $38 to $62. Tickets for students are $23, and student rush tickets are available for $15. The Opening Night Premiere on October 18 is $95 per person and includes pre-show champagne and truffles, tickets and admission to the post-show party with cast members and local VIPs. Pre-show festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for 2 Pianos 4 Hands may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Company Box Office at the corner of Main and Laurel in Ventura (Laurel entrance and downstairs). To charge by phone, call 805.667.2900 or visit Rubicon online at rubicontheatre.org. Twenty-four-hour-a-day ticketing is available online thanks to a grant from the Irvine Foundation's Arts Regional Initiative.

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