Signature Theatre Announces Full Cast of 'Ace' Including Jill Paice

Signature Theatre is pleased to announce complete casting for the opening show of its 2008-2009 season, ACE.  With music by Richard Oberacker and book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker, ACE will be directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Karma Camp.  Set just after WWII, ACE is an epic story of a young boy's search to come to terms with his past and unlock his future.  A tale of triumph, humor, and heart as seen through a child's eyes, ACE magically explores the heroic lives and unforeseen legacies of the men and women of America's Greatest Generation.

11-year old newcomer Dalton Harrod will play the role of Danny.  Jill Paice, lauded for her performances in London's Gone with the Wind and Broadway's Curtains and The Woman in White, will play Danny's mother Elizabeth.  The character Ace is performed by Matthew Scott of Broadway's Jersey Boys and A Catered Affair.  Danny's foster parents are played by Emily Skinner of Broadway's Side Show and Signature's Witches of Eastwick, and Duke Lafoon from the original production of ACE.  Broadway regular and Witches of Eastwick star Christiane Noll is Ruth and Jim Stanek of Broadway's Lestat and Little Woman is John Robert.  The social worker Mrs. Crandall is played by Florence Lacey of Signature's Saving Aimee.  Danny's friend Emily is played by Angelina Kelly.  Performing in the ensemble are Richard Barth, Tom Galantich, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Jason Reiff, Danny Rothman, Elizabeth Share, and Gabrielle Stravelli.

The production features scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Robert Perdziola, lighting design by Ken Billington and Jason Kandrowitz, projection design by Michael Clark, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and musical direction by David Kreppel.  The production stage manager is Kerry Epstein.

ACE will play in The MAX Theatre August 26 through September 28.  Tickets, ranging in price from $49 to $86 each, go on sale July 23 by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-7328 or visiting www.signature-theatre.org.  Due to some sophisticated plot points ACE is not intended for children under 10 years old.  Show times are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 pm, Thursday and Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  Free educational events for ACE include a Brown Bag Thursday discussion on September 4 and a Page to Stage program at the Shirlington Library on September 8.

ACE was originally produced by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.  ACE was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in 2005.  ACE is presented in association with Tom Smedes and Nancy Nagel Gibbs.

Signature Theatre's 2008-2009 Season is partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.