Florida Repertory Theatre Continues 20th Season with THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO this December

Florida Repertory Theatre's 20th anniversary season continues with Alfred Uhry's hit comedy, "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play. Florida Rep first produced the romantic comedy in the fall of 1999 as part of its second season.

The production runs in the Historic Arcade Theatre Nov. 28 to Dec. 17 with four nearly sold-out previews Nov. 28-30. Priced at $55/$45 for regular performances and $35/25 for previews, tickets are available at www.FloridaRep.org and by calling the box office at 239-332-4488.

Florida Rep ensemble members, Carrie Lund and V Craig Heidenreich return to the Florida Rep stage in the production. Lund is appearing now in the comedy, "Sylvia" by A.R. Gurney, and Heidenreich directed "Disgraced," which is which is running through Dec. 10 in the ArtStage Studio, and appeared least March as Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

"I really wanted to pay homage to some of our past hits to celebrate our 20th season," said producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "and Alfred Uhry's romantic comedy was a natural choice. Not only is it a funny and heartwarming love story, but it's a family portrait in the American prewar South that deals with some very serious issues. Like in his other play, 'Driving Miss Daisy," Uhry tackles serious subject matter by lifting our spirits and making us laugh. I know our audiences will fall in love with it all over again."

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo" takes audiences back to the winter of 1939: "Gone with the Wind" is having its world premiere and Hitler is invading Poland. The eyes of the world are on Europe, but in Atlanta, the city's elite German Jewish community is more concerned with who is attending the social event of the season, Ballyhoo, than with the mounting tensions in the world. The Tony Award-winning Best Play from the author of "Driving Miss Daisy" is a tender love story played out against the backdrop of impending war. "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" is a touching romantic comedy and a beautifully written portrait of a Jewish family facing who they are and where they come from as generations and cultures clash in the American South.

Ensemble members V Craig Heidenreich and Carrie Lund are joined by a cadre of exceptional guest artists, some familiar faces and some making Florida Rep debuts. Returing to the Arcade stage are Jackie Schram, Britt Michael Gordon, and Stacey Scotte; newcomers are David Friedlander and Olivia Howell.

Both Schram and Gordon began their professional careers with Florida Rep as members of the acting intern company, and with this production join Actors' Equity Association, America's union of professional actors and stage managers. Schram made her Florida Rep in "Boeing-Boeing" (2009) as an emergency replacement for the first four performances; she went on to appear in the closing night of the production when another of the actresses took ill. Later, she was meant to play roles in the nationally acclaimed production of "You Can't Take it With You" in 2010 and "Rumors" in 2011. Gordon made his Florida Rep debut in "Tribes" (2014), returned to the stage in Agatha Christie's "The Unexpected Guest" (2015), and will appear in "Cabaret" this spring. Schram recently completed a long run with "Sleep No More" in New York City, and Gordon has worked extensively on stages across Florida, including freeFall Theatre, American Stage, and Broward Stage Door.

Stacey Scotte, was recently seen in an extended run of "Mame" at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, and was last seen at Florida Rep in 2011's hit, "August: Osage County."appeared last in Florida Rep's "August: Osage County" (2011). David Friedlander, making his Florida Rep debut, appeared recently in New York Classical Theatre's production of "Measure for Measure" and as a member of ComedySportz NYC. Newcomer, Olivia Howell, was last seen in regional productions of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "Skin of Our Teeth."

Ensemble member Greg Logenhagen ("Twelve Angry Men") directs the production and leads an expert creative team, including set and lighting designer Bert Scott ("The Unexpected Guest"), costume designer Alice Neff ("Over the River and Through the Woods"), sound designer John Kiselica ("Disgraced"), and production stage manager Josh Quinn ("Best of Enemies").

New for the 2017-2018 Season, weeknight performances in both performance venues (Tues.-Thurs.) begin at 7:00 PM. Weekend evening performances remain at 8PM and matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday are still set for the popular 2PM curtain time.

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo" is generously sponsored by Ellie Fox.

IF YOU GO

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo" plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17 with discounted previews Nov. 28-30. Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 7pm with 2PM matinees on Wednesday, Sunday, and selected Saturdays.

Priced at $55 and $35 for previews, single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488 and online at www.floridarep.org. Subscriptions for the 2017-2018 season offer the best seats and the biggest savings, and packages start as low as $150 for 6 plays.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre and the ArtStage Studio Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with limited free parking in the Fort Myers River District. Visit Florida Rep online at FloridaRep.org, and by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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