NC's Kennedy Theatre to Present Last Night of Ballyhoo

Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy will take a step back in time with its fourth show of the summer series: The Last Night of Ballyhoo, which runs July 19-30, 2006 at 8pm (Wednesdays-Saturdays) and 3pm (Sundays) at the Kennedy Theatre in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC.

"The 1997 Tony Award-winning play by Alfred Urhy explores the lives of Jewish Southerners, a society that he introduced to the American Theater-going public with his Pulitzer Prize winning play Driving Miss Daisy," state press notes.

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo takes theatre patrons back to Atlanta, Georgia during the winter of 1939.  Gone with the Wind is having Its world premiere, and Hitler is invading Poland, but Atlanta's elitist German Jews are much more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. Especially concerned is Beulah (Boo) Levy (Marilee Spell), and her sister-in-law, Reba Freitag (Carolyn McKenna). Boo is determined to have her unpopular, daydreaming daughter, Lala (Hilary Russo), attend Ballyhoo, believing it will be Lala's last chance to find a socially acceptable husband.  When Boo's brother Adolph Freitag (Robin Dorff) brings his new assistant, Joe Farkas (Brendan Bradley), home for dinner, feathers begin to ruffle..Through plenty of comedy, romance and revelations, two Jewish families get pulled apart and then mended together as they are forced to explore their Jewish identity, including prejudice inflicted on Jews by other Jews that enjoy the all the trappings and conveniences of wealth within an overwhelming southern Christian society," state press notes.

Directed and with costume design by John McIlwee, the creative team also includes Curtis Jones (technical direction and lighting design) and Brian L. Hunt (sound design).  Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy is produced by father and son team K.D. Kennedy, Jr. (Executive Producer) and Michael Kennedy (Managing Producer). 

There will also be a cast talk-back after the Sunday matinee on July 23 for the Duke Drama workshop.

The remaining shows in the 2006 season include Oleanna with Tony Award-nominee Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard, Contact) (August 2-13), and an original musical concert, Meet Me on the Corner of Broadway and Swing (August 16-27) with Broadway's Jennifer Shrader (Beauty and the Beast, Swing).

Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy is a professional theatre company whose mission is to serve the citizens of Raleigh, Wake County and Eastern Carolina by "keeping the lights on" and producing professional theatrical performances in the Kennedy Theatre at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts the summer. Hot Summer Nights goal is to produce great shows that are varied in type, attitude and scope and employ actor, stage crew and staff of all ages, races and creed from North Carolina and Broadway. Hot Summer Nights will use our resources to nourish, celebrate and employ many theatrical groups, colleges, charities and citizens and support and assist the City of Raleigh with entertainment needs.

Individual tickets are $25.  Discounts are available. To order call 919-834-4000, go to www.ticketmaster.com or the Progress Energy Center Box Office.  For additional information, visit the theatre's website: www.hotsummernightsatthekennedy.org.

Photo by Matthew Addison--Edward Freeman, Carolyn McKenna, Hilary Russo, Robin Dorff  and Marilee Spell 

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