Old Globe Opens Season with World Premiere of HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL

The Old Globe today announced that its 2018-2019 Season will kick off with the world premiere of the new musical Heart of Rock and Roll, inspired by the songs of Huey Lewis and the News, featuring a book by Jonathan Abrams and story by Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan Abrams. It will be directed by Gordon Greenberg with choreography by Lorin Latarro and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Brian Usifer. Heart of Rock and Roll will bepresented by special arrangement with Tyler Mitchell, W. Leo Kiely, Bill Kiely, Whitney Kiely Moehle, and Tamar Climan. Mr. Lewis released a brief video to Rolling Stone about the show (with a surprise guest cameo)-click here to see for yourself!

Heart of Rock and Roll will run September 6 - October 21, 2018 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 6 - September 13. Opening night is Friday, September 14. Tickets are currently available by subscription only. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

With chart-topping songs such as "Hip to Be Square," "Do You Believe in Love," "Workin' for a Livin'," and the Academy Award-nominated "The Power of Love," Huey Lewis is one of the most beloved musicians of his generation. Now his high-energy hits will keep your heart still beatin' at this irrepressible world premiere musical. Bobby is a former rock singer who has traded in his guitar for a stable job in corporate America. He's on the verge of closing the ultimate business deal and winning the girl of his dreams (who's also the CEO's daughter)-that is, if he doesn't jeopardize everything by reuniting with his band for another shot at rock-and-roll glory. Rediscover Huey Lewis and the News's heart-pumping classics in this hilarious and electrifying new musical about holding onto your dreams and never losing the thrill of the "heart of rock and roll."

The creative team includes Tony Award winner Derek McLane (Scenic Design), Tony winner Paloma Young (Costume Design), Tony winner Howell Binkley (Lighting Design), Tony winner John Shivers (Co-Sound Design), David Patridge (Co-Sound Design), Tara Rubin Casting/Eric Woodall, CSA (Casting), and Anjee Nero(Production Stage Manager). Casting will be announced at a later date.

"Everyone at the Globe is beyond excited to have Huey Lewis's thrilling songs open our 2018-2019 Season in this rocking and rollicking new musical," said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "Full of laughter and joy, Heart of Rock and Roll tells a sweet story of how our wildest dreams sometimes do come true, only in slightly different ways than we imagined. Huey Lewis and the News's songs-one monster hit after another-deliver jolts of joy and surges of energy, all perfectly suited to the musical theatre stage in Brian Usifer's amazing arrangements. Huey's talent has drawn a brilliant team of theatrical visionaries together, led by the witty and imaginative director Gordon Greenberg, and they've made a musical that's about as great a night out as I can imagine. I can't wait to share it with San Diego's audiences."

Huey Lewis is the iconic front man of the multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning, and Academy Award-nominated rock-and-roll band Huey Lewis and the News. Formed from two rival Bay Area bands in 1979, Huey Lewis and the News has sold over 30 million albums that produced nineteen Top 10 and three No. 1 hits, including the global smash "The Power of Love," which was nominated for an Academy Award. Their landmark 1983 album Sports sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone and features four Billboard Top 100 hits: "If This Is It," "Heart and Soul," "I Want a New Drug," and "The Heart of Rock & Roll." Their follow-up album, Fore!, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 with five singles on Billboard's Top 10 singles chart, two of which were No. 1 hits: "Stuck with You" and "Jacob's Ladder." All five albums released by the band between 1982 and 1991 have been certified either Gold, Platinum, or Multi-Platinum. The band continues to tour the globe and thrill audiences worldwide.

Jonathan Abrams (Book, Story) is a film and television writer and producer. He most recently wrote an original pilot, "Bishop," for A&E Network and has developed dramas for FOX, ABC, NBC, and The CW. In feature films, he most recently wrote his original idea Diplomats for 20th Century Fox with Chernin Entertainment producing. He has sold or optioned numerous screenplays, including Relativity Media's romantic comedy The Wedding Doctor, with Nicole Kidman attached to star. He was also a credited producer on Summit Entertainment's Escape Plan franchise. He is a graduate of University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.

Tyler Mitchell (Story) has over two decades of experience in film and television as a producer, writer, and executive. His producing credits include The Incredible Burt Wonderstone starring Steve Carell and Jim Carrey; Lucky Number Slevin starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Ben Kingsley, and Morgan Freeman; The Angriest Man in Brooklyn starring Robin Williams and Mila Kunis; and most recently the critically acclaimed film Maudie starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke. Mr. Mitchell's television credits include NBC's "Kidnapped" and "My Own Worst Enemy," both of which he produced and wrote. As a production executive, Mr. Mitchell has overseen the development, production, and financing of many films, including The Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart and The Rum Diary starring Johnny Depp and Aaron Eckhart. Mr. Mitchell is currently Senior Vice President of Imagine Entertainment, an award-winning film and television Production Company.

Gordon Greenberg (Director) returns to The Old Globe, where he directed and wrote additional material for Working (co-adapted with Stephen Schwartz and Lin-Manuel Miranda), which went on to an extended run at Broadway in Chicago and later at 59E59 Theaters in New York (Drama Desk Award). His other directing and writing work includes this season's London revival of Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), co-writing and directing the Broadway stage adaptation of The Secret of My Success(Universal Stage Productions), directing The Angel and Sparrow (Segal Centre in Montreal), writing the new book for Meet Me in St. Louis (The Muny's 100th anniversary), directing and co-writing Mystic Pizza (MGM/The Araca Group), and co-writing Dracula! The Remix and Ebenezer Scrooge's Big [your town here] Christmas Show! (Bucks County Playhouse). Mr. Greenberg co-wrote and directed last season's Broadway stage adaptation of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn (Roundabout Theatre Company/Universal Stage Productions, PBS's "Great Performances") and directed the acclaimed West End revival of Guys and Dolls, which starred Rebel Wilson and received six Olivier Award nominations (West End, Chichester Festival Theatre). He also directed Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations) and the stage adaptation of Disney's Tangled; co-wrote original movie musicals for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon; and directed regional work at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Huntington Theatre Company, Signature Theatre Company, New York Stage and Film, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Capital Repertory Theatre, and more. He attended Stanford University and New York University and is a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Writers Guild of America, and The Dramatists Guild of America.

Lorin Latarro (Choreography) recently choreographed Broadway's Waitress, Les Liaisons Dangereuse with Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber, and Waiting for Godot with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, and she is the Associate Choreographer of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and American Idiot. Her additional choreography includes Chess (The Kennedy Center), Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street for "This American Life" (Brooklyn Academy Of Music), The Public Theater's Twelfth Night and The Odyssey (Delacorte Theater), Queen of the Night (Diamond Horseshoe), Assassins, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and Fanny (City Center Encores!), Between the Lines (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), Beaches (Drury Lane Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre Center). Ms. Latarro is a Bucks County Playhouse Artistic Associate and a Juilliard School graduate. Her upcoming work includes La Traviata at The Metropolitan Opera. lorinlatrarro.com.

Brian Usifer (Music Supervision, Arrangements, and Orchestrations) is a New York City-based music director, pianist, orchestrator, arranger, producer, and composer. He is currently the Music Director of Disney's Frozen, which made its world premiere in Denver in summer 2017 before its opening on Broadway this season. He is also currently the Associate Music Supervisor of The Book of Mormon on Broadway and on tour, which won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical. Previously, Mr. Usifer was the Music Director of Kinky Boots on Broadway, which won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score; the cast recording won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. He was also the show's Associate Music Supervisor for the national tour and the productions in Toronto and on the West End, where it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. brianusifer.com.

Heart of Rock and Roll at The Old Globe is supported in part through gifts from Production Sponsors Terry Atkinson, Elaine and Dave Darwin and Sheryl and Harvey White. Financial support is provided by The City of San Diego.

Additional events taking place during the run of Heart of Rock and Roll will include the Vicki and Carl Zeiger Insights Seminar, Subject Matters, Post-Show Forums, and free AXIS events.

Tickets to Heart of Rock and Roll are currently available by subscription only and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE [234-5623], or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors, military members, and groups of 10 or more.

Performances begin on September 6, 2018 and continue through October 21, 2018. Opening night is Friday, September 14 at 8:00 p.m. Regular performances: Tuesdayand Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION and PARKING INFORMATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. Through a special arrangement with the San Diego Zoo, Old Globe evening ticket-holders have the opportunity to pre-purchase valet parking in the Zoo's employee parking structure. With a drop-off point just a short walk to the Globe, theatregoers may purchase fast, easy, convenient valet parking for just $14 per vehicle per evening. Pre-paid only, available only by phone through The Old Globe Box Office. Call (619) 234-5623 or visit
www.theoldglobe.org/plan-your-visit/directions--parking/valet-parking. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances, located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.

There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. There is a 10-minute zone at The Old Globe, used only for daytime deliveries, ticket purchases, and handicapped access dropoff. For directions and up-to-date information, please visit www.theoldglobe.org/plan-your-visit/directions--parking/detailed-directions.

PLEASE NOTE: To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, please do not use the Delivery Address above. For GPS users, please click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

Photo: Huey Lewis and the News. Heart of Rock and Roll will run Sept. 6 - Oct. 21, 2018 at The Old Globe. Photo by Richard Frollini.