Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's production of The Last Five Years starring Kate Shindle and Nicholas Rodriguez will launch a new six-show festival when it opens on June 1st. Running through June 12th at the Raleigh, NC theatre, the show will take the stage at the BTI Center's intimate 100-seat Kennedy Theater
Shindle and Rodriguez portray young couple Cathy and Jamie Wellerstein "in this fresh and contemporary musical from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown. The musical chronicles their romance in a new and exciting way: her story starts at the end of their relationship; his begins the day they met. Funny, smart and uplifting, the show reveals how they lived, loved and lost their way."Shindle, a former Miss America, has made her name as a musical theatre performer on Broadway in Jekyll and Hyde and as Sally Bowles in the Cabaret revival. Additionally, she played Lucy in the North Carolina Theatre production of Jekyll and Hyde. Rodriguez recently played Akhenaten in the Miami production of the Broadway-bound musical Nefertiti, and appeared in the big-budged LA production of The Ten Commandments. He also played Ren in NCT's production of Footloose.
Hot Summer Nights, the brainchild of longtime theatre backer K.D. Kennedy, Jr., commences each production with a pre-show festival in the theater's parking lot that will includes food and additional entertainment. After the show, patrons have the opportunity to meet the stars. Additionally, Hot Summer Nights gives back to the community by donating to the charities, The Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross and The Alliance for AIDS Services-Carolina.
As described in a press release,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 Theater at the BTI Center for the Performing during the months of June, July and August. 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. "Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's summer season runs June 1 though August 28, 2005 with each production in the six-show series completing a 10-day run. In addition to The Last Five Years, the variety of productions includes Graceland/Asleep on the Wind, Proof, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maltby and Shire's Starting Here, Starting Now and a special season ender featuring Raleigh's own Lauren Kennedy and her husband Alan CampbellIn Concert. Other stars in the summer season include Matt Bogart and Jessica Boevers.
Season subscriptions, which cover all six shows, are available for $150. Hot Summer Nights has also announced that if an individual $35 ticket to The Last Five Years is purchased, the second ticket will cost only $15 (tickets must be purchased at the same time, and opening night is excluded in the deal). Group and student rates are also available. To order call 919-834-4000, go to www.ticketmaster.com, or to the BTI Center Box Office. For additional info: visit the Hot Summer Nights website at www.hotsummernightsatthekennedy.org.