Hartford Stage Presents I WISH YOU LOVE July 6-24

Hartford Stage continues its 2011 SummerStage season with Penumbra Theatre's production of I Wish You Love,written by Dominic Taylor and directed by Lou Bellamy. The play is a stirring drama that features Nat "King" Cole's hit songs as performed on his groundbreaking 1950's television program. Following its world premiere at Penumbra Theatre in Minneapolis and a well-received engagement at the Kennedy Center in Washington, the production runs at Hartford Stage July 6 - 24, 2011. Travelers is the Principal Underwriter of I Wish You Love in all three cities.

I Wish You Love captures a significant moment in the life of legendary crooner Nat "King" Cole. The play uses Cole's television show to illustrate the man, the times, and the real life drama behind the sanitizing lens of the television camera. It's 1957, and times are changing. President Eisenhower had the Civil Rights Act on his desk, Althea Gibson had won Wimbledon, nine children were about to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, and Nat "King" Cole was the first black man that many in America let into their living room. Cole believed that with enough talent and persistence he would be judged on the content of his character as opposed to the color of his skin. Relevant to all ages, this music-filled drama features more than 20 of Cole's timeless classics, including "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and "Let There Be Love."

The production features Dennis W. Spears as Nat "King" Cole, singing nearly two dozen of Cole's beloved songs. Other cast members are Kevin D. West as Oliver Moore, Eric Berryman as Jeffrey Prince, and Michael Tezla as Bill Henry. All performers are making their Hartford Stage debuts.

Playwright Dominic Taylor is the associate artistic director of Penumbra Theatre, head of OKRA the Penumbra new play development program, and an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Select directing credits include Black Nativity: Now is the Time at Penumbra, Fresh Faust at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, The Negroes Burial Ground at the Kitchen, N.Y.C., and Uppa Creek at Dixon Place. His published plays include Wedding Dance, Personal History,and UpCity Service(s). He has also worked with Crossroads Theatre, Rites and Reasons Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, The Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Director Lou Bellamy is the founder and artistic director of Penumbra Theatre, an Obie award-winning stage director, and an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. Select Penumbra directing credits include Two Old Black Guys Just Sitting Around Talking, Black Pearl Sings!, Radio Golf, Fences, The Piano Lesson, A Raisin in the Sun and Gem of the Ocean. Other credits include Two Trains Running at the Signature Theatre Company in New York, Jitney at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Arizona Theatre Company, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Kennedy Center. Most recently, he directed the Penumbra and Arizona Theatre Company co-production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom staged at Arizona Theatre Company in Phoenix and Tucson, and in Minneapolis at the Guthrie Theater.

The creative team includes set design by Lance Brockman, costume design by Mathew J. LeFebvre, lighting design by Don Darnutzer, sound and video design by Martin Gwinup, and music direction by Sanford Moore.

Tickets for I Wish You Love are $25 to $50. A limited number of $10 "Ten Spot" tickets are also available for all performances, making Hartford Stage among the most affordable entertainment options in Connecticut. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more by calling 860-520-7244. Students of Capital Community College may purchase one $10 ticket to I Wish You Love upon presentation of their student ID at the Hartford Stage box office. All discount programs are subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Hartford Stage has wheelchair accessible seating, assistive listening devices and other amenities. For more information, please call the Hartford Stage box office. Hartford Stage is located at 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford with parking located in the MAT Garage, directly adjacent to the theatre. The theatre is accessible from I-84 and I-91.

Key Dates and Information
Tickets for I Wish You Love are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 860-527-5151 or by visiting hartfordstage.org.

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