Israel Horovitz To Lend Voice In PRI's 'Park Your Car'

Playwright Israel Horovitz stopped in at PRI's Studio 360 in New York on Thursday to record the voice of Byron Weld for International City Theatre's production of his Park Your Car in Harvard Yard that opens May 2.  On Friday, he was off to France where he will be decorated as a Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes Academiques ("Knight in the Order of Academic Palms").

In Horovitz's two-character Park Your Car, Weld is a radio announcer whose voice is heard throughout the play becoming, in essence, a third, unseen character.  In the ICT production, Joseph Ruskin plays Jacob Brackish, a retired teacher now in the last years of his life who doesn't realize that the housekeeper he's hired, played by Jacqueline Schultz, is a former student whom he flunked years ago. Hope Alexander directs.  This is the first production of his popular play for which Horovitz has voiced the character of Weld.

PRI's Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen is public radio's weekly program about creativity, pop culture, and the arts produced by Public Radio International and WNYC.  Studio 360 airs locally on KCRW 89.9 FM Sunday nights at 6:00 p.m. and is archived at www.studio360.org .

The Ordre des Palmes Academiques is an Order of Chivalry of France to academics and educators.  The order was originally created by Napoleon to honor eminent members of the University of Paris.  It was re-established on October 4, 1955 by President Rene Coty and is one of the world's oldest civil awards.  The Order has three ranks: Commandeur ("Commander"); Officier ("Officer"); and Chevalier ("Knight").

Park Your Car in Harvard Yard runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, May 2 through May 25.  Tickets are $32.00 and $37.00 on Thursdays, and $37.00 and $42.00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, except opening night which is $50.00 and $60.00 and includes a reception with the actors following the performance.  Preview performances take place on Tuesday, April 29; Wednesday, April 30; and Thursday, May 1 at 8 pm.  Preview tickets are $29.00.  International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.  For reservations and information, call the ICT Box Office at (562) 436-4610 or go to www.ictlongbeach.org