Ogunquit Playhouse and Rotary International Team Up Again

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to be partnering once again with Rotary International to continue in the fight to eradicate polio worldwide by 2020. The annual Rotary Night is scheduled for Wednesday, May 23 for the evening performance of Smokey Joe's Cafe. The public is invited to join the fight by purchasing a ticket to the all-new revival of the sizzling song and dance show that features more than 30 of rock 'n' roll's greatest hits! A portion of every ticket purchased for that evening's performance will be donated to Rotary International. The Ogunquit Playhouse has contributed over $10,000 towards this cause through Rotary Night ticket proceeds over the past seven years.

The fight to end polio is led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which includes Rotary International, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and governments around the world, with the support of many others across the globe.

"We are so close to eradicating polio. We stand at a 99.9% reduction in cases worldwide with only Afghanistan and Pakistan having cases in 2017", said Holly Sargent of York Rotary. "While polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, for under $1 a child can be vaccinated for life. Rotary has raised funds to immunize over 2.5 billion children to date and continues to make certain that the polio vaccine is available wherever and whenever the threat of polio still exists. Thanks to the Gates Foundation, every Rotary dollar raised is matched 2 for 1. By attending this special show, you can help achieve a polio-free world. I hope you will join us."

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to be collaborating with the show's original producing team on an all-new incarnation of the record breaking Broadway hit Smokey Joe's Cafe, on stage May 16 to June 9, which heads to New York City following its Ogunquit run. The Grammy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated smash made history as Broadway's longest running musical revue and celebrates the best songs of the legendary songwriting duo, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Their generation-defining songs climbed the Billboard charts and provided hit after hit for icons like Elvis Presley, Ben E. King, The Coasters, and The Drifters. With themes of love won, lost and imagined, their songs touched global audiences with wit and slice-of-life emotions. Audiences will be treated to more than 30 show stopping tunes including classics like "On Broadway," "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "Love Potion #9," and "Spanish Harlem." The show will be directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Josh Bergasse whose credits include Broadway's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and On the Town, Fox's "So You think You Can Dance" and NBC's "Smash."

Individual tickets are on sale now with prices starting at $52. Subscription packages are also available and guarantee the best seats for the best price. Prices start at only $247 for a five-show package and $147 for a three-show package. Gift certificates are also on sale. Tickets are available online at www.ogunquitplayhouse.org and through the Box Office located at 142 Main Street, Ogunquit or 207-646-5511.

The Ogunquit Playhouse season has four additional musicals slated for its stage in 2018: a beautiful new production of the classic Oklahoma! on stage June 13 to July 7 celebrating its 75th Anniversary since opening on Broadway; the first regional production of the sumptuous new musical An American in Paris hitting the Ogunquit stage July 11 to August 4; and the U.S. premiere of the hilarious new musical Grumpy Old Men the Musical on stage August 8 to September 1 just in time to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the classic 1993 Warner Brothers film starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. The Ogunquit season closes with international smash hit Jersey Boys on stage September 5 to October 28. Elf the Musical will be produced for The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire just in time for the holidays November 28 to December 16, 2018. Tickets for Elf the Musical are available through The Music Hall online www.themusichall.org or by calling 603-436-2400 Monday through Saturday, noon to 6PM.

About the Ogunquit Playhouse:
The Ogunquit Playhouse, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization listed on the National Historic Register, is located on Route One in Ogunquit, Maine and produces the finest Broadway musicals each season with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from May through October. Follow the Ogunquit Playhouse on Twitter (@OgunquitPH) and on Facebook (facebook.com/OgunquitPlayhouse) for behind-the-scenes info, photos and fun throughout the season. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org.

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