City Theatre Extends ERNIE Through 8/12

With more than 75 sold-out performances in its premiere run last year, and sold-out performances this year, “Ernie" will extend past its scheduled July end date, for two more weeks through August 12^th at the City Theatre, located inside Hockeytown Café. 

Mitch Albom’s play, dedicated to the late and beloved Hall of Fame Detroit Tiger announcer, Ernie Harwell, is performed just one block from Comerica Park, offering fans an additional two weeks to remember “The Voice of Summer”. 

“Ernie” is the highest-attended show in the history of the City Theatre, which was once home to Second City Detroit. During its inaugural season, “Ernie” was extended twice due to extraordinary popular demand and was seen by more than 30,000 people. 

As a result of this, “Ernie”, in 2011, was able to donate $30,000 to Ernie Harwell’s favorite charities as well as his foundation. Plans are the same for this year’s run. 

Tickets have been kept at the same low price ($20 and $25) and are on sale Friday, July 6^th at 10:00 a.m.  Tickets may be purchased online at OlympiaEntertainment.com, the Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (without service charge), at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and at the City Theatre box office, located inside Hockeytown Cafe. To charge tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000. For additional information, call (313) 471-6611. 

Albom, who was asked by Harwell if he'd consider a play about the announcer's life, began writing the script after Ernie’s passing in May of 2010. The two-actor play debuted April 2011 to coincide with the Tigers baseball season and featured longtime Detroit area stage favorite Will Young, as the iconic Harwell, and TJ Corbett, in the role of “The Boy”. 

“Ernie” is set on Harwell’s last night at Comerica Park in September of 2009, prior to his moving thank you speech to his adopted and beloved city of Detroit.  Just before he walks onto the grassy field, he encounters an unusual boy who is eager to know all about him, coaxing Harwell into giving one final broadcast – the “broadcast of his life”.

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