Tickets for Marcus Center's THE EVE OF JACKIE WILSON on Sale Sunday

Off Broadway at the Marcus Center series, sponsored by Envoy Restaurant and Lounge, has announced an addition to its season with The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson starring Chester Gregory. The show comes to the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall on February 18-20. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, November 15 at 12:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, online at Ticketmaster.com or MarcusCenter.org or by phone at 414-273-7206. Groups 10 or more SAVE! and should call Group Sales at 414-273-7121 x210.

Celebrated singer Jackie Wilson, dubbed "Mr. Excitement," the Detroit-born showman with the four-octave range recorded more than 50 hit singles from the late 1950s to late '60s, including Lonely Teardrops, Doggin' Around and Higher and Higher. The Eve of Jackie is an intimate look at the music and troubled personal life of Jackie Wilson. A tragic heart attack (while on stage) cut short his career and left him semi-comatose for the nine years before his death in 1984. Wilson was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The show stars Broadway performer Chester Gregory.

NAACP Theater Award Winner Chester Gregory was born and raised in Gary, Indiana where at young age he fell in love with performing. Influenced by the entertainers of his childhood, he found his own unique voice and style. Chester studied and refined his skills in singing and acting at Emerson Visual and Performing Arts School, and Columbia College, graduating with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Through dedication and hard work he built his passion for the arts into a career, making a name for himself when he burst onto the theater scene as Jackie Wilson in original production of "The Jackie Wilson Story" for which he received major acclaim such as, The Jeff, AUDELCO, BTAA and Black Excellence Awards. His first ever review in The New York Times begins: "There is essentially one reason - and it's a very good one - to see "The Jackie Wilson Story," and that is the star, Chester Gregory."

The award-winning role gave him the opportunity to sing for the legendary Michael Jackson in 2003. That night Michael gave Chester a standing ovation for his performance, and later that week Chester would book his debut Broadway role as Seaweed in the Tony Award Winning Musical Hairspray.

Chester went on to star in the original Broadway casts of "Tarzan" (as Terk) and "Cry-Baby" (as Dupree). Most recently Gregory starred in the Broadway musical "Sister Act" as Officer Eddie Souther, and earned an Outer Critic Circle Award Nomination for this role. In 2009 he went on tour again, this time with "Dreamgirls", and was awarded Best Supporting Actor by the NAACP Theater Awards and garnered accolades around the world, including both the United States and Japan, for his powerful performance as Jimmy Early.

ABOUT THE MARCUS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Established in 1969, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is the premier performing arts venue in Southeastern Wisconsin. As the Marcus Center moves into its 46th year, it continues to set the standard for high-quality arts entertainment in the region and the state. The touring Broadway series is recognized as bringing the best of Broadway entertainment to Milwaukee for the past 19 years. The Marcus Center is also the home to the Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, Florentine Opera, First Stage plus a variety of other important community and family events throughout the year. For more information about events visit the Marcus Center website at www.MarcusCenter.org. The Marcus Center is a private 501(c) 3 corporation.

Experience Relaxed, Sophisticated Fine Dining at Envoy Restaurant & Lounge, Milwaukee Envoy, located in the iconic Ambassador Hotel, offers classic American cuisine with global influences. Ingredients feature artisan, local and seasonal products. Envoy offers breakfast and lunch dinner in an atmosphere that transports guests to a time when patrons "tripped the light fantastic". Guests of Envoy experience the legendary service that generations have come to expect from a staff that is simply "the bee's knees".

Envoy offers nostalgic cocktails from the hotel's original menu, written in 1928. In addition to half priced appetizers, Envoy Lounge's happy hour offers buy one martini or nostalgic cocktail and receive the next at 1928's price. Guests who dine at Envoy are invited to enjoy complimentary parking and shuttle service to and from destinations in the downtown Milwaukee area, including the Marcus Center for the performing Arts. Visit envoymilwaukee.com for more information and reservations.

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