Virginia Repertory Theatre Presents ONCE

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Once on Friday, February 8, 2019 at the November Theatre/Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad Street. The show will run through Sunday, March 3, 2019. Previews will be on Wednesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 7, 2019. With music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, and book by Enda Walsh, this enchanting and emotionally captivating musical love story is based on the 2007 movie by John Carney.

Described as one of the most original musicals of our time, Once follows a classic tale of boy-meets-girl, but through the eyes of two musicians and the community they bring together on the streets of Dublin. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Falling Slowly"), Once features a cast that acts as its own orchestra to tell a story about love, humanity, and the redemptive power of music.

Virginia Repertory Theatre is presenting this production of Once in association with the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After the production closes in Richmond on March 3, the actors, instruments and scenery will relocate to Lancaster, where the run will continue March 19 through April 14, 2019.

Virginia Rep's production of Once is proud to participate in this year's annual Acts of Faith Festival. The Acts of Faith Festival is the nation's largest faith-inspired theatre festival, a vibrant and inclusive community-wide collaboration involving RVA's theatres and faith communities.

Virginia Rep is thrilled to welcome Ken Allen Neely and Katherine Fried to Richmond for their November Theatre debuts as Guy and Girl. Both Neely and Fried recently completed a run of Once at Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia. Other NYC/Off-Broadway credits for Neely include Adam Pascal in Madame Pascal (Dixon Place), Christian in Cobalteans (Davenport Theatre), and Nick in Puppet Dead (Mills Entertainment). Other credits for Fried include Viola in Shakespeare in Love, Katherine in Henry V (Illinois Shakespeare Festival); and Doris in The American Clock (Guthrie Theater).

J. Michael Zygo joins the company as Emcee, as well as Musical Director, Associate Choreographer, Dance Captain and Music Captain. Zygo was an original cast member/musician of the Tony Award-winning Once on Broadway (Emcee, u/s Guy, u/s Billy, Dance Captain, Associate Conductor) and featured on the Grammy Award-winning cast album. Broadway credits include School Of Rock (Ensemble, u/s Ned, u/s Theo). Off-Broadway credits include Once (NYTW) and Man of Rock (NYMF).

Virginia Rep Artistic Director Nathaniel Shaw will direct and choreograph the production, following the success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time earlier this season and last summer's smash hit, West Side Story (RTCC Award for Best Musical). Shaw also was an Associate Choreographer for Once, supervising both the Broadway production and first national tour.

Bill Mohney will serve as scenic designer. Mohney is the Head of Production at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ruth Hedberg (Pinkalicious; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) will design costumes. Joe Doran will serve as lighting designer. Recent Virginia Rep credits include Fun Home and In The Heights. Virginia Rep Audio Visual Supervisor Derek Dumais (Sister Act, West Side Story) will Sound Design. Amanda Durst (Da, The End of War) will serve as Dialect Coach.

The full creative team and cast list is below.

Direction & Design team includes Nathaniel Shaw^ as Director/Choreographer, J. Michael Zygo as Musical Director/Associate Choreographer, Katrinah Carol Lewis as Associate Director, Jocelyn A. Thompson* as Production Stage Manager, Kerri J. Lynch* as AEA Asst. Stage Manager, Lydia Crush as Asst. Stage Manager, Bill Mohney as Scenic Designer, Joe Doran as Lighting Designer, Ruth Hedberg as Costume Designer, Derek Dumais as Sound Designer and Amanda Durst as Dialect Coach.

Cast includes Ken Allen Neely* as Guy, Katherine Fried as Girl, Christopher Seiler* as Da, Kelly Kennedy* as Baruska, Hilary Alexa Caldwell as Ex-Girlfriend, Trevor Lindley Craft as Svec, Lennon Hu as Andrej, Jon Patrick Penick as Billy, Andrew Nielson as Bank Manager, Will Hart as Eamon, J. Michael Zygo* as Emcee, Lauren Wright as Reza, and Isabel Lewis and Keeley Maddux as Ivanka.

Ticket Information

Box Office: 804-282-2620

www.virginiarep.org

Full Price Tickets: $36 - $63

Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available.

U-Tix for college and high school students $15. Available by phone or in person, day of show only. Valid Student ID required.