L.A. Theatre Works Brings IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT to Eccles Tonight

The first-rate cast of L.A. Theatre Works returns to the Eccles stage with a riveting thriller tonight, March 7. Based on John Ball's 1965 novel (which two years later became a ground-breaking, Academy award-winning film starring Sidney Poitier), "In the Heat of the Night" is a stage performance that is at once relevant and, in the words of a DC Metro reviewer, "searing, disturbing and flat-out brilliant." The radio play begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 435-655-3114 or online at EcclesCenter.org.

Adapted to the stage by Matt Pelfrey, "In the Heat of the Night" features a small town Alabama cop forced to confront his bigotry when a well-educated, African American police detective arrives from California to investigate a murder. It is 1965, the era of Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedys, LBJ, sit-ins, violence, peaceful resistance... and an America moving toward racial equality. The stage is set with 8 microphones, but those radio-play props give way to emotion and complex theater that instantly captivates the audience.

"Brilliant, electrifying, moving, and timely," writes a Folsom Telegraph reviewer, "As soon as the stage went black, the audience was on its feet in a standing ovation." And DC Metro gave the show "Five stars."

The star-studded cast of actors, whose work regularly graces the stage and screen includes: Ryan Vincent Anderson (Virgil Tibbs), James Morrison (Police Chief Gillespie), Michael Hammond (police officer Sam Wood), Travis Johns (police officer Pete) and Kaleen Harriman, Darren Richardson and Tom Virtue (each playing several characters). Unafraid to tackle the tensions and challenges of an incendiary chapter of American history, L.A. Theatre Works - "a national treasure," according to The Philadelphia Inquirer - delivers a still-relevant message and raises poignant questions.

"This company's radio theater is both unique and absolutely compelling," says PCI's Executive director Teri Orr. "And the racially fraught themes of this story are just as important today - in the time of Ferguson - as they were more than 50 years ago. Undoubtedly, this show will lead to conversations. And these are conversations every community should have."

Park City Institute presents L.A. Theatre Works "In the Heat of the Night" on Saturday, March 7 at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $69* (20-percent discount for seniors, ½ price tickets for children ages 16 and under; $5 seats are available in the Copper Section for Summit County students (K-12). Tickets and information are available at The Eccles Center box office, 435-655-3114 or www.ecclescenter.org.