I Love Lucy - Live On Stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall

An “out-of-body experience for ‘Lucy’ fans” according to Showbiz Chicago, I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE takes audiences back to 1952 as members of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience where they await the filming of two hilarious and oh-so-familiar I LOVE LUCY® episodes, The Benefit and Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined. A charming host entertains and enlightens the crowd to the behind-the-scenes filming process of a brand new thing called “television,” the Crystaltone Singers perform advertising jingles in perfect ‘50s style harmony and the sidesplitting antics of America’s favorite foursome – Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel – are presented live on stage and in color for the very first time! It’s a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience TV Guide’s William Keck calls “the most entertaining stage production I’ve seen in years – including Broadway!”

I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE is staged and directed by Rick Sparks and adapted for the stage with new material by Kim Flagg and Rick Sparks. The creative team also includes Wayne Moore (music arrangements and special lyrics), Andy Belling (music direction), Peitor Angell (original music), Aaron Henderson (scenic design), Shon LeBlanc & Kelly Bailey (costume design), David George (lighting design), Cricket S. Myers (sound design), Diane Martinous (original hair/wig design), Judi Lewin (hair/wig design), Karina Branson (make-up design) and Allen McMullen (production stage management).

The I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE on-stage band comprises Andy Belling (musical director, conductor and first keyboard), Bryan Miller (assistant conductor and second keyboard), Ron Barrows (trumpet), Dave Lotfi (drums/conga), David Olivas (saxophone/flute) and Nicholas Stankus (bass/banjo).

The iconic hit sitcom I LOVE LUCY® originally aired on CBS from 1951 – 1957 for a total of six seasons and 179 episodes and is widely considered to be one of the most popular programs in the history of television. Due in no small part to its relatable characters, sharp comedic writing and Lucille Ball’s signature zany charm, the show continues to endear new audiences with every passing generation. The program was a technical trailblazer, pioneering the multi-camera shooting technique (still employed by the majority of traditional sitcoms to this day) and the use of 35mm film for the capture of a weekly, 30-minute scripted television program (which made possible the re-airing of episodes at a later date, what we now know as “reruns”). In September 2012, I LOVE LUCY® was named the “Best TV Show Of All Time” and the “Greatest TV Comedy” by People Magazine and ABC’s 20/20 special Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time.