Public Invited to Join in Group Rendition of Hit Song from ONCE at Shubert Theatre in Boston, 12/9

The musical ONCE is about people connecting through music. On Wednesday, December 9 at 12:30 PM, the Citi Performing Arts Center (CPAC) is planning to make that happen in a big way, at the Citi Shubert Theatre. They are inviting as many people as possible to connect over the emotionally charged, Academy Award-winning song, "Falling Slowly" from ONCE, by playing the song on guitar in unison. It will be the largest gathering of guitarists ever to play "Falling Slowly" in the United States.

"We are looking to bring together as many guitarists as possible to play and sing 'Falling Slowly.' We're looking for everyone, from all walks of life. You could be a student, a construction worker, a performer, a dog walker, a teacher, a doctor, or an executive - it doesn't matter, just learn the song, bring your guitar, and joins us. We've planned this for 12:30 pm so that people can join us during their lunch hours," said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President and CEO of Citi Performing Arts Center. "'Falling Slowly' is the song that won an Oscar in the movie version of ONCE, the story of an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant who fall in love, and it's also a centerpiece of the stage musical. It's the music that will connect us all."

The event will take place at 12:30 pm; all participants must arrive prior to 12 noon to check in. After taking seats in the Shubert Theatre, the full gathering will tune their guitars and all present will join in playing the song three times with members of the ONCE cast.

Here's how fans may join this historic event:

1. Register for the event at citicenter.org/guitars The first 100 participants will get 2 free tickets; everyone else will receive a coupon for buy one ticket, get one free

2. Learn the song download the chord and lyrics at citicenter.org/guitars

3. Bring your acoustic guitar on the day of the event

4. Tune and perform with the cast of ONCE and fellow musicians

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, returns to Boston by popular demand to play a three-week engagement at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, playing Dec. 8 - 27, 2015. Presented by the Citi Performing Arts Center, tickets are on sale now at the Citi Center box office, through www.citicenter.org, or by calling (866) 348-9738.

ONCE features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot), and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

ONCE is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, ONCE is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty... and unforgettable in every way.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, ONCE, was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with original music and lyrics by Mr. Hansard and Ms. Irglová.

ONCE is produced by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Executive Producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop.

To register for the Guitar Event, visit citicenter.org/guitars

ONCE plays at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, Tuesday, December 8 - Sunday, December 27, 2015 for 24 performances: Monday, December 21 at 7:30 pm; Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm (except press night, Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 pm; and no performances on December 24 and 25); Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 6:30 pm; and matinees on Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm; and Wednesday, December 23 at 2:00 pm. The Wednesday, December 16 performance at 7:30 pm will be an American Sign Language (ASL) Open Captioned, Audio Described performance for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

Tickets are priced at $48.00 - $98.00; all prices include a $4.00 facility fee per ticket. Tickets are on sale at the Citi Center box office, through www.citicenter.org, or by calling (866) 348-9738. Groups of 10 or more may reserve tickets now by contacting Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at (617) 532-1116 or groups@citicenter.org

For more information on ONCE, visit www.oncemusical.com

About Citi Performing Arts Center

Citi Performing Arts Center, which includes the Wang and Shubert Theatres, is one of the nation's foremost nonprofit performing arts institutions. As New England's largest cultural venue, it honors all aspects of the performing arts offering theatre, opera, classical and popular music, comedy, dance, and Broadway musicals. Its education/public programming initiatives present the City Spotlights Leadership Program and ArtWeek Boston. The historic Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Boston's historic Theatre District, Citi Performing Arts Center offers a diverse mix of educational workshops and community activities; collaborates with artists and local performing arts organizations; and, acts as a champion for the arts in the Greater Boston community by aggressively helping to make the arts an integral part of the community's collective, daily experience. For more information, please visit www.citicenter.org