Ridley Creek Productions to Offer Staged Reading of THE MICHIGAN ASSASSIN

Ridley Creek Productions is presenting a staged reading of a play about one man's struggle to fight in an era more unpredictable and more brutal than our own.

Meet Stanley Ketchel. One of the greatest boxers to ever walk the Earth. Standing at five foot, nine inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, he was a fine-tuned assassin who ripped through other killers, sometimes 30 or 40 pounds heavier than himself. His pension for destruction and his durability place him in all-time rankings as high as number 19 by esteemed historians of the sport.

The legend of Stanley Ketchel is one for the ages. It is a tale of obsession, love, heartache, and ultimately, the singular aspect that violence plays an ever-present role in our nature. "The Michigan Assassin" will bring a legend's story to the forefront of American consciousness that will not soon be forgotten.

Come experience the tragic rise and fall of an American boxing hero. Get immersed in the debauchery and violence of a period in boxing where bouts last 45 rounds. To become a champion meant conniving, bruising, and brawling your way to the top. It is a vulnerable and visceral experience that can only serve to deepen the awareness of a period in American history where legends were born and the abruptly brushed to the side.

A reading of "The Michigan Assassin" by Matt McKenna will play the Scott DeSotelle Studio inside the Times Square Arts Center on the third floor. 300 West 43rd Street in New York City. Presentations will be Dec. 18 and 19 at 7:00 PM and Dec. 20 at 3:00 PM. Admission is FREE by e-mailing ketchelplay@gmail.com.

Directed by Ed Renninger, the cast features Brandon Alan Smith as Ketchel, Michelle Vezilj as love interest, Ella Lola and Carl Clemons-Hopkins as infamous boxer, Jack Johnson. Leading the ensemble is Mike Backes (Jersey Boys, Original Las Vegas; 1st Nat'l Rock of Ages) as Special Agent William Carey. Carey carries out a search for a runaway Ketchel that lasts years.

Rounding out the cast will be Austin Archer, Amanda Bailey, Olivia Rose Barresi, Greg Bell, Alexander D Carney, Mark A. Keeton, Caitlin McColl, Michael Brian Ogden, Jon L Peacock, Tom Paolino, Alana Rader, Edward Tolve and Matthew Tyler. The reading will be stage managed by Craig M. Rosenthal. Assistant Casting Director is Jonathan Cort.