One Night Only Staged Reading Of FINISH LINE To Honor Five Year Anniversary Of Boston Marathon Bombing

Boston Theater Company, in association with the Boch Center, will present a one night only staged reading of Finish Line: A Documentary Play About the 2013 Boston Marathon at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 7:30PM to honor the five year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. The reading is sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association. Tickets are on sale now.

In March 2017, the world premiere of Finish Line was presented by the Boch Center in association with Boston Theater Company at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre to rave reviews from local media outlets and audience members.

Directed by Joey Frangieh, Finish Line brings a local story of recovery, resilience, and determination center stage. Through a transcript created verbatim from dozens of interviews, Finish Line uses powerful firsthand accounts to show how a community came together to heal and grow stronger after a tragic act of violence. Co-created by Frangieh and Lisa Rafferty, the documentary style production features interviews from Liz Norden, mother of two sons injured in the bombings, WCVB news anchor Maria Stephanos, Massachusetts General Hospital trauma surgeon Dr. David R. King, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, 1976 Marathon winner Jack Fultz, and Boston Globe photographer John Tlumacki, among many others.

"On April 17, the day after this year's Boston Marathon and five years later, we will have an opportunity to come together and once again, honor those we lost, celebrate the heroes that arose from that terrible day and reinforce that love is more powerful than hate," said Director Joey Frangieh. "We are proud to once again have the support of the Boch Center and to now be working with the Boston Athletic Association to keep the powerful stories of bravery, dedication and resilience alive."

"We were truly honored to work with Boston Theater Company last year to present the world premiere of Finish Line," said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President & CEO of the Boch Center. "The firsthand accounts from April 15, 2013 are as powerful today as ever before. We are happy to support Boston Theater Company on this one night engagement to give people the opportunity to come together and reflect five years later."

The cast includes many actors from the 2017 world premiere, including Karen MacDonald, who won the 2017 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of both Liz Norden, the mother of two sons injured in the bombings, and Paula McLaughlin, manager of charity team and wife of Boston cop. Other cast members include Lewis D. Wheeler, Danny Bolton, Katy Sullivan, Tonasia Jones, Omar Robinson, Ed Hoopman, Sam Tanabe, Amanda Collins, Kathy St. George and Joe Short. Each will bring to life the real words of individuals who were interviewed for the play, including survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, runners, doctors, police officers, journalists, clergy, students, and many others.

"Though five years have passed since the horrors of April 2013, for all of us, the memories and emotions continue to be powerful," said Tom Grilk, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. "The attack remains a topic that elicits a litany of responses. This documentary play is rooted - verbatim - in the emotional responses of the Boston community, and is a raw representation of the shock, sadness, and strength that rose from Boylston Street that day."

Tickets are on sale now at bostontheater.org.

Boston Theater Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that consists of three wings, artistic, education, and the artist athletic association. The artistic mission of BTC is to create new work while pushing the boundaries of theatre by exploring new ways to tell stories. We are rooted in the power theater has to unite, uncover and illuminate. We tell innovative stories that showcase the complexity of the human condition, using modes from verbatim documentary theater to movement-based non-verbal projects to music. Operating outside of a traditional season model, we craft each year with our project-based programming. We champion collaborative expression, a commitment to artistic integrity, and are grounded in a social responsibility. We celebrate the opportunity theater has to highlight our common humanity and encourage important conversation.

BTC's education program is grounded in approaching Shakespeare in new and innovative ways. Our program revolves around the belief that theater and creative drama can unlock a child's creativity, confidence, and penchant for collaboration. The Artist Athletic Association consists of artists and supporters of the arts who believe in teamwork, dedication, and commitment. The mission of the AAA is to promote health and wellness through physical activity while breaking the stereotype that arts and athletics are separate. Our goal is to showcase the similarities and break down the boundaries between athletics and the arts. We believe that the arts and athletics are for people of all genders, races, abilities, sexual preferences, classes, and identities. We strive to break down the boundaries that separate us as humans, and hope to confront and challenge the constructed binary imposed between artists and athletes. Learn more at www.bostontheater.org/.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock. More than 60,000 runners participate in B.A.A. events annually. The 122nd Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

The Boch Center is one of the nation's leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England's largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more.

Located in Boston's historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational and community outreach initiatives, including the City Spotlights Leadership Program and ArtWeek; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston's arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.

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