Rubicon Theatre's JACK LEMMON RETURNS Returns Tonight

On the heels of successful runs at the Royal George in Chicago, and at Laguna Playhouse and The Broad in Southern California, JACK LEMMON RETURNS makes its way to California's Central Coast for a limited engagement March 11 through March 29 at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre. This enchanting play-with-music is both a revealing portrait of legendary actor Jack Lemmon (Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot, Days of Wine and Roses, The Odd Couple), and an in-depth, personal look at his relationship with his only son, actor and musician Chris Lemmon (Duets, That's Life, Lena's Holiday, etc.). The production is adapted and directed by impresario Hershey Felder, whose gifts for melding music and story have been celebrated through productions of George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein and The Pianist of Willesden Lane.

Jack Lemmon's lifelong dream was to be an actor, head to New York from his hometown of Newton MA and "Save Broadway." At the urging of a show-biz minded mother, but a serious business-minded father, Jack pursued his dream and, due to a remarkable set of events, became one of the world's all-time great movie stars. Believing that no actor should ever be pigeonholed into being either a comedian or a serious dramatic artist, Jack Lemmon broke barriers, and played everything. As the first actor to win Academy Awards as both Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, Jack Lemmon's talents knew no bounds. But with every blessing there can also be a curse, and Jack's son Chris was witness to it all.

"This remarkable story told by Chris Lemmon in the voice of his father is performed in the style of musical storytelling that audiences have come to know from me," said adapter/director Hershey Felder. "Being able to work with Chris to present this piece has been an incredible joy both because of Chris' skill as an actor in the tradition of his father, and as a musician given that music was such an important part of his father's life. Having an insider's view into Hollywood and the craft of one of its prodigal sons makes for an extremely satisfying event."

Chris Lemmon was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Cynthia Stone and actor Jack Lemmon. With a talent for music, he was encouraged by his father to study piano. Chris Lemmon played piano professionally after having graduated from the California Institute of the Arts, with degrees in classical piano and composition, and in theater. Pursuing a career as an actor, Chris appeared in numerous stage productions, including the West Coast tour of Barefoot in the Park, directed by Jerry Paris, the original West Coast production of Shay by Anne Commire, and A. R. Gurney's Love Letters with Stephanie Zimbalist. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Richard Phillips in the situation comedies, Duet (1987) and Open House (1989). Chris Lemmon is also a screenwriter and producer. In 2006, Algonquin Books published Lemmon's tribute to his father, entitled A Twist of Lemmon, which was re-released in 2008 as a paperback by Applause Theatre and Cinema Books.

Chris appeared in three films with his father: Airport '77 (1977), That's Life! (1986) and Dad (1989).

JACK LEMMON RETURNS is sponsored by Barbara Meister. 17th Season Sponsors are Diane and Peter Goldenring/Goldenring & Prosser, Janet and Mark L. Goldenson, Barbara Meister, Micheline Sakharoff and Anne and Michael Towbes.

JACK LEMMON RETURNS opens Wednesday, March 11 and continues through March 29. Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. There are no performances of JACK LEMMON RETURNS on Friday, March 13 at 8:00 p.m. or Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. due to previously scheduled benefit productions at the theatre. A detailed schedule is below. The production replaces the canceled production of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which was originally scheduled for this timeslot.

For tickets to Jack Lemmon Returns, please call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

Tickets for JACK LEMMON RETURNS may be purchased in person through the Rubicon Theatre Company Box Office at the corner of Main and Laurel in Ventura (Laurel entrance and downstairs). To charge by phone, call 805.667.2900 or visit Rubicon online at www.rubicontheatre.org.

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