National Talent Comes Home for Empire Theatre Company's FALSETTOS Tonight

Empire Theatre Company will present William Finn's Tony Award-winning musical, FALSETTOS, opening tonight, February 4th. This laugh-out-loud production notably features regional favorites Darin Kerr and Cody Gerszewski in addition to Grand Forks native and national talent Michael Marcotte. With a career spanning from the LA Philharmonic to City Center Encores! Marcotte is "thrilled to be back home performing."

FALSETTOS tells the jaunty tale of a not-so-average family. Marvin, a gay Jewish man, leaves his wife and son for another man. Life becomes nothing short of dysfunctional as he simultaneously strives to keep his "tight-knit family" under one roof. Marriages are had, bar mitzvahs are planned and things get messy, but at the end of the day this poignant musical comedy reminds us that family, born or forged, is family.

FALSETTOS will run February 4-6 and 11-13 with all performances at 7:30pm at the Empire Arts Center. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and military. Tickets can be purchased weekdays at 701-746-5500 or anytime at www.empireartscenter.com. FALSETTOS is sponsored by Manstrom Photography. Donations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will be collected following each performance.

FALSETTOS features: Darin Kerr as Marvin, Mackenzie Teepen as Trina, Timmy Hennessy as Jason, Michael Marcotte as Whizzer, Cody Gerszewski as Mendel, Emily Johnson as Dr. Charlotte and Abbey Immer as Cordelia. This production is directed by Chris Berg, with musical direction by David Henrickson.

The Empire Theatre Company produces a theatrical season annually staffed by professional actors, technicians, musicians, and staff, with an especially unique mission to perform contemporary, thought-provoking plays and musicals. The 2015-2016 season will close with the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Flick. For more information about these productions, or to purchase tickets, visit www.empireartscenter.com.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Empire Arts Center is dedicated to promoting the arts in the greater Grand Forks community. The Empire provides a welcoming venue for other local arts organizations, as well as developing our own artistic programming such as the Empire Theatre Company and the Backstage Project. The Empire is also home to the UND Art Collections Gallery; exhibits from this collection have displayed works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali.