Olympia Entertainment is proud to announce that Ernie - A play by Mitch Albom, will return for a fifth unforgettable season at the City Theatre, located inside of Hockeytown Café. As Detroit buzzes with excitement on the verge of the 2015 Detroit Tiger's season, Ernie invites fans to celebrate and remember "The Voice of Summer" with an opening performance on Thursday, July 9 and running through Sunday, August 2. Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, the two-man play, is dedicated to the late and beloved Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers announcer, Ernie Harwell.
Tickets ($20 and $25) will remain at the same low price as the original 2011 season and go on sale Saturday, April 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at OlympiaEntertainment.com, the Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (without service charge), at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and at the City Theatre box office, located inside Hockeytown Cafe. To charge tickets by phone, call
1-800-745-3000. Groups of 8+ receive a discount on select seats by calling
313-471-3099. As with the past four seasons, proceeds from Ernie merchandise sales will go to the Ernie Harwell Foundation.
Ernie's fifth anniversary season will again feature the doubleheader experience with convenient showtimes to provide fans the ability to watch the play and catch a Tigers game in the same day. To take advantage of the "doubleheader", patrons must present their Ernie show ticket stub at the Comerica Park Box Office. Fans can receive $5 savings on select seating and at select regular season home games. Game tickets will only be available for pick-up at the Comerica Park Box Office.
"We remain amazed and humbled at the continued interest in the show," said
Mitch Albom. "It speaks to the timeless nature of Ernie's style and humanity. Our actors give it their all every performance, which insures a great night at the theater. We are looking forward to another great season."
The show welcomes back local favorite TJ Corbett in his role as The Boy along with veteran stage actor
Peter Carey in the lead role of Ernie. Carey's uncanny portrayal of Harwell, the broadcasting legend, was hailed during his leading role debut as Ernie in 2014 and as an understudy during the play's 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Albom, who was asked by Harwell if he'd consider a play about the announcer's life, began writing the script after Ernie's passing in May of 2010. The two-actor play debuted in April 2011 to coincide with the Tigers baseball season and has since become the highest-attended show in the history of the City Theatre; with nearly 79,000 patrons in four seasons.
Ernie is set on Harwell's last night at Comerica Park in September of 2009, prior to his moving thank you speech to his adopted and beloved city of Detroit. Just before he walks onto the grassy field, he encounters an unusual boy who is eager to know all about him, coaxing Harwell into giving one final broadcast - the "broadcast of his life".
The play features classic footage from historic baseball moments, supplied courtesy of Major League Baseball, and boasts many unmistakable Harwell calls. Tigers fans will get a glimpse of the time that Ernie met the Great Bambino and Ty Cobb. They'll witness how he "recreated" games in his early days, and what was behind his broadcasts of the Tigers' 1968 and 1984 World Series.
The show will also play in Traverse City from August 12-16 at the Opera House and in East Lansing from August 19-23 at the Pasant Theatre this season.
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