Mitch Albom announced today, from his show on WJR radio, that Ernie will once again return to the City Theatre, located inside of Hockeytown Café and just one block from Comerica Park, to offer fans a fourth season to remember "The Voice of Summer" starting Thursday, July 10. 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 Tiger announcer, Ernie Harwell.
The show welcomes back local favorite TJ Corbett in his role as The Boy and proudly debuts veteran stage actor Peter Carey in the lead role of Ernie. Carey's uncanny portrayal of Harwell, the broadcasting legend, was hailed during his time as an "Ernie" understudy over the last 3 years.
Tickets ($20 and $25), will remain at the same low price as the original season in 2011, and go on sale Saturday, March 29 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. For discounted Group Sales tickets (8 or more people), call
313-471-3099. As with the past two seasons, proceeds from Ernie merchandise sales will go to the Ernie Harwell Foundation.
Ernie's fourth 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 can purchase their Ernie show tickets online at OlympiaEntertainment.com, Ticketmaster.com or the Fox Theatre 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 and patrons must present their Ernie show ticket stub.
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 70,000 patrons in three 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.
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