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Penny Seats' JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL to Offer Encore Performance at Conor O'Neill's in Ann Arbor

By: Feb. 27, 2016
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Given high audience demand, The Penny Seats will offer an encore performance of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well on the final performance date of the run, Thursday, March 3rd. This encore performance starts at 9:15pm, with dinner seatings beginning at 7:30pm. (This show is in addition to the sold out performance at 7:30 pm that same day.) As the show is only 70 minutes long, the evening will conclude at approximately 10:30pm.

Performed off-Broadway in 1968, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris has enjoyed continuing success, and was revived Off-Broadway in 2006, to considerable acclaim. The Penny Seats perform the show as a dinner theatre event in partnership with Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub and Restaurant. You can purchase dinner-and-a-show tickets for just $20 each or show-only tickets for $10.

"We are beyond thrilled at the audience response to this production, and we are especially thrilled at the year-over-year growth that our company has seen. This is the second production - in partnership with Conor O'Neill's - that has enjoyed a completely sold out run and has required us to add a performance. We've also seen double digit increases in our attendance at our summer performances in West Park. We couldn't be happier," notes Penny Seats president Lauren London, adding, "Grab these seats for the Jacques Brel encore before they're gone! Tremendous thanks to our enthusiastic partners, Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub and Restaurant. Everyone, please be sure to enjoy a pint at the pub, and toast Conors' support of the arts in Ann Arbor."

The musical revue stars Brendan Kelly of Ypsilanti, Natalie Rose Sevick of Swartz Creek, Lauren London of Ann Arbor, and Roy Sexton of Saline. Laura Sagolla (of Ann Arbor) directs, Richard Alder (of Westland) serves as music director and Paige Martin (of Ann Arbor) choreographs. Technical direction is provided by Stephen Hankes (of Ann Arbor).

In a review of the production for Encore Michigan (www.encoremichigan.com), Marin Heinritz observed, "Director Laura Sagolla gets Brel and his sensibility and guides a terrific cast. The four actors, two men and two women, are utterly amusing storytellers and work beautifully together to bring this show to life in this intimate space, a small platform stage with static lighting and minimal set pieces and props in a shotgun room. At turns, they create lovely harmonies together, dance and dramatize the vignettes in each song. ...Though Jacques Brel is no longer alive and well in Paris (or anywhere), thanks to Penny Seats' production of his quirky collection of songs, unpretentious theatre is alive and well in Michigan."

Given the nature of this special performance, advance purchase is recommended at http://www.pennyseats.org or by phone at (734) 926-5346. (View a performance clip here - http://youtu.be/3YSrkyCtnQA - of "Madeleine" in rehearsal.) Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris will be the first of three shows comprising The Penny Seats' 2016 season. The group plans to stage productions of The Canterbury Tales and Xanadu at West Park this summer, from June 16th through July 30th.

Founded in 2010, we're performers and players, minimalists and penny-pinchers. We think theatre should be fun and stirring, not stuffy or repetitive. We believe going to a show should not break the bank. And we find Michigan summer evenings beautiful. Thus, we produce dramas and comedies, musicals and original adaptations, classics and works by up-and-coming playwrights. We also provide cabaret shows, acting classes, and wacky improv evenings. And you can see any of our shows for the same price as a movie ticket.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about The Penny Seats call at 734-926-5346 or Visit: http://www.pennyseats.org.

Photo credit: Kyle Lawson.



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