John Bolger, Mark Jacoby & More to Star in World Premiere of FIVE PRESIDENTS at Milwaukee Rep

Broadway and television veterans John Bolger, Mark Jacoby, Kenneth Kimmins, Steve Sheridan and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents, the world premiere production from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (House of Cards, The West Wing, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under). Directed by Milwaukee Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements, the production is set to begin performances at the Quadracci Powerhouse on March 10, 2015. Opening night is Friday, March 13, 2015 and runs through April 5, 2015.

Originally commissioned by Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Five Presidents is a co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and will be performed at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, January 10-31, 2015, and at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, February 5-22, 2015.

Five Presidents is a funny and incisive drama about the meeting of America's most exclusive club - the ex-presidents. Obliged to gather together on the day of Richard Nixon's funeral, four "exes" and one "current" vent frustrations, revisit old grievances, and reveal the toll that it takes on any person foolish enough to seek the highest office in the land.

John Bolger (Gerald Ford) has appeared on television in the recurring roles of Mayor Floyd in General Hospital, John Sykes in One Life to Live, Gabe McNamara and Alton Spade in Another World and Philip Spaulding in Guiding Light. Other TV credits include: Person of Interest, Royal Pains, The Black Donnellys, Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Sex and the City, and NYPD Blue, among others. National tours include South Pacific and Dirty Dancing. He is the great nephew of Ray Bolger who played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

Mark Jacoby (George H.W. Bush) is an American musical theater performer. He has appeared in many Broadway productions including Elf: The Musical, Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha (Revival), Ragtime, Show Boat, Grand Hotel, The Phantom of the Opera, and Sweet Charity. Jacoby also was seen in the first national tour of Wicked. TV credits include Ed, Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Kenneth Kimmins (Jimmy Carter) is a television actor with extensive credits best known for his roles as Doctor Klein on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and as Howard Burleigh, the Athletic Director of Minnesota State University on the TV show, Coach. Other TV credits include Dallas, Mr. President, Leo and Liz in Beverly Hills, Hart to Hart, WKRP in Cincinatti, Hill Street Blues, and Matlock, among many others. Film credits include: The Jennie Project, Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo, Jack Spanner, Private Eye, Love Among Thieves and Help Wanted: Kids. On Broadway he has appeared in The Music Man, The Magic Show, Status Quo Vadi, The Gingerbread Lady, Company, and The Fig Leaves are Falling.

Reese Madigan (Special Agent Michael Kirby), a Milwaukee Rep Associate Artist, returns to The Rep after appearing as Thomas in Venus in Fur last season. Other credits include: Michael Cassio in Othello; Paul Hornung in Lombardi; Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman; and Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps. Other favorite Rep roles include Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Edmund in King Lear and Segismundo in Sue?o. He has worked both on Broadway at Lincoln Center and The Circle in The Square Theaters and Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public, and The Variety Arts Theatres. Madigan has performed with many regional companies including Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival, Appropriate) and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Three Musketeers).

Steve Sheridan (Ronald Reagan) is an alumni of Chicago's famed theater, The Second City, where he wrote and performed in a number of hit shows. His stage work in Los Angeles garnered him awards from LA Weekly and Dramalogue for both acting and playwrighting. His television work includes appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Drew Carey Show, and Malcolm in the Middle. Film credits are Nothing in Common, Vice Versa, and Punching the Clown.

Brit Whittle (Bill Clinton) received his MFA in Acting from the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory and his Bachelor's of Science from Georgia College and State University, with a major in Political Science and a minor in psychology. He began his acting career in the Georgia College and State University theater department. Later, Whittle moved on to Atlanta where he worked at Actors Express Theater, studying under then artistic director Chris Coleman. TV credits include: Believe, The Carrie Diaries, The Blacklist, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods, Mercy, All My Children, One Life to Live, 30 Rock, and Guiding Light. He also appeared in the film The Adjustment Bureau.

The Creative Team for Five Presidents includes: Artistic Director/Director, Mark Clements; Scenic Design, Todd Edward Ivins±; Costume Design, Mary Folino; Lighting Design, Jesse Klug; Sound Design, Brian Jerome Peterson; Makeup Design; Lauren Wilde; Dialect Coach, Jill Walmsley Zager. ± Rep Associate Artist

Single tickets for all Five Presidents performances are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at 414-224-9490 or in person at The Rep's Ticket Office at 108 E. Wells Street. Ticket prices start at $20.00. Group tickets are also available for purchase by calling Morgan Halverson in Group Sales at 414-290-5340.

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