Photo Flash: History Theatre's THE INCREDIBLE SEASON OF RONNIE RABINOVITZ Opens Tonight

History Theatre will produce the world premiere of a new play by Wisconsin native and the writer of the Broadway hit Lombardi, Eric Simonson. The Incredible Season of Ronnie Rabinovitz tells the remarkable true story of an ordinary 13-year-old boy in Sheboygan, Wis.-Ronnie-who happened to be friends with two extraordinary men: his pen pal, baseball legend and civil rights advocate Jackie Robinson, and the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, who was campaigning for the Presidential nomination in the Wisconsin primary. Scroll down for photos of the production!

In February of 1960 the town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin was an unlikely intersection of politics, civil rights, and baseball when Jackie Robinson and John F. Kennedy were guests in the Rabinovitz home. The events depicted in the play all happened, though their details have been altered a bit by memory (and some artistic license). The play is set during two separate occasions: a visit from Jackie Robinson that was disrupted when someone sprayed racially-charged graffiti on the wall of Mr. Rabinovitz's office building; and a visit from Jack Kennedy when his campaign stop was interrupted by a raw egg thrown by an agitator during a Union rally. Sharp wit, humor, Midwestern sensibilities, politics, baseball, and some Nesbitt's Orange Soda light up the stage in this bright new play by Eric Simonson.

The Incredible Season of Ronnie Rabinovitz was commissioned by History Theatre and was part of the 2013 RAW STAGES New Works Festival and a Next Stages workshop in the fall of 2013. This world premiere production will feature Ansa Akyea as Jackie Robinson, Peter Middlecamp as Senator John F. Kennedy, and Jack Alexander as Ronnie Rabinovitz. They will be joined by Mark Benninghofen, Teri Parker Brown, E.J. Subkoviak, and Jim Stowell.

Some special events that will occure during the run of The Incredible Season of Ronnie Rabinovitz will include Pizza & Trivia (Saturday February 15 at 6:00p.m). Make the most of your Saturday night all in one place. Enjoy dinner provided by Black Sheep Pizza while you test your trivia knowledge about Jackie Robinson and baseball, John F. Kennedy and politics, and the Civil Rights movement - prizes will be awarded! Price includes a hot meal and a ticket to the 8 p.m. performance of The Incredible Season of Ronnie Rabinovitz. $45 Tier 1 / $41 Tier 2

Tickets are available in tiered seating at History Theatre. In Tier 1 (blue), tickets are $40 for adults and $38 for seniors. In Tier 2 (pink), tickets are $36 for adults and $34 for seniors. In Tier 3 (yellow), tickets are $32 for adults and $30 for seniors. All tickets for children (up to 18 years old) are $15. Discount rates are available for groups of 12 or more. Contact Jill Vaughn, Group Sales Manager for information about group discounts: by phone at651.292.4320 or by email.

Photo Credit: Scott Pakudaitis

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