Theater Latte Da Brings OLIVER! to the Pantages, Beginning Tonight

OLIVER!, an re-imagining of the iconic musical based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist, directed by the nationally acclaimed Peter Rothstein, runs tonight, February 4-March 1, 2015, at the historic Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Starring local powerhouse Bradley Greenwald and featuring the Minnesota Boychoir, the production taps a "steampunk" aesthetic, where the machine age meets Victorian England. The story bursts to life with such joyful and iconic songs as "Consider Yourself," "Food, Glorious Food," "As Long As He Needs Me" and "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" from Lionel Bart's unforgettable score.

OLIVER! is the latest in the award-winning Broadway Re-Imagined series produced collaboratively by Theater Latté Da and Hennepin Theatre Trust. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase and for more information, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Under the insightful hand of Rothstein, Theater Latté Da's Artistic Director, this all-new production is a contemporary and dynamic vision of an enduring story with a child at its heart. Meant for audiences young and old, it is engaging for both adults and families. Dickens' masterful critique of an industrial society and the widening gap between the rich and the poor is both heart-wrenching, heart-warming and alarmingly relevant to today's world. As the young orphan Oliver searches for family and a home, he finds companionship where he least expects it-in the form of Dickens' vivid Fagin, The Artful Dodger, Nancy, Bet and Mr. Brownlow, among a host of others.

OLIVER! is the largest scale Theater Latté Da co-production to date and the first major Twin Cities' staging of the musical in almost two decades. This production features more than two dozen boys from the Minnesota Boychoir as the Workhouse Orphans, a separate group cast as "Fagin's Boys" and introduces Nate Turcotte as the plucky Oliver. It also showcases the talents of a dozen adult actors, including the renowned Greenwald as Fagin, Dieter Brauer as Bill Sykes and Lauren Davis as Nancy.

The expansive scale and depth of quality are made possible by the ongoing Broadway Re-Imagined partnership between Theater Latté Da and Hennepin Theatre Trust. The collaboration began in 2013 with the popular production of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, and brought the stunning Cabaret to the Pantages stage in 2014, earning both organizations the Ivey Award for Overall Excellence and other accolades. The series taps both organizations' strengths to take a fresh look at Broadway musicals and craft innovative stagings from the musical theater canon featuring all local talent. The two organizations have also worked together since 2008 on the annual production of All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, created by Rothstein.

"OLIVER! is a musical theater gem and it's a thrill to tackle this masterpiece with an outstanding cast and an inventive design team," said Artistic Director Peter Rothstein. "I read the novel and script for the first time a year ago and was struck by its relevance. Dickens was examining the impact of poverty on the most vulnerable members of society -- children. He was also turning a critical eye on the cost of industrialization and its dehumanizing impact. The novel is both a gritty piece of realism and a fairy tale. The combination of those two seemingly contrary aesthetics offers great theatrical potential."

"There are three dozen boys in the company plus a dozen adult actors, making this Theater Latté Da's largest production to date. Our ongoing, successful partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust at the historic Pantages Theatre makes work of this scale possible and enhances our shared commitment to expanding the art of adventurous musical theater," Rothstein continued.

Tom Hoch, President/CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust, commented, "It's a joy to be working again with Theater Latté Da and Peter Rothstein through Oliver! and Broadway Re-Imagined, especially following up on the phenomenal success of Cabaret. The series continues to open new doors and contributes to the vitality of our downtown Minneapolis Cultural District."

This Minneapolis production stars some of the area's best stage talent. The adult cast features Bradley Greenwald as Fagin, Lauren Davis as Nancy, Dieter Brauer as Bill Sykes, Angela Steele as Charlotte, Jill Iverson as Bet/ensemble, Jim Ramlet as Mr. Bumble, Lolly Foy as Widow Corney, Brian Frutiger as Mr. Sowerberry and Lamar Jefferson as featured dancer/ensemble.

The boys cast, in addition to the Minnesota Boychoir, features Nate Turcotte as Oliver, Braxton Baker as Noah, Alec Fisher as The Artful Dodger, along with Jacob Stein, Henry Constable, Parker Miller, Jonah Harrison, Duncan Rayburn and Carter Skull in various roles.

OLIVER! was the first musical adaptation of a famous Charles Dickens' work to become a stage hit. In 1968, it was made into a well-known British musical drama film directed by Carol Reed with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart and screenplay by Vernon Harris. The film of Oliver! was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won six, including Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. A stage revival version produced by Cameron Macintosh has played in London and on Broadway.

Performance Related Opportunities:

• Director's Dialogue -- with Peter Rothstein, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, following the 2 p.m. performance
• Post Show Discussions -- Sunday, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, following the 2 p.m. performances.
• American Sign Language Interpreted and Audio Described Performance, Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.
• Open Captioned Performance, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.

OLIVER! runs February 4-March 1, 2015, at the Pantages Theatre, as part of the Broadway Re-Imagined Series. Tickets for OLIVER! are on sale now. Tickets range from $24-$52 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office, 805 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls., 55402 (no service fees), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. All prices include applicable facility restoration fees. Additional charges may apply. Groups of 10 are eligible for discounts and should call 612.373.5665 or email MinneapolisGroups@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com for information and reservations. OLIVER! will take place at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Pantages Theatre (710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403).

Theater Latté Da, founded by Peter Rothstein and Denise Prosek, is an award-winning Twin Cities musical theater company that combines music and story to illuminate the breadth and depth of the human experience. The company seeks to create new connections between story, music, artists and audience by exploring and expanding the art of musical theater. Theater Latté Da is a leader in the musical theater art form, having produced over 50 mainstage productions including 9 world premieres, 9 area premieres and dozens of productions celebrated for their bold re-imagination.Visit theaterlatteda.org for additional information.

Hennepin Theatre Trust, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development. We achieve our mission by presenting a rich mix of live performances, creating inspiring arts education experiences and advancing a thriving Hennepin Avenue cultural district in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trust's activities include presenting Broadway touring productions and the related Broadway Confidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other live entertainment plus educational initiatives including our SpotLight Musical Theatre and Critical Review programs for high schools, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Family Day events.

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