I SING THE RISING SEA Makes World Premiere at Virginia Stage Tonight

Commissioned through Virginia Stage Company's American Soil Series, I Sing the Rising Sea is a story of special regional interest written by the coauthor of Frog Kiss, Eric Schorr. In collaboration with ODURep, it tells the sweeping story of sea level rise that flows through generations and across continents - from the shores of Virginia to Japan and Antarctica. Scientists, soldiers, poets, and lovers strive to understand and master the power of the oceans that connect us all.

This original and timely work of musical theatre will receive its world premiere at ODU's Goode Theatre, just miles from Norfolk's Ocean View, one of the play's main settings. With a very diverse cast and creative team, the production is relatable to us all and captures the urgency of one of humanity's most overwhelming challenges - to survive the rising sea.

In addition, Virginia Stage Company will be releasing several show-related blog posts in order to give Hampton Roads a deeper understanding of how their shows are created here in Norfolk. Keep an eye out on their website and social media outlets to read as they share with our community an inside look at all that goes into a VSC production.

I Sing the Rising Sea begins with three discounted preview performances, tonight, September 13, through September 15, and officially opens on September 16. After 28 performances, the production will conclude on October 9. Tickets for each show start as low as $20, while the best seats in the Theatre are available for $55 with discounts for groups, students, and the military.

Interviews can be set up with members of the cast, crew, creative team, or staff of Virginia Stage Company. All reviews are welcome, and tickets can be provided to anyone who wishes to see the production for these purposes.

Virginia Stage Company is southeastern Virginia's leading theatre destination, serving an audience of over 70,000 annually both at the Wells Theatre and throughout the community. Virginia Stage Company's mission is to "enrich, educate, and entertain the region by creating and producing theatrical art of the highest quality."

MEET SOME OF THE CAST:

Anthony Mark Stockard (Langston Hughes) is excited to return to VSC after appearing in The Tempest as King Alonzo and A Christmas Carol as The Ghost of Christmas Present. His most recent credits include TV/Film: Surrogates (with Bruce Willis) Off-Broadway: Old Comedy... at Classic Stage Company; Regional: No Child... (Connecticut Critics Circle Award Winner) at Hartford Theatreworks; Intimate Apparel at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre; The Three Musketeers at Double Edge Theatre Company; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and A Christmas Carol at Berkshire Theater Festival; The Taming of the Shrew, Coriolanus, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Four Spirits at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Anthony Holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from Alabama State University and an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University. He proudly serves as the Director of Virginia's most nationally recognized collegiate theatre program of the year, Norfolk State University's Division of Drama.

Alan Ariano (Hiro) is thrilled to be working with this amazing team. Thank you, Eric Schorr & Harriet Bass for this opportunity. Virginia Stage debut! Broadway credits: The King and I (Lincoln Center Theater Revival), M. Butterfly, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Shogun: The Musical, and Miss Saigon (Original Company member to closing company, 10 years to the day). National Tour: Flower Drum Song. Off Broadway credits: Shanghai Moon (opposite Charles Bush) and Pan Asian Rep's Imelda, A New Musical. World Premiers include The Geffen Playhouse's Extraordinary Chambers, The Portland Center Stage's Snow Falling on Cedars, Prospect Theater's Honor, and Diverse City Theatre's The Encounter. Regional Theaters include The Kennedy Center, The MUNY, Segerstrom Center, Dallas Summer Musicals, Walnut Street Theatre, Pioneer Theater, The Fifth Ave, TUTS Houston, Music Theatre of Wichita, Weston Playhouse, California Music Circus, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Favorite stage roles include The King (The King and I), Bishop & Grantaire (Les Misrables), Ito (Mame), and Gonzalo (The Tempest). Television credits include: Harry's Law, Leverage, Law & Order, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Parco, P.I., SNL, HBO's Treme (guest-starring opposite Isabella Rossellini), and upcoming this fall, Time After Time on ABC.

Betsy DiLellio (Rosa/Ruth) is honored to be making her debut at Virginia Stage Company. National Tours: The Light in the Piazza (1st National, Bartlett Sher, dir.), The Sound of Music (TOTS). Off-Broadway: Enter Laughing The Musical (York Theatre and OCR), Glimpses of the Moon (The Oak Room), The Baker's Wife (York Theatre). Regional: The Secret Garden (Capital Rep), How to Succeed... (STAGES St. Louis), It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Human Race Theatre Co.), Lend Me A Tenor (Bay Street Theatre), South Pacific (Surflight), Carousel and The Full Monty (WVPT), The Light in the Piazza (MSMT), Oklahoma!, Annie (TOTS), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (The Cleveland Playhouse). TV: The Knick. She performs internationally with the opera band Bravo Amici and has sung at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. Proud member of Actors Equity Association. Ciao Pasquale!

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