Photo Flash: DEAR RUTH Opens At Hale Centre Theatre

Opening at Hale Centre Theatre on September 18, 2018 and playing through Nov. 13, 2018 is the Broadway comedy Dear Ruth. Produced by David and Corrin Dietlein, with direction by Cambrian James, Dear Ruth is a charming, romantic, highly entertaining Broadway comedy written by Academy Award winner Norman Krasna (a prolific writer with numerous Hollywood and Broadway hits, he is probably best known for his screenplay "White Christmas"). Dear Ruth was a huge Broadway success with 680 performances. It was later made into a very successful film of the same name starring William Holden, Joan Caulfield, and Edward Arnold.

About DEAR RUTH. Set in the war years of the 1940's, love-struck soldier William Seawright returns home from Europe on a two-day leave to meet and marry his pen pal sweetheart, Ruth. You see, Bill, who is petrified of flying, signs on to fly twenty-five missions over Germany as the bombardier of a B-26 bomber in order to get a leave to return to the states and marry Ruth. Completely taken aback when Bill shows up on her doorstep with flowers in hand and professing his love, Ruth has absolutely no idea who this handsome, winsome soldier is. Ruth and her parents soon discover that her younger sister, 16 year old Miriam, posing as Ruth, has written dozens of love letters to Bill in order to keep up his morale. Sweet, well-meaning, precocious Miriam fancies this her contribution to the war effort, however, in the process has completely captivated Bill's heart. Although recently engaged to stuffy banker Albert, Ruth decides to play along with the charade and spend time with Bill so as to not break his heart. After all, he is only stateside for two days - what could be the harm! After spending just one day with Bill, Ruth finds herself captivated by the charming, handsome Lieutenant Seawright and can't bring herself to tell him the truth in person. Albert tells Ruth he is against the whole ruse, but Ruth tells him she'll let Bill down gently via V-mail after he returns to the war and their life will go on as planned. As fate would have it, Bill receives new orders which keeps him stateside and gung-ho to marry Ruth now! With her plans suddenly derailed, Ruth, against her innermost feelings, is forced to tell Bill she has no interest in him. Dejected, Bill goes to leave, but not before Miriam reveals that it was actually she that wrote the love letters to Bill in her sister's name. He feels a bit sheepish to be taken so, but is grateful to Ruth's for her kindness and for "playing along with the game." Bill leaves, but through another quirk of fate, he has mistakenly left his train tickets at Ruth's house and returns to fetch them. Meanwhile Ruth's father, a Justice of the Peace, discloses that he wished Ruth had chosen Bill over Albert. When Bill returns Ruth admits to herself that she is in love with Bill and tells him so. Ruth's father quickly marries them and all's well that ends well! A fun, engaging, audience pleasing comedy, this show is a perennial favorite and a delight from start to finish!

The cast features Sarah Davidson (Ruth Wilkins), Clara Bentz (Miriam Wilkins), Tim Paul Fiscus (Judge Harry Wilkins), Laura Soldan (Mrs. Edith Wilkins), Josh Hunt (Lieutenant William Seawright), Nicholas Gunnell (Albert Kummer), Veronica Spector (Martha Seawright), Nathan Spector (Sergeant Chuck Vincent), Ami Porter (Dora), Danny Karapetian (Harold Klobbermeyer).

Dear Ruth is produced by David and Corrin Dietlein. The creative team includes Cambrian James (Director), Brian Daily (Set Technical Director), Mary Atkinson (Costume Designer), Tim Dietlein (Lighting Designer), Brian Daily (Master Carpenter), McKenna Carpenter & Monica Christiansen (Scenic Painters & Props), Gary Towne (Sound Design), Tia Hawkes (Costume Stitcher), Cambrian James (Wigs and Make-up), Danny Karapetian (Stage Manager), Gary Towne (Audio Engineer), Blaine King-Krueger (Backstage Manager), Jessica Ottley (Production Assistant), Britney Carpenter (Executive Assistant).

SINGLE TICKETS to Dear Ruth cost $36.00 and are on sale now to the general public. Tickets can be purchased online at www.HaleTheatreArizona.com, by phone at (480) 497-1181, or by visiting the Box Office at 50 West Page Ave. in Historic Downtown Gilbert. Discounts are available for children and groups of 10 or more.

PERFORMANCES begin Sept. 18, 2018 and continue through Nov. 13, 2018. Dear Ruth plays Monday and Tuesday evenings with performance time at 7:00 pm, with select Tuesday Matinees at 3:00 pm.

LOCATION and PARKING INFORMATION The Hale Centre Theatre is located in the Historic District of Gilbert across the street from the iconic Gilbert Water tower. There are convenient, free parking lots surrounding the theatre. For more detailed directions and parking information, please visit www.haletheatrearizona.com. Then simply click on the Information tab and choose Directions and Parking from the pull down menu.

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