National Tour of I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE! Visits PPAC Tonight

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is the brand-new hit stage show adapted from the most beloved program in television history! America's favorite foursome -- Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel - will be live on stage and in color for the first time at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) tonight, February 24 - March 1, 2015. I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is part of the Taco/White Family Foundation Broadway Series.

Ticket prices range from $60 - $28 and are available at the PPAC Box Office (220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence), by visiting www.ppacri.org or by calling (401) 421-2787 (ARTS). Discounted tickets for group orders of 15 or more are available by contacting Group Sales Representative Paul Hiatt atphiatt@ppacri.org or (401) 574-3162. Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 10A to 5P; Saturday, 10A to 2P and at least two hours prior to all curtain times.

Thea Brooks and Euriamis (You-ree-a-mis) Losada lead the company as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, withKevin Remington and Lori Hammel playing Fred and Ethel Mertz, the Ricardo's loveable landlords and sidekicks. The cast also includes Sara Jayne Blackmore, Sarah Elizabeth Combs, Gregory Franklin, Jody Madaras, Carlos Martin, Denise Moses, Cindy Sciacca, Kami Seymour, Richard Strimer and Mark Christopher Tracy.

An "out-of-body experience for 'LUCY' fans" according to Showbiz Chicago, I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE takes audience members back to 1952 as members of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience where they await the filming of two hilarious and oh-so-familiar I LOVE LUCY episodes, "The Benefit" and "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined" that showcase the sidesplitting antics of Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. A charming host entertains and enlightens the crowd to the behind-the-scenes filming process of a brand new thing called "television." In between scenes, the Crystaltone Singers perform advertising jingles of the show's newest sponsors in perfect '50s style harmony. It's a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is staged and directed by Rick Sparks and adapted for the stage with new material by Kim Flagg and Rick Sparks. The creative team also includes Wayne Moore (music arrangements and special lyrics), Andy Belling (music direction), Peitor Angell (original music), Aaron Henderson (scenic design), Shon LeBlanc & Kelly Bailey (costume design), David George (lighting design), Cricket S. Myers (sound design), Diane Martinous (original hair/wig design), Judi Lewin (hair/wig design), Karina Branson (make-up design), and Allen McMullen (production stage management).

The I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE on-stage band comprises Andy Belling (musical director, conductor, and first keyboard), Bryan Miller (assistant conductor and second keyboard), Ron Barrows (trumpet), Dave Lotfi (drums/conga), David Olivas (saxophone/flute), and Nicholas Stankus (bass/banjo).

The iconic hit sitcom I LOVE LUCY originally aired on CBS from 1951 - 1957 for a total of six seasons and 179 episodes and is widely considered to be one of the most popular programs in the history of television. Due in no small part to its relatable characters, sharp comedic writing, and Lucille Ball's signature zany charm, the show continues to endear new audiences with every passing generation. The program was a technical trailblazer, pioneering the multi-camera shooting technique (still employed by the majority of traditional sitcoms to this day) and the use of 35mm film for the capture of a weekly, 30-minute scripted television program (which made possible the re-airing of episodes at a later date, what we now know as "reruns"). In September 2012, I LOVE LUCY was named the "Best TV Show Of All Time" and the "Greatest TV Comedy" by People Magazine and ABC's "20/20" special "Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time."

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE had its world premiere in Los Angeles at the Greenway Court Theatre from October 2011 - February 2012. A subsequent Chicago production was launched that played two engagements at the Broadway Playhouse, September 2012 - March 2013. The 2013-2014 national tour visited cities including Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville and Costa Mesa.

The show is produced by Stephen Kahn (executive producer), David George (executive producer), Allan Williams (executive producer), Jeff Davis (executive producer), Dede Harris, Sharon Karmizan, Hyra George, Kim Flagg, Barbara Alpert, Sophie and Alan Alpert, Neil Hoffman, Nancy Alpert, Teri Alpertand David Carpenter (associate producer), under license from CBS Consumer Products.

For tickets and more information, visit www.ppacri.org or www.ilovelucylive.com.

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