Jamie Farr Collapses During Rehearsal of JACK OF DIAMONDS; Ian D. Clark to Step In

81-year old Jamie Farr has been replaced by understudy Ian D. Clark, in JACK OF DIAMONDS at Theatre Aquarius, after a collapse while rehearsing. He was taken to hospital where he required urgent surgery for a blocked artery.

The cast and crew of the comedy Jack of Diamonds, together with Theatre Aquarius staff and audiences, are sending get-well wishes to beloved actor Jamie Farr, who was taken from rehearsal to hospital Sunday, where he was diagnosed with a cardiac issue that will force him to miss the run of the new show by Marcia Kash and Doulas E. Hughes.

"It's so disappointing," Mr. Farr said "this is such a great cast and I love this theatre and this audience. I hope everybody will understand that I need to be with my family at a time like this. But I have a great doctor, and hopefully we caught this before it became even more serious, and I'm very thankful for that."

"Jamie Farr is an incredible artist, and leaves tremendous shoes to fill." According to Theatre Aquarius Artist Director Ron Ulrich, who directs the production, opening this week. "We are so fortunate to have Ian D. Clark on board to help us carry on. Ian is a tremendous talent, a Stratford and Shaw veteran, it's very rare to have a performer of his stature and caliber as understudy, and we are so lucky to have him. I know that all of us send Jamie our love and respect and best wishes for a full recovery. There is an old adage: The show must go on, and Ian Clark gives us an opportunity to do just that."

Jack of Diamonds also stars Valerie Boyle, Catherine Fitch, Neil Foster, Derek McGrath, Mary Long and Wendy Thatcher. The design team is comprised of Ivan Brozic (Sets and Costumes), Louise Guinand (Lights), and Anna-Maria Steger (Sound). Josephine Ho is the Stage Manager and Kimberly Brown is the Assistant Stage Manager.
Jack of Diamonds will run until from October 28 - November 14, 2015. Tickets range from $75 - $25. Official opening Night is October 30, 2015 at 8pm. Tickets may be ordered online at www.theatreaquarius.org or by calling the box office at 905.522.7529 (toll free 1.800.465.7529), or in person at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts, 190 King William Street, Hamilton.

Theatre Aquarius acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, The City of Hamilton, Media Sponsor CHCH Television and Ron and Donna Patterson (43rd Season Sponsors).

When a group of happy retirees find themselves suddenly penniless at the hands of a crook with a Ponzi scheme, all seems lost. But when they discover the felonious financier is hiding from the law in their very own seniors' home, the race for revenge in on, at a breakneck pace that will have you rolling in the aisles! This mini-Madoff may be clever, but can he trump the Jack of Diamonds? Jack of Diamonds is a geriatric gem and a laugh-out-loud comedy of errors from the authors of the comedy smash Who's Under Where, which has been translated into 5 languages and been produced more than 100 times around the world!

For more information and to hear a special message from Jamie Farr, visit: http://theatreaquarius.org/onstage/jack-of-diamonds/

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