FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 12, 2008
For more information: (216) 521-2540
Yvette A. Hanzel, extension 225
Scott
Spence, extension 239
Beck Center for the Arts
presents
The
History Boys
Winner of six 2006 Tony Awards
including Best Play
March 7 – 30, 2008
Lakewood, OH –Remember the things we loved and
hated about school, the young ideals we all shared, and the memorable teachers
who inspired us? Go back to school
and experience those moments again with The History Boys
at the Beck Center for the Arts, March 7 through 30 on the
Mackey Main Stage. This six-time
Tony Award-winning play blends both comedy and tragedy in the story of eight grammar
school boys preparing for college entrance exams and the year that influenced
the rest of their lives. Show times
are 8:00 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 pm Sundays. There is no performance on Sunday, March
23. To reserve tickets, contact the
Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or online
at www.beckcenter.org.
Sarah May directs this funny but touching play, written by
Alan Bennett – one of Britain’s most beloved humorists. The winner of six 2006 Tony Awards
including Best Play, The History Boys
is a moving comedy about two teachers competing for the hearts and minds of
eight bright young men who are trying to get into Oxford and Cambridge. The older, somewhat eccentric, Hector wants
his students to experience the joy of learning for its own intrinsic value but
classroom loyalties are tested when Irwin, a brash young teacher is brought in
to show them how to ‘skew’ their knowledge and give their essays
more ‘edge.’
The History Boys features Dana
Hart* as Hector, Dan Folino* as Irwin, Michael Regnier as the Headmaster, Dede
Klein as Mrs. Lintott,; as well as a
talented young cast of performers including Eric Fancher, Matthew Thomas, Stuart
Hoffman, Adam Day Howard, Max Chernin,
Mack Shirilla, Tom Kondilas, and Javar Parker.
Director May says, “When I saw this dazzling play in London, I never dreamed it would be produced in
Cleveland, much less, that I would be allowed to
direct it. Kudos to Scott Spence
and Beck for taking on this amazing piece!
It is smart, funny and very theatrical. The script crackles with verbal
fireworks! I think audiences are going to love the chemistry between the eight
wonderful young actors we have assembled to be Cleveland’s own ‘history boys.’
And we are so fortunate to have some of the busiest and best mature actors in
town to play the educators. This
show is sure to be an event, filled with music, wit, ideas, and classroom
comedy!”
For tickets call the Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or log onto
www.beckcenter.org. Ticket prices are $28 for adults,
$25 for seniors and $17 for students (22 and under with I.D.). Group discounts are available for
parties of 13 or more. Rush tickets
for students (22 and under with I.D.) are offered for $10 each on Sunday only,
30 minutes prior to curtain, based on availability. Beck Center for the Arts is located just 10 minutes
west of downtown Cleveland at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood.
Free, convenient on-site parking is available.
The Beck Center’s production of The History Boys is sponsored by Cox Communications, WNWV
107.3 The Wave, FreeTimes, WCPN 90.3 ideastream, the Ohio Arts Council, and
Lakewoodbuzz.com. Programming at
the Beck Center is made possible through the generous
support of The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The John P.
Murphy Foundation, The Kulas Foundation, The Eva L. & Joseph M. Bruening
Foundation, The Abington Foundation, and the Thomas H. White Foundation. Beck Center gratefully acknowledges the citizens of Cuyahoga County for their
support through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.
###
* Dana Hart and Dan Folino appear courtesy
of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage
managers.