Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, London's Ragtime) directs the work at the San Diego theatre. Featuring music by Richard Oberacker and a book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Oberacker, Ace will officially open Jan. 18 and run through Feb. 18.
Joining Arden in the cast are Lisa Datz, Heather Ayers, Kelli Barrett, Richard Barth, Ian Brininstool, Gabrielle Boyadjian, Noah Galvin, James Judy, Susan Kokot Stokes, Duke Lafoon, Kevin Reed, Darren Ritchie, Danny Rothman, Maddie Shea Baldwin, Traci Lyn Thomas, Gabrielle Stravelli and Betsy Wolfe.
David Kreppel is the musical director with Andrew Palermo handling choreography. The design team features David Korins (scenic), Marie Anne Chiment (costume), Christopher Akerlind (lighting), John H. Shivers and David Patridge (sound). Greg Anthony provides orchestrations and Andrea L. Shell serves as stage manager.
The ode to aviation, according to press notes, "tells the story of the hopes and dreams of three generations of fathers and sons, husbands and wives at a significant time in American history."
Arden recently appeared on Broadway in the Bob Dylan-Twyla Tharp musical The Times They Are A-Changin'. His previous turn was as Tom Sawyer in the Roundabout Theatre Company's presentation of the Deaf West Theatre sign-language production of Big River. Other credits include Swimming in the Shallows, Bare, Harold & Maude and It's Only Life Off-Broadway. Ace replaced the previously announced world premiere, pre-Broadway run of Kenneth Lonergan's The Starry Messenger, which was to star Matthew Broderick. The work was postponed due to scheduling delays with the playwright/director's current film.
The remainder of Old Globe's 2006-2007 season includes Itamar Moses' The Four of Us (Feb. 3-March 11), Amy Freed's Restoration Comedy (March 3-April 8), Annie Weisman's Hold Please (March 31-May 6), August Wilson's Two Trains Running (April 21-May 27) and Edward Albee's Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (May 19-June 24).
Tickets to Ace at The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way in San Diego, California's Balboa Park, are currently available by calling (619) 23-GLOBE or online at www.theoldglobe.org.
