01-11-12 – Billy Bishop Goes to War

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ellen McDonald, 816.444.0052
Tracey Mershon, 816.289.0027
TICKETS: 816.235.6222

In a Unique Collaboration, Kansas City Actors Theatre along with UMKC Theatre and the
National World War I Museum Presents “Billy Bishop Goes to War”
February 10-26, 2012 at the National World War I Museum

KANSAS CITY, MO (January 11, 2012) –  Following last year’s hit production of “Oh What a Lovely War,” the Kansas City Actors Theatre and UMKC Theatre return to the National World War I Museum to bring history to life in “Billy Bishop Goes to War.” The production, directed by John Rensenhouse, will run February 10 through 26 with evening and matinee performances in the J.C. Nichols Auditorium, National World War I Museum, 100 W. 26th Street, Kansas City, MO. Previews will run February 10 through 15.

“I think this three way partnership is one of the best things that has ever happened for KCAT,” said Rensenhouse. “The confluence of perspective that is gained from performing a theatrical piece about the Great War on the premises of our national WWI Museum is thrilling and, I think, very satisfying for the audience.  We should all remain students of this war and the opportunity for the UMKC graduate students to cut their theatrical teeth while working in this setting is beyond fantastic. Everybody wins and my hat is off to the Museum management for allowing and encouraging this collaboration.”

Written by John MacLachlan Gray and his collaborator, Eric Peterson, “Billy Bishop Goes to War” is a contemporary classic of Canadian theater that uses music and stagecraft to examine what heroism means…and what it takes to turn an innocent into a warrior.
Billy Bishop was a country boy from the plains of Canada who never really amounted to much at home. After a dismal turn at the Royal Military College in Kingston, he is given a second chance, and taken on as an officer in the cavalry. After an extended illness and a riding injury, he finally sails for England and the front in June of 1915. The misery of the conditions on the ground, and the futility of the antiquated cavalry in a modern war of machine guns and planes, leads Billy to pursue a transfer to the equally dangerous but exciting (and less muddy) Royal Flying Corps. He starts out as an observer, but an injury threatens to pull him out of the war altogether. However, the unexpected mentorship of Lady St. Helier results in Billy’s eventual reinstatement — as a pilot. After a rocky start, he gets the hang of flying and starts to go on missions above German-held territory. Will his new-found luck hold?

“Another world war and many devastating skirmishes later, notions of heroism are more equivocal than ever, of course. Billy Bishop takes on the whole palette of shades, from the celebratory to the elegiac.” – Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal

Cast and Artistic Team: The two roles in “Billy Bishop Goes to War” are played by:

Grant Fletcher Prewitt (Billy Bishop, World War I Canadian Flying Ace) - Currently a 3rd year M.F.A. actor in the graduate theatre program at UMKC, where he also earned his B.A. in theatre performance. Stage credits include: Eugene in “Brighton Beach Memoirs” (Black Hills Playhouse), Tony Qian in “With Their Eyes” (Coterie Theatre), The Fool in “Head,” (written and directed by Kyle Hatley), Leonida in “The Comedy of Asses,” Demetrius in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Parrot/Magician in “King Stag,” Pierrot in “Oh What a Lovely War,” Socks in “Shoot Horses” (world premiere), various roles in “All in the Timing” and Helicanus/Boult in “Pericles.” Grant was also on a west coast tour this summer, with an experimental comic clown troupe called “BOOM! An International Lost and Found Family Marching Band.”

Cary Mock (the Piano Player) – Formerly a high school choral director and music minister, Cary has performed numerous leading and featured roles at Quality Hill Playhouse, Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre, Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, Musical Theater Heritage, Theatre For Young America, Great Plains Theatre in Abilene, the Jewish Community Center, and The Theatre In The Park. Earlier this year, Cary portrayed Harold Hill in Kansas City Symphony’s presentation of “The Music Man!”

John Rensenhouse (Director) - has been a member of Kansas City Actors Theatre since 2007 and directed the KCAT productions of “Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.”  As an actor, he has toured nationally with the original Broadway productions of “The Lion King” and “Noises Off.”  He has played major roles at many Shakespeare Festivals around the country including Oregon, Alabama, Utah and Kansas City’s very own Heart of America Shakespeare Festival.  At the Kansas City Rep, he is fondly remembered for his performances as Dracula in “Dracula”, Valmont in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” and Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird.” He has worked extensively at other regional theaters such as the Cincinnati Playhouse, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the McCarter Theatre, Hartford Stage and the Resident Ensemble Players at the University of Delaware.  Mr. Rensenhouse now serves as President of the Board for KCAT.

Ticket Information:

Single tickets are available for Preview $26.00; Regular Run $34.00; Regular Run Senior (60+) $30.00. Additional ticket discounts are available for museum members. Tickets are available online at Kansas City Actors Theatre or the Central Ticket Office, 816.235.6222.

Special school group matinees that include lunch with the actors are available on Feb. 17 and 24. Download details here, or contact Cherie Kelly via email or by phone at 816.784.1373. Tickets to a special pre-show buffet dinner in the Over There Café are available for the Feb. 18 and 25 evening performances. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Kansas City Actors Theatre or call Central Ticket Office, 816-235-6222.

“Billy Bishop Goes to War” is funded in part by Mackenzie Investments, Toronto, Canada.

“Billy Bishop Goes to War”

National World War I Museum
At Liberty Memorial
February 10-26, 2012

The Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) celebrates its seventh season of performing classic and modern classic plays. Founded and still led by local working artists, KCAT is a collective of actors, stage managers, designers and community members who are dedicated to a theatrical experience of the highest quality while focusing on the craft of the actor and the words of the playwright.  Beginning in 2005, KCAT has staged 22 productions reaching over 30,000 people in over 400 performances. Every year since its inception, KCAT has been acknowledged as having produced the Best Play of the Year or has been named the Best Theatre Company by area critics and publications. Among the cited productions have been “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (2005), the Talley Trilogy (2006), “Dinner With Friends” (2007), “Glengarry Glen Ross” (2009) and this season’s The Pinter Project (2011). Kansas City Actors Theatre has been selected from among hundreds of area small arts organization for KCPT and KC Studio’s inaugural performARTS series showcasing some of Kansas City’s best arts organizations.

UMKC Theatre has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top graduate theatre training programs in the country. The program trains a select group of highly talented actors, designers, stage managers and dramaturgs for careers in the performing arts. Graduates from the UMKC program are invited to the most prestigious New York competitions and auditions to exhibit their work and secure positions with national and international performing companies. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is a member of the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA).

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban engagement. UMKC has been designated as Missouri’s Campus for the Arts.

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial is the only American museum solely dedicated to preserving the objects, history and personal experiences of a war whose impact still echoes today. Through thousands of artifacts—from hand grenades to handkerchiefs, from howitzers to rare flags—the Museum tells the deeply personal stories of tremendous sacrifice, technological breakthroughs and the horrors and heroics of war. With one of the greatest collections of World War I artifacts anywhere in the world, the Museum uses its world-class collection, along with interactive technology, to tell the story of the war through the eyes of those who lived it. The Museum and its Over There Café are located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Call 816-784-1918 or visit the Museum for details.

For interviews and press passes to performances, contact Ellen McDonald or call 816.444.0052.

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Listen to music from the show!