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"All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" Returns to the Pantages Theatre

ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914, RETURNS TO THE HISTORIC PANTAGES THEATRE, DECEMBER 16-20, 2015 PRESENTED BY THEATER LATTÉ DA AND HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST A CLASSIC TO BE REPEATED FOR YEARS TO COME"GRAYDON ROYCE, MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE TICKETS GO ON SALE, AT 10 A.M., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

September 23, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS—All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, the poignant music-theatre work about the spontaneous World War I truce, returns to Minneapolis Wednesday through Sunday, December 16–20, 2015. Directed by the acclaimed Peter Rothstein, the production combines period songs and firsthand accounts of this remarkable event, and has already become an annual holiday classic. It will run at the historic 1916 Pantages Theatre, at 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets go on sale, at 10 a.m., Friday, September 25, 2015. All Is Calm is a collaboration between Theater Latté Da andHennepin Theatre Trust. To purchase tickets and for more information visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

All Is Calm recalls an astounding moment in history when Allied and German soldiers met in “No Man’s Land” and laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together by trading carols, sharing food and drink, playing soccer and burying the dead. In some places the truce lasted only a night, in others it endured until New Year’s Day. Music, an important part of life in the trenches, helped create a context that inspired the truce.

The production is brought to life by a 12-member cast comprised of some of the Twin Cities’ finest actor/singers: Paul Coate, Ben Dutcher, Brian Frutiger, Brandon Grime, Michael Gruber, Ben Johnson, Riley McNutt, Sean Nugent, Jim Ramlet, Bryan Wells, Evan Tyler Wilson and Max Wojtanowicz. It beautifully blends patriotic tunes, trench songs, medieval Scottish ballads and carols from England, Wales, France, Belgium and Germany with texts written by 30 World War I figures.

Now in its eighth year, this moving ode to peace was created by Theater Latté Da’s renowned artistic director Peter Rothstein with musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. Lichte also serves as the music director for the 2015 production.

Rothstein worked five years to develop All Is Calm. He said, “To tell the story in their own words, I created the drama primarily through letters, war documents, autobiographies, World War I poetry, grave stone inscriptions and even an old radio broadcast. For decades, the truce was considered a romantic fable and I wanted to give voice to this remarkable moment that had somehow been denied its place in history. I cannot express how gratifying it has been to share the story of these heroic men in performances across the country and around the globe.”

All Is Calm had its world premiere in a live broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio in 2007. The show has since enjoyed global success with broadcasts through American Public Media and the European Broadcasting Union. The program has won awards including the Gold

World Medal at the 2010 New York Festivals and the 2010 Gabriel Award, which honors works of excellence in broadcasting that serve audiences through the positive, creative treatment of concerns to humankind.

All Is Calm has also earned acclaim by touring the United States for seven seasons, reaching more than 50 cities with sold-out performances at prestigious venues including The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Cal Performances (Berkeley, CA) and the Metropolitan Museum (New York). The work has also been licensed and performed by theater companies and choruses across the country and Canada.

From the Press:

“A dramatic, real-life musing about the power this season has to make us stop, reflect, and decide to operate in a mode of peace.”—Lani Willis, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine

“A work of beauty…not only an outstanding piece of musical theater, but a brilliantly executed production that understands that its power comes from its simplicity.”—Rob Hubbard, St. Paul Pioneer Press

TICKET INFORMATION

All Is Calm tickets are $28 and $39 for adults; $18 and $27 for students (ages 6-18) and military/veterans (with valid i.d.). Prices depend on seating preference and are subject to change. Additional fees may apply. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55402), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, through Ticketmaster by calling 800.982.2787 or by visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. Groups of 10 are eligible for discounts and should call 612.373.5665 or email MinneapolisGroups@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com for information and reservations. Performances are held at the Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 55403.

Performance dates and times: Wednesday, Dec. 16 through Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015

Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 17, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 19, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 20, 1 p.m.

Added Bonus! The Friday 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m. performances include post-show “Talk Backs” with Peter Rothstein and members of the company. All audience members are invited to stay and participate.

For more information about All Is Calm visit Alliscalm.org, for information regarding other work by Theater Latté Da visit latteda.org. For more Hennepin Theatre Trust activities, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.