HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST ANNOUNCES “TRIPLE ESPRESSO” MOVING TO NEW CENTURY THEATRE IN NOVEMBER 2016

The Trust presents Triple Espresso – a highly caffeinated comedy along with That Wonder Boy and To Begin With

TICKETS ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC: MONDAY, JUNE 13 AT 11 A.M.

MINNEAPOLIS – Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today it will be presenting three productions by The Daniel Group at the New Century Theatre (street level of City Center, 615 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) including Triple Espresso – a highly caffeinated comedy, which moves from its 21-year home at the Music Box Theatre. Also included are That Wonder Boy and To Begin With. All three shows are produced by the Minneapolis-based Daniel Group, whose mission is to provide top-quality, professional theater and entertainment with wholesome productions that positively impact audiences.

Triple Espresso—a highly caffeinated comedy, which has delivered laughs to more than two million people in six countries, is moving to the New Century Theatre in downtown Minneapolis Nov. 23, 2016 to Jan. 8, 2017. Casting to be announced at a later date.

That Wonder Boy, a warm and funny one-man show by Triple Espresso co-creator and author, actor Bob Stromberg, returns to Minneapolis after performing in several cities and being chosen as “Best One-Man Show” at the 2015 United Solo Theatre Festival in New York City. Starring Bob Stromberg, the show makes its New Century Theatre premiere March 14-26, 2017.

To Begin With is a one-man play written by Jeffrey Hatcher, which premiered in Minneapolis in 2015. Inspired by “The Life of Our Lord,” a little-known book by Charles Dickens, the play stars Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of Dickens, as the celebrated author. It debuts at the New Century Theatre March 28-April 16, 2017.

Tickets for all three shows go on sale to the general public at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 13 at the New Century Theatre Box Office, charge-by-phone at (612) 455-9501 and online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

TRIPLE ESPRESSO – A HIGHLY CAFFEINATED COMEDY

Nov. 23, 2016 – Jan. 8, 2017, New Century Theatre

Written by Bill Arnold, Michael Pearce Donley and Bob Stromberg, and directed by William Partlan, the show is a high-energy, vaudeville-inspired comedy for all ages. It tells the rags-to-rags story of an aspiring trio whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in four minutes of magnificent failure on national television. Combining magic and comedy, original music and parodies, physical humor and a touch of audience involvement, it’s an experience not quite like any other. The irresistible, clean humor is as funny the fifth time as the first.

Over the years, the company has had as many as six shows running simultaneously. The show has entertained more than two million people in more than 50 cities and 6 countries. A production in San Diego, California ran for 11 years. The show has also played such U.S. cities as Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Milwaukee, Denver, St. Louis, Des Moines, Tulsa, Phoenix and many others, as well as performing in Dublin, London, Ghent, Munich and Berlin.

THAT WONDER BOY

March 14-26, 2017, New Century Theatre

Bob Stromberg’s comic exploration of the powerful influence of art on a young boy is storytelling at its best, and utterly engaging. The Star Tribune raved “[Stromberg’s] divine comic mission seems clearly fixed on uplifting the hearts of audiences.”

That Wonder Boy is an exploration of life and art through the eyes of a youngster who “overcame a happy childhood to become a comedic artist.” Stromberg weaves semi-autobiographical experiences into a critical exploration of the long-standing bromide that great art only comes from great suffering. His utterly charming tale begins with a flying baby and soars on a creative flight of laughter, joy and wonder. Laugh-out-loud funny, but also reflective and moving, the show is a satisfying journey for all ages.

The show won three top awards at the 2015 United Solo Theatre Festival in New York City: “Best One-Man Show,” “Best Direction,” and “The United Solo & Backstage Audience Award.”

TO BEGIN WITH

March 28-April 16, 2017, New Century Theatre

Who hasn’t heard of “A Christmas Carol,” “Great Expectations,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” or the dozens of other books Charles Dickens wrote? But few know of the book he wrote just for his own children, titled “The Life of Our Lord.”

Why did he write it? And why did he ask that it not be published? Renowned playwright Jeffrey Hatcher’s gorgeous script explores what may have motivated Dickens, including his testy relationship with the pre-adolescent poet-to-be, Algernon Charles Swinburne. The 2015 world premiere in Minneapolis, starring Gerald Charles Dickens as his real life great-great grandfather, earned rave reviews from audiences and critics. “A marvelously textured performance,” said the Star Tribune. TalkinBroadway.com praised it as “highly entertaining,” and “rich with nuance, humor, and a generous spirit.”

DAY TIME VENUE TICKET PRICES

Wednesday-Thursday 7:30 p.m. New Century Theatre $33

Friday 7:30 p.m. New Century Theatre $38

Saturday 5 and 8 p.m. New Century Theatre $38

Sunday 3 p.m. New Century Theatre $33

There will be a “pay what you can” performance on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a performance on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be two performances on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016 at 5 and 8 p.m.

There will be a performance on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 at 3 p.m.

No performances on Thursday, Nov. 24 or Dec. 24-25, 2016.

Check HennepinTheatreTrust.org for specific dates, times and prices.

All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $2.00

Hennepin Theatre Trust, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development. The Trust is located in the WeDo™ MPLS Cultural District. Learn more at HennepinTheatreTrust.org and wedompls.org.

The Daniel Group, LLC’s mission is to provide good, wholesome, top-quality, professional theater and other entertainment productions that positively impact audiences. It does this by acquiring and managing an intellectual property library; managing investment funds for diverse productions of these properties; and providing management and technical services for the productions. Its desire is that these uplifting and enriching projects, will become available to an ever wider audience and be a bright light in the sometimes dark world of entertainment.

TICKET INFORMATION

Call (612) 455-9501, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or purchase in person at the New Century Theatre Box Office (615 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.