At the Roxy: World premiere of “All Quiet on the Western Front”
March 15, 2009
Michael Ellison
The Roxy Regional Theatre is presenting the world premiere of All Quiet on the Western Front, a recent recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant.
In the press release accompanying the grant announcement, NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, “We often hear from our grantees that the NEA’s grant support has a catalytic effect, helping the organization to exponentially garner additional funding for its project. These grants are an investment in our nation’s culture, and I’m proud to say that the return on that investment benefits Americans from coast to coast.’”
Adapted for the stage by John McDonald from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front tells the story of a young soldier who faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. First published in German in 1929, it sold 2.5 million copies in twenty-five languages in its first eighteen months in print. In 1930 the book was turned into an Oscar-winning movie of the same name. Now in these uncertain times of war, All Quiet on the Western Front will speak to a new generation from the stage.
Michael Ellison (pictured at right) stars as Paul Baumer, while Jeremy Maxwell (Tjaden), Chad Parsons (Muller), Michael Green (Kat) and Ryan Ploeckelman (Kropp) round out the group of friends who together experience the life-altering effects of the war. Also appearing are Jay Doolittle, Leslie Greene, Kimberly DiPersia, Brady Adair and Patrick McLaughlin.
All Quiet on the Western Front opens on Friday, March 20, at 8pm for a pay-what-you-can preview. It runs through March 28, playing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 28. Tickets are $15 ($10 for children 13 and under) and can be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or by calling (931) 645-7699 during regular box office hours (9 a.m.-2 p,m. weekdays).
