York Drama returns to live and onstage productions in early February for the first time in over two years with the high school premiere of “Ace,” a musical adventure more than 15 years in the making.
York High School students, staff and crew will present the thought-provoking musical in the school’ Baker Auditorium in evening performances Feb. 3 to Feb. 5 and close with a matinee performance on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6.
“Ace” journeys through the lives of three generations of one family, moving from World War I to World War II and into the 1960s. As a boy loses his mother and tries to make sense of it all, he unexpectedly meets a family member who will change his life forever.
The play is by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the composing pair who brought “Bandstand” to Broadway and who are currently composing the Broadway-bound musical, “Bruce,” the story of the making of Steven Spielberg’s, “Jaws.” They wrote “Ace” in 2006, and have reconceptualized the piece since to make it the musical they always dreamed it would be.
York Drama Director Rebecca Marianetti in a release called the story “deeply moving and hopeful.”
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“We are honored and elated to be premiering ‘Ace,’ and the process of digging into this stunning script and score as a cast has been indescribable; the joy of creating is truly back,” Marianetti said. “Musical theatre is an art form like no other, and ‘Ace’ is a treasure of a musical.”
In a rare preview concert Jan. 13, Marianetti said she had been interested in “Ace” for years, after a friend who was in the play described it to her as “magical.”
“It’s just this incredible musical,” Marianetti said during the Jan. 13 preview concert. She said York Drama doesn’t usually “show its wares” ahead of productions, but said York Drama wanted to share the artistic value of the musical.
Although the musical has never before been performed at the high school level, Marianetti was able to reach the composers, who eventually gave permission for York Drama to perform the piece.
Oberacker and Taylor not only gave permission, but offered to come and work with York students in a special two-day master class that took place on Jan. 13 and 14. During the experience, students were able to learn directly from two of the largest names in Broadway.
Leo Macariola, the York senior who plays the title character in “Ace,” was quoted in the York Drama release. “It feels surreal to not only meet the people who poured so much of themselves into the show we are performing, but composers who are truly masters of their craft,” he said. “I hope to study composition in college, so I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a program that allows me to work one-on-one with industry professionals.”
In addition to learning about composition and storytelling, the students of York Drama engaged in extensive study and review of military and American history in preparation for this musical.
“Ace” will be presented on Thursday, Feb. 3, Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Baker Auditorium of York High School, 355 W. St. Charles Rd., Elmhurst.
Ticket are $15 each and go on sale to the public on Jan. 24. For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.yorkdrama.org/