Tix On Sale For World Premiere of HIT HER WITH THE SKATES starring American Idol’s Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young

Tix On Sale For World Premiere of HIT HER WITH THE SKATES starring American Idol's Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young 1 HIT HER WITH THE SKATES, a new musical about life, love and the roller rink starring American Idol power couple Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young, announces tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of the Chicago production at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Preview performances are slated to begin March 10. Produced by HHWTS Productions LLC Christine Rea (Book/Lyrics), Rick Briskin (Music/Lyrics) and Mary Beidler Gearen (Mary Beidler Gearen Productions, LLC.), the world premiere will be directed by acclaimed director and choreographer Chicago native Brenda Didier. Brenda has received 29 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, receiving six awards in Direction and seven in Choreography. Her work has been seen at theatres throughout Chicagoland, including the Apollo, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Marriott, Paramount, Royal George, The Chicago, The Second City, Victory Gardens and many more. Brenda is also Artistic Director and Owner of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance.

HIT HER WITH THE SKATES, a new musical about life, love and the roller rink starring American Idol power couple Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young, announces tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of the Chicago production at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Preview performances are slated to begin March 10. Produced by HHWTS Productions LLC Christine Rea (Book/Lyrics), Rick Briskin (Music/Lyrics) and Mary Beidler Gearen (Mary Beidler Gearen Productions, LLC.), the world premiere will be directed by acclaimed director and choreographer Chicago native Brenda Didier. Brenda has received 29 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, receiving six awards in Direction and seven in Choreography. Her work has been seen at theatres throughout Chicagoland, including the Apollo, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Marriott, Paramount, Royal George, The Chicago, The Second City, Victory Gardens and many more. Brenda is also Artistic Director and Owner of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance.

Christopher Chase Carter brings an extensive background to the creative team as choreographer. Chris has received Jeff nominations for A CHORUS LINE, GYPSY and FIVE GUYS NAMES MOE; received the Black Theater Alliance Award (BTAA) for MEMPHIS; and has traveled extensively as a performer, director and choreographer throughout the U.S. as well as the Chicago theatre community. 

Musician and composer Daniel A. Weiss will serve as the musical director of HIT HER WITH THE SKATES. Daniel A. Weiss has been touring as musical director for actor/singer RENT-famed Anthony Rapp as well as for LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES, which toured in the U.S., New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. 

HIT HER WITH THE SKATES is a coming of age story with a twist. It’s 1994 and Rock star, Jacqueline Miller has a lot to celebrate. She’s headlining her first national tour, has a hit record and is riding high. In the midst of this, she has agreed to kick off the gala re-opening of her beloved childhood roller rink, Windy City Skates. When complications hit her head on, Jacqueline takes a retrospective journey back to 1977 and finds herself again when she meets up with her 12-year-old self and all of the people who have made her who she is. From the wisdom of the Ouija Board to the power of All-Skate Saturday, the family-friendly musical HIT HER WITH THE SKATES explores the magic and hope of finding your one true love while still being true to yourself.

“We are so excited to bring this story home,” said HIT HER WITH THE SKATES creative producer Christine Rea. “My childhood love of the roller rink and Southside roots are the inspiration behind HIT HER WITH THE SKATES, and I cannot think of a better place to begin the journey!”

Diana DeGarmo (Jacqueline Miller) has been blowing away audiences with her powerful voice and irresistible charm over the past decade. She was runner-up on American Idol’s Season Three at the mere age of 16. After, she released her first single “Dreams” that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. At 18, Diana made her Broadway debut in HAIRSPRAY as Penny Pingleton and later starred in the Off-Broadway cult hit, THE TOXIC AVENGER. She made a name for herself on the Daytime TV Drama hit, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. In 2010, she joined the Broadway revival of HAIR where she met her now husband, Ace Young. The two became a dynamic singing and song-writing team and later toured in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Diana recently starred in the Asian Tour and NSMT production of JEKYLL & HYDE. Her new album, GEMINI, is out now! Diana is represented by Headline Talent Agency.  

Ace Young (Blake Conrad/Russ Reiner), creative chameleon, has worn every hat in the entertainment industry from acting and directing to composing and singing songs. By the time he was introduced to the world on the most successful season of American Idol, Season Five, he had already performed, created and produced music for a major motion picture and toured the country with R&B royalty. In 2008, he received a Grammy nomination for “It’s Not Over,” co-written with fellow American Idol star Chris Daughtry. He made his Broadway debut in GREASE and met his wife two years later while appearing in HAIR. He then toured with Diana in the title role of Joseph in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. This summer, Ace starred in AIDA at Axelrod Performing Arts Center and ROCK OF AGES at PCLO. His solo album is coming out soon! Ace is represented by Headline Talent Agency. 

Co-creators of the new musical, married couple Christine Rea (Book/Lyrics) and Rick Briskin (Music/Lyrics), share more than 60 years of theater and music business between the two of them. Chicago native Christine pursued Graduate Studies at DePaul University Theater School. She toured the U.S., Canada and Europe performing most notably as Mary Magdalene in the National Tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson and more recently with Mr. Neeley and Corey Glover of the ground-breaking Rock band, Living Colour. As a mainstay of the NYC music scene, Rick has produced and worked with a diverse group of artists, sharing the stage with such icons as Diana Ross, Frankie Valli, Cindy Lauper, Sheryl Crow and Anita Baker.

TICKET INFORMATION 

HIT HER WITH THE SKATES individual tickets are now on sale. Tickets range from $40 – $79 with a select number of $99 premium seats available. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com or by calling (312) 988-9000. Group tickets for 10 or more are on sale now by calling Group Theater Tix at (312) 423-6612. For more information, visit www.hitherwiththeskates.com. 

ABOUT HIT HER WITH THE SKATES 

HIT HER WITH THE SKATES, co-created by Christine Rea (Book/Lyrics) and Rick Briskin (Music/Lyrics), is a new musical for all ages about life, love and the roller rink. Inspired by the gang at a 1977 Chicago Southside roller rink, HIT HER WITH THE SKATES explores the magic and hope of finding your one true love while still being true to yourself. Follow HIT HER WITH THE SKATES on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.