229:, in 1952, ten-year-old Danny Lucas telephones for help because his mother won't wake up. His mother, Elizabeth Lucas, has swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and is taken to the psychiatric ward. The caseworker from social services, Mrs. Crandall, places an angry Danny in foster care ("It's Better This Way"). Mrs. Crandall informs Elizabeth that contact with Danny will be limited to gifts and letters. Elizabeth returns home determined to correct her past mistakes and get Danny back ("Fill In The Blank"). She writes to Danny asking him to follow her clues to their conclusion ("Letter From Elizabeth").
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of becoming an aeronautical engineer ("Soaring Again"). Also in this package is a letter from
Elizabeth and her yearbook from St. Louis University 1935, and a photo. Through these items, Elizabeth Lucas and Charlie "Ace" Anderson are shown as they meet ("It's Just A Matter Of Time"; "I Know It Can Be Done") and fall in love ("Missing Pieces"). The photo of Ace is the first time that Danny has seen his father; his mother has previously refused to speak about him ("So That's Him").
254:
Tigers" - a voluntary assignment. Elizabeth is furious that
Charlie would put himself in danger for a voluntary mission. Charlie feels connected to the father he never knew and believes that he is making the best choice. Elizabeth, on the other hand, feels that the stories of John Robert's heroism have led Ace to make a bad choice. They argue and separate in anger.
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Danny is learning to trust his foster parents, the
Milligans ("Now I Know"). Another package arrives from his mother. Through Ruth's diaries, we meet her young son Charlie Anderson, nicknamed "Ace". She sings of her dream for her son to be the aviator and hero that his father was. Charlie dreams
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Elizabeth sends Danny the diaries of Ruth
Whitlow. Through the diaries, we see that Ruth's relationship with John Robert Anderson leads to marriage ("Be My Bride"). John Robert is stationed in France. Ruth writes of her longing for him and her pride in his service ("Ruth's Letters"). John Robert
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After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Charlie, fueled by his mother's desires for him, joins the Air Force. Elizabeth opposes this but agrees to marry him before he leaves. While in training, Charlie feels the spirit of his father John Robert ("Father And Son"). Charlie is asked to join the "Flying
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Danny's foster family is the
Milligans, a childless couple awaiting a baby. Mrs. Crandall delivers, from Danny's mother, a model plane and instructions to speak with the elderly Harold Bixby. Through Mr. Bixby's remembrances, we are introduced to John Robert Anderson - a World War I fighter pilot
207:
Taylor and
Oberacker spent the next several years further revising the script, story, and orchestrations. Oberacker reported in interviews that this heavily altered show was finally the script they wanted. Of particular note, the main character Danny's age was changed from 10 to 21. This revised
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Ace joins the Flying Tigers in China ("We're The Only Ones"). Ruth, Elizabeth, Ace, and Danny each consider the emotional changes they are experiencing. Elizabeth reveals that she is pregnant ("Seeing Thing In A Different Light"). Ace perishes in the skies over Siam. Elizabeth sings of her
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At school, the troubled and angry Danny meets Emily. He tells Emily about the 'clues' from his mother. Emily enthusiastically offers to help him solve the mystery ("Now I'm On Your Case"). Mrs. Milligan struggles with baking Toll House cookies. She equates her success as a mother with
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challenges a hostile airman to abet and teaches him a lesson ("Anique's Tavern Song"). Another letter from Ruth reveals that she is pregnant ("I'm Going To Have This Child"). John Robert continues his service in France ("The
Dogfight") and his life ends there ("Act I Finale").
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overwhelming shock, anger, and inability to forgive ("That's What It Should Say"). "Ace" speaks to Danny. He tells Danny that he can "Choose To Fly" in many ways, in his heart and mind, not necessarily or only in a plane.
561:, Outstanding Costume Design; Chris Akerlind, Outstanding Lighting Design; David Korins, Outstanding Set Design; John H. Shivers and David Patridge, Outstanding Sound Design; and
161:, from October 17 through November 17, 2006. This production was also directed by Arima and choreographed by Palermo. Another production by the same team played at the
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104:, and music by Oberacker. The story is about a boy, separated from his mother, who discovers his past and himself through a series of dreams about a
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204:. In the Signature production, the boy Billy is renamed Danny, and the past is revealed through diaries rather than through dreams.
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108:. It was inspired by Robert Taylor's father training to be a pilot, and his mother having a near-fatal bout with depression.
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were shown at the
National Alliance for Musical Theatre's (NAMT) Festival of New Musicals in New York in September 2005.
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Danny is reunited with his Mother. He understands his past and their relationship is healed ("Chose To Fly"; "Finale").
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212:' Judy Bayley Theater for a two-performance special event on August 22 and 23, 2015. It was directed by David H. Bell.
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233:("In These Skies") who meets ("In This Moment") and falls in love with Ruth Whitlow ("In These Skies" (Reprise)).
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565:, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. It also won the Mickey Kaplan New American Play prize.
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Taylor and
Oberacker met and began to discuss the show while touring in 2003 with
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671:"Ace Soars at Old Globe as Aviation Musical with Michael Arden Opens Jan. 18"
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This summary is based on the 2008 Signature
Theatre version of the musical.
149:, Missouri, from September 6 through October 1, 2006. It was directed by
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production ran from August 26 through September 28, 2008. Directed by
721:"Signature Theatre Announces Full Cast of 'Ace' Including Jill Paice"
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musical premiered as a fully staged concert production at the
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from January 13 through February 18, 2007. The cast included
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610:"Cheyenne Jackson and Christiane Noll Cast in Ace Musical"
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successfully baking the cookies ("Make It From Scratch").
776:"'Ace,' an original musical, cleared for takeoff at UNLV"
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and choreographed by Andrew Palermo. It then played at
188:and choreographed by Karma Camp, the cast featured
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85:2006 Regional productions 2008 Signature Theatre
291:Mrs. Crandall/Clara Whitlow - Traci Lyn Thomas
733:KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas (August 19, 2015),
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591:Information about the background of the show
352:Mrs. Crandall/Clara Whitlow - Florence Lacey
100:with a book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and
760:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
652:Information about the Cincinnati production
173:as John Robert and Darren Ritchie as Ace.
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397:Harold Bixby/Cooper/Myron - Danny Rothman
339:School Bully/Young Charlie - Jimmy McEvoy
318:Lt. Sanders/Tim Sullivan - Richard Barth
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424:2015 Cast at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre
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743:from the original on December 19, 2021
391:Col.Whitlow/Chennault - George Dvorsky
321:Colonel Whitlow/Chennault - James Judy
415:Young Charlie - Ari Goldbloom-Helzner
336:Anique/Ensemble - Gabrielle Stravelli
330:Teacher/Ensemble - Susan Kokot Stokes
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736:ACE - A New American Musical 8/19/15
388:Lt. Sanders/Sullivan - Richard Barth
77:Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker
67:Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker
815:Review from Variety.com, San Diego
723:, broadwayworld.com, July 17, 2008
535:Seeing Things In A Different Light
345:2008 Cast at the Signature Theatre
147:The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
113:The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
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406:Nurse/Librarian - Elizabeth Share
623:"Ace: Production History Detail"
581:Diaries, in the 2008 production
210:University of Nevada, Las Vegas
692:Review from SignOnSanDiego.com
627:Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
553:was nominated for twelve 2006
437:John Robert - Joey DeBenedetto
333:Nurse/Ensemble - Kelli Barrett
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370:Edward/Stampley - Duke Lafoon
306:Edward/Stampley - Duke Lafoon
412:Sidekick - Brooke Bloomquist
409:Anique - Gabrielle Stravelli
327:Cooper/Myron - Danny Rothman
681:playbill.com, Jan 18, 2007]
677:September 30, 2007, at the
657:September 28, 2007, at the
324:Tennaman/Stein - Kevin Reed
303:Emily - Gabrielle Boyadjian
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820:Review from Broadway World
703:Signature Show Information
517:It's Just A Matter Of Time
312:John Robert - Chris Peluso
119:Background and productions
538:That's That It Should Say
488:Musical numbers (2006-07)
443:Elizabeth - Nicole Kaplan
440:Young Ruth - Niki Scalera
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35:The New Musical Adventure
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708:August 12, 2008, at the
596:October 9, 2007, at the
529:In These Skies (reprise)
428:Danny Lucas - Sam Cordes
145:The musical debuted at
546:Awards and nominations
394:Tenneman - Jason Reiff
367:Emily - Angelina Kelly
111:The musical premiered
18:American stage musical
810:Official Website 2008
633:on September 28, 2007
520:I Know It Can Be Done
508:Letter From The Front
418:Bully - William Beech
349:Danny - Dalton Harrod
167:San Diego, California
155:Playhouse in the Park
138:starred as Ace, with
502:Make It From Scratch
315:Ruth - Heather Ayers
825:Review from VARIETY
690:Welsh, Anne Marie.
559:Marie Anne Chimento
532:We're The Only Ones
499:It Took This Moment
460:Lisa Louise Orchard
400:Mrs.Gebert/Clara -
373:Ace - Matthew Scott
300:Louise - Amy Bodnar
272:Characters and cast
227:St. Louis, Missouri
182:Arlington, Virginia
555:Kevin Kline Awards
434:Ace - Devin Archer
402:Tracy Lynn Olivera
845:Aviation musicals
669:Hernandez, Ernio.
496:Life Can Be Cruel
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475:Sydney Peca Story
447:Supporting Cast:
431:Ruth - Tina Walsh
309:Ace - Matt Bogart
186:Eric D. Schaeffer
178:Signature Theatre
163:Old Globe Theatre
102:Richard Oberacker
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541:Finale Sequence
526:Sooner Or Later
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216:Plot synopsis
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194:Emily Skinner
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171:Michael Arden
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784:. Retrieved
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637:November 21,
635:. Retrieved
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511:The Dogfight
463:Brian Miller
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355:Elizabeth -
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294:Elizabeth -
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563:Noah Galvin
505:Be My Bride
454:Jeff Leibow
451:Bruce Ewing
287:Noah Galvin
82:Productions
834:Categories
569:References
457:Nikka Wahl
378:Jim Stanek
357:Jill Paice
198:Jim Stanek
190:Jill Paice
142:featured.
106:flying ace
786:April 25,
747:April 25,
466:Greg Kata
361:Louise -
130:Parts of
48:Show logo
805:Synopsis
756:citation
741:archived
706:Archived
675:Archived
655:Archived
594:Archived
285:Billy -
382:Ruth -
98:musical
245:Act II
200:, and
64:Lyrics
221:Act I
96:is a
54:Music
788:2017
762:link
749:2017
639:2019
176:The
73:Book
551:ACE
225:In
180:in
165:in
157:in
132:Ace
93:ACE
26:ACE
836::
778:.
758:}}
754:{{
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764:)
641:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
