Buddy...the Buddy Holly Story ends its nine-month national tour, produced by the Ordway Center in St. Paul, MN, with its run in the Twin Cities, Aug. 30-Sept. 3.
The Ordway Center Original tour opened in Boston Dec. 8, 1999, and played to more than 30 cities, telling the story of late rock 'n' roller Buddy Holly through his music. Joining the final leg of the tour at the Ordway will be Jevetta Steele as the Apollo Singer.
"The success of the national tour of Buddy has affirmed our confidence that our artistic direction is on the right track," said Ordway president and CEO Kevin McCollum.
The musical revue about Buddy Holly and his band, the Crickets, tells the story from the group's beginnings in Lubbock, TX, to their act at Harlem's Apollo to their final 1959 concert in Clear Lake, IA, "the day the music died." Holly was killed in a plane crash. Music legends Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, who died with Holly, are also featured as characters. The songlist includes "Chantilly Lace," "Maybe Baby," "La Bamba," "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy" and more.
Paul Mills directs the production. Van Zeiler is Buddy, Travis Turpin is the Big Bopper, Rob Langeder is Ritchie Valens. Tickets are $29-$55. The non-profit Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, which presents tours and produces original productions of new shows, and classic and recent works (such as Buddy), is at 345 Washington St., in St. Paul. For information, call (651) 224-4222 or visit the web site at www.buddytour.org.
-- By Kenneth Jones
