Stafford Arima (Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz, London's Ragtime) directs the co-production, taking off at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (opening Sept. 8 and playing to Oct. 1). It is slated to land at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Oct. 17-Nov. 17.

The new 1950s-set show is by University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Richard Oberacker (composer, co-lyricist, co-librettist) and Robert Taylor (co-lyricist and co-librettist). The coming-of-age musical centers on a boy searching for a sense of family and identity.

"When troubled 10-year-old Billy Lucas is given a model airplane, it unlocks the door to a fantastic new world, with the mysterious fighter pilot Ace as his guide," according production notes. "Ace takes Billy on a series of heroic and haunting World War I and II adventures, and what Billy discovers reveals not only the secrets of his past but also the key to his future."

Oberacker and Taylor also wrote the musical, Journey to the West.

The Ace creative team includes choreographer Andrew Palermo, musical director David Kreppel, orchestrator Greg Anthony, set designer David Korins, lighting designer Chris Akerlind, costume designer Marie Anne Chiment, sound designer John Shivers & David Patridge. The cast includes Heather Ayers (Triangle), Kelli Barrett (Prince Music Theater's Bright Lights, Big City), Richard Barth (Off-Broadway's Beowulf), Amy Bodnar (Broadway's Oklahoma!), Jessica Boevers (Broadway's In My Life, Oklahoma!), Matt Bogart (Zhivago and Broadway's Miss Saigon, Aida) as Ace, Gabrielle Boyadjian, Noah Galvin (Les Miserables), James Judy (Into the Woods, The Scarlet Pimpernel), Duke Lafoon (Monica! The Musical), Jimmy McEvoy, Chris Peluso (Lestat, Wicked), Kevin Reed, Ariane Rinehart, Danny Rothman, Susan Kokot Stokes, Gabrielle Stravelli and Traci Lyn Thomas (Las Vegas' Mamma Mia!).

For more information, visit www.repstl.org.