Local Media : Molly Sommerhalder IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 414-273-7121 x399 E-mail: [email protected]

WINNER OF 8 , INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL

Based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE MILWAUKEE ENGAGEMENT RUNNING APRIL 5-10 AT THE MARCUS CENTER

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12!

ONCE, winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Marcus Center for a limited engagement from April 5-10 as part of the Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center series. Tickets for go on sale this Friday, February 12 and can be purchased at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Downtown Milwaukee, by phone at 414- 273-7206 or online at Ticketmaster.com or MarcusCenter.org. Groups 10+ SAVE! and should call 414-273-7121 x210.

The cast will feature Sam Cieri as “Guy” and Mackenzie Lesser-Roy as “Girl,” along with Patricia Bartlett, Jenn Chandler, Barry DeBois, Nyssa Duchow, Liam Fennecken, Lynn Flickinger, Marlene Ginader, Isaac Haas, John Hays, Julia Hoffmann, Angel Lin, Tom McGovern, Bristol Pomeroy, Adam Huel Potter, Theodora Silverman, Dan Tracy, Grant Alan Watkins, and Luke Wygodny.

ONCE, which was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Awards, ran for more than 1,100 performances on Broadway with acclaimed international productions from London and Melbourne to Japan and South Korea.

ONCE features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric ), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, , movement by (Black Watch, ) and music

supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner (, ), lighting design is by Tony winner (, The Coast of Utopia), and is by Clive Goodwin.

ONCE is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, ONCE is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty... and unforgettable in every way.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, ONCE, was written and directed by , and starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with original music and lyrics by Mr. Hansard and Ms. Irglová.

The Oscar winning independent Irish film, ONCE was made for $150,000. Shot in 17 days, it went on to gross $20M worldwide becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. It stars Glen Hansard, from the popular Irish Rock band The Frames, and Markéta Irglová. Glen and Markéta won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for “,” the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music, and the soundtrack was nominated for two .

www.oncemusical.com

ABOUT THE MARCUS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Established in 1969, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is the premier performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin. As the Marcus Center moves into its 47th year, it continues to build bridges between diverse members of our community through high-quality arts entertainment in the region and the state. The touring Broadway series, sponsored by Associated Bank, is recognized as bringing the best of Broadway entertainment to Milwaukee for the past 20 years and provides opportunities to educate, entertain and engage audiences. The Marcus Center is also the home to the Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, Florentine Opera, First Stage plus a variety of other important community and family events throughout the year. For more information about events visit the Marcus Center website at www.MarcusCenter.org. The Marcus Center is a private non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation and is a dedicated veterans memorial in Milwaukee.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $27 billion and is one of the top 50, publicly traded, U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services in over 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois

and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of John Gore (Owner & CEO). BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 38 markets. Current and past productions include On Your Feet, View from the Bridge, Beautiful, Finding Neverland, , and . BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Broadway.com

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