News Release : Broadway Palm's National Tour of Bill W. and Dr. Bob to support Community Bridges

Broadway Palm’s National Tour of Bill W. and Dr. Bob to support Community Bridges – A Pathway To Hope

The National Tour of BILL W. and DR. BOB
A Sobering Story of Survival, Courage and Grace …

Mesa, Arizona (April 27, 2010) The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater is proud to present The National Tour of the powerful drama, Bill W. and Dr. Bob (Produced by Prather Entertainment Group). This production is now touring the U.S. and will be performing in Mesa at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater from May 14 through June 19 – before travelling to their next engagement at the Cameo Center in San Antonio during the 75th International A.A. Conference in July.

Bill W. and Dr. Bob is an inspirational, timely and often hilarious true story about the men and their wives whose relationships pioneered the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous and the creation of Al-Anon. It is about ordinary people achieving the extra ordinary through willingness and Divine Grace.

In 1929, famous stockbroker Bill Wilson crashes with the stock market and becomes a hopeless drunk.  Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon from Ohio has also been an alcoholic for 30 years, operating hung over and with the shakes.  Guided by desperation, error and an astonishing series of events the two men meet at the home of Goodyear Rubber heiress Henrietta Sieberling and form an unbreakable bond, while helping each other stay sober. This amazing, gripping and often humorous story of perseverance and faith show us how Bill W. and Dr. Bob stumbled onto the cure for alcoholism.  They test their theory on a “third drunk” and pass along what they’ve discovered about sobriety.

Gary Kimble portrays the role of Bill Wilson and also directs the production.   Kimble has performed on stages around the world, in 34 countries and in 800 cities across the U.S. He was featured in the Barbara Walter’s television special Finding Annie. Gary played Henry Higgins in the award-winning world tour of My Fair Lady and the legendary Captain Hook in the national tour of Peter Pan. Kimble was last seen in Arizona at the Broadway Palm as Sheriff Ed Earl in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas.  Richard Davis Springle plays the role of Dr. Bob Smith.  He has appeared in over 30 feature films, numerous television commercials and New York theatrical productions.  He appeared as Colonel Pickering opposite Kimble in the World Tour of My Fair Lady. The book is by Samuel Shem and his wife Janet Surrey (both available for interviews).

The story and this production have received critical acclaim across the country. The San Diego Tribune called it, “One of the best plays of the year.” Variety called it “A deeply human, audience embracing tale.” The Boston Globe said, “Inspiring.”  “These actors humanize the world of addiction so honestly that this production transcends that universe – you don’t have to be in A.A. to appreciate this show.” Ft. Myers News Press

Both actors have a personal story of recovery. Fourteen years ago, Springle broke through Kimble’s front door, carried him down four flights of stairs and checked him into rehab. He then proceeded to walk Kimble through his first year of recovery and sobriety. These men are truly inspired to be chronicling the co-founders of the Twelve-Step Program. Their chemistry on stage is electrifying. (Both are willing to freely share their personal journeys of sobriety and are available for interviews).

The Broadway Palm will donate a portion of the proceeds from Bill W. and Dr. Bob to  Community Bridges, Inc. – providing Clinical Treatment, Family Preservation, Prevention and Education to reduce the negative impact of alcoholism and drug addiction – valuing human life, sustaining human life and the recovery of human life, always with dignity.

TICKETS to Bill W. and Dr. Bob can be purchased online at broadwaypalmwest.com, by phone, (480) 325-6700, or at the Box Office, located at 5247 E. Brown Road in Mesa.  Adult ticket price is $35 and includes a buffet meal, show and tax..  Show Only tickets are available for $20.

PERFORMANCE TIMES: Wednesday through Saturday Evenings:  Dinner buffet begins at 5:30pm, show begins at 7:30pm.  Saturday and Sunday Matinees:  Luncheon buffet begins at 11:45am, show begins at 1:15pm.  Contact the Box Office at (480) 325-6700 or visit broadwaypalmwest.com for exact dates and times.

GROUP SEATING is available for parties of 15 or more.  Contact Group Sales Coordinator Laurie DiMonte at (480) 325-6700 ext. 109 or laurie@broadwaypalmwest.com for further information about group reservations.  The Broadway Palm is fully ramped and handicap accessible.  Hearing devices are available free of charge.

LOCATION: The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is located at 5247 E. Brown Road, on the southeast corner of Brown and Higley Roads in the Alta Mesa Plaza.  The theater is easily accessible from the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) or the US 60 (Superstition Freeway) via the Higley Road exits.  Parking is free.

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents a wide variety of the finest professional entertainment for all ages in an atmosphere of casual elegance.  Located in the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area, the 500 seat complex has entertained over 800,000 guests since opening its doors in 2001.  The 2007 Mesa Business of the Year, the Broadway Palm has recently been named “Best Dinner and A Show” (2007 New Times “Best of Phoenix”) and “Best Place to Bring a Visitor” (2007 azcentral.com’s “Best – Reader’s Choice”).  Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre:  The Valley’s Premier Dining and Theatrical Experience! Visit the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre at broadwaypalmwest.com.

The Prather Entertainment Group (PEG) is the largest operator of Dinner Theaters in the United States.  The Prather Family produces over 30 productions annually at its three entertainment facilities:  the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatres in Fort Myers, Florida and Mesa, Arizona, and also produces and presents full-scale tours of musicals in venues throughout the country. Owners Thomas Ross Prather, Deborah Z. Prather and William T. Prather have entertained over 3 million audience members with critically-acclaimed Broadway-caliber musicals year-round for more than three decades.

THE IMAGES BELOW ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST – Please email photo requests to linda@broadwaypalmwest.com

“this is more than just a play: It’s the story of two men who changed the lives of millions of people throughout the world…a powerful drama that de-mystifies the founders of AA and shows them as real, flawed people who nonetheless created something larger than themselves…” Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press

BILL W. and DR. BOB

Directed by Gary Kimble; sets Thomas R. Prather; costumes by Jim Conti; lighting design by Russell A. Thompson; sound design by Chris McCleary.

WITH: Gary Kimble (Bill W.), Richard Davis Springle (Dr. Bob Smith), Bonny Knapp (Anne Smith), Nancy Antonio (Lois Wilson), Jim Heffernan (Ebby Thatcher), Jaron Druyon (Billy D.),

Jillyn Jacobs (Henrietta Seiberling), Matt Zimmer (Rev. Walter Tunks)

RUNS: May 14 – June 19.

PRESS NIGHT: Friday, May 14.

LISTING INFO: Bill W. and Dr. Bob. May 14 through June 19, 2010.  Times vary.  Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa.  $20-$35.  (480) 325-6700 or www.broadwaypalmwest.com.

SYNOPSIS: Bill W. and Dr. Bob is an inspirational, timely and often hilarious true story about the men and their wives whose relationships pioneered the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous and the creation of Al-Anon. It is about ordinary people achieving the extra ordinary through willingness and Divine Grace.

TICKETS: $35 (dinner & show), $20 (show only); available at the box office (480) 325-6700 or www.broadwaypalmwest.com.  For group discounts (15+), contact Laurie DiMonte at (480) 325-6700 x109 or laurie@broadwaypalmwest.com.

LOCATION: 5247 E. Brown Road (southeast corner of Brown and Higley Roads) in the Alta Mesa Plaza in Mesa, Arizona.  Handicap accessible.  Hearing devices available free-of-charge.  Parking is free.

PHOTO EDITORS: High-resolution digital images are available upon request.

PRESS CONTACT: Gary Kimble gary@broadwaypalmwest.com
(480) 325-6700 x123

Performances of this work do not imply affiliation with nor approval or endorsement of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES:

• May 14 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 15 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• May 15 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 16 SUN at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• May 19 WED at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 20 THU at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 21 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 22 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• May 22 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 23 SUN at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• May 26 WED at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 27 THU at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 28 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 29 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• May 29 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• May 30 SUN at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 2 WED at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 3 THU at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 4 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 5 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 5 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 6 SUN at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 9 WED at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 10 THU at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 11 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 12 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 12 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 13 SUN at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 16 WED at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 17 THU at 9:00pm (buffet at 7:00pm)
• June 18 FRI at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)
• June 19 SAT at 1:15pm (buffet at 11:45am)
• June 19 SAT at 7:30pm (buffet at 5:30pm)