"Magical! Laugh-out-loud funny! Poignant! Perfect! Don't miss these farewell performances!" (Four out of Four Stars) -  Globe and Mail

Ottawa, ON, December 22, 2011 – The NAC English Theatre is proud to kick off the New Year with a limited engagement of 2 Pianos 4 Hands. Hot on the heels of their sold-out, smash-hit Toronto run, Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt bring 2 Pianos 4 Hands to Ottawa to perform their critically-acclaimed work one final time, as their farewell tour plays January 10 through 28 in the NAC Theatre.

2 Pianos 4 Hands is a warm and funny musical comedy about two men’s lifetime obsession with 88 piano keys. It’s a story of aspiring talents, teachers, lessons and competitions, and a not-to-be-missed classic of Canadian theatre.

One of the most successful productions in the history of Canadian theatre, 2 Pianos 4 Hands has garnered critical acclaim and audience adoration worldwide, playing on such renowned international stages as, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s West End, Le Theatre Ginza in Tokyo and off Broadway. In fact, since its humble Toronto premiere in 1996, 2 Pianos 4 Hands has had 5000+ performances at more than 200 theatres worldwide.

2 Pianos 4 Hands is the riotous tale of two Canadian boys, Ted and Richard, sharing the same goal: concert pianist stardom. They work fervently towards their dream amidst pushy parents, eccentric teachers, hours of repetitive practice, stage fright, the agony of competitions and the dream of greatness. As they mature, Ted and Richard become more aware of the gap between the very good and the great, and come to the humbling realization that greatness may be out of their reach.

Two actors, two pianos and many, many characters inhabit the stage as 15 years of learning the art of piano-playing unfolds. From classical to pops to jazz, the play provides the chance for two performers to give their all in an 120-minute virtuoso performance.

2 Pianos 4 Hands captures the humour that comes with learning to play the piano, the sense of loss one feels learning to let go of a dream, as well as the joy of always having music in one’s life.

If you haven’t seen 2 Pianos 4 Hands, don’t miss this limited run from January 10 – 28 in the NAC Theatre!

PWYC:             Tuesday, January 10
Previews:       Wednesday, January 11 and Thursday, January 12
Opening:         Friday, January 13

Hinterview:     Saturday, January 14 at 1 p.m. in the NAC Panorama Room.
NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton will be speaking with Pianist and Pedagogue Jean Desmarais. Free to the public.

Talkbacks:      Wednesdays, January 18 and 25, and Thursdays, January 19 and 26
                        Stay in your seats for a post-show question-and-answer session with artists
                        Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt.

Performance Schedule:         
Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday matinees at 2 p.m.
(no performances on Mondays or Sundays.)

Tickets range from $38 - $80. For groups of 10 or more contact grp@nac-cna.ca or visit www.nac-cna.ca

Tickets are available for purchase:

• Online on the NAC’s website: www.nac-cna.ca
• In person at the NAC Box Office
• At all Ticketmaster outlets
• By telephone 1-888-991-2787
  
  
• A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster.

Find out more about NAC English Theatre on Facebook and YouTube. To discover some fascinating facts about 2 Pianos 4 Hands click www.nac-cna.ca/en/englishtheatre.

This production is eligible for the Live Rush program.
Full-time students age 13-29 with a valid Live Rush membership may buy up to two tickets per performance at the discounted price of only $12 per ticket. Live Rush tickets are available from 10 a.m. on the day before the performance to 6 p.m. the day of the performance. This includes all available seats, including the best seats in the house.
Check out liverush.ca for information on the Live Rush program.

Embassy Hotel & Suites is proud to be the Official Hotel Partner for the National Arts Centre English Theatre.

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For information, please contact:
Sean Fitzpatrick, Communications Officer, National Arts Centre English Theatre
613-947-7000 ext. 389; e-mail: sean.fitzpatrick@nac-cna.ca
or visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca