The Palace Cultural Arts Association will present Ryan J Ratliff’s Boardwalk Boys at the Marion Palace Theatre on Saturday, January 19 at 8:00 pm. Boardwalk Boys is an original musical by LaRue, Ohio native and Broadway veteran, Ryan J Ratliff. The upcoming show will be the first stage performance of the musical.
The story follows four buddies from college who reunite for a guy vacation. Songs of The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Mamas & Papas, The Turtles and many others, help them relive old memories, tackle their girl problems, and take the audience on a musical journey.
Ryan J Ratliff, writer and performer for the group, explained the concept of Boardwalk Boys.
“Boardwalk Boys is a tribute to sun and surf music of the California coast. The show features a live band and four seasoned professional actors. It is a really fun show with dancing, a little audience participation, and of course that famous soaring sound of beach music from the 60s. Boardwalk Boys promises to be the perfect ‘tropical’ escape for Marionites during the coldest month of the year.”
Ryan J Ratliff knows firsthand about Ohio winters. He began singing for his congregation at the La Rue United Methodist Church because at a young age, Ryan knew he wanted to perform for others. He continued his dream of singing, dancing and entertaining at The Ohio State University where he pursued his professional career in university productions as well as performing at Cedar Point in Ohio, and the Barn Theatre in Michigan.
After graduating cum laude with a double Bachelor degree of Fine Arts in Dance, Theatre, and Vocal Performance plus a Bachelor of Music Education, Ryan joined Celebrity Cruise Lines as a production singer. Shortly after moving to the Big Apple, Ryan got his first break and landed the role of Jinx in Forever Plaid, before starring as Mark in Altar Boyz, both on stage in New York and on the National Broadway Tour.
In 2008, Ryan returned to the cruise industry as a guest entertainer, where he was the music director, arranger, and “Frankie” for a Jersey Boys/Frankie Valli tribute quartet. Today, Ryan spends his time arranging and orchestrating for cruise lines, show choirs, and NYC actors while running his own entertainment company, Ry J Productions in NYC.
Joining Ryan onstage for Boardwalk Boys will be professional actors Caleb Damschroder, Brad Heikes, and Ryan Strand.
Brad Heikes, a lifelong Ohioan, has also performed on Broadway. Brad’s favorite credits include: Pygmalion with Jefferson Mays and Claire Danes (Roundabout Theatre Company), Mister Roberts with Alec Baldwin (Roundabout Playreading Series), The Battle at Nong Son (The Actors Studio), Tiny Dynamite (Dreamscape Theatre Company), and Working (Emmett Robinson Theater). In addition, Brad has made television appearances on Guiding Light and All My Children.
Caleb Damschroder hails from Fremont, Ohio and now makes his living in New York, New York. Caleb sings, acts and is a talented composer/lyricist and proud member of the TONY Award winning Broadcast Music Inc., Musical Theatre Workshop. Caleb recently finished composing a new musical Molly Sweeney: The Musical which is scheduled to have an industry reading this February in New York.
Ryan Strand also has ties to Ohio. Ryan earned his BFA at the University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music. Ryan is a seasoned performer and has appeared on several National Broadway Tour and Off-Broadway productions including the hit musicals Jersey Boys, Altar Boyz and Soul Doctor.
Marion Palace Theatre Executive Director, Bev Ford said, “Everyone at the Palace is so proud of Ryan and his many accomplishments. Ryan is extremely talented and brings excitement and enthusiasm every time he takes the stage.”
“We are honored to be the first to stage this original production of Boardwalk Boys. Marion, you don’t want to miss this show filled with great talent and fun music,” stated Ford.
Boardwalk Boys is sponsored in part by Pepsi-Cola. Tickets are $24, $20 and may be purchased at the Palace box office, 276 W. Center St. in downtown Marion, by phone at 740/383-2101 or online www.marionpalace.org. Box office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Information for all upcoming shows and tickets are online 24 hours a day at www.marionpalace.org.
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