Millions of people know sportswriter Mitch Albom from his nationally syndicated Detroit Free Press column. In 1997, his inspirational memoir became an international bestseller. In 2002, with popular playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, Albom adapted the book for the stage. Tuesdays with Morrie is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life. Tuesdays with Morrie explores culture, family, and the meaning of life and features veteran local actor, Duane Thomas and Terre Gunkel.

Tuesdays with Morrie ~ Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, August 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st at 7:29 pm and Sundays, August 15th and 22nd at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and $20. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (909) 920-4343, or by visiting The Grove’s website at http://www.grovetheatre.com/.

Donna Marie Minano, general manager of the locally based Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, says it this way: “If the second guy on Broadway decided not to open his theatre because there was already another theatre on that street, Broadway wouldn’t be Broadway!”

Inland Valley Repertory Theatre company (IVRT as it has become known) has not only sold out its one night only performance of Mitch Albom’s best-selling novel turned stage playTuesdays with Morrie being presented Tuesday, August 10th onstage at the Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont, it is then moving the production to Upland’s historic Grove Theatre to run for two weekends from August 13 to August 22.

The production stars Duane Thomas in the title role of Morrie Schwarz. Thomas is well known in the community for his 40+ years of performing in hundreds of local productions. At the August 10th invitation only event, long time IVRT supporters will pay tribute to his 80th birthday, as well as the 20th anniversary celebration of the founding of the non-profit theatre company IVRT.

Since 1990, IVRT has succeeded in its goal of providing high quality theatrical productions in the community. During its initial ten year run, and now since its successful re-launch in 2007, IVRT has remained true to its vision by consistently producing critically acclaimed, award winning theatrical works which have garnered widespread kudos and honors such as the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation’s Primavera Award for outstanding contributions to the arts as well as several Inland Theatre League awards for acting and directing. IVRT formed an alliance in 2007 with the Candlelight Pavilion, and the successful “Wednesdays Just Got Dramatic” concept was born.

For more information or to purchase tickets to IVRT at the Grove Theatre presents Tuesdays with Morrie, call (909) 920-4343 or long onto www.grovetheatre.com.