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by Eric Simonson
Straight from Broadway, this engaging new play tells the tale of the greatest football coach in NFL history. Vince Lombardi, for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named, coached his legendary Green Bay Packers to victory in two NFL championships and the first two Super Bowl games. His passion for the game and ability to motivate players made him an iconic figure in the world of football and beyond. This new play gives audiences insight into one of the game’s greatest legends through the eyes of his players, his wife, and the media.
- Directed by Ron Peluso
- James Detmar as Vince Lombardi
- Norah Long as Marie Lombard
- Peter Middlecamp as Micheal McCormick
- Sam Bardwell as Paul Hornung
- Eric Knutson as Jim Taylor
- Darius Dotch as Dave Robinson
"It’s not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up."
– Vince Lombardi
One of the most quoted figures in American sports history, Lombardi's timeless words still reach beyond the football field or the locker room. His success as a coach was rooted in an unwavering can-do attitude that inspired his players, and made him an enduring icon and a role model for leaders in any human endeavor. Whether you root for the Green & Gold or have Purple Pride (or even if you have no idea what either of those things mean) there is a lot to enjoy in this show.
NOTE: Lombardi contains some strong language and is not recommended for children under 15 years of age.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
About Vince LombardiBorn in Brooklyn in 1913, Vince Lombardi received a football scholarship to the Bronx's nationally ranked Fordham University in 1933. An undersized guard, his notorious grit and determination enabled him to play a key role as one of Fordham's "Seven Blocks of Granite."
Following his college football career, Lombardi started as a high school coach at St. Cecilia in Englewood, NJ, eventually becoming an assistant at the football powerhouse U.S. Military Academy. After five years at West Point under legendary head coach Col. Earl "Red" Blaik, he broke into the NFL with the New York Giants in a position similar to today's offensive coordinator role. In his third year with the team, Lombardi, along with defensive coordinator Tom Landry, contributed to the Giants' 1956 league championship run.
In a move that would alter the NFL landscape, Lombardi became head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 1959, inheriting a team that had just compiled the worst record in Packers history (1-10-1). Lombardi led the Packers to NFL championships in 1961 and 1962, followed by an unprecedented three consecutive NFL championships from 1965 to 1967, and won the first two Super Bowls, against Kansas City and Oakland, in 1966 and 1967.
On his way to becoming a coaching legend, Lombardi stamped the game with his famous "Packer power sweep," a strategy that dominated pro football for a decade. More than any other football figure, he came to define athletic excellence and a single-minded dedication that made his name synonymous with winning at all costs, often at the price of personal relationships.
FROM: http://www.hbo.com/sports/lombardi/index.html#/sports/lombardi/synopsis.html
Ticket prices
| Adult | Senior | Student | |
| Tier 1 | $40 | $38 | $15 |
| Tier 2 | $36 | $34 | |
| Tier 3 | $32 | $30 |
Performance calendar
| Thursday, October 4 | 8:00 pm | Preview |
| Friday, October 5 | 8:00 pm | Preview |
| Saturday, October 6 | 8:00 pm | |
| Sunday, October 7 | 2:00 pm | |
| Thursday, October 11 | 10:00 am | |
| Thursday, October 11 | 8:00 pm | |
| Friday, October 12 | 8:00 pm | |
| Saturday, October 13 | 8:00 pm | |
| Sunday, October 14 | 2:00 pm | |
| Thursday, October 18 | 8:00 pm | |
| Friday, October 19 | 8:00 pm | |
| Saturday, October 20 | 8:00 pm | |
| Sunday, October 21 | 2:00 pm | |
| Thursday, October 25 | 10:00 am | |
| Thursday, October 25 | 8:00 pm | |
| Friday, October 26 | 8:00 pm | |
| Saturday, October 27 | 8:00 pm | |
| Sunday, October 28 | 2:00 pm | |
| Thursday, November 1 | 10:00 am | |
| Thursday, November 1 | 8:00 pm | |
| Friday, November 2 | 8:00 pm | |
| Saturday, November 3 | 8:00 pm | |
| Sunday, November 4 | 2:00 pm |
Events and Happenings
Annual Benefit Dinner
Saturday, October 6 / 5:00 pm
Celebrate the start of History Theatre’s 35th anniversary season with dinner, silent and live auctions, and a pre-show program including special guests including Hamline University grad and former MN State Senator Duane Benson (played for the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II), NFL Hall-of-Famer and former Executive Director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Minnesota Irv Cross (played for the Philadelphia Eagles), and Jerry Burns who was an assistant coach under Vince Lombardi before he was hired by Bud Grant to coach the Vikings.
The live auction will once again be hosted by Hazel, one of The Church Basement Ladies (played by Greta Grosch) as she coaxes guests to place their bids with a quintessential Minnesota-Nice humor that's almost impossible to resist.
Tickets
$150 per individual || $250 per couple
Price includes pre-show entertainment, dinner catered by Lancer, a beverage, the opening performance of Lombardi, plus a $100 tax-deductible donation to History Theatre.
Advance purchase is required; tickets will not be available at the door.
Can't make it to the dinner on October 6?
You can still support History Theatre by
making a donation online.
The Menu
American Comfort Buffet: includes a sampling of classic American comfort food.
• Chopped Apple Salad with Mixed Greens, Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese, Herb Vinaigrette
• Sweet and Sour Roasted Red Potato Salad with Hardwood Smoked Bacon
• Smoked Beef Brisket with House BBQ Sauce
• Pan-Bronzed Breast of Chicken with Spicy Creole Sauce
• Fluffy Mashed Russet Potatoes with Savory Gravy
• Three Cheese Baked Macaroni with Herb Bread Crust
• Fresh Green Beans with Wild Mushrooms, Sherry Cream Sauce and Frizzled Onions
• Corn Muffins with Honey Butter
• A variety of bite-sized desserts.
The 2012 Annual Benefit Dinner is sponsored by
ANCHOR BANK
And
THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS
KICK-OFF Party!
Saturday, October 13 / 5:00 pm
Celebrate the kick-off of the 2012-13 season with an evening of tailgating games, activities, food, and live music before the 8 p.m. performance of Lombardi!
On the corner ofWabasha & 10th Streets
Downtown St. Paul
Play your favorite tailgating games
beanbag toss • ring toss • hammerschlagen • field goal kick
and win prizes!
Treat yourself to delicious dinner and snacks from R.A. Mac Sammy's food truck and Happy Hour drink specials at the beer tent.
Admission is free, but be sure to bring some cash so you can test your skill at an assortment of tailgating games ($2-4) for a chance to win prizes
Live music will be provided by The Feel Good Experience, and Vikings cheerleaders will be on-hand for photo-ops.
Come one, come all (even if you don’t have a ticket for the performance that night)!
IN CASE OF RAIN, THE KICK-OFF Party WILL BE HELD IN THE HISTORY THEATRE LOBBY.
Jersey Night
Saturday, October 13 / 8:00 pm
Wear your favorite NFL team’s shirt and get tallied by our referee before the 8 p.m. performance of Lombardi. The team with the biggest show of supporters will win 2-for-1 coupons to see History Theatre’s production of Courting Harry (March 2–24, 2013).
Social Six-Pack
Thursday, October 18 / 8:00 pm
Bring five of your friends and make a night of it!
One LOW price includes six drink tickets and six discounted tickets to the 8 p.m. performance of Lombardi.
$210 Tier 1
$180 Tier 2
Football Widows FTW
Sunday, October 21 / 2:00 pm
If either the Vikings or the Packers are WINNING their noon games on the designated Sunday, October 21, patrons will receive $1 off a fountain soda or a cup of hot coffee during intermission.
Wisconsin Beer and Cheese Tasting
Friday, October 26 / 6:30 pm
* S O L D O U T *
Sample Wisconsin beers and cheese before the show.
Price includes five 2-ounce pours of different brews (including New Glarus), an assortment of cheeses, some fun facts about the featured breweries, and a ticket to the 8 p.m. performance of Lombardi.
Space is limited, reservations are required.
Call the History Theatre Box Office: 651.292.4323
$45 Tier 1
$41 Tier 2
Jersey Night
Saturday, October 27 / 8:00 pm
Wear your favorite NFL team’s shirt and get tallied by our referee before the 8 p.m. performance of Lombardi. The team with the biggest show of supporters will win 2-for-1 coupons to see History Theatre’s production of Courting Harry (March 2–24, 2013).
Football Widows FTW
Sunday, October 28 / 2:00 pm
If either the Vikings or the Packers are WINNING their noon games on the designated Sunday, October 28, patrons will receive $1 off a fountain soda or a cup of hot coffee during intermission.
Pizza and a Play + Trivia Contest
Friday, November 2 / 6:30 pm
Sponsored by
* S O L D O U T *
Get your weekend off to a great start with happy hour drink prices and pizza and salad before the 8:00 p.m. performance of Lombardi. And test your trivia knowledge about football, coaching, and Vince Lombardi to compete for prizes!
Price includes a hot meal served at History Theatre and a ticket to the 8 p.m. performance.
Space is limited, reservations are required.
$45 Tier 1
$41 Tier 2
Football Widows FTW
Sunday, November 4 / 2:00 pm
If either the Vikings or the Packers are WINNING their noon games on the designated Sunday, November 4, patrons will receive $1 off a fountain soda or a cup of hot coffee during intermission.
History Theatre's "Lombardi" goes on tour to Theatre L'Homme Dieu
Tuesday, July 9 / 7:30 pm
History Theatre’s production of Lombardi by Eric Simonson, which was a huge hit in the fall of 2012, will be remounted in Alexandria, Minnesota as part of Theatre L’Homme Dieu’s summer season. The original cast will be part of the production once again, featuring James Detmar as Vince Lombardi and Norah Long as Marie Lombardi – Norah is going to be very busy this summer! History Theatre’s Lombardi will play July 9 – 14. Performance times are Tuesday thru Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Straight from Broadway, this engaging new play tells the tale of the greatest football coach in NFL history. Vince Lombardi, for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named, coached his legendary Green Bay Packers to victory in two NFL championships and the first two Super Bowl games. His passion for the game and ability to motivate players made him an iconic figure in the world of football and beyond. This new play gives audiences insight into one of the game’s greatest legends through the eyes of his players, his wife, and the media.
Cast
Cast list is not yet available for this show.
Creative team
In the press
A greatest-hits view of Vince Lombardi
History Theatre's opening performance of this play about the iconic Green Bay coach was as uncompromising as its subject. The play Lombardi is all character and energy, which is fine, since that describes Vince Lombardi the coach, too.If winning isn’t everything, why keep score? -Vince Lombardi
Even if you are not a football fan, the acting in this show is so stellar that anyone could appreciate it. For those that are, you will love how this cast brings to life the legendary football coach and his players.Touchdown at the History Theatre
"The raw, genuine emotions, both positive and otherwise, are what make this play about football work, satisfying the sports enthusiast and theater buff alike."Lombardi
"Of course, lovers of football and especially lovers of the Green Bay Packers (full disclosure—I count myself in both of these categories) will enjoy this production, but even if your fandom lies in the theatre and not in the stadium, this play is a hilarious treat."This 'Lombardi' fails to go deep
...fans of the man – or the game he so loved – will find something to like.- 1 of 2
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Accessible performances
ASL interpreted
- Sunday, October 21 / 2:00 pm
Audio described
- Sunday, October 21 / 2:00 pm
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