Ellis Island, NY (April 2009) – Due to popular demand, Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story will reopen at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum’s intimate Living Theater for a limited run beginning April 25 through September 5. The play, written by playwright and screenwriter Aurorae Khoo, portrays the immigrant experience of legendary movie actor Bela Lugosi—best known for his portrayal of Count Dracula—and features a reenactment of the Ellis Island inspection process. The show also includes contemporary immigrant characters.

Produced and funded by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., the 30-minute show will be presented seven times daily. Show times are 10:45; 11:30; 12:15; 1:00; 2:30; 3:15; and 4:00. Tickets are $6.00. For more information about Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story or to make reservations (groups of 10 or more), contact the Foundation at 212-561-4500, ext. 0 or email theater@ellisisland.org

The Living Theater is located in the Main Registry Building at Ellis Island, which underwent extensive restoration in the 1980s and reopened in 1990 as the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, whose exhibits and audio tour tell the inspiring story of American immigration and chronicle Ellis Island’s role in immigration history. It also houses the American Family Immigration History Center® that contains the ship passenger records of the more than 25 million people who entered through the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892-1924. And the popular American Immigrant Wall of Honor®, the world’s largest wall of names, offers all Americans the chance to pay tribute to their immigrant ancestors, regardless of when or through which port they immigrated.

For ferry tickets and schedules, call Statue Cruises at 1-877-LADY TIX or visit (www.statuecruises.com)

For more details on Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story, see (www.statueofliberty.org)

The Actors employed in this production are members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

About The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to raise funds for and oversee the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition to restoring the monuments, the Foundation created a museum in the Statue’s base and the world-class Ellis Island Immigration Museum, The American Immigrant Wall of Honor® and the American Family Immigration History Center®. Its endowment has funded over 200 projects at the islands.

CONTACT:
Peg Zitko (212) 561-4517
pzitko@ellisisland.org
Elizabeth Oravetz (212) 561-4542
eoravetz@ellisisland.org