Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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April 6, 2009

Gene Worthington brings Babe Ruth's life to the stage

Babe Ruth is perhaps the greatest sports hero in American history. But, the “Sultan of Swat” or “The Bambino,” as he came to be known, was more than a ballplayer. He was a public figure whose popularity transcended that of any game. On the baseball diamond, he set a roster of records capped by his 60-home run season.

The Monroe Arts Alliance will present Gene Worthington in a performance that brings Babe’s story to life, from his youth in Baltimore and his early career as a Red Sox pitcher, to his years of glory in Yankee Pinstripes.

The event will take place on Sunday, April 19, at the Union Senior Center on Route 219, at 3 p.m., and is free to the public. Worthington presents Babe in Chautauqua style. First he gives a monologue, taking the audience through Ruth’s life, from St. Mary’s School for Boys to the famed called shot. Then, Worthington takes questions from the audience as the Babe. Finally, he breaks character and talks about Babe Ruth from a contemporary point of view and discusses the impact Ruth continues to have on baseball.

Worthington is an actor and director and serves as the artistic director for the Historic Fayette Theatre, a community theatre located in Fayetteville. He created a production company with his wife, Karen Vuranch. WV Enterprises presents historical dramas and the touring company has featured Worthington in a number of performances.

This performance is sponsored by the Monroe Arts Alliance through the West Virginia Humanities Council and is supported with additional financial assistance from the Office of the Secretary, West Virginia Department of Arts and Education. The Monroe Arts Alliance is a member driven non-profit organization committed to the support and promotion of the arts in Monroe County and the surrounding area.

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