“I’ll Be Seeing You”Returns to Ann Arbor to Mark 80th Anniversary of World War Two Victory; Michigan Playwright with Unique Ties to German Surrender Brings Story to Ann Arbor and Northville

Performances: May 29, 30, 31 at Arthur Miller Theatre on UM campus

CHELSEA, MI—The Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre will present “I’ll Be Seeing You,” an original

musical play by Michigan playwright David Kiley about a unique love story forged during World War Two to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” focuses on a courtship through letters between the playwright’s parents,

Charles Kiley and Billee Gray. Focusing on this love story makes the narrative of World War Two a

unique journey. Charles was a The Stars and Stripes newspaper correspondent who was part of the Normandy invasion and was the only reporter to be present at the surrender negotiations between what was left of the German command after Hiter’s suicide and General Eisenhower’s staff. He then became the only reporter present at both German surrenders in Reims, France and in Berlin Germany in May 1945. Billee led an emblematic home-front war working in a defense plant, serving as an airplane spotter, losing a cousin to the Pacific theater of war, tending a Victory Garden, and more.

The play, which includes ten songs from the era plucked from the letters between Charles and

Billee (performed as if on the radio) that linked the two correspondents across the ocean, also

features a multi-media experience that makes the show unforgettable.

“This is a very special story about two people who met, had three dates before they got engaged, and then got to know one another through wonderfully written letters over three and half years while each experiencing the war in their own ways,” says Artistic Director David Kiley, who also directs the show. “World War Two was a massive event and story to tell, but it becomes totally digestible and accessible in two hours through the eyes and letters and music of these two people.”

“I’ll Be Seeing You” features Jordan Hayes-Devloo as Charles; Jillian Paige as Billee; Carrie Brown

and Tyler Messinger as radio singers; John DeMerell as Radio Announcer. Brian E. Buckner is Music Director.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” is based on Writing The War: Chronicles of a World War Two Correspondent,

Prometheus Books, 2015.

About the book, NBC Anchor and author of The Greatest Generation Tom Brokaw wrote on the book jacket: “Writing the War is a superb and important contribution to WWII history. Charles Kiley was a crack reporter on the biggest story of the twentieth century.”

Charles, the playwright’s father, entered the war as a draftee for the infantry, and was set to take

part in the invasion of North Africa. A sportswriter in civilian life who covered Babe Ruth, Joe Lewis and so many more, was recruited by the U.S. Army newspaper from his combat unit. He landed on Utah Beach D-Day+3, produced a newspaper on the Normandy Beaches, flew combat missions as a reporter and waist-gunner, passed rigorous Ranger training, and was assigned to General Dwight Eisenhower during the final three months of the war, which made him a witness to history. The whole story is told in “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

Go to MichiganIrishRep.org for information and tickets. Reserved seats are $20.00. Day-of-show walk-ups are pay-what-you-can. Tickets for May 28 performance are just $5.00.