TAMPA — Tampa Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for its upcoming production of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” Tony Award-winning Ken Ludwig’s heartfelt romantic comedy inspired by the true story of his parents’ courtship during World War II. Following a preview on Thursday, July 9, the production will open on Friday, July 10, and will run through July 26 in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa.
Opening night tickets include admission to a pre-show celebration on July 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Tampa Preparatory School, 727 W. Cass St., Tampa. The celebration will feature light bites and an open bar, plus free parking. Tampa Prep is approximately a half a mile across the bridge from the Straz Center, where the 7:30 p.m. performance will take place. Tickets and additional information are available at tamparep.org.
Set during World War II, the play follows U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, and Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress and dancer living in New York City. What begins as a simple correspondence blossoms into a profound romance tested by distance, uncertainty, and the realities of war. Ludwig draws from his own family history to tell a deeply personal and unexpectedly joyful story about love, hope, and perseverance.
Themes explored in the play include love through adversity, resilience, human connection across distance, patriotism and service, fate and chance, and the power of storytelling. Through a rich exchange of letters, Jack and Louise discover how words can bridge continents, sustain hope, and transform lives.
The cast features Cameron Kubly as Jack Ludwig and Katie Davis as Louise Rabiner. Kubly is excited to return to TampaRep, where he was most recently seen in “A Christmas Carol.” Previous company credits include “The Crucible” with ThinkTank Theatre and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” His additional Tampa Bay credits include productions at freeFall Theatre, Jobsite Theater, ThinkTank Theater, and TheatreZone. He also appeared in “Full: The Musical” at FringeNYC.
Davis, a Tampa Bay native, returns to TampaRep after appearing as Marian/Chiara in “The Bridges of Madison County.” She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University and trained locally with both the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center. Recent credits include Nora Joyce in “Himself and Nora” at freeFall Theatre, Cinderella in “Into the Woods” at American Stage, Patty Simcox in “Grease” at Suncoast Broadway, Belle and The Little Mermaid in the national tour of “Disenchanted!” with MNM Theatre, and Yvonne and Harriet in “Sunday in the Park with George” at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal, New Jersey.
This production of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” is directed by Robin Gordon, an accomplished director, actor, and educator whose work has spanned universities, professional theatres, and performance venues across the country. Gordon served as assistant professor of performance at the University of South Florida from 1997–2007, where she directed productions including “Vinegar Tom,” “Cabaret,” “Italian American Reconciliation,” and “Bat Boy.”
The creative team also includes Celeste Silsby Mannerud, lighting designer; Trish Meade, costume designer; Georgia Mallory Guy, sound designer; Dean Wick, scenic and props designer/set dressing; and Aurora Peugh, production stage manager.