Royal Players to Stage THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER THE MUSICAL

The Royal Players and Middlebrooks Electric are excited to announce the upcoming production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer the Broadway Musical, based on the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain. The Royal Players will present this classic story on April 20th-23rd and April 27th-30th at The Royal Theatre at 111 S. Market St. in Benton.

Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and older and military, and $5 for ages 3 years old to college students with a school ID. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theroyalplayers.ticketleap.com. For phone reservations, call (501) 315-5483 beginning March 19th, and pay at the box office. Tickets also can be purchased at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tony Clay of Sheridan directs the two-act play written by Ken Ludwig with music and lyrics by Don Schlitz and based on the novel by Mark Twain.

The musical comedy presents the tale of a fourteen-year old boy, Tom Sawyer, growing up in 1840's St. Petersburg, Missouri, a busy town on the banks of the Mississippi River. Clever Tom matches wits with various characters in the story, including his strict Aunt Polly, and falls in love with Becky Thatcher, the spirited, beautiful "girl next door." He experiences the adventure of a lifetime with Becky and his friend Huckleberry Finn and meets Injun Joe, a villain to frighten the stoutest of heart. He interacts with his own half-brother, Sid, and all the other boys and girls and townspeople in the village during this superb romp of a story. Filled with foot-stomping, toe-tapping songs played by a live orchestra, this musical adventure is a tale of thrilling escapes, comedy and inspiration for the whole family.

Luke Ferguson of Benton plays Tom Sawyer and the role of Huckleberry Finn will be performed by Will Porter of Little Rock. Becky Thatcher will be played by Annslee Clay of Sheridan and Aunt Polly by Robin Eiler of Little Rock.

The cast also includes Eric McCallister as Judge Josiah Thatcher, Greg Blacklaw as the Reverend Joshua Sprague, Carl McBride as Sheriff Gideon, Paul Johnston as Hartley Wood, Zachary Glover as Joe Harper, Katie McCallister as Susie Rogers, Melissa Glover as Sereny Harper, Jamie Partain as Jessica Rogers, and Debbie Wright as Sally Bellamy, Sarah Clayton as the Widow Douglas, all from Benton. Zac Hickman of Mayflower will be portraying Injun Joe, Johnny Jackson has a dual role as School Master Lemuel Dobbins and Defense Attorney Wain, Tim Huddleston is Muff Potter, William Alverio is Ben Rogers, Gretchen Bush is Lucy Harper, all from Bryant. Carson Clay is George Bellamy, Jack Clay is Lyle Peters, Carrie Clay is Naomi Hollis, all from Sheridan. Noah Lee of Haskell is Jim Hollis. David Porter is taking on a dual role as Doc Robinson and the Mayor Lanyard Bellamy, Darren Winkler is Alfred Temple, Kelton Ramsey is Samuel Clemons, Madison Stolzer is Amy Lawrence, Adelyn Eiler is Sabina Temple, all from Little Rock. Maverick Burlison of Malvern is Sidney Sawyer.

Rounding out the cast are JuliAnne Flora of Little Rock as Mary Wood, Hannah-Grace Fritz as ElizaBeth Green, Kyra Griffin as Ann Jones, and Daisy Medders as Emily Webb all of Benton, with Amber Thompson as Clara Wood and Alexandra Lanier of Bryant as Jane Brown.

Melissa Glover and Laura Ferguson are co-producing the show, with Musical Direction by D. Brent Miller and Choreography by Moriah Patterson. Stage Manager is Phoebe Earles.

Light Design is provided by Tony Clay and Sher Speer, while Light Engineer is Sher Speer. Sound Design is provided jointly by Tim Huddleston and Johnny Jackson while Sound Engineer is CharLes Johnson. Props Design and Supervision is provided by Misty Jezierski.

Also, on the Orchestral front we are pleased to have Jo Murry on Keyboard, Rachel Smith on Second Keyboard, Lynn Hoggard on Bass, Wyatt Clay on the Fiddle, Wayne Miller on the Mandolin, and Caleb Clay on Guitar.

The show includes set design by Tony Clay and set construction by Tony Clay, Greg Blacklaw, Carl McBride, Tim Huddleston, and Hillary Bell. Costumes were designed by Tony Clay and Jeana Hutson, who is also Head Costumer, with costume coordination by Lee Ann Clay and assistance with Costuming provided by Michelle Alverio and Sharilyn McCallister. Additional publicity will be provided by Carissa Lumpkins and Phoebe Earles.