Photo Coverage: MAME Opening Night at Reagle Players

The Reagle Players in Waltham, Mass. celebrated opening night of Mame on Friday, July 17, with a lively post-show reception that allowed patrons to meet and greet the 50-plus member cast, including star Lee Meriwether of film, television, and Miss America fame. Gracious, glamorous, and gorgeous as ever, Meriwether posed for numerous photos with crew, co-stars, and a host of adoring fans.

Mame is the second of three musicals the Reagle Players is mounting this summer as a tribute to eight-time Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist Jerry Herman. In June The company opened its 41^st consecutive season with a rousing production of Hello, Dolly! starring Broadway's Rachel York, and in August David Engel and Jamie Ross revisit their roles as Albin and Georges in Herman's La Cage Aux Folles. Mame runs through July 25 for a total of eight performances only.

The cast of Mame includes Meriwether as the eccentric aunt Mame Dennis; Troy Costa as Patrick Dennis, age 10; Curly Glynn as Patrick Dennis, age 19-29; Maryann Zschau as Mame's boozy bosom buddy Vera Charles; Maureen Brennan as Agnes Gooch; Kai Chao as Ito; and R. Glen Michell as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside. Jeffrey Sewell plays young Peter Dennis. Direction is by Frank Roberts, and executive producer and artistic director is Robert J. Eagle. Onna White's original choreography has been recreated by Susan M. Chebookjian, and scenic design by David Allen Jeffrey is based on William and Jean Eckart's original Broadway design. Lighting design is by David Wilson, with costumes provided by Costume World Theatrical. Co-musical directors are Rick Scalise and Jeffrey P. Leonard.

The Reagle Players is located at the Robinson Theater, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, Mass. Tickets range from $32 to $54 and are available at the box office, by calling 781-891-5600, or online at www.reagleplayers.com.

The Reagle Players is one of 12 theaters in the greater Boston area offering free tickets to season subscribers of the now closed North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Mass. For more information on the availability of tickets through this special offer, call the Reagle Players box office at 781-891-5600.

PHOTOS by Jan Nargi