The FUDGE Theatre Company Presents VIOLET, 7/30-8/7

The F.U.D.G.E. (FRIENDS UNITED DEVELOPING GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT) Theatre Company presents the highly anticipated production of "VIOLET," one of the most acclaimed musicals of the 90's that astounded critics and audiences alike as its hypnotic Gospel, Rock, Country and Rhythm & Blues score heralded its heart-wrenching and joyous story.

The musical begins performances on FRIDAY, JULY 30 at The Arsenal Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre (321 Arsenal Street) where it will play a limited engagement through SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th.

Directed by Joe DeMita (the F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company's Founder, President and Artistic Director) "VIOLET'S" creative team will also include the acclaimed Musical Director José Delgado, Lighting Designer PJ Strachman and Costume Designer AnneMarie Alvarez. The scenery has been designed by Mr. DeMita. Tina Cersosimo is the Production Stage Manager. All Production Photography is by company lensman RYAN MULLEN.

Based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, "VIOLET" has music by Jeanine Tesori with a Book and Lyrics by Brian Crawley.

The universally acclaimed musical opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on March 11th, 1997 after which it won the 1997 Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.

"VIOLET" will star SHAWNA O'BRIEN (Nevermore, The Superheroine Monologues, The Spitfire Grill, Evita, Sweeney Todd), KAEDON GRAY (Smokey Joe's Café, Once On This Island), JARED WALSH (Once Upon A Mattress, The Coast of Utopia, Songs for a New World), KACEE STAITI (Into the Woods, Urinetown, I Love You Because, The House of Blue Leaves, Songs for a New World), TODD SANDSTROM (Glory Days, Half-Married, Little By Little, Hello, Dolly!, bare, Blood Brothers, Titanic, Once On This Island, Once Upon A mattress, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and feature KERRY FARRELL (Annie Get Your Gun, I Sing!, Peter Pan, West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet, She Loves Me), NELLA MUPIER, CHRIS MURRAY (bare, A Chorus Line, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Grease, Cabaret), KATIE PREISIG (Anything Goes, Footloose, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer), RICHARD REPETTA (Steel Magnolias, Varicose Vanities, The Rocky Horror Show, La Cage Aux Folles, Cabaret, Seussical, Sweet Charity, Hello, Dolly!, The Full Monty, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown) and NOAH TOBIN (Singin' in the Rain, The Full Monty).

ABOUT "VIOLET"
Set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, "Violet" follows the growth and enlightenment of a bitter young woman accidentally scarred by her father. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town to Oklahoma. Along the way, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about beauty, love, courage and what it means to be an outsider.