MTC MainStage Presents THE FANTASTICKS, Now thru 5/4

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, concludes its 2013/2014 Season with "The Fantasticks" a musical with book by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones and based on "Les Romanesques" by Edmond Rostand. Performances are today, April 11 - May 4, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays at 4pm and Sundays at 2pm, at MTC MainStage Studio Theatre, 246 Post Road East (Colonial Green/Lower Level) in downtown Westport, CT. Tickets range from $25-$45 ($5 discount for seniors/students) and are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com.

"The Fantasticks" is a funny and romantic musical set in a world of moonlight and magic featuring a famous score, which includes the timeless classics "Try To Remember," "They Were You" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain." "The Fantasticks" tells an allegorical story of two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud. Premiering Off-Broadway in 1960, with the original cast including Jerry Orbach, the production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical.

MTC's professional Equity cast includes Jack Doyle as Bellomy, who has appeared on Broadway and in national tours including "Young Frankenstein," "The Music Man," "Beauty And The Beast," "Crazy For You," Tommy Tune's "Doctor Dolittle" and "The Will Rogers Follies." Westport native Jacob Heimer plays Matt, and has last appeared at MTC MainStage in the award-winning production of "Next to Normal," and has also appeared in "Orpheus Variations," "As You Like It" and the films "Internet Camping" and "The World's Most Annoying Friend." Tony Lawson plays El Gallo, and has appeared in the MTC production of "Pete 'n' Keely," as well as the national tour of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," on Broadway as Thenardier in "Les Miserables," and created roles in the world premieres of "Treasure Island" at Cincinnati Playhouse and "An American in Paris" at Houston Alley Theatre. Carissa Massaro of Trumbull plays Luisa, and has appeared in "Jane Eyre the Musical" on Broadway as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella in "Into the Woods" and Olive in "The 25th Annual... Spelling Bee." Bill Nabel plays Henry, and has appeared in the Broadway productions of "Beauty and the Beast" as Lumiere, "A Chorus Line" as Al, "Sweeney Todd" as Pirelli, "42nd Street" as Bert Barry, "Evita" and "The Most Happy Fella." Film and television credits include "Gossip Girl," "The Blacklist," "Person of Interest," "The Fighter" and "A Beautiful Mind." Shanna Ossi plays The Mute, and is a New York native who graduated from the University of Miami with credits including "Smokey Joe's Cafe," "Rent" and "Cabaret." Jim Schilling of Bridgeport plays Mortimer, and is the co-founder and managing director of MTC where he has appeared most recently in "God of Carnage," "Almost, Maine" and "Doubt." His off-Broadway and regional credits include "Hamlet" opposite Tony Roberts, "Upper Broadway" opposite Nanette Fabray, and as Sean Penn's double in the film "Dead Man Walking." Lou Ursone of Stamford plays Hucklebee, and has appeared as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof," John Adams in "1776," Zaza/Albin in "La Cage aux Folles," The Duke in "Big River," Sky in "Guys and Dolls." Television credits include "Loving," "Rescue 911" and "Unsolved Mysteries."

"The Fantasticks" is directed by MTC co-founder and Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors, with musical direction by David Wolfson and choreography by Kathy Calahan. The design team includes set design by Carl Tallent, lighting design by Michael Megliola, and costumes designed by Diane Vanderkroef. The production is stage managed by Cameron Nadler.

MTC is proud to partner again this season with Rizzuto's Wood-Fired Kitchen and Bar of Westport, offering a special discount to "The Fantasticks" ticket holders. See the MTC website for details. Each performance is followed by a wine and cheese reception where the audience is invited to meet the actors and production team.

Music Theatre of Connecticut was founded in 1987 by Directors Kevin Connors and Jim Schilling. MTC's professional mainstage company has presented 25 seasons of critically-acclaimed productions, including new works and buried treasures of the American musical theatre. MTC is recipient of the Connecticut Critics' Circle's highest honor, the Tom Killen Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Connecticut Professional Theatre and was presented with a Connecticut State Legislative Citation to commemorate this award. Productions presented at MTC have been nominated for Best Musical of the Connecticut theatre season and several others have gone on to have successful productions in New York and at other regional houses. MTC is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization. For more information, visit www.musictheatreofct.com.