Theatre Aspen Announces 2008 Summer Season

Theatre Aspen is pleased to announce that casting is complete for its 2008 summer season. The organization's lively 25th anniversary season is a mix of music, comedy, drama and family fare running in repertory at the Alex Kaufman Theatre in Rio Grande Park. Little Shop of Horrors opens June 26th, Rounding Third (July 10th) ,Seussical™ (July 11th) and Crimes of the Heart (July 24th).

Little Shop of Horrors (book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken of The Little Mermaid) will be directed and choreographed by Mark Martino and stars Broadway actors Jamie LaVerdiere (Producers, The Pirate Queen) as Seymour, Gordon Stanley (Cabaret, Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, Meet Me in St. Louis) as Mushnik and Kate Fahrner (Wicked) as Audrey.  Local singing star Bobby Mason stars as the "Voice of Audrey II."   Musical director is Bob Finnie.

Esteemed television director Jay Sandrich (Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Cosby Show, Soap) helms Richard Dresser's baseball comedy Rounding Third, which stars Kevin Stapleton (Salome, One Life to Live) and recent Yale School of Drama graduate Richard Gallagher. Sandrich makes his theatrical directing debut.

Seussical™, directed by Marisa Post, Theatre Aspen's Director of Education, will feature many local favorites and graduates of the school program. Traditionally offered Friday and Saturday mornings, three evening performances will be added as "Theatre Aspen Family Night" presentations. The show stars Crystal Palace favorites Tom Erickson, Nina Gabianelli and Jennetta Meitler-Howell. Alumni Peggy Mundinger and Natalie Dulaney are also featured.  Musical director is Bob Finnie.

Crimes of the Heart, the Pulitzer-winning play by Beth Henley, is directed by Michael Unger and stars Broadway veterans Janet Metz (Fiddler on the Roof, Once Upon a Mattress, Marie Christine, On the Town), Lisa Datz (The Full Monty) and Sally Mae Dunn (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Follies, Will Rogers Follies, Beauty and the Beast, Never Gonna Dance, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), with Sandy Rustin  (I Love You, You're Perfect…) as "Babe." The Rounding Third actors will also appear in Crimes of the Heart.

"The acting and design talent we've gathered for our productions will amaze this summer's visitors to Theatre Aspen. Both Broadway and local actors combine the best of all worlds in a sparkling variety of shows. We're truly turning over a new leaf for our 25th Anniversary!" said Theatre Aspen's Artistic Director, Paige Price.

The season's designers are Markas Henry (sets), Kevin Brainerd (costumes), Loren Wilder (lighting), David Thomas (sound) and Tom Wardaszka (video design). Productions will be stage managed by Seymour and Rebecca C. Monroe.

Theatre Aspen also announces the addition of Jeffry George as Managing Director. George, formerly Managing Director of Aspen Film, held the same position at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre as well as prior stints with The Caldwell Theatre Company Kansas City Starlight and Paper Mill Playhouse.

Tickets and season subscriptions are available from the Wheeler Box Office at 970-920-5770 or through aspenshowtickets.com. For further information, visit theatreaspen.org or call 970-925-9313.

Theatre Aspen's 25th Anniversary 2008 Summer Season is generously supported by American National Bank, Alex Kaufman, Maureen and Dan Holman, Dancing Bear Resorts, Jessica and John Fullerton, Morris & Fyrwald, Three Forks Ranch, Terri and Tony Caine, Related WestPac, Aspen Peak, Les Dames d'Aspen, Caviar Affair, The City of Aspen, Melinda Goldrich, The Aspen Club and the Waldorf School. Media sponsors include The Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News, Aspen Public Radio, KSNO, KUUR, KNFO, Aspen Sojourner, Channel 19, KSPN, Plum TV/Channel 16.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and Seussical™ are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.  421 W. 54th St. New York, NY 10019  Phone 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MITShows.com

Theatre Aspen's mission is to create first-class professional theatre and first class theatre education programs in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. We believe theatre provides a unique opportunity for audiences and artists to share experiences that can be enjoyable, uplifting, thought provoking, and life changing. It is the goal of Theatre Aspen to produce the highest level of professional theatre for the enjoyment and inspiration of our audience. Visit www.theatreaspen.org for more information.