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Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Producing Director Richard M. Parison Jr., is proud to present a new production of the world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks, a captivating romantic comedy about a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. Based on the tale Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand, The Fantasticks features music by Harvey Schmidt and a book and lyrics by Tom Jones. The memorable score includes "Soon It's Gonna Rain," "They Were You" and the beloved hit, "Try to Remember." The Fantasticks runs from October 7 through 18 on the BSC Mainstage, with an official opening on Saturday, October 10 at 8pm.
The Fantasticks will be directed by Andrew Volkoff (BSC's Underneath the Lintel, I Am My Own Wife, Fully Committed) and choreographed by Janet Watson (choreographer of current NY production). Christopher D. Littlefield is musical director.
The Fantasticks features Cory Michael Smith and Dana De Lisa (national tour of My Fair Lady as Eliza) as the young lovers Matt and Luisa. StEve Wilson (national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) takes on the role of El Gallo, the Narrator. Hucklebee, the Boy's Father is played by Darin DePaul (B'way's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and John-Charles Kelly (NSMT's The Drowsy Chaperone) plays Bellomy, the Girl's Father. Gordon Stanley (BSC's West Side Story, Follies) returns to BSC to play Henry, Jonathan Karp is the Mute and Bob Sorenson (BSC's To Kill A Mockingbird) is Mortimer.The Fantasticks is designed by Jeff Davis (lighting), Kristina Lucka (costumes) and Brad Berridge (sound). Sam Craig is the scenic and prop co-ordinator. Renee Lutz is production stage manager. Making her BSC debut is choreographer Janet Watson who choreographed the original Tony Award-winning production of Big River on Broadway and later recreated her work for the national tour and the Japanese production. Off-Broadway she choreographed the acclaimed revivals of Pacific Overtures, I Do! I Do!, South Pacific at the New York City Opera, as well as the recent New York City revival of The Fantasticks. Janet has worked at the major regional theatres across the country. For Los Angeles's Reprise series, she choreographed Finian's Rainbow, directed by Will Mackenzie.
Making his Mainstage directing debut is Andrew Volkoff, former Associate Artistic Director of Barrington Stage Company, who's directed the Stage 2 productions of Underneath the Lintel, This Wonderful Life, My Scary Girl, I Am My Own Wife, Fully Committed, Santaland Diaries, Thief River, The Shape of Things, and Love and Happiness. Elsewhere: Follies, Fair Game, 365 Plays/365 Days at Joe's Pub, Bumping Heads and Savannah Bay (NYC); Stupid Kids, The Wild Party and A...My Name Will Always Be Alice (Boston, MA). Volkoff is the former Associate Artistic Director of Genesius Theatre Group in New York City .The longest running musical of all time, The Fantasticks is based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand with the book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt.The original cast featured Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner and opened Off-Broadway May 3, 1960. After 42 years, the production closed on January 13, 2002 after 17,162 performances. In 1992, The Fantasticks was awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. In 2007, the musical was revived in New York and is still playing.
In addition to The Fantasticks, book writer and lyricist Tom Jones and composer Harvey Schmidt have created the musicals 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Celebration, Philemon, Mirette, Collette Collage, Grover's Corners, Roadside, and The Show Goes On.Performances for The Fantasticks will take place on the BSC Mainstage, 30 Union Street , Pittsfield . Performance times are: Wednesday 7pm; Thursday-Saturday 8pm; Sunday 3pm. Additional performances will take place on Sunday, October 11 at 7pm, Wednesday, October 14 at 2pm and Saturday, October 17 at 4pm. Tickets are $15-35. The Fantasticks: Opening Night Saturday, October 10 at 8pm. $15 mezz/$20 orchestra tickets are available for October 7 and 8 previews. Following the Sunday, October 11 matinee at 3pm there will be a talkback with Fantasticks co-creator Tom Jones. Tickets are on sale now at 413-236-8888 and www.barringtonstageco.org.
