F.U.D.G.E. Presents VIOLET Through 8/7

The F.U.D.G.E. (FRIENDS UNITED DEVELOPING GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT) Theatre Company will present "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, 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 7.

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).

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.

JOE DeMITA (Director) is one of the founders of The F.U.D.G.E Theatre Company, Inc. Directing credits include Jake's Women (Stonehill Theatre Company), Company (Winthrop Playmakers), and the F.U.D.G.E. productions of Once On This Island, Working, Rumors, Urinetown, Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams, I Sing!, The House of Blue Leaves, Into the Woods, Bat Boy, I Love You Because (Boston Premiere), Fuddy Meers, and bare (Boston Premiere). Joe has also served as the directing intern to Rob Ruggiero at TheatreWorks Hartford on productions of The Exonerated (featuring TV/Film star Kim Fields) and the world premiere musical Ella: Off the Record (starring Broadway's Tina Fabrique). In the Boston area, Joe served as the assistant director to Adam Zahler on the Lyric Stage's production of Talley's Folly. His work on the Company's production of Nevermore received unanimous critical acclaim. He most recently directed the F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company's World Premiere of Charles Antin and Ryan Cunningham's romantic comedy, Half-Married and the New England Premiere of Broadway's Glory Days.

JOSÉ DELGADO (Music Direction) José is grateful to Joey DeMita, the entire F.U.D.G.E. team, and this uber talented cast for the opportunity to work on this beautiful show together. Recent credits include his award winning work with SpeakEasy Stage (The Light in the Piazza, Parade, Caroline, or Change, Elegies, Floyd Collins, others). With Company One: Assassins; Worcester Foothills: Cabaret. In 2007, he also worked with Darius de Haas on his one-man show, Drew Durango. As a freelance performer, composer, and arranger, Jose has worked with and/or performed for Jason Robert Brown, Jeanine Tesori, The Boston Pops and Symphony Orchestras, and numerous schools throughout the greater Boston area including Emerson College, Boston College, and Eastern Nazarene College. Upcoming projects include SpeakEasy Stage's production of Striking 12 and Dream Out Loud Productions' mounting of Songs for a New World in August. He is a member of the faculty at Emerson College and proprietor of Jose Delgado Music Studios.

The F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company, Inc. provides quality and affordable theatre productions to the people in the greater Boston area, cultivating an appreciation for and understanding of the arts. A concept to which Founder and Artistic Director Joe DeMita is completely committed!

THEATRE
THE ARSENAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown, Massachusetts

TICKETS
$20.00
Thursday, August 5th is
PAY WHATEVER YOU CAN NIGHT AT THE DOOR ONLY !

RESERVATIONS
781-245-0500

PLAYING SCHEDULE

Friday, July 30 @ 8:00pm
Saturday, July 31 @ 8:00pm

Sunday, August 1 @ 2:00pm (matinee)

Thursday, August 5 @ 8:00pm
Friday, August 6 @ 8:00pm
Saturday, August 7 @ 8:00pm

www.FudgeTheatre.com