THE FANTASTICKS and ZANNA, DON'T Coming Up at The Mezzanine

The Mezzanine closes a hit-packed 2015 and kicks off another great year with two blockbuster musicals mounted in the one-of-a-kind local space and headlined by Colorado Springs Conservatory alums, regional and national performers, as well as, in one case, members of an original cast.

Even if you haven't seen a performance of the legendary musical "The Fantasticks," which runs Dec. 28-Jan. 2, you will likely recognize the emblematic songs ("Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna to Rain") and its charming girl-meets-boy storyline. The longest running production in the history of the stage -- 42 years and 17,162 performances Off Broadway -- it's become one of the most performed musicals in the world. About 250 new regional, community and school productions are mounted every year.

Written in 1960 with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones, neighboring fathers (Grant Brown and David Corder) trick their children into falling in love by pretending to quarrel. They go even so far as to stage a mock abduction, allowing Matt (Jackson Walker) to save Luisa (CC Wells) and emerge a hero. But when the children get wise to the deception, things take a turn.

The Tony-winning work is directed by Tripp Fountain and choreographed by Drew Fountain, both CSC alums. KCME General Manager George Preston plays a pivotal role as El Gallo. The Mezz will also offer a special New Year's Eve package, which includes two tickets, a buffet dinner, bottle of champagne and an evening of live music from the Springs City Big Band. Admission is $150 per couple.

"THE FANTASTICKS"
When: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28-30, 7 p.m. Jan. 2
Where: The Mezzanine, alley entrance behind 20 N. Tejon St.
Tickets: $20; 719-577-4556 (Esther Fields), themezzcos.com
Something special: 7 p.m. New Year's Eve package includes two tickets, buffet dinner, a bottle of champagne and live music from Springs City Big Band and at 11 p.m., Mike Clark and the Sugar Sounds, $150 per couple

From Jan. 8 to 14, The Mezzanine presents the Off-Broadway and Off-West End hit "Zanna, Don't," which is set in a world where homosexuality is the norm. In a Midwestern high school, which is heterophobic, of course, matchmaker Zanna has a knack of getting people together. Then she stumbles onto a problem: the football team's quarterback and the captain of the Girls' Intramural Mechanical Bull-Riding Team have fallen in love.

With music written by Tim Acito with additional lyrics by Alexander Dinelaris, this production is directed and choreographed by Enrico Rodriguez, an original Off Broadway cast member who brings flare and brilliance only seen in NYC productions. It stars CSC alums Nisa Ari and Mark Autry, as well as a half dozen regional and national musical theater artists.

"ZANNA, DON'T"
When: 6 p.m. Jan. 8, 12-14, 7 p.m. Jan. 9
Where: The Mezzanine, alley entrance behind 20 N. Tejon St.
Tickets: $20; 719-577-4556 (Esther Fields), themezzcos.com

The Colorado Springs Conservatory, which created The Mezzanine in 2014 with the generosity of Sam and Kathy Guadagnoli, offers world-class training in all the performing arts to students ages 4 through 19. Its mission is to inspire, motivate, and challenge all students to aspire to their highest potential as artists and as human beings through arts immersion studies and community arts advocacy. The CSG is the only performing arts conservatory of its kind in the Pikes Peak region.