Florida Rep Presents 'Forum' with Hanan & Ullman

Florida Repertory Theatre is proud to announce the opening of Broadway's nine-time Tony Award-winning musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum starring Tony Nominated actor, Stephen Mo Hanan. Forum opens at the Historic Arcade Theatre on Friday, February 15 and runs through March 16, 2008

The zany streets of Ancient Rome come alive in this musical farce, which features some of Stephen Sondheim's most memorable songs including "Comedy Tonight" and "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid." With its unforgettable characters and witty book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been delighting audiences for more than forty years!

In addition to his 1983 Tony Nominated performance in the original, groundbreaking company of Cats (Asparagus), Hanan has appeared on Broadway as Captain Hook opposite Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan, as Fagin in Oliver! with Patti LuPone, in The Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline and the London cast of Les Miserables as Thenardier.

Joining Hanan in the cast is Douglas Ullman, Jr. who will be playing the role of Hero. Ullman comes to Florida Rep following an extended run Off-Broadway in The Fantasticks. Ullman was the original Mute in the 2006 revival directed by Tom Jones, and later took over the role of Matt.

Forum's wacky ensemble also features Florida Rep regulars Jason Parrish, Mark Chambers, Aaron Lake, Michelle Damato and Margot Moreland, as well as New York actors, Bob Del Pazzo, Brian Bailey, Taela Naomi, Christina Lynn Phillips and Jessica Vacarro with Lissen Ellington out of Palm Beach, Amy Marie McCleary and John Brothers from Fort Myers and Florida Rep interns Alesia Lawson, Rachel Lomax and John Warren.

Robert Cacioppo is directing the production and leading another expert team of designers including set designer Richard Crowell (Rainmaker, To Kill a Mockingbird) and Stones in His Pockets' Graham Kindred is back again this season to design the lighting. Florida Rep resident costume designer, Roberta Malcolm will oversee the costumes that were worn on Broadway in the 1996 revival starring Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg.

Terry Hanson is serving as music director, and is joined by Rep regular Artie D'Alessio (Dream, Fascinatin' Gershwin) as choreographer.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum plays at Florida Repertory Theatre from February 15 to March 16. Performances are Tues. – Sat. at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on Wed., Sun. and selected Saturdays with a Twilight Performance at 7pm on Sunday, Feb. 17.

Florida Repertory Theatre is located on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District. Subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Box Office (239.332.4488), or visit Florida Rep online at www.floridarep.org

Douglas Ullman, Jr. and Stephen Mo Hanan

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