THE SECRET GARDEN Set to Open at Towne Centre Theatre Friday

The musical theater version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden opens this Friday night at Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre in a new production directed by First Night Star Award winner Tim Larson. The Secret Garden features a book by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon.

Larson, highly regarded in the Nashville area for taking large-scale Broadway musicals to smaller stages with mostly volunteer performers to create memorable theatre experiences for local audiences, says The Secret Garden is one of his favorite musicals.

"Since I saw this show in New York in 1991 I fell in love with it," Larson explains. "Even though it veers from the book a bit, it does a great job of capturing the Victorian children's story that is rooted in enduring symbols of growth, self-sufficiency and moral triumph that cuts across generations and has become a musical classic for all ages."

Set in the early 20th century, The Secret Garden tells the story of 11-year-old Mary Lenox (played by Faith Dengate), who is orphaned in India and returns to Yorkshire, England, to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate's many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with compelling melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden's compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.

While there are several popular, long-running musicals about orphans (Annie and Oliver! are prime example), The Secret Garden adds its haunting story and ghostly elements to a lush score that demands strong vocal talent to be successful onstage.

"I think this is a great show to direct at Towne Centre as it will bring the audience right into Misselthwaite Manor, its haunted rooms, gardens and, finally, the Secret Garden," Larson suggests. "The musical score although quite complex is one of the best that I have heard."

Under the musical direction of John Ray, the Towne Centre cast includes a bevy of local talent rising to the show's musical challenges. Besides Dengate, the cast includes Katharine Boettcher (Lily), Mary Corby (Mrs. Medlock), NoaH Clark (Dr. Neville Craven), Maya Riley (Martha Sowerby), Kyle Pierce (Archibald Craven), Connor Richardson (Dickon Sowerby), Sam Holt (Colin Craven) and Brian Best (Ben Weatherstaff).

The cast also includes several younger performers between ages nine and 15,who will be more prominently featured throughout the performance - a change from some earlier productions of the show.

"I added youth "Dreamers" because I wanted to convey that people of all ages were part of Mary's past and may have lived at Misselethwaite Manor throughout the years," he says

Larson is a proponent of non-traditional casting in order to create diversity among the characters in many shows he directs, including The Secret Garden.

"We have a cast of 28 performers, ranging in age from nine-years-old and up," Larson says. "Many have vast experience in musical theatre, a few are new to the stage, but all we cast in this show have great talent and I am excited to work with them."

The Secret Garden premiered on Broadway in 1991 and ran for 709 performances. It won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical; the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.

Tickets to The Secret Garden may be purchased online at www.townecentretheatre.tix.com or by calling (615) 221-1174. Thursday, Friday and Saturday curtain is at 8 p.m., with Sunday shows at 2:30 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $16 for students, $18 for military and seniors 60 and over, and $20 for adults. Towne Centre Theatre is located at 136 Frierson Street in Brentwood.