THE FANTASTICKS to Bring Family Friendly Holiday Fare to The Eagle Theatre

The 2017 season comes to an end as Eagle Theatre serves up family friendly holiday fair with the world's longest running musical, THE FANTASTICKS.

Since 2012, Hammonton's own regional theatre has been home to a multitude of full-scale World Premieres and re-conceptualized Broadway caliber revivals. However, the upcoming musical's star-crossed lovers, played by two out of town performers, claim that this time, South Jersey's only year-round professional Equity theatre has pulled out all the stops.

THE FANTASTICKS is an endearing, romantic family musical about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. Loosely based on the play The Romancers (Les Romanesques) by Edmond Rostand, the musical follows two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud. Set in a world of moonlight and magic, this classic musical teaches us about life, love, and the lessons learned along the way. Written in 1960 by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, the show's original Off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical.

THE FANTASTICKS' ingénue is played by Morgan Smith, a New York based actress. Smith states, "Performing regionally gives you the opportunity to spend some time in a different atmosphere. Hammonton has proven itself to be particularly charming and peaceful! I'm so happy to be here, especially during the fall and winter. The leaves are turning and this town seems to really celebrate the change in season -- I've only been here a matter of weeks and I've already been to several community events, including a parade."

The poetic book and breezy, inventive score, including such familiar songs as "Try to Remember", helped put the show on the map. Many productions have since followed the 1960s hit, including a television and film version.

"Being back in Hammonton, I feel like I've never left. I'm happy to be back, especially this beautiful time of year," states South Carolina native Justin Mazzella. "This is actually the third birthday in a row that I will be performing a show in Hammonton during this beautiful season. Such is the life of a transient actor, but it gives great opportunities to travel and work in different places for a refreshing change of scenery, and the Eagle is just that. I couldn't think of a better, fun, sweet, and light-hearted show to do for the holiday season. Our production is coming with its own take on a timeless classic by reviving it with the realities of what growing, falling in love, and being a family is truly about. I hope our show is a part of your holiday season as well."

THE FANTASICKS has also become a staple of regional theatre since its premiere, with approximately 250 new productions each year. The show was revived off-Broadway from 2006 to 2017. As of 2010, its original investors had earned 240 times their original investments. The musical has played throughout the US and in at least 67 foreign countries. It was awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1991.

Smith concluded, "THE FANTASTICKS is a perfect show to put on this time of year. It talks a lot about the fall, renewal, and the change of season reflecting the different phases of life. I've always loved this show. It's timeless and classic, and truly for everyone -- people of all ages can enjoy it. It touches upon a number of universal themes -- new love, lost love, coming of age, family -- it's very poignant, and beyond that, it's funny! In my opinion, it doesn't get better than this."

THE FANTASTICKS opens November 10th and runs till December 10th. Eagle Theatre anticipates its season finale to hit record-breaking sales records.

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IF YOU GO:

THE FANTASTICKS
by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones

Directed by Ed Corsi
Musical Direction by Jason Neri

Runs November 10th - December 10th
Wednesday & Thursday | 7:30pm
Friday & Saturday | 8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday | 3:00pm Matinee

*Take note of our added Saturday Matinee Performances - 2nd and 4th week of each production run
*Talkback Sessions on every Thursdays of the run.
*Additional Please Touch Performance on the final Thursday of the run.

At The Eagle Theatre, 208 Vine Street, Hammonton, NJ 08037

Runtime: 2 Hours

General Admission: Tickets - $20 - $40
Tickets can be purchased at www.eagletheatre.org
Or contact the box office at 609-704-5012.

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:

THE FANTASTICKS - COMPANY:
El Gallo: Tim Rinehart
Matt (The Boy): Justin Mazzella
Luisa (The Girl): Morgan Smith
Henry (The Old Actor): Leonard C. Haas*
Mortimer: Shamus Hunter McCarty*
Bellomy (The Girl's Father): Paul Weagraff
Hucklebee (The Boy's Father): David Nikolas

THE FANTASTICKS - UNDERSTUDIES:
Matt (The Boy): John DeFerdinando
Luisa (The Girl): Victoria Mozitis
Henry, Bellomy (The Girl's Father),
Mortimer, Hucklebee (The Boy's Father): Ernie Jewell

THE FANTASTICKS DESIGN TEAM:

Director/Co-Artistic Director: Ed Corsi+^
Co-Artistic Director: Ted Wioncek III+
Production Stage Manager: Becca Kestel*
Musical Direction by Jason Neri

Choreographer: Catlin Catonella
Technical Director: Ernie Jewell
Assistant Technical Director: Peter Smith
Light Design: Chris Miller
Costume Design: Ashleigh Poteat
Scenic Design: Corsi, Miller
Sound Design: David Pierron
Scenic Artist: Brooke Galezniak
Video Production: Brian Morris

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the U.S.
+Member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
^Member of The Casting Society of America

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Eagle Theatre, South Jersey's only year-round Professional Equity Theatre, is dedicated to redefining regional theatre. The theatre produces more than 160 live performances each year, including full-scale Broadway caliber World Premieres and re-conceptualized revivals; New Works Development Series play readings; a traveling Theatre for Youth Audiences program, specializing in providing arts education to schools in under served communities; an Annual Fringe Festival, a 3-day street fair and theatrical marathon, featuring multiple eclectic productions, a beer and wine garden, pop-up art, food, live music, and street performers; and Eagle Theatre Conservatory, a year-round tuition based theatrical institute for all ages and levels of professionalism.

This award-winning culturally diverse epicenter boasts state of the art technical equipment, a free double parking lot, Sharrott Winery's on-site Wine Lounge, and is located within walking distance of several boutiques and acclaimed dining destinations in beautifully revitalized Downtown Hammonton, serving patrons from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and beyond.

Eagle Theatre originally opened its doors in 1914 as a silent movie theatre. The theatre was restored in 2009 to serve as a performing arts center. Since the reopening, Eagle Theatre has quickly grown into a nationally recognized non-profit producing organization.

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