THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Dances its Way to Kelsey Theatre Today

Everything is thoroughly modern at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC's) Kelsey Theatre as M&M Stage Productions presents "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Dates and times for this fun, flirty, flapper musical are Fridays, July 27 and Aug. 3 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays July 28 and Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, July 29 and Aug. 5 at 2 p.m.

Kelsey Theatre is located on MCCC's West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night show on July 27.

Millie Dillmount has just arrived in New York City direct from Kansas and ready to make her mark. It's 1922, the height of the Jazz Age, and girls are bobbing their hair, raising their hemlines, entering the workforce, and reinventing the rules of romance. Determined to marry a wealthy businessman, Millie finds herself attracted instead to the penniless Jimmy Smith. Meanwhile, Mrs. Meers, the landlady at Millie's dingy hotel for women, has a get-rich scheme of her own and it doesn't bode well for the girls in her stead.

Based on the 1967 Academy Award-winning film, this spirited musical was the winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 2002. With high-energy dance numbers and a vibrant musical score, "Millie" adds up to merry, madcap entertainment.

The cast stars Alicia Stanton of Jenkintown, Pa., as Millie Dillmount; Thomas Coppolecchia of Bordentown as Jimmy Smith; Christina Pullen of New Egypt as Miss Dorothy; Susan Fowler of Langhorne, Pa., as Mrs. Meers; Dan Mucha of Hamilton as Ching Ho; Kaitlyn Young of Robbinsville as Bun Foo; Pat Rounds of Princeton as Trevor Graydon; Toni Richards of Camden as Muzzy Van Hossmere; Jeannine Haight of Pennington as Miss Flannery; and Daniel Montero of Ewing as Rodney.

The ensemble features Lexi Anthony of Princeton Junction, Zachary Benedetti of Ewing, Annie Bryson of Lawrence, Colin Corriveau and Jessica Corriveau of Plainsboro, Nicholas Eldridge of Hamilton, Anna Forebaugh of Haddonfield, Zachary Holzberg of Yardley, Pa., Makenna Katz of West Windsor, Isabella Mayo of Bordentown, Connor McDowell of Levittown, Pa., Julia Ruth Patella of Cranbury, Allison Reed of Yardville, Sarah Reynolds of Swedesboro, Olivia Schanbacher of Yardley, Pa., Sydney Sobkowiak of Yardley, Pa., Audrey Yeager of Hillsborough, and Kaitlyn Young of Robbinsville.

The production team includes Producers Mike DiIorio and Mike Almstedt, Director Mike DiIorio, Assistant Director Matthew Cassidy, Musical Director Pam Sharples, Choreographer Laura Ghaffoor, Costumer Louisa Murey, Lighting Designer Chris Ghaffoor and Sound Designer Evan Paine.

Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for seniors; and $16 for students/children. Tickets may be purchased online at www.KelseyTheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the theater. For a list of upcoming events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office.

Photo by John Maurer