Lime Kiln Presents THE FANTASTICKS 5/20-23

Mindbending Productions, the student theatre group of Washington and Lee University, opens the theatre season at Lime Kiln with the charming musical, The Fantasticks, on May 20th-23rd at 7:30pm. Executive Director Kim Renz says this is an important collaboration for Lime Kiln and valuable experience for the students.

"The relationship between Washington and Lee and Lime Kiln began with the very first performance of A Midsummer's Night Dream in 1967, and I am happy to see it continue. This production combines students and community members in a seamless way. They are really enjoying working together."

W&L senior Jenna Worsham is directing The Fantasticks. The graduating theatre student recently directed EuGene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! in W&L's Johnson Theatre. Renz commented on that production: "I was impressed with the approach Jenna took and her innovative staging. She chose to stage it in arena, which is no small challenge, and she equipped herself beautifully. She also showed considerable depth in her work with the cast of local actors and students. My seeing that production increased my confidence in this project."

In the category of "coming full circle," Worsham's father performed the role of El Gallo at Emory University in Atlanta several years ago. Renz said they agreed on this play immediately. "I knew this was an ideal show for us the day I first saw the Kiln, and when Jenna suggested it, I jumped at it. As Jenna is leaving to take on the toughest business in the world, working with professionals like Rob Mish, Dennis DiVito and Larry Evans is a great experience."

The Fantasticks opened in New York City on May 3, 1960 and became the longest running show in musical theater history. This timeless classic, loosely based on the play The Romancers by Edmond Rostand, tells an allegorical story about two neighboring fathers who put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children fall in love, because they know that children always do what their parents forbid. The youths do, in fact, fall in love, and with the help of a couple hired actors and a romantic "lothario," they gain some life experience before being reunited.
Music Director Josh Harvey received his degree in music theory and composition from Washington and Lee University in 2000. As a composer, sound designer, music or assistant music director, he has been involved in over 25 shows, including Little Shop, Secret Garden and Chicago; this is his fifth show for Lime Kiln. He also was part of the 2008 Southern Virginia University production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Lime Kiln.

Larry Evans plays El Gallo, the romantic, likable "villain," who is hired to facilitate the young people's union. Evans has often been seen and heard as a soloist by local audiences, but usually in a different style venue: one that covers a full range of the classical music world - from early twelfth century music to contemporary compositions. His repertoire includes many of the great works of Bach, Handel, and Mozart as well as over thirty operatic roles.

Emily Duvall and Matt Amling portray the two young lovers, Luisa and Matt. Duvall, the only female actor in the show, is a junior biology major at W&L. She played Roxie in the recent production of Chicago and Rose in The Secret Garden in 2009. Amling, a 2009 W&L graduate, played Archie Craven in The Secret Garden and was the sadistic dentist Little Shop of Horrors in 2008. A Bethesda, Maryland resident, he is currently breaking into the Washington, DC theatre scene.
Theatre veterans Dennis DiVito and Rob Mish play the delightfully devious fathers, Bellamy and Hucklebee. DiVito works as an inspector of residential and commercial properties for Apex Home Inspections, LLC and in his one-man woodworking shop designs and custom furniture studio. But his background is full of acting credits, including Dickens in the Lime Kiln production of A Christmas Carol, the Mikado in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and Shannon in Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams. He earned a BFA in theatre from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1976.

Rob Mish, a W&L theatre graduate and professor, as well as executive director of the Lenfest Center, is a major contributor to the arts scene in Rockbridge County. Mish, who recently directed Chicago and The Secret Garden in 2009, stole the show as the insane combination of Van Helsing and Renfield in the Lime Kiln production of Dracula, or How's Your Blood Count? in September.

W&L junior Johnny Coyle plays Henry, the doddering Shakespearean actor, who along with Mortimer, the "Indian," played by freshman Jesse Mozingo, teach the naïve Matt about the "School of Hard Knocks." Coyle, a theatre major, played Rodrigo in Othello and Seymour in Little Shop. Mozingo, who studies religion and the classics, played the title character in the W&L Shakespeare Society production of Henry V.

Dave Curren, also a junior theater major, rounds out the versatile cast as the Mute, who "becomes" scenery, sound effect and whatever else he needs be. Curren recently played the sarcastic and vengeful bartender in Ah, Wilderness! and Vin in Where We're Born, a W&L student original production.

Jeni Pritchett, a sophomore theatre major from McDonough, Georgia, serves as stage manager. She is interning at Lime Kiln this summer and will also work on the upcoming production of Stonewall Country. Technical Director John Lindberg, also an important artistic member of the Lenfest Center Operations at W&L, will oversee sound and lighting.
"Live theatre is an important cultural component of any community. Rockbridge County is blessed with so many places for local actors to train and to perform, from K-12 to the colleges and universities. And Lime Kiln is proud to be part of the equation. Thanks to our sponsor, Kendal at Lexington, for helping make this possible," said Renz.

Tickets are available at the Lexington Visitors Center at 106 East Washington Street, online at theateratlimekiln.com or by phone at 540-473-7088.

Upcoming Theater at Lime Kiln Performances

May 20-23 The Fantasticks 50th Anniversary

Monday, May 31 FAIR at Lime Kiln A Celebration of Arts and Culture

Saturday, June 5 Fatty Lumpkin & The Love Hogs Special Guests Honest Scoundrels

Friday, June 11 Second Helping Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute

Sunday, June 27 Nothin' Fancy Benefit for Rockridge Area Habitat for Humanity

July 1-3 & 8-11 Stonewall Country Featuring Robin & Linda Williams