ActorsNET to Present MEET ME IN ST LOUIS, 12/4-20

Meet Me in St. Louis - the beloved M.G.M. musical - promises to sparkle this holiday season onstage at the Heritage Center Theatre in Morrisville.

Packed with such musical favorites as "The Trolley Song," "The Boy Next Door," the title song, and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Meet Me in St. Louis tells the tale of the Smith family. As their city prepares for the 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair, Mr. Smith announces he is being transferred to New York City - causing upsets throughout his brood. The most dire? His oldest daughters, Rose and Esther, fear their loves lives will be ruined!

Performing weekends Dec. 4 - 20, Meet Me in St. Louis has songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and a book by Hugh Wheeler. Its charming depiction of young love and family solidarity includes all the memorable scenes from the film. Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski of Trenton, New Jersey directs and choreographs. Matt South of Croydon, Pennsylvania is musical director, leading a live orchestra. Julie McMillan of Morrisville stage manages.

"This sweet musical brings to life the Smith family," the director said. "You'll meet Alonso, the strong and practical father; Anna, the loving and supportive mother; wise old Grandpa Prophater; Katie, the irascible Irish housekeeper; and the Smith children: fun-loving, college-bound son, Lon; the lovestruck eldest daughters, Rose and Esther; and the mischievous youngest daughters, Tootie and Agnes.

Kimmy Graham of Yardley, Pennsylvania stars as Esther Smith alongside Scott and Rose Karlin of Yardley as Alonso and Anna Smith; Joy Woffindin of Lambertville, New Jersey as Rose; Charlotte Goughter of Newtown, Pennsylvania as Tootie; Tom Smith of Morrisville as Lon; and Abby Rose Muzyk of Mount Laurel, New Jersey as Agnes.

Costarring are Mort Paterson of Philadelphia as Grandpa Prophater; Susan Blair of Philadelphia as housekeeper Katie; Charlie Gormley of Morrisville as John Truitt, Esther's love interest; and Matt Dalton of Bordentown, New Jersey as Warren Sheffield, Rose's beau.

The ensemble includes (alphabetically) Dallas Andrews of Croydon; Natalie Chernicoff of Newtown; Shane Howell of Yardley; Griffin and Jocelyn Kemp of Morrisville; Caitrin McLean of Yardley; Jessica Mousley of Langhorne, Pennsylvania; Isaiah Rodriguez of Levittown; Hayley Rubins-Topoleski of Trenton (who also is the show's producer); and Laura Young of Levittown.

A complimentary wine and cheese party follows the opening night performance on December 4.

Meet Me in St. Louis performs weekends, Dec. 4 - 20at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), in Morrisville, PA -- across from the Calhoun Street Bridge. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is a special matinee Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. Admission for all performances is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+), $15 for students and WHYY card holders; and $10 for children age 12 and younger. Discounts are available for prepaid groups of ten or more.

Reservations or information are available by phone at 215-295-3694, or by visiting the ActorsNET web site at www.actorsnetbucks.org.