THE FANTASTICKS Opens at the Players Club of Swathmore, 1/7

The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater is ringing in the new year with an intimate musical about a girl and a boy - and the Spanish gaucho hired by their fathers to whip up a romance. Theatergoers around the globe have fallen in love with songs like "Try to Remember" and "Soon it's Gonna Rain" in The Fantasticks - coming to the Swarthmore stage starting January 7th.

It's appropriate that The Players Club should choose to produce the world's longest- running musical this season. The club is celebrating its centennial and feeling particularly nostalgic. But in this case, the history goes deeper than the choice of show. The cast features a real-life father and daughter (Charlie Seymour, Jr. of Wallingford and Liz Seymour Serpentine of Brookhaven) in the roles of the play's featured father/daughter combo. But what's even more remarkable is that Liz marks the fifth generation of Seymours to grace the PCS stage!

Director Joseph Southard of Glen Mills and Music Director Michelle Ferdinand have teamed up to put this heartwarming piece on stage. Their cast includes Bob Miller and Darrin Peters of Wilmington, DE; Liz Seymour Serpentine; John Battagliese of West Chester; Charlie Seymour, Jr.; Ron Comer of Swarthmore; Sean Murray of Philadelphia; and Jenna Sharples of Berwyn - and featuring harpist Caitlin Mehrtens of Thornton.

The Fantasticks runs January 7-9, 13-16 and 20-22. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8pm and Sunday matinées are at 2pm. The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater is located just minutes from the Blue Route and I-95, on Fairview Road near Route 320 (Chester Road) in Swarthmore. Tickets are $22 for adults, $21 for seniors and $11 for students (18 and under or college students with ID). All tickets and ticket packages are available at the box office, or may be purchased in advance by visiting www.pcstheater.org or calling 1-866-811-4111 (ticket sales through TheaterMania). For Info or Group Sales: 610-328-4271.

Photo Caption: Charlie Seymour, Jr. of Wallingford, Liz Seymour Serpentine of Brookhaven, John Battagliese of West Chester and Ron Comer of Wallingford.