Hillbarn Theatre to Open 75th Anniversary Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

Hillbarn Theatre, the Peninsula's premier theatre company, kicks off its 75th Anniversary season with Broadway's greatest farce, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. A light, fast-paced, witty, and irreverent performance, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from the time-tested comedies of Roman playwright Plautus to the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. Stephen Sondheim's classic and comedic musical is a non-stop laugh-fest in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan named Philia, for his young master Hero in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors, and a showgirl or two. The winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will run August 27 - September 20, 2015 at Hillbarn Theatre (1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City). Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Press night for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be Friday, August 28, 2015. Single tickets range in price from $25 - $48 and are available now by calling 650.349.6411 ext. 2 or visiting www.hillbarntheatre.org.

Says Hillbarn Theatre Executive Artistic Director Dan Demers: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is musical comedy at its best! The wildly comedic cast is raising the bar even higher in celebration of our 75th Anniversary Season. There will certainly be 'something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone!'"

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum features an ensemble cast of 17 actors led by David Blackburn as Hero, Dan Demers as Pseudolus, Ali Gangi as Philia and Ray Mendonca* as Hysterium. Joining them are Christine Baker, Russ Bohard, Tracy Chiappone, Paige Collazo, Gary Giurbino, Ron Lopez, Brigitte Losey, Amanda Ross, Brad Satterwhite, Jon Schneider, Meena Shayesteh, Russell Ward and Allison Zenke.

Co- directed by Dan Demers and Jim Ambler, the creative team for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum includes music director Matt Mattei, choreographer Jim Ambler, stage manager Amanda Roccuzzo, scenic designer Kuo-Hao Lo, lighting designer Don Coluzzi, master electrician Aya Matsutomo, costume designer Mae Matos, sound designer Alan Chang, properties designer Rosie Issel and master builder Steve Nyberg.

Hillbarn Theatre's production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is made possible by The Buljan Group. Hillbarn Theatre would like to acknowledge its 2015-16 company sponsors: Foster City Islander, Peninsula Beauty, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Rotary Foundation and Penelope's Coffee & Tea.

* Member of Actors Equity Association