PLAIN AND FANCY to Open 31st Season at The Round Barn Theatre

Plain and Fancy will begin its 31st Anniversary season at The Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres on Wednesday, May 24th at 8:00. With over 3,700 performances before more than 355,000 patrons, it has become one of the longest running musicals anywhere.

Plain and Fancy tells the heartwarming tale of a sophisticated New York couple that experiences a glimpse of life and love on an Amish farm. Written by Joseph Stein of Fiddler on the Roof, Plain and Fancy opened on Broadway in 1955 where it ran for 462 performances. Since then, The Round Barn Theatre has become its national home with more performances than the original Broadway runs of Hello, Dolly!, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man and only 200 fewer performances than Fiddler on the Roof.

More than 500 actors have performed Plain and Fancy since its debut at Amish Acres in 1986 where it played with only four cast members and a single piano on the small stage in a constructed replica of the Old Locke Township Meeting House. It ran for six seasons in the space before moving to The Round Barn Theatre in 1992. From its humble beginning, The Round Barn Theatre has grown into a major regional resident musical repertory theatre producing over 100 plays and musicals over the past 21 years. "The evolution of Plain and Fancy at Amish Acres could be the material for a play itself," said Richard Pletcher, founder/CEO of Amish Acres and producer of The Round Barn Theatre. "It has fostered the creation of a performing arts family that has enriched our visitors' experience and the surrounding community."

Plain and Fancy has a fresh, new interpretation every season as different actors from across the country join Round Barn alumni to interpret Joseph Stein's characters in their own unique way. The 31st Anniversary production will be directed by Round Barn Theatre Artistic Director, Amber Burgess and features many new and returning faces. Newcomer Mikaela Brielle joins takes the stage to play Ruth Winters. Plain and Fancy alumni, Ryan Schisler , Don Hart, and David Goins will reprise their roles as Dan King, Isaac Miller, and Papa Yoder, respectively. A handful of RBT favorites are returning to stage, but performing in Plain and Fancy for the first time. Ian Connor plays Ezra Reber, Lauren Morgan is Hilda Miller, Katherine Barnes plays Emma Miller. Kristin Brintnall plays Katie, and Nappanee native, Martin Flowers will be playing Peter Reber. In addition, Bremen fifth grader, Amelia Lowry will be playing Sarah Miller.

Plain and Fancy will be translated by American Sign Language interpreters during the matinee performance on May 27th at 2pm. Assisted listening devices are available for all performances. Please inform the box office if accommodation is needed.

Plain and Fancy runs through October 14th and theatre tickets can be combined with Amish Acres family style Threshers Dinner or a special Theme Dinner served on Friday, May 26th at a savings. Plain and Fancy runs in repertory with Legally Blonde, Guys and Dolls, and Sister Act. The Round Barn Theatre will present the murder mystery play The Mousetrap during Fall Harvest Days in October, and the 2017 season will conclude with Disney's The Little Mermaid. A complete show schedule, ticket availability, and reservations can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 800-800-4942 ext. 2 or online at www.amishacres.com.