Photo Flash: THE SECRET GARDEN Comes to New Village Arts Theatre

New Village Arts Theatre presents its winter production of the Tony Award-Winning musical, THE SECRET GARDEN, directed by the award-winning Rosina Reynolds. The production will run from November 3 to December 24.

THE SECRET GARDEN is adapted from the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, with script and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman, and music by Grammy Award-winner Lucy Simon. The play is set in the early twentieth century, and follows Mary Lennox, a young English girl who is orphaned at ten years old. She is sent to live with unknown relatives in Yorkshire, where her personality blossoms as she helps a young gardener bring life to a disheveled and forgotten garden. As the garden grows, her adoptive family learns to overcome their own grief as well, as the ghosts of the past make way for the promise of tomorrow.

Rosina Reynolds directs, returning to New Village Arts after her acclaimed performance in 2016's GOLDA'S BALCONY, for which she won a San Diego Theatre Critic's Circle Craig Noel Award. Reynolds' directing credits include BROKEN GLASS and EDUCATING RITA at North Coast Repertory Theatre, DOOLEY and THE MARRIAGE BED at Diversionary Theatre, and recently, the acclaimed MARGIN OF ERROR with The Roustabouts. She is joined by NVA veteran Tony Houck as Music Director. Houck most recently served as music director for the record-breaking production of BUDDY - THE Buddy Holly STORY; other recent music directing credits include THE 1940s RADIO HOUR and OKLAHOMA! at NVA. Houck will be conducting a string quartet to lend THE SECRET GARDEN a unique musical tone.

THE SECRET GARDEN will feature a number of recurring NVA performers, including Chris Bona as Dickon (OKLAHOMA!), Kevane La'Marr Coleman as Albert (THE 1940s RADIO HOUR, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET), Devin Collins as Ben Weatherstaff and Major Holmes (OKLAHOMA!), Kelly Derouin as Rose (THE 1940s RADIO HOUR, OKLAHOMA!), Manny Fernandes as Dr. Neville Craven (BUDDY, GOD OF CARNAGE, BIG RIVER), Dagmar Krause Fields as Mrs. Medlock (EMILIE), Nadia Guevaraas Ayah (BUDDY, SUMMER AND SMOKE), David S. Humphrey as Archibald Craven (RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET), and Tanner Vidos as Lieutenant Wright (LORD OF THE FLIES). Making their New Village Arts debut are Jacob Farry as Colin, Sara Mahaffey as Mary Lennox, Samantha Rose Steinberg as Lily Craven, and Samantha Vesco as Martha.

THE SECRET GARDEN will also feature several longtime NVA designers, including Bryon Andersen (Sound Designer), Elisa Benzoni (Costume Designer), Curtis Mueller (Lighting Designer), Christopher Scott Murillo (Scenic Designer), and Michelle Stann (Properties Designer), with Nadia Guevara as Choreographer and RosaLee Barrientos serving as Stage Manager.

Tickets: $43 - $46, with discounts available for Seniors, Students, and Active Military. Tickets can be purchased in person at New Village Arts (2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA), online at www.newvillagearts.org, or via phone at 760.433.3245

Photos by Darren Scott.