The
Fantasticks
Book
& Lyrics by Tom
Jones
Music By
Harvey Schmidt
November 6 - 22, 2009
The Newtowne Players will present the longest running, most produced
musical in the history of American theater, The Fantasticks by Tom
Jones and Harvey Schmidt. This classic tale of romance, family feud
and daring rescue has delighted family audiences for generations.
However, as one young couple learns, not everything is as simple as
it appears. In fact, very little is truly as expected. But those are
the lessons that come after experience, which this tale proves to
tell. Fortunately, true love rules as the couple passes through the
seasons of romance, loss, triumph and joy.
We are led through the story by El Gallo (played by Robert Rausch)
who is part narrator, part showman, and part expert on human
behavior. Assisted by a Mute (played by Rebecca DeLorme), he
introduces us to Matt (Ryan Hancock) and Luisa (Kari Jo Tiede), their
fathers (played by Steve Fogle and Larry Silvestro), and then proceeds
to enter the story himself to help bring plans together. To this end,
he also employs a couple of aging actors (portrayed by Jack
Williamson and Dave Bayles) to fill in for "real" villains. After
all, you can't have a hero without villains.
Unknown to the young couple, their fathers have plans for them, too.
A whirlwind journey ensues, in which the ringmaster, El Gallo, tutors
young and old alike when love and trust are challenged, and real
dangers are exposed. Eventually Matt, Luisa and their fathers learn
that one cannot fully appreciate a victory that is too easily won, or
a love that has never been tested.
Best known among the musical numbers in this show is El Gallo's
theme song, "Try to Remember". The show, like the song, invites us to
recall the zest of youth and, eventually, the passing of innocence.
The Fantasticks will play Thursdays through Sundays from November
6th through the 22nd at Three Notch Theatre (across from the post
office) in Lexington Park. Show times are 8 pm on Thursday through
Saturday nights, and 3:30 pm on Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Adults,
$15 for Senior/Student/Military, and $13 for children under 12. All
seats are $13 on Thursday nights, and group rates are also available
(call the ticket line and leave a message for rates and information).
Click here to
make your reservations!
THE DIRECTOR
Kerry Robinson
This is Kerry's latest show as a director for
The Newtowne Players with The Fantasticks. His
other
NTP directorial credits include The
Foreigner, Cheaters, Dancing at Lughnasa,
Bedroom Farce, and Crimes of
the Heart. He began working with the organization in 2003, is
a founding member who has served on the Executive Council, and is
currently NTP’s Production Manager.
Previous credits include directing for the St. Mary’s County Parks and
Recreation Department and St. Mary’s College (where he also studied
theater), and working as Assistant Technical Director for The Barns at
Wolf Trap (Vienna, Virginia), and lighting designer at Baird Auditorium
(Smithsonian Institution) and Church Street Theatre in Washington,
D.C., after jobbing his way up through the (non-union) theatrical ranks
as a carpenter, electrician, stagehand, and circus roustabout.
Since leaving the world of paid theater work, Kerry lent his talents to
Great Mills High School, the St. Mary’s County Parks and Recreation
Department, Historic St. Mary’s City, and St. Maries Musica, before
devoting all his efforts to The Newtowne Players, whom he thanks for
the opportunity and wishes many years of continued success!
THE CAST
Kari Jo Tiede as Luisa
Kari
Jo Tiede (Luisa) Kari is excited to be making her debut performance
with The Newtowne Players as Luisa in The
Fantasticks.
This is not however, her first time on stage. While in college she
was in The
Who's Tommy
(Mrs. Walker), The
Triumph of Love (Princess
Leonide), I
Married An Angel
(Valerie), and Kindertransport
(Eva), among others. She graduated from Bethany
College in West
Virginia in 2008 and currently works for NavAir as
a Financial
Management Analyst. She's always loved singing and acting and hopes
to continue to take part in community theatre in the
future.
Ryan Hancock as Matt
Ryan
Hancock (Matt) Ryan is thrilled to be performing with community
theatre for the first time and excited that it is with The Newtowne
Players’ production of The
Fantasticks. He
is a Junior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland pursuing a degree
in Economics and minors in Music and Political Science. He is a
member of the college’s Chamber Choir, the College Choir, and
studies voice there. In high school, he starred in three musicals at
Chopticon including Dauntless in Once
Upon a Mattress,
the Purser in Anything
Goes,
and Jeffrey in Godspell.
His aspirations include attending law school and continuing his
pursuit of musical theatre. Ryan would like to thank Mrs. Trautman
for encouraging him since sixth grade and his family for all of their
love and support for anything he puts his mind to.
Rebecca DeLorme as The Mute
Rebecca
DeLorme (The Mute) Since The Newtowne Player’s second season, Rebecca
has fallen for an Opera Star and dumped, been Murdered and
Returned, Poisoned by Vichyssoise but still Loved, and had her fifth
birthday! Her most recent role as Sylvia in Sylvia
gave
her the opportunity to play her favorite character, a dog.
She
is very excited to be a part of the cast for The
Fantasticks
and her fiancé Mark gives Kerry Robinson a pat on the back for
finding a way to keep her quiet...if only for a little while!
Much
love and thanks for the support goes to Mark, Daphne, Sabrina, 7
Bridesmaids, Family and Charles Alderton (for inventing Dr.Pepper).
Larry Silvestro as Hucklebee
Larry
Silvestro (Hucklebee) This is Larry's third appearance on the Three
Notch Theatre's stage. He was previously seen in The Newtowne
Players’ (NTP) award-winning production of The
Dining Room,
in March 2008 and in several roles during NTP's production of
original one-act plays back in June of this year. Beyond NTP, he has
performed with Port Tobacco Players (PTP) (Beauty
and the Beast),
Patuxent Playhouse (Twelve
Angry Men),
and First Players of Hyattsville (Fiddler
On the Roof,
Cinderella).
Larry currently resides in Leonardtown, MD with his beautiful wife of
36 years, Ginny. They have six children (four of whom have been
involved in PTP productions) and four grandchildren. He thanks Kerry
and Diane for giving him "another" opportunity to sing on
the Three Notch Theatre's stage. And, he especially thanks Ginny, for
supporting “his habit”!
Robert K. Rausch as El Gallo
Robert
K. Rausch (El Gallo) Robert is a Nationally Registered Music
Educator. For 35 years he was a teacher, vocal/instrumental
performer, and Conductor/Director for church choirs, community
choruses/bands. He retired in 2007 from Charles County Public
Schools. He received the “Maryland Outstanding Arts Educator”
award, and was accepted six times into Who's
Who Among American Teachers.
He returned to his theatrical roots in 2008, performing with
the Port Tobacco Players: Fagin (Oliver!),
Senator Wingwoah (Best
Little Whorehouse in Texas) and
Reverend Hooker (Dearly
Departed).
He thanks Kerry and Diane for trusting him with the role of El Gallo,
and the opportunity to work with an outstanding cast, crew and
production team. Robert lives in Waldorf, with supportive wife Diane,
and Dalmatian son Kasper. He dedicates this
performance
to his mother, Joan Rausch, present at his last appearance as El
Gallo (Coastal Playhouse, Beaufort, NC) in 1968.
David Bayles as Mortimer
David
Bayles (Mortimer) Dave has been performing on stage in and around
Southern Maryland Since 1998. This is Dave's 5th production with
The Newtowne Players (NTP). Previous NTP roles include Oscar Madison
(The
Odd Couple),
Owen Musser (The
Foreigner)
and David (one act Morning
Coffee).
Dave also directed NTP's last season's hit musical Return
to the Forbidden Planet.
Other
stage favorites: Scrooge (A
Christmas Carol)
with Port Tobacco Players (PTP), Mr. MacAfee (Bye
Bye Birdie)
with PTP, Herbie (Gyps)
with
PTP and as six different characters in the Stageworks production of
Ragtime.
Dave has also been in the orchestra Pit for several shows
including Little
Shop of Horrors,
Honk,
Schoolhouse Rock Live
and The
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Dave holds down a day job with the Charles County
Department of Health and resides in Mechanicsville with his wonderful
supportive wife Cheryl and their three "furry" kids,
Sammie, Abby and Gracie. Thanks Kerry for letting me be a part of
this "Fantastick" cast and crew. ILYC
Steve Fogle as Bellomy
Steve
Fogle (Bellomy) Steve is playing the role of Bellomy for the second
time. (The first was twenty years ago with Actors Company Theatre).
Most recently, he played the role of Max Reinhardt in NTP's
production of Shakespeare
in Hollywood.
Some of Steve's favorite roles have been Roger Sherman in 1776,
Teddy Brewster in Arsenic
and Old Lace,
Warren in On
a Clear Day...,
and Sir Andrew in Twelfth
Night.
Steve resides in Lusby with his lovely wife Jill and his beautiful
and talented daughter Jessany.
THE PRODUCTION CREW
Gloria Ranta
(Production Manager)
Gloria’s early
experience in theater
was in high school and college. While her love of theater never
left, she left theater to pursue a career in teaching, raising 3
children, and a second career in computer science. Now retired, her
love of theater has drawn her back. She joined a small theater group
at the Loffler Senior Center a couple of years ago and has played
several roles there. This experience gave her the courage to join
The Newtowne Players. She started as an usher, and has served as an
understudy, stage manager and prop master. She has had a few roles
in front of the lights as well, primarily in One Act venues here at
Newtowne. This is her first experience as Production Manager (thanks
Kerry for providing the opportunity.) and is delighted to be working
with an excellent cast and crew here at Newtowne. She thanks her
husband Marv for putting up with her love of theater.
Diane
Trautman (Music Director)
This is Diane’s
first time to be
involved with The Newtowne Players and she is really happy to be
working with such a professional group of people. She has recently
retired after teaching 33 years at Margaret Brent Middle School.
While she was teaching, she directed her own musical every year and
also was music director for numerous musicals at Chopticon, Great
Mills, and Leonardtown High Schools, and for “A, My Name is Alice”
at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In her spare time, she directs
the music at the Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park, directs a
barbershop group at CSM, and enjoys her grandchildren, Hayley,
Nathan, and Sam. She has loved doing The Fantasticks –
especially
because she has had the opportunity to work again with her former
students, Ryan and Becca!
- Anne
Schwartz (Stage Mgr.)
- Dave
Groupe (Ltg. Design)
- Mallory
Green (Asst SM)
- Amie
Gilligan (Props Master)
- Millie
Coryer-Dhu (Costumer)
- Stacey
Park (Graphic Artist)
- Karen
Maynard (Make-Up Artist)
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updated on 04 November 2009
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