Little Theatre Presents “The Fantasticks” and Seeks Production Staff for “West Side Story”

Rich in imagery and lyrical appeal, The Fantasticks burst onto the stage in 1960 and lead its audience into a world where “leaves waxed green and vines entwined like lovers”. So universal was the appeal of this simple, elegant musical that it became the world’s longest running musical spanning over four decades. On June 1, The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre will conclude its current season with a revival of this magical show.

The Fantasticks follows the scheming of two fathers (Paul Winarski & Greg Korin) who attempt to spark a romance between their children Luisa (Jennifer Wascavage) and Matt (David Baloga) by faking a feud. The fathers enlist the aide of an enigmatic, jack-of-all-trades swashbuckler, El Gallo (Michael Rahl), only to add an unexpected tangle to their matchmaking web. This bewitching musical, directed and staged by Dawn Winarski, introduced such timeless songs as Try to Remember, Soon its Gonna Rain and They Were You.

No stranger to The Fantasticks, Winarski played the role of Luisa in Little Theatre’s 1990 production of the play and previously staged the show for Showcase Theatre in 1999. Musical Direction is by Linda Orseck, Choreography by Jody Kocher based on original concepts by Sean T. Harris, and Technical Direction and Set Design by Joseph Sheridan. Others in the cast include Chas Beleski as Henry, an aging melodramatic actor, Tom Tomeo as his Cockney sidekick Mortimer and Molly Kurlandski as The Mute.

Show dates for The Fantasticks are June 1, 2, 8, and 9 at 8:00 pm and June 3 & 10 at 3:00 pm. The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is located at 537 N. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703. Tickets for the production are $15.00 and reservations can be made by calling the box office at 570-823-1875.

Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is seeking applicants for the production staff of West Side Story. Performance dates are September 7, 8, 9 14, 15 and 16, 2007. Slots are available for director, musical director, choreographer, technical director and costumer. Please provide a letter of interest and a theatrical resume. You may reply to this email with an attachment or mail a hard copy to Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, P.O. Box One, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0001. Our deadline for submissions is Friday, June 15.