Town & Gown Season Offers Family Fun

Fairmont State University's Town & Gown Summer Theatre 2009 season features shows about a famous singer, a candy man and some bawdy Romans.

"Always...Patsy Cline" will be performed at 8 p.m. May 29-31 and June 4-6 at Prickett's Fort Amphitheatre. The children's show, "Willy Wonka Junior," will be offered June 12-13 and June 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. and June 14 at 2 p.m. at Wallman Hall Theatre on the main FSU campus. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," will be performed July 10-12 and 15-18 at 8 p.m. at Prickett's Fort Amphitheatre.

For "Always...Patsy Cline" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and $6 for students with ID. For "Willy Wonka Junior," all tickets are $7. To order tickets, call the Box Office at (304) 367-4240.

"In today's economy, we know that it's become more difficult for people to afford to go out to a show," said Peter Lach, Dean of the FSU School of Fine Arts. "Making the fine arts accessible to the community is very important to us. Something new we are doing this summer is offering one date for each show that is 'pay what you can.' Admission on these dates will be by donation at the door."

"Pay What You Can" show dates are May 31 for "Always...Patsy Cline," June 18 for "Willy Wonka Junior" and July 12 for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

"Always...Patsy Cline"

The first production of the Town & Gown season will feature Stephanie Adlington as legendary singer Patsy Cline and Jessica Morgan Bishop as Louise Seger, one of her most enthusiastic fans. Directed by Troy Snyder, the actors will bring to life incidents that happened before, during and after one of Cline's concerts.

The music of Patsy Cline probably needs no introduction, but Louise may be another story. She discovers Patsy Cline in 1957, and she cannot hear enough of the singer's songs. She constantly hounds the local DJ to play and replay Cline's music. A few years later, she goes to a Patsy Cline performance and finds her to be not only a wonderful entertainer, but as Louise says, "...as much us as we were." Most of the dialogue in the show is based on interviews with Louise Seger, the real-life woman who becomes Cline's friend.

In an era where most celebrities maintain an aura of separation from their fans, "Always...Patsy Cline" returns to a time when even a major singing star like Cline traveled alone from concert to concert. Louise discovers that Cline is completely accessible to her fans-so much so that rather than return to her hotel after the show, she spends the night with Louise at her home. The two women immediately become friends and maintain a friendship for the rest of Cline's life.

The action of the play takes place at Louise's kitchen table and at various locations from Patsy Cline's career, including the Grand Ole Opry, the Arthur Godfrey show, The Esquire Ballroom and a Houston radio station. The time is the past (circa 1957-63) to the present. Louise shares her memories of many years ago. Like her memories, Louise is timeless; she exists somewhere in the era of Patsy Cline's short but stellar career. Ted Swindley wrote and originally directed this play.

"Willy Wonka Junior"

Dr. Francene Kirk will direct the Town & Gown Youth Company production of "Willy Wonka Junior," adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Tim McDonald. The show is based on the book "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl.

Dahl's timeless story of the world famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to life in this stage adaptation, which features the songs from the classic family film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The memorable score features "The Candy Man," "Pure Imagination," "Oompa Loompa" and "I Want it Now" by Academy® and Grammy® award winners Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, neatly fitted into a new script adapted under the auspices of the Dahl Estate.

The cast includes the following: Clayton Dunn (Willy Wonka); Christopher Yost (Charlie); Tyler Kovar (Grandpa Joe); Cassidy Thompson (Grandma Georgina); Brady Dunn (Mr. Bucket); Shannon Yost (Mrs. Bucket); Deidra Tobin (Grandma Josephina); Gatsby Rider (Grandpa George); T. Luke Sambol (James); Maddie La Follette (Matilda); Nora Perone (Mrs. Gloop); Danny McNeil (Augustus); Simone Cameon (Veruca Salt); Evan Storm (Mrs. Salt); Will McNeil (Mike Teavee); Lydia Strope (Ms. Teavee); Kailee Latocha (Violet); Claire Marie Tillman (Mrs. Beauregarde) and Madison Moyer (Penelope Trout). Oompa Lompas are Hunter Guire; Christopher Diserio; Leah Michael; Isabella Diserio; Emilee Latocha; Miranda Martin; Franchesca Aloi; Maggie Retton; Sinead Tobin; Cassidy Jones; Mary Grace Tillman; Madeleine Thompson; and Tyler Giorcelli. The Townspeople Dance Ensemble includes: Maddie LaFollette; Olivia Leadman; T. Luke Sambol; Mallory Leadman; Cassidy Rodriguez; Amy Frosch; Liz Barnhart; Natalie Amiano; Ashley Spedding; Kari Keefover; Austin Patterson; Logan Lehosit; Megan Lehosit; Sabrina Dahlia; Bryanna Fleming; Sarah Lemley; and Sierra Frosch.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251-183 BCE), this play tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. This show is suitable for those who are teen-agers and older.

The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another) and satirical comments on social class. Students of historical drama will nod their heads as they watch the production unfold. The title derives from the old Vaudeville line that comedians often used to begin a story: "A funny thing happened on the way to the theatre..."

The cast includes the following: Jason Young (Prologus/Pseudolus); John O'Connor (Senex); Linda O'Connor (Domina); Daniel Crowley (Hero); Steve McElroy (Hysterium); Brandon Bloomfield (Lycus); Anthony Host (Erronius); Leanne Bolyard (Philia); Joshua Brooks (Miles Gloriosus); Bruce McGlumphy and Nick Oliveto (Eunuchs); Sarah Grumblat Young (Tintinabuia); Celi Oliveto (Panacea); Andrea Loss and Sasha Six (The Geminae Twins); Jessica Jirak (Vibrata); Dana Sayre (Gymnasia); Dan Hawkins, Samantha Huffman, Robert Sundin and Lanette Six (Proteans/Soldiers/House of Lycos).

The musical's original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book. Its music and lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim and the book was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Successful revivals of "A Funny Thing Happened..." opened in 1963, London's West End; 1972, Broadway; 1986, the West End again; 1996, Broadway; 2004, London's West End; and 2009 in Hong Kong.

On May 8, 1962, the play opened for its first run at the Alvin Theatre. Directed by George Abbott and produced by Hal Prince, it ran for 964 performances. Among the notable and seasoned actors who were early associated with "A Funny Thing Happened..." were Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Phil Silvers, David Burnes, John Carradine, Ruth MuCock, Raymond Walburn, Brian Davies and Preshy Marker.