Town & Gown Theatre Presents "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in June
Mark Twain’s tale of a mischievous boy growing up in the American heartland comes to life as the Fairmont State University Town & Gown Theatre presents “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (photo gallery) in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the campus of Fairmont State University.
Tickets for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: The Broadway Musical” are $10 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (304) 367-4240. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. June 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. June 15.
Set in 1840s Missouri, the story is plucked straight from Twain’s novel. The musical was written by Ken Ludwig, the author of “Lend Me a Tenor,” and the music and lyrics are by Don Schlitz. The show is directed by Troy Snyder, and the music director is R.J. Nestor. Tyler Kovar, a recent Fairmont State graduate, is the choreographer, and FSU Theatre major Bekah Watson is the costumer.
Tom (played by Andy Shaw) matches wits with his Aunt Polly (Loree Houghton), and lives in a world of real and imaginary adventure with his friend Huck Finn (Gary Hayes), and the girl of his dreams, Becky Thatcher (Kailee Latocha). In a scene pulled directly from the novel, Tom is ordered to whitewash the fence by Aunt Polly as a punishment for tricking the schoolmaster (Tyler Kovar) to the amusement of his goody-goody half-brother Sid (Josh Straub). "The
Tom and Huck look for adventure in a local graveyard when they come upon Injun Joe, a local troublemaker (Geoff Coyle), Doc Robinson (Clayton Dunn) and Muff Potter (Scott Brian Higgs), a local vagrant, who is digging a grave. A fight breaks out over money and Tom and Huck, hidden behind a gravestone, witness a murder.
Also in the cast are Shawn Dunn, John O’Connor, Kathy Dunn, David Shaver, Brady Dunn, Tyler Giorcelli, Sarah Lemley, Maddie LaFollette, Shannon Yost, M. Lanette Six, Laura Hooper, Dani DeVito, Jatanna Bolyard, Emma Hooper, Hannah Straub, Sinead Tobin, Hannah Hill, Anthony Edmond, Gabe Radcliff, Will Wright, Brandon Rose, Kirt Drennen, Louis Higgins, Billy Tobin, Wesley Cotter, Dominic Mansuetto, Caroline Maxwell, Sophia Flower, Sydney King, Alexa Morgan and Paris Thomas.
(Read more: Local Families act Together in "Adventures of Tom Sawyer")
“Fairmont State has been producing theatre in the summer since 1960. While we usually do a big summer show out at Prickett’s Fort, this summer we’re doing the show here on campus. We hope to be back out at the Fort next summer. Presenting ‘Tom Sawyer’ continues the 50 plus-year tradition with a show for the whole family. The music is a mix of pop ballads, country and bluegrass, and it’s a lot of fun. We’ve had great success presenting plays that are based on the works of great authors. Our recent productions of ‘Our Town,’ ‘Rocket Boys’ and ‘Little Women’ were well received, and we hope the community will enjoy this play based on another American classic,” Snyder said.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: The Broadway MusicalSchool of Fine ArtsTheatreTroy SnyderR.J. NestorTyler KovarBekah WatsonAndy ShawLoree HoughtonGary HayesKailee LatochaJosh StraubGeoff CoyleClayton DunnScott Brian HiggsShawn DunnKathy DunnDavid ShaverBrady DunnTyler GiorcelliSarah LemleyMaddie LaFolletteShannon YostM. Lanette SixLaura HooperDani DeVitoJatanna BolyardEmma HooperHannah StraubSinead TobinHannah HillAnthony EdmondGabe RadcliffWill WrightBrandon RoseKirt DrennenLouis HigginsBilly TobinWesley CotterDominic MansuettoCaroline MaxwellSophia FlowerSydney KingAlexa MorganParis Thomas
