A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
2017 Community Show April 20-30
Port Dover, ON (March 31, 2017): Lighthouse Festival Theatre is back to presenting big musicals for their 7th annual Community Show with Stephen Sondheim’s riotously funny, Tony award winning hit A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. Sondheim’s first musical has played around the world since 1962 and Lighthouse is thrilled to finally put it on in Port Dover.
Artistic Director Derek Ritschel will direct the ensemble, with music direction by Michelle and Tony Proracki and professional choreography by Kiri-Lynn Muir. The cast is comprised of 19 talented local actors spanning across Norfolk and Haldimand County.
“The community show is one of my favourite parts of the year, it didn’t exist when I started eight years ago,” Ritschel shares. “Each year it continues to be the most honest, joy-filled rehearsal hall one could possibly hope for.” The actors, creative team and numerous volunteers have all been working on the show since January.
“I think what they’re doing is remarkably brave, to not just do a show but to sing and dance and act and do it all in under 3 months is nothing short of impressive to me,” Ritschel continues. “Each actor gets to shine in their own way and express themselves artistically.”
The show consists of over a dozen professionally choreographed musical numbers, countless lines to memorize and numerous costume changes. 19 actors will perform on stage, and over 15 volunteers behind the scenes helping bring this enormous production to life. The costume design is a mix between Lighthouse volunteers and Stratford Festival Theatre, who produced the show last year.
“Theatre is about community and telling stories and sharing with your neighbours,” Ritschel explains.
Lighthouse Festival Theatre is a registered charity and will invest the revenues of the community show into the ongoing improvements of the theatre. The generous support from patrons and donors allows Lighthouse to continue providing Norfolk County with the highest caliber of professional theatre every season. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM will run for eight performances from Thursday April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 at 8PM
April 29 and 30 at 2PM. Tickets just $22.
About Lighthouse Festival Theatre
Lighthouse Festival Theatre is one of Ontario’s leading professional summer theatres. Located in beautiful lakeside Port Dover, Lighthouse presents 5 main stage productions, one Young Company production and a Season Topper tribute show during their main season from May to September.
For more information and to set up an interview, please contact:
Nicole Campbell
Lighthouse Festival Theatre
Publicist
nicole@lighthousetheatre.com
519-718-1100
CAST:
Jillian Adams – Philia
JP Antonacci – Hero
Chloe Craig – Chorus
Katherine Czerlau-Lima – Courtesan
Carmen Davis – Protean #1
Grace Davis – Chorus
Jada Dawson – Chorus
Dave Deelen – Miles Gloriosus
Debbie Dumais – Courtesan
Xochilt Kiernan – Chorus
Mathew Kiernan – Chorus
Susan LaBone – Domina
Jason Mayo – Hysterium
Phil McLaren – Senex
Murray Porteous – Erronius
Laura Porter – Courtesan
Kristin Reid – Protean #2
Brian Reichheld – Lycus
Meredith Wood – Psuedolus
SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Broadway’s greatest farce is light, fast-paced, witty, irreverent and one of the funniest musicals ever written. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright, Plautus, with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville.
This outrageous and sexy musical follows Pseudolus, a crafty slave, who struggles to win the hand of a beautiful, but slow-witted, courtesan named Philia for his young master, Hero, in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and a showgirl or two.