[NEohioPAL] Our 1st Musical-The Fantasticks

[John Ballantyne]

                                    Victorian Players to Stage
                                        Their First Musical


     The Victorian Players at 702 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown will set a milestone in May when they stage their first musical.  The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in the world, will open at the theater on May 3rd and run through the 19th.  Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York on May 3, 1960 and didn’t close until 2002.  The Victorian Players production will open on the 53rd Anniversary of the original opening.

     J.E.Ballantyne, Jr., Managing Director of the Victorian, said that interest has been high for the production.  “We began getting emails and calls in January asking when tickets would be available.”    He said that The Fantasticks is one of the most popular musicals around.  There are about 250 new productions popping up each year.  It was Marilyn Higgins, former Victorian Managing Director,  who first expressed an interest in doing the show at the Mahoning Avenue theater.   She consulted with Ballantyne and both agreed that it would be perfect for the venue.  

     Starring in The Fantasticks will be Sarah Puhalla from Sharon, Pennsylvania and Nathan Pecchia from Canfield as Luisa and Matt.  Their respective fathers will be played by Brian Lee and Tom Gent.  Tom Kusiowski, who just appeared at the Vic in Below the Surface, will play El Gallo with Vinnie Dragos playing the Mute, J.E.Ballantyne, Jr. playing Henry, the Old Actor and Ed Vostand playing Mortimer, the Indian. 

     The story is essentially about young love in the springtime and the trials and tribulations of growing up.  The fathers of Matt and Luisa decide that the best way to get their two children together is to create a feud and to forbid the children to speak to each other.   Once success has been achieved, however, the problem then becomes how to end the feud so all can live happily ever after.

     J.E.Ballantyne, Jr. is directing the show with Ed Phillips serving as Musical Director.  Tickets go on sale for The Fantasticks on Monday, April 22 with Adult tickets being $10.00 and Student and Senior tickets being $8.00.  Group rates are also available as are Special Student Group Rates.  Reservations may be made by calling 330-746-5455.  Evening performances begin at 7:30 pm with Sunday matinees starting at 2:00 pm.  Opening night will feature a pre-show wine and cheese reception with a “birthday celebration” for The Fantasticks following the performance.  Kontinuous Jams of Boardman is the corporate co-partner for the production.

CRITICS’ COMMENTS

      “The perfect musical. It’s a gem!” ............The Wall Street Journal
      “It’s hard to resist The Fantasticks vintage charm.....”        ................Entertainment Weekly
      “Heartfelt. Hypnotic. Charming.   ................Associated Press
      “Heartbreakingly beautiful!”   ................Broadway.com
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