*Aurora Community Theatre *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2019 Contact: Christine Patronik-Holder 330-562-1818 *Witty, Irreverant Farce* *A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM* * Opens April 26* The hysterical Broadway musical,* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum*, opens April 26 for ten performances at 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays through May 18 and 3 pm Sundays May 5 and 12 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail. The Tony award-winning Best Musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim with book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Quick-witted and fast-paced, *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* takes comedy back to its roots, combining age-old situations with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. *Forum* tells the story of the crafty slave, Pseudolus, who schemes to gain his freedom by winning the hand of the beautiful, but slightly obtuse courtesan, Philia, for his master, Hero. *Dave Stebbins* directs *Don Bernardo *(Pseudolus), *Jesse Roberts *(Hero), *Shelby Carlisle *(Philia), and *Thomas Love *(Miles Gloriosus) in the plot full of twists, turns, mistaken identity, slamming doors and a showgirl or two. *Tim Shaffer* is the music director with *Amie W. Gabel*, choreographer, and *Marc C. Howard*, producer, for this nonstop laugh-fest which also features* Will C. Crosby *(Hysterium), *Brian Diehl *(Senex), *Karen Spiegler *(Domina), *Michael Guffey *(Marcus Lycus), and *Neil Rubin *(Erronius) *Genevi**è**ve Adelman, Emily Fields, Katie Hintze, Diana Nabring, Alyssa Whiddon *play the lovely courtesans, with proteans: *Rollin DeVere III, Jeffrey Koudelka, Douglas R. Vanek.* *Ann Nyenhuis** is the *stage manager/technical director *with **April Sike**, assistant stage manager*, *Karen Cirino **is in charge of costumes. **Maggie Hamilton**, designed the sound and **Frankie Castrovillari*, created the lighting. *Todd Plone** designed the set, and *Ann Nyenhuis led the construction crew which included: *Joe Mira, Paul Mira, Ashley McCoy, Chris Hrach, Jerry Schaber, Craig McCloud, April Sike, Dave Nyenhuis, Linda Weinkamer, *and* Neil Rubin.* *Craig Kollai* serves as liaison to the ACT Board of Trustees. *Marianne Gingras* created the show image, and CPH Communications managed marketing and the box office. Music director Shaffer will play the trumpet and conduct the orchestra featuring accompanist *Dave Coxe* on keyboard, *David Betts, *trombone, *Josh Daum, *percussion, *Jonathan "Skip" Edwards, *bass, with woodwinds performed by *Ron Nelson, David Ciucevich* and *George Cyphers. Kristen Johnsten *accompanied rehearsals. *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com <http://www.mtishows.com/>. Aurora Community Theatre’s 59th season continues with *Bonnie & Clyde* Jun. 28 – Jul. 13. Tickets for all shows are available online anytime, including seat selection, at auroracommunitytheatre.com or by calling 330-562-1818. Aurora Community Theatre is located at 115 E. Pioneer Trail, near the intersection of SR 43 and 306, at the gazebo, in the center of Aurora. ACT extends appreciation to The Denise G. & Norman E. Wells, Jr. Family Foundation for their generous underwriting of the Wells Main Stage. *ACT, celebrating 59 successful seasons in 2018-19, annually presents three Main Season shows, a summer stock production, benefit show, plus two children’s summer workshops, reaching an annual audience of over 7,000. *