The Geauga Lyric Theater in Chardon kicked off the 60th season the weekend of Sept.12 with The Fantasticks.
Directed by international playwright J.E. Ballantyne, The Fantasticks, a Tony Award winning show, is the world’s longest running musical. The show is about meddling fathers trying to control the relationships of their children, with an interfering cast of characters putting obstacles in the way of young love.
The fathers are played by Bruce Bogart (Hucklebee) and Jack Warren (Bellamy). Bruce is new to our stage, but will be directing the Skip Kelley production Bye Bye Birdie later this season. An attorney, he has a passion for live theater, especially comedies and musical comedies. He has participated in many theaters in our area, but the first thing he saw at GLTG was this spring’s production of The Crucible. “I found it riveting. And, in this show, the level of talent is stunning and I am excited about it. Everyone seems not only genuinely nice, but brings a respect for the process to rehearsal-both cast and production staff.”
Jack Warren was previously seen on our stage as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and directed the hilarious The Foreigner. “The Fantasticks has long been a favorite show of mine. I love the classic simplicity of the tale; the poetry, the humor, the music. The message of the show has a way to help us “center” and re-align our priorities—family being key among them.”
Board President Lee Ann Tamburrino is excited about opening this special season. “Celebrating this journey is so important this year; that is why we have dedicated the entire year to perform some of the classics that have been on our stages in the past.” All of the shows in this year’s season come from or are related to a show in our history.
Besides The Fantasticks, this season the Geauga Lyric Theater will be performing Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Annie Warbucks, Bye Bye Birdie, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Music Man.
The Geauga Lyric Theater is located at 101 Water Street on the historic Chardon Square. For more information or to purchase tickets go to the website or call 440-286-2255.
More Geauga Theater articles can be found HERE.
