OLRC offering hopes to be Fantastick
The Old Lyric Repertory Company presents the second offering of the 39th summer season with Broadway musical “The Fantasticks,” by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. The production’s first run of the season is Thursday, June 23, through Saturday, June 25, at the Caine Lyric Theatre in historic downtown Logan. Curtain time for the production is 8 p.m. during the run with a matinee beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday to accompany the evening performance.
Artemis Preeshl, Utah State University theatre professor, choreographer and director, takes her first crack at directing for the OLRC with “The Fantasticks.”
“This summer fulfills my dream,” Preeshl said. “Moving to Logan from New York City to choreograph and direct with award-winning designers on a regular basis is a highlight for me. The opportunity to direct my first musical for the Old Lyric Repertory Company in Logan is something I have looked forward to for some time now.”
One of the longest running musicals ever – and one still requested by OLRC patrons said Artistic Director Colin Johnson -“The Fantasticks” is a love story in a cardboard moon world of well-meaning, but meddling, fathers who create a feud to make sure their children fall in love. This accomplished, the fathers decide to end the feud by hiring El Gallo to provide an abduction. The fathers quarrel and the lovers break up. Time passes and the boy comes back, disheveled and disillusioned. Both children have been hurt, but they have grown up a bit in the process, and the ending is happy – perfect for a romantic, fade-to-black screen ending, but on the stage.
“The Fantasticks” opened May 3, 1960, and played 17,162 performances in New York City before closing Jan. 13, 2002. The musical has seen two previous productions by the OLRC, both in the 1970s.
With thousands of productions behind it, and the likelihood that many audience members have seen it before, the challenge of “The Fantasticks” is to keep it fresh. Director Preeshl, noting that the play’s integration of music and romance is flawless, has woven elements of Eastern philosophy and Victorian culture into the OLRC production that bring a fresh look to the classic tale.
“The Fantasticks” stars an ensemble of musical talent with varying experience. Guest artist Bart Williams takes on his second OLRC role of the season as one of the fathers, Hucklebee. Richie Call plays El Gallo, a role originated by the late Jerry Orbach of “Law and Order” fame.
Megan Walker makes her second OLRC appearance, this time as Luisa (the girl). Tyson Smith, also in his second OLRC appearance, portrays Matt (the boy). Lee Daily returns to the stage for the second week in a row as Bellomy (a father), as does Hollie Campbell (the Mute), Jed Broberg (the Handyman) and Dan Merket (Mortimer). Kermit Herd, Cache Valley theatre veteran, returns to the OLRC after a previous appearance in one of its early seasons. He will be seen as Henry, the old actor.
The director discussed an important fact in regards to the production.
“We want everyone to know upfront that there is the mention of rape in the play,” Preeshl said. “It is used to describe the abduction. In ‘The Fantasticks,’ the term ‘rape’ is applied in the context of the Latin definition, ‘to carry off.’ Given the classical and Shakespearean references, the lyrics in the play should be viewed in context of the literary and artistic traditions. We are sensitive to the modern use of the term and in no way do we want to diminish the serious consequences of this social problem.”
Located at 28 W. Center, the OLRC box office operates noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, May 16 to June 11, and noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, June 13 through August 13. The Caine Lyric box office number is (435) 752-1500. Tickets are also available through the Ellen Eccles box office at (435) 752-0026, extension 14. Ticket prices range from $8 to $17. Season subscriptions are available at discounted rates in a number of options. The deadline to purchase season subscriptions is fast approaching – Saturday, June 18, is the last day to purchase flex-pass subscriptions. For more information on tickets, call (435) 797-1500 or visit the OLRC Web site at www.usu.edu/lyric.
The Old Lyric Repertory Company’s promotional events for the summer include “Senior Date Night,” which provides two-for-one pricing for senior citizens every Tuesday and Wednesday evening performances. Another promotion, the “Student Rush,” gives current Utah State University students the opportunity to purchase half price tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain at every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening performance, and the “OLRC Promo Jeep.”
New this season is the inaugural OLRC Benefit Gala. The “gala” includes an opportunity to meet and mingle with OLRC members, a catered dinner at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood, a cabaret-style evening of entertainment by OLRC members and a ticket to a 2005 production. Tickets for the gala are $50. Inquiries and reservations can be made at (435) 797-1500.
Complete details for the 2005 season, including the production schedule, are available online at www.usu.edu/lyric. For a free brochure and to be added to the mailing list, call (435) 797-3046. For general and ticket inquiries call (435) 797 -1500. The Caine Lyric Box Office is open for ticket reservations Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and noon to 8 p.m. on performance days. Call (435) 752-1500 for ticket reservations as well. The OLRC is supported by grants and gifts from the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences at Utah State University, the Cache County Restaurant/RAPZ Tax, the Utah Arts Council and the Bridgerland Travel Council.
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