'The Fantasticks' Opens at Southampton Cultural Center October 1
The Fantasticks, the 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones, comes to Southampton for a three-weekend run starting October 1.
Center Stage at Southampton Cultural Center presents the musical centering on two young people, next door neighbors, who fall in love. Their feuding fathers forbid them from speaking to each other—but the feud is not as it seems and a faux-kidnapping plot is hatched.
The Fantasticks is a timeless tale of love and understanding that all of life is a lesson,” said Michael Disher, the director of Center Stage. “Stunning in its vibrant simplicity, The Fantasticks has charmed generations and will continue to do so. Whether this becomes a return visit to the show, or a first, a warm and whimsical February evening awaits you and your memory and your imagination.”
The musical is loosely based on the play Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand and theater aficionados will recognize elements of Pyramus and Thisbe, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Fantasticks holds the title of the world’s longest running musical, accumulating 17,162 performances over 42 years off-Broadway, ending in 2002. A revival began at the Jerry Orbach Theater—named for the late Law & Order actor and original Fantasticks cast member—in 2006 and continues today.
Disher directs with choreography by Disher and David Hoffman and musical direction by Karen Hochstedler. Miriam Shilling plays harp.
The cast features Daniel Becker as El Gallo, Adam Fronc as Matt, Ella Watts as Luisa, Frances Sherman as The Mute, David Hoffman as Bellomy, Richard Adler as Hucklebee, Philip Reichert as Henry and Stephan Scheck as Mortimer. Dustin Schepps and Thomas Wheeler are also featured.
The Fantasticks will be staged October 1 through October 18 Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Southampton Cultural Center is located at 25 Pond Lane, Southampton. General admission is $25 and student admission is $12. For tickets, visit scc-arts.org or call 631-287-4377.