The cast of Carriage House’s production of the world’s favorite musical, “The Fantasticks.” Front row left to right: Tom Butterworth, Lou Ursone, Richard Levitt; Back row: Marc Hartog, Liz Harrington, Brendan George & Will Jeffries.
Love, adventure and magic are in the air as the Carriage House Arts Center prepares to present the longest-running show in the world, The Fantasticks. Created by Tom Jones (book and lyrics) and Harvey Schmidt (music), this beloved musical will open October 14 and will run through October 29.
The story unfolds as two lovers, Matt (Brendan George of Stamford) and Luisa (Liz Harrington of Stamford), yearn to be together, despite being separated by a wall their “feuding” fathers - Bellomy (Tom Butterworth of New Canaan) and Hucklebee (Richard Levitt of Stamford) - have built to keep them apart. With the help of El Gallo (Lou Ursone of Stamford) and some down-on-their-luck actors (Will Jeffries of Bethel and Marc Hartog of Westport), the fathers stage an abduction of Luisa and her rescue by Matt. Adding to the goings–on is The Mute, played by Joe Guttadauro of Norwalk.
The Fantasticks became the longest-running musical with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. Its moving tale of young lovers, who become disillusioned, only to discover a more mature, meaningful love, is punctuated by a bountiful series of catchy, memorable songs including “Try to Remember,” “Much More” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”
The Carriage House production of The Fantasticks, directed and choreographed by Lauren Nicole Sherwood (of Stamford) with musical direction by Dan Ringuette (of Torrington), runs Fridays and Saturdays: October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29 at 8pm; Sundays, October 16 & 23 at 4 pm. Tickets are $25 Fridays & Saturdays, $20 Sundays. (All shows include wine and cheese at intermission.)
Reservations can be made by calling the Carriage House box office at (203) 229-9797, or you may email us at info@carriagehouseartscenter.org. Or go to our website to place your reservation: www.carriagehouseartscenter.org. Tickets are on sale now.
The Carriage House Arts Center is located in Cranbury Park at 390 Grumman Avenue in Norwalk.
