CAST
Narrator/El
Gallo
..JOSH SAUERMAN
The Girl/Luisa ...SARAH LIHVARCIK
The Boy/Matt ..RYAN MC KEON
The Boys Father/Hucklebee JOE GIGLIO
The Girls Father/Bellomy CHARLES J. GILL
Played by KEN VAN DYK on Sept. 17th
The Actor/Henry RICK BRAVO
Played by JOHN BLACKWELL on Sept. 18th
The Man Who Dies/Mortimer .BUTCH BURGER
The Mute . ..MICHELLE WILBUR
Harpist ... ..DEANNA CHO
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THE TEAM
Director .ANDREA DAMIS
Musical Director MARK T. EVANS
Producer . SUZIE RAMSDELL
Production Assistant ...KRISTA CASEY
Choreographer ..BRENDA MARIE KELLY
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MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT 1
Overture
Try to Remember .El Gallo
Much More .Luisa
Metaphor ..Matt
Never Say No Fathers
It Depends on What You Pay El Gallo/Fathers
It Depends on What You Pay - Reprise Fathers
Soon Its Gonna Rain Matt/Luisa
Rape Ballet .Ensemble
Happy Ending .Ensemble
ACT 2
Opening Act 2
This Plum Is Too Ripe .Ensemble
I Can See It .Matt/El Gallo
Plant a Radish ...Fathers
Much More - Reprise . Luisa/El Gallo
Round & Round .Luisa/El Gallo
They Were You ...Matt/Luisa
Metaphor - Reprise ..Matt/Luisa
Try To Remember - Reprise ..Ensemble
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DIRECTORS NOTES:
When I was asked to direct The Fantasticks for Burlington County Footlighters, it was exciting, humbling, and extremely scary! This show is the type of show that sticks with you but still you walk away wanting to see it over and over again. Knowing this, and knowing that The Fantasticks has a great following, I wanted our show to be special; to honor the script and still be unique.
This show is the worlds longest running musical & a true masterpiece. Romance, comedy, suspense, and a sweet storyline all come together to create this fantastick musical. The Fantasticks charm hangs on a particular kind of intimate magic developed exclusively in live theater.
Try to Remember when life was so tender.
Andrea Damis
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WHOS WHO IN THE CAST
JOHN BLACKWELL (Understudy for Henry) John has been involved with community theater for 26 years. Some of his favorite roles are Ben Franklin in 1776, Psuedolus in A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum, King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar and Billis in South Pacific. He has also directed Charlie Brown, Fiddler on The Roof, and Twelve Angry Men amongst others. The best thing that ever happened to him in theater was meeting his wonderful wife, Erin, 16 years ago in a production of Scrooge in Trenton. John wishes to thank Footlighters for letting him dress the stage.
RICHARD BRAVO (Henry)
Rick is a veteran of the New Jersey stage. Hes performed with a variety of local theater companies,
including Footlighters in Much Ado About Nothing, Haddonfield
Plays and Players, The Ritz, Spotlighters, and Pendulum, as well as with his
own group, BRAVO! & Company. Rick
was seen most recently at Haddonfield as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Other recent appearances include Voltaire/Pangloss in Candide, Tevye in Fiddler
on the Roof , Ben Franklin in 1776, Secret Garden, The
Fantasticks and Vivien. Rick
has received several awards in competitions.
His most enjoyable theatre experience came when he met and co-starred
with his lovely and talented wife, Eleanor, in Pennsauken High Schools
production of Oliver, and in BRAVO! & Co.s production of Godspell.
BUTCH BURGER (Mortimer)
Butch is thrilled to be back at Footlighters after appearing as Felix in
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? in 2002. Actually, Butch made his acting debut as a
monkey in The Wizard of Oz at the age of nine for Footlighters. Other favorite credits include Seymour in Little
Shop of Horrors, Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls, and the
Barber in Man of LaMancha. Also,
this is Butchs second time portraying Mortimer as he played the role for
Bridge Players at the age of seventeen.
Butch would like to thank Annie for all of the encouragement. Love to Mom, JB, and the light of his life,
Steve. Butch will be Assistant Director
of Into The Woods this spring.
JOE GIGLIO (Hucklebee) This is Joes first production for
Footlighters and his third production of The Fantasticks. He has played
both fathers. His last production was 22 years ago (before some of the current
cast was born). His favorite roles are Carl Magnus and Fredrick Eggerman in A
Little Night Music and he had the privilege of performing both roles. His
other favorites include: Joey in The Most Happy Fella, Garfinkel in Other
Peoples Money and Judge Turpin in Sweeny Todd. He has been seen on
the Cabaret stages of Dont Tell Mama and Eighty-Eights in NYC and Odettes in
New Hope, PA. It was at Odettes that he met the love of his life, Sally. He
would like to dedicate this production to the memory of his 1983 Fantasticks son
-- Roger John Leach.
CHARLES J. GILL (Bellomy) Charles is a veteran actor making his return to Footlighters after playing the Lion in The Wizard of Oz and Wilson in Harvey when Footlighters home was in Moorestown many years ago. No stranger to Fantasticks, Charles has performed the role many times over the last 25 years. He also is Producing Artistic Director for the Moorestown Childrens Theatre as well as a loving husband and father. He would like to thank his immorata, Sharon, for her untiring love and confidence and Da Boyz for their support and understanding.
SARAH LIHVARCIK (Luisa) Sarah is excited to be performing in
her first production with the Burlington County Footlighters. She is entering her senior year at
Burlington Township High School, where she has been seen on stage numerous
times. Her recent roles include Dolly
Levi in The Matchmaker and the Bakers Wife in Into The Woods. Sarah would like to thank everyone involved
in the show and give a special thank you to her mother.
RYAN MC KEON (Matt) Ryan is thrilled to be on the Footlighters stage again. He was recently seen in the BCF Intern Company production of Stage Door. He will be entering his senior year at Burlington Township High School, where hes been seen on stage in past productions of The Matchmaker and as Rapunzels Prince in Into The Woods. Ryan would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support, and especially to Sarah, for all of the fun times they shared during this experience!
JOSH SAUERMAN (Narrator/El Gallo) Josh received a BA in
Theatre Arts and Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in
Theatre from Villanova University.
Favorite roles at Villanova include Serge in Art Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, and Leo Frank in the Philadelphia premiere of Parade, for which he received a 2004 Barrymore nomination for Best Actor in a
Musical. Most recently, he understudied
the role of Anthony in Sweeney Todd at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia and
appeared in the new musical Angst by John Baxindine, which premiered at the
Spark Festival in Philadelphia last month.
Josh would like to thank the cast and crew for a great experience. This performance is dedicated to Matt and
Tony DeMizio.
KEN VAN DYK (Understudy for Bellomy) Ken has performed in, directed and produced shows in the area for quite a few years. He is the president of the Spotliters, the theatre/choral group in Washington Township. Ken teaches and is going to school in Delaware for his masters in elementary education. Thank you cast and crew of The Fantasticks for letting him portray an old friend, one more time.
ANDREA DAMIS (Director) Andrea has performed in many shows at Temple University, where she received her Bacherlors Degree. She also has been director of several shows at Poquessing Middle School in Neshaminy, such as Damn Yankees and Give My Regards to Broadway. We look forward to having her back as director of our childrens show, The Trial of Goldilocks. In Loving Memory of Jerry Orbach.
MARK EVANS (Musical Director) Mark is thrilled to be making his debut with BCF. He has musically directed several shows at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, both as a student and professional. He has played keyboard for several shows, rehearsals, and auditions in and around Philadelphia. Most recently, Mark acted as assistant musical director for Grease and subsequent Grease and Desist, for which he wrote a portion of the Barrymore-nominated original score. Upcoming projects include musically directing A Grand Night For Singing with Premiere Performing Arts.
BRENDA MARIE KELLY (Choreographer) Brenda returns to us after teaching at our childrens summer theatre camp. She has directed several shows at Rowan University, including Equus, The Gathering, and Twelfth Night. We last saw Brenda on our stage in the production of Picasso, when she was selected as Best Supporting Actress of the season. She would like to thank her family for years of love and support.
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You are invited to meet the cast and director
In the Lounge immediately following the performance.
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SET CONSTRUCTION: MICHAEL VAN NAME, Steven Van Name, Kristina Sandburg
ART COORDINATOR: PAMELA GRIMME
COSTUMES: LYNN JOHNSON, MARY OGLESBY
MAKEUP: JEANNE WAYMAN, Ann DeVaro, Valerie Mazzagatti
LIGHTING: ANDREW FLOTHMEIER, Brenda Marie Kelly
PHOTOGRAPHY AND PICTURE BOARD: SANDY DRISCOLL, RICH RAUTH
PUBLICITY/GRAPHICS: PAT MULDOWNEY
WEBMASTER: RICH RAUTH
PROPS: KRISTINA SANDBURG, Michael VanName, Peggy VanName, Michelle Wilbur
HOUSE MANAGERS: PAMELA GRIMME, Torben Christiansen, Brian & Hazel Edwards, Lynn Johnson, Stella McCarthy, Bill & Pat Muldowney, Tony Patrizi
BOX OFFICE: LYNN JOHNSON, Mae Trebing, Larry Driscoll, Carol Gillette, Pat Muldowney, Jim Pritz, Peg Venella, Gerri Dietrich, Becky Moseley
HOSPITALITY: DORIS FOULKE, Pat & Rich Brunker, Gerri & Rich Dietrich, Pamela & Don Grimme, Ann & Scott MacIntosh, Pat & Bill Muldowney, Jim Pritz, Sandy Scheer, Rosemary & Bruce Smith, George Wenghofer
PROGRAM: ROSEMARY SMITH
TECHNICAL DIRECTORS: BRIAN EDWARDS, TORBEN CHRISTIANSEN
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PAINTINGS IN THE GRAND HALL BY
MEMBERS OF THE WILLINGBORO ART ALLIANCE