The Fantasticks

TOSAC’s ‘Fantastick’ season opener goes up September 15^th

America’s longest running musical is coming to the stage of Thomasville OnStage & Co.’s downtown storefront theatre.  ‘The Fantasticks’ will open the season for the local community theatre on Sept 15^th, and continues through Sunday, September 24^th.

There is an aspect to this year’s season opener that should add some special magic to the show. It is being directed by seasoned veterans of Broadway musical theatre. Trey Cox (director) and Tom Whiddon (music director) have traveled the world  as music directors and musicians for a list of Broadway touring companies of shows such as the 25th anniversary tour of Les Miserables, Mel Brooks’ the Producers and Young Frankenstein, the Drowsy Chaperone and many others. They have worked with a host of renowned Broadway stars and Tony award winning directors and choreographers. Both Whiddon and Cox operate Versa Musica Conservatory of Music at the Thomasville Center for the Arts, conducting private music lessons for children and adults.

Trey Cox is making his directorial debut with Thomasville Onstage & Co., though those who attended the sold-out spring production of ‘The Secret Garden’ will remember him as that show’s music director.  This is TOSAC’s third time to produce ‘The Fantasticks’, but Cox feels this production has unique aspects that make it worth coming out to see this classic of American musical theatre again, such as the steampunk inspired set and costume design, and the use of mothers in the scheming parent’s roles, instead of the traditional father duo.

The Fantasticks is most memorable for its recurring theme song, ‘Try to Remember’, which has been recorded by many varied artists including Jerry Orbach, Harry Belafonte, Andy Williams, Liza Minelli, and Gladys Knight & The Pips.  It is an allegorical story that focuses on two young lovers, their meddling mothers, and the journey we all must take through adolescent thrills, the growing pains of hurt and betrayal, the highs of passion, the challenges of distance, and the agonies of heartbreak to discover how to truly love.

Local theatre goers will recognize most of the cast members, who are regulars in the Thomasville and Tallahassee theatre scenes. The infamous El Gallo (originally played by Jerry Orbach) is being played by Erin Grubbs, last seen in Thomasville as the charming and diabolical Sweeney Todd in the Red Hills Players production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Peyton Hodges, (The Secret Garden’s Dr. Craven) plays ‘the old actor’ Henry, and TOSAC veterans Donna Mavity and Emmy Tancsics portray the conniving parents of the bewildered lovers.

Two young actors who have literally grown up on the TOSAC stage play major roles in the production. Julianna Watson (most recently seen as Ursula in TOSAC’s The Little Mermaid) and Adam Hunter (The Prince in TOSAC’s Cinderella) play the young lovers Matt & Luisa. The role of Luisa is double cast with Watson and TOSAC newcomer Melanie Applegate, with Applegate playing the opening weekend (Sept 15-17) and Watson playing the final weekend (Sept 22-24) Rounding out the cast are two more cast members who have also come of age on the TOSAC stage, Matthew Whetsell plays Mortimer, and Tas’ina Copeland plays The Mute.

Show dates and times for The Fantasticks are opening weekend, Friday and Saturday September 15 & 16 at 8 pm, and Sunday September 17th at 2 pm.  Final weekend is Friday September 22nd through Sunday September 24th, same times. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, and may be bought online at www.tosac.com, or reserved by calling 229-226-0863.  The house opens at 7:30. Reservations are recommended, as musical productions often sell out before show time.