May 4, 5, 6, 11 & 12 – 2018
Book, Music and Lyrics by
Michael J. Salmanson, Maureen Kane Berg and Thomas C. Berg
A world premiere! Drawing on real events, this musical provides an intimate look at the Lincoln family’s personal and political struggles during their White House years. Despite enormous odds, personal loss and political intrigues, the Lincolns overcome their divided “houses” (family, cabinet and country), relying on their love, wit, wisdom, strength of conviction, and the help of unlikely allies. The story of Lincoln’s and our nation’s ultimate triumph, and the tragedy of his still-unfinished legacy, will touch your heart and mind.
Director: Michael Salmanson
Music Director: Talia Yellin Fisher
Assistant Music Director: Jim Speer
CAST:
“The Princess and the Pea” is a well-known fairy tale, but wait until you hear the true version of the story. The Minstrel, both a character within the story and the narrator, first sings the traditional version—but then he notes that it is “not quite accurate.” Did you know that the princess who actually wins Prince Dauntless the Drab’s hand is the 13th candidate for the job? Or that it wasn’t the pea at all that caused her such a sleepless night? This charming adaptation of the tale is full of humor, romance, and royal comeuppance, and the songs are hilarious, melodic, romantic, and occasionally a bit bawdy. From the opening notes of “Many Moons Ago” through “The Minstrel, the Jester, and I” to “The Swamps of Home,” you’ll laugh and tap your feel along with the Prince, who declares “I’m in Love With a Girl Named Fred.”
This romantic Rogers and Hammerstein musical is set in the South Pacific Islands during World War II. The story follows a young navy nurse, Nellie Forbush and Lt. Joe Cable as they struggle to overcome long held prejudices and the realities of war as they find themselves in unconventional love affairs: Nellie with an older French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, and Lt. Cable with Liat, the daughter of a colorful local entrepreneur (Bloody Mary). Well known songs from the show include: “Some Enchanted Evening”, “Cock-eyed Optimist”, “Nothing Like a Dame” and “Younger than Springtime”.
When Elwood P. Dowd starts to introduce his imaginary friend, Harvey (a pooka in the guise of a six-and-a-half-foot rabbit) to guests at a society party, his sister Veta, has seen as much of his eccentric behavior as she can tolerate. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare her daughter, Myrtle Mae, and their family from future embarrassment. Problems arise, however, when Veta herself is mistakenly assumed to be on the verge of lunacy when she explains to doctors that years of living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also! This classic stage hit provides a hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos that you won’t want to miss!
An affectionate valentine to Smalltown, U.S.A. in a bygone era, Meredith Willson’s THE MUSIC MAN follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef! His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.