Theater breaks new ground with summer production of “The Fantasticks”
Professional actors will stand toe-to-toe with Salve Regina students and community members making up the cast that presents the inaugural summer theater season production of “The Fantasticks” June 11-28 at the Casino Theatre.
Professional actors Melanie Souza (who will play the role of Bellomy) and Peter Tedeschi (who will play Hucklbee) are both members of the Actor’s Equity Association. Jonathan Olivera, a 2012 Salve Regina graduate who will play the role of El Gallo, is an Actor’s Equity Association candidate.
Reggie Phoenix, theater program coordinator and artistic director of the Casino Theatre, said the hiring of professionals for the production places the theater on a new playing field. “It puts the Casino into the professional regional theater category, which reinforces the idea that we are committed to producing theater with the quality, production values and level of professionalism that is expected from other regional theaters in the New England area,” said Phoenix, who is directing the production.
Performances will be June 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27 at 8 p.m., and June 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 at 2 p.m. For tickets and reservations, call the box office at (401) 341-2250 or visit tinyurl.com/salvecasino.
Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, “The Fantasticks” is the world’s longest-running musical. It tells the charming and romantic story of a boy, a girl, a father, a mother … and a wall. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart, and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that “without a hurt, the heart is hollow.”
“The Fantasticks is one of the most beautiful and enduring musicals in the history of the American musical theater canon with an irresistible score and a story that is universal,” Phoenix said. “That it is the longest running show in the history of theater speaks to its beloved status.”
Cast
- Kenneth Bennel ’18 – The Mute
- Mariana Bracciale ’16 – Luisa
- Hunter Nicolson ’16 – Henry
- Jonathan Olivera ’12 – El Gallo
- Evan Raiff ’15 – Mortimer
- Melanie Souza – Bellomy
- Peter Tedeschi – Hucklbee
- Matthew Royality-Lindman – Matt
Production Team
- Director – Reggie Phoenix
- Musical Director – Jennifer Holden
- Technical Director/Scenic/Lighting Designer – Pippin McGowan
- Costumes – Anne-Marie Couto
- Sound Engineer – Gahyae Ryu
- Hair and Makeup – Joe Rossi
Crew
- Stage Manager – Ashley Cudney ’14
- Assistant Stage Manager – Elizabeth Maligranda ’15
- Stage Hand/Prop Master – Jenifer Sartonowitz ’16
- Stage Hand – Molly Corley ’17
- Assistant Stage Hand – Alexandra D’Agostino ’17
