NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/09/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-The NSU Summer Theatre will present the musicals "The Fantasticks" and "Dames at Sea" this summer.

The Fantasticks will be June 24-26, July 9,15, 17, 23, 29, 31 and Aug. 7. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. on the stage of the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in Theatre West. Scott Burrell is the director.

"Dames at Sea" will be July 1-3, 8, 10, 16, 22, 24, 30 and Aug. 5-6. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with the show at 7:30 p.m. on the stage of the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Patricia Helsel is the director.

Tickets are $20, which includes the meal and the show.

The cast for "The Fantasticks" is Chris Ware of Baton Rouge as El Gallo, Tiffany Rogers of Cochran, Ga. as Luisa, Bryan Lee of Cochran, Ga. as Matt, Tabatha Roy of St. Gabriel as Bellamy, Liz Maxwell of New Orleans as Hucklebee, Kyle LeMaire of Abbeville as Henry, Kent Bernard of New Iberia as Mortimer, Teddric Matthews of Houma and Kelly Airhart of Natchitoches as a Mute.

In "The Fantasticks," two fathers decide that they want their children to fall in love. The girl, Luisa, is a daydreamer with an active imagination. The boy, Matt, is a romantic. The two fathers decide to instigate a mock feud amongst themselves in order to help the boy and girl fall in love. They figure that this feud will give them the excuse to say no to the relationship, which of course will simply encourage the children's love even more.

The fathers go as far as to hire El Gallo to stage a mock abduction of Luisa, in which Matt can become a hero and save her. After this act, Luisa and Matt fall deeply in love. Soon though, the children realize their parents staged the feud and their love fades away. After both experience a little life experience on their own and are hurt by it, they reunite once again with much less drama.

"The Fantasticks" was the world's longest-running musical, opening on May 13, 1960 and closing on January 13, 2002 after 17,162 performances.

The cast for "Dames at Sea" is Mary Watson of Natchitoches as Mona, Maxwell as Joan, Rogers as Ruby, Ware as Dick, Billy Mowbray of Lake Charles as Lucky and Lemaire as Mr. Hennessey and Captain.

Don Whittaker is musical director, Meghan Shea of Covington is assistant musical director and Susan Hussey is choreographer for each show. Dallas Bird of Natchitoches is stage manager for "The Fantasticks" while Mickey Marie of New Iberia is stage manager for "Dames at Sea."

"Dames at Sea" is a parody of 1930's and 40's musicals such as those by Busbee Berkeley. The play presents the familiar story of a young girl names Ruby who travels to New York to make it big in show business. Ruby has only just arrived in New York when she gets cast in a Broadway show. This is a big morning for Ruby because she also finds her true love in the form of a handsome young sailor from her hometown. His name is Dick and he is not just a sailor. Dick is a songwriter and is also trying to break into show business.

With a new job and a handsome boyfriend in tow, it would seem that life is perfect for Ruby. However, all does not run smoothly for our youthful heroine, as she has to defend against the ire of the haughty star of the show and deal with a number of theatrical mishaps.

To make reservations or receive more information, call (318) 357-5744 or e-mail nfburrellc@nsula.edu.

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