AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL "WONDERFUL TOWN" OPENS AT MUHLENBERG COLLEGE
The Muhlenberg Theatre Association presents "Wonderful Town," a Leonard Bernstein musical, opening Friday, October 26.Monday, October 22, 2001 02:27 PM
The Muhlenberg Theatre Association presents "Wonderful Town," a Leonard Bernstein musical, opening Friday, October 26. "Wonderful Town" will be on stage in the Dorothy Hess Baker Theatre in the Trexler Pavilion, Muhlenberg College, October 26, 27, 30 and 31 at 8 p.m.; November 1, 2 and 3 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, October 28 and November 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16, seniors $14, and youth $8, available through the box office, 484-664-3333. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
"Wonderful Town" is the musical version of the play and film "My Sister Eileen," which regales the adventures of writer Ruth McKenney and her sister Eileen, an aspiring actress, as they leave their Ohio hometown to pursue artistic dreams in New York City. The energetic, charming and romantic "Wonderful Town" swept the 1954 Antoinette Perry Awards, bringing Broadway honors to star Rosalind Russell and collaborators Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Directing for Muhlenberg is Charles Richter who, along with musical director Ken Butler and choreographer Karen Dearborn, has tackled many of the best of Broadway's musical canon, including "West Side Story." Designing are Timothy Averill (sets) and Constance Chase (costumes), with guest artists Chris Dallos (lights) and Paul E. Theisen (sound).
Featured in the role of Eileen is Muhlenberg junior Shannon Lambert-Ryan, who has performed in Muhlenberg productions of "Dido and Aeneas" and "West Side Story." Ruth is played by sophomore Mia Scarpa, who has performed in Muhlenberg's "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Crucible." A widely enthusiastic cast of more than 50 complete the company.
