The Fantasticks Revival Begins Performances July 29 | Playbill

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News The Fantasticks Revival Begins Performances July 29 The revival of the world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks, begins performances at the Snapple Theater Center July 29. Co-creator Tom Jones — billed as "Thomas Bruce" — will portray Henry, the role he originated in the show's premiere run.

The cast of the classic Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical also features Leo Burmester as Hucklebee, Santino Fontana as Matt, Sara Jean Ford as Luisa, James Moye as El Gallo, Douglas Ullman, Jr. as The Mute and Martin Vidnovic as Bellomy. Directed by co-creator Jones, The Fantasticks will officially open Aug. 16.

Due to a recent injury, MacIntyre Dixon, who had been scheduled to play the role of Mortimer, will miss the first six weeks of the musical's run. During that time his role will be played by Robert R. Oliver.

The Fantasticks, according to press notes, "tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, but soon grow restless and stray from one another. Will their separation provide a deeper appreciation for the love they once shared or create a permanent gulf between them?" Song titles include "Try to Remember," "Much More" and "I Can See It."

The coming-of-age fable is the world's longest-running musical, and played a record-breaking run of more than 17,000 performances in Greenwich Village. The Fantasticks originally opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in May 1960 and closed Jan. 13, 2002. The original company included Wedding Singer star Rita Gardner and the late Jerry Orbach. Harvey Schmidt wrote the music, and Tom Jones penned the book and lyrics. Word Baker directed the original Off-Broadway company.

Leo Burmester has appeared on Broadway in Urban Cowboy, Les Misérables, Big River, The Civil War, Thou Shalt Not, Raggedy Ann, Buried Child and Ah, Wilderness! MacIntyre Dixon's Broadway credits include Gypsy, The Crucible, Getting and Spending, 1776, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Tempest, Beauty and the Beast, 3 Penny Opera, Broadway Bound, Alice in Wonderland, Once in a Lifetime, Over Here!, Twigs, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Paul Sills' Story Theatre, Cop-Out and Xmas in Las Vegas.

The Fantasticks marks Santino Fontana's New York City debut. He recently appeared in the title role in the Guthrie's production of Hamlet and has also performed in productions of As You Like It, A Christmas Carol, Six Degrees of Separation, Death of a Salesman and Love's Labor's Lost.

Sara Jean Ford understudied the roles of Glinda and Nessarose in the Chicago production of Wicked.

James Moye has appeared on Broadway in The Full Monty and Urinetown as well as the national tour of Little Shop of Horrors.

Robert R. Oliver has been seen Off-Broadway in Tony n' Tina's Wedding and The Fantasticks and has over 70 stage and screen credits. Among his favorite roles are Pete in Girl Crazy (opposite Lorna Luft), Hysterium in Forum (Carbonell Award Honorable Mention) and Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

Douglas Ullman, Jr. starred in the Asian tour of The Sound of Music and has also been seen in productions of Cabaret, Godspell, Grease and Ragtime.

A 1981 Tony nominee for his work in Brigadoon, Martin Vidnovic has appeared on Broadway in Home Sweet Homer, The King and I, Oklahoma!, Baby, Guys and Dolls, A Grand for Singing and King David.

The Fantasticks plays Mondays at 8:30 PM, Wednesdays at 2:30 PM, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:30 and 8:30 PM and Sundays at 3:30 and 7:30 PM. Tickets, priced at $75, are available by calling (212) 307-4100.

The Snapple Theater Center is located at 210 West 50th Street at Broadway.

 
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