Fantasticks Revival to Open One Week Later

By Andrew Gans
09 Aug 2006

(l.-r.) Sara Jean Ford, Douglas Ullman, Jr. and Santino Fontana in the revival of The Fantasticks
(l.-r.) Sara Jean Ford, Douglas Ullman, Jr. and Santino Fontana in the revival of The Fantasticks
Photo by Joan Marcus

The revival of The Fantasticks, which had been scheduled to officially open Aug. 16, will now open one week later, on Aug. 23.

The delay of the production, which began previews July 29 at the Snapple Theater Center, is due to the arrival of two new cast members. Burke Moses recently replaced James Moye in the role of El Gallo, and Robert R. Oliver is temporarily playing the part of Mortimer while MacIntyre Dixon recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.

According to a press statement, "The producers of the new production of The Fantasticks announced today that the show will now open one week later than originally planned in order to provide additional rehearsal time and preview performances for two cast members who recently joined the company."

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, Douglas Ullman, Jr. as The Mute, Thomas Bruce (Tom Jones) as Henry and Martin Vidnovic as Bellomy.

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.

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.