Goodspeed's Forum, With Heller, Scherer, Baker and Gutzi, Begins Sept. 25

By Kenneth Jones
25 Sep 2009

Forum's Laura Keller and Adam Heller (seated) with Kara Kimmer and Semhar Ghebremichael
Forum's Laura Keller and Adam Heller (seated) with Kara Kimmer and Semhar Ghebremichael
Photo by Diane Sobolewski

Adam Heller is Pseudolus, and John Scherer is his slapstick sidekick, Hysterium, in Goodspeed Musicals' new production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, beginning Sept. 25 at Goodspeed Opera House.

The run in East Haddam, CT, plays to Nov. 29. Opening night is Oct. 21.

Goodspeed executive producer Michael P. Price produces the revival of the musical by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim and librettists Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Heller appeared in Off-Broadway's Make Me a Song and Merrily We Roll Along, and in Broadway's A Class Act and Victor/Victoria. Scherer starred in Goodspeed's By Jeeves, which moved to Broadway. He also appeared in Broadway's LoveMusik and Sunset Boulevard.

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Here's how Goodspeed bills the Ancient Roman-set musical comedy: "Screamingly funny! Downright hilarious! Comedy reigns when a thoroughly disarming slave named Pseudolus schemes to gain his freedom by helping his master's son get the girl he desires. It's an accelerating whirl of mixed identities, swinging doors, double takes, double entendres, outrageous puns and gags that will keep you laughing all the way home."

Forum won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Musical and features the famous opening number, "Comedy Tonight." It opened on Broadway in 1962, and was revived in 1996 starring Nathan Lane.

Ted Pappas, producing artistic director of Pittsburgh Public Theater, directs and choreographs Forum.

The cast also includes Sam Pinkleton as Hero, Emily Thompson as Philia, David Wohl as Senex, Ron Wisniski as Marcus Lycus, Mary Gutzi as Domina, Tony Award nominee (for Candide in the 1970s) Mark Baker as Erronius and Nat Chandler as Miles Gloriosus.

Members of the ensemble include Jason Babinsky, Kurt Domoney, Semhar Ghebremichael, Laura Keller, Kara Kimmer, Steve Konopelski, Stephanie Lynn Nelson, Abbey O'Brien, Krista Saab and swings Michael Biren and Emily Susanne Franklin.

The production team includes scenic designer James Noone, costume designer Martha Bromelmeier, lighting designer Kirk Bookman, music director Michael O'Flaherty, assistant music director William J. Thomas and orchestrator Dan DeLange.

For more information, visit goodspeed.org.