Altemus to Succeed Spangler in The Fantasticks Off-Broadway

By Adam Hetrick
07 Dec 2009

Erik Altemus will join the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks at the Snapple Theatre Center beginning Dec. 14.



Altemus, who was seen in the Musical Theatre Guild of Los Angeles’ production of Parade, will take over for current cast member Nick Spangler in the role of Matt. Spangler will play his final performance in the Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical Dec. 13.

The Fantasticks will also welcome Matt Leisy to the role of The Mute on Dec. 28. Leisy succeeds Douglas Ullman Jr., who exits the production Dec. 27.

The current cast of The Fantasticks includes Lewis Cleale, Kimberly Whalen, MacIntyre Dixon, Tom Flagg, Gene Jones, Michael Nostrand, Evy Ortiz and Steve Routman.

Book writer and lyricist Tom Jones staged the revival of The Fantasticks, which has choreography by Janet Watson and musical direction by Robert Felstein.

The Fantasticks resumed performances Off-Broadway at the Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater June 16, 2008. The musical began a winter hiatus Feb. 24, 2008, following 27 previews and 628 regular performances at the Orbach Theater.

The Fantasticks, according to press notes "is a captivating and simple love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. The audience uses its imagination to follow El Gallo as he creates a world of moonlight and magic, and then pain and disillusionment, until the boy and girl find their way back to one other." Songs from the popular musical include "Try to Remember," "They Were You," "Much More," "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and "I Can See It."

The Fantasticks is the world's longest-running musical, having 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.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or by calling (212) 307-4100. The Snapple Theater Center is located at 210 West 50th Street at Broadway.