Watts to Join Cast of Off-Broadway's The Fantasticks

By Adam Hetrick
09 Mar 2010

Edward Watts
Edward Watts

Edward Watts will succeed Lewis Cleale as El Gallo in the Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks at the Snapple Theater Center.

Recently seen in the Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow, Watts will begin performances in The Fantasticks March 22. Cleale will depart March 14.

The current cast of includes Kimberly Whalen, Erik Altemus, MacIntyre Dixon, Tom Flagg, Gene Jones, Michael Nostrand, Evy Ortiz, Scott Willis and Steve Routman.

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

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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 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.