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Robin Hood, the New Musical by Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan and Peter Sipos, Premieres in Seattle Area Dec. 10
By Kenneth Jones
29 Sep 2004
Village Theatre in remote Issaquah, Washington will offer the premiere of the new musical, Robin Hood: The Legend Continues, by two of Broadway's biggest names.
Lyricist Martin Charnin (Annie, Two by Two), librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers) and composer Peter Sipos will see their new creation, on its feet at Village Theatre's First Stage Dec. 10-23.
Charnin will direct the new swashbuckling musical that sets the action 20 years after the "Robin Hood" story that's well-known (stealing from the rich, giving to the poor, and all that). Now, the children of Robin and his Merry Men get to interact with their parents (and each other).
David Maddux will musical direct. The cast of Robin Hood: The Legend Continues will feature Shelly Burch as Maid Marian, Hugh Hastings as Robin Hood, Katherine Strohmaier as Elizabeth, Allan Barlow as King John, Greta Bloor as Queen Isabella, Brian Higham as Will Scarlett, Brian Earp as Will Scarlett Jr., Dough Fahl as Big Little Jonn, Ian Lindsay as Friar Tuck Jr., Paul Klein as Alan a Dale, Don Collins as Basingstoke, Frank Kohel as Phink, Stephen Grenley as Nottingham and Ty Willis, Allen Galli, Eric Hartley, Charity Parenzini, Tyler Rhoades, Maggie Stenson, Mo Brady, Harry Turpin.
Robin Hood: The Legend Continues launches Village Theatre's 2004-05 Village Originals season. The staging is billed as a "world premiere developmental production," which suggests the authors are looking at the show as a test of their material.
According to Village Theatre, "This rollicking romp of a musical picks up the story 20 years later: Robin Hood and his Merry Men are two decades older, now with offspring as ribald and rabble-rousing as they once were. Disguise and intrigue, knockabout humor and swashbuckling adventure, and rousing music make this a wise, witty, wonderful take on a beloved tale."
After two readings of the script, and after some script and score tweaks, the authors "were ready for a developmental production," Village announced. "The team felt very strongly about the need to get the show up on its feet in front of an audience."
Charnin said in a statement, "We were missing that last collaborator — the final collaborator is the audience. We can create three of the walls — back stage, stage right, and stage left — but that fourth wall can only be created by the audience."
Sipos and Charnin previously worked on a musical version of the Joan of Arc story. For more information about Sipos, visit www.petersipos.com.
Designers will be Alex Berry (scenic and lighting) and Deborah Skorstad (costume).
NETworks executive producer Ken Gentry previously confirmed his company was interested in shepherding the show in the future, perhaps to a touring life.
Meehan and Charnin created the smash-hit, Annie, together. Charnin also penned lyrics for Annie Warbucks and Two by Two. Meehan won a Tony Award in 2001 for co-writing the libretto for The Producers and a 2003 Tony for co-writing the libretto for Hairspray (and also won the Tony for Annie). He is also a contributor to the new Broadway musical, Bombay Dreams.
First Stage is at 120 Front Street North in Issaquah, WA.
Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM. Tickets $16-$20. For information, call (425) 392-2202 or visit www.villagetheatre.org.
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