LaCause Is El Gallo in Arena Fantasticks, Set in an Amusement Park, Starting Nov. 20

By Kenneth Jones
November 20, 2009

Arena Stage's new production of The Fantasticks, directed by rising American director Amanda Dehnert, who places the musical in the world of an abandoned amusement park, begins previews Nov. 20 in Washington, DC.

Broadway's Sebastian LaCause plays El Gallo in the fable of love, youth and innocence. Performances of the Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical will play to Jan. 10, 2010, at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC. Opening night is Nov. 27.

The cast also includes Addi McDaniel (Luisa), Timothy Ware (Matt), Michael Stone Forrest (Hucklebee), Jerome Lucas Harmann (Bellomy), Laurence O'Dwyer (Henry), Nate Dendy (The Mute) and Jesse Terrill (Mortimer/The Handyman).

Musical direction is by George Fulginti-Shakar. Set design is by Eugene Lee.

The creative team includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, choreographer Sharon Jenkins, costume designer Jessica Ford, lighting designer Nancy Schertler, sound designer Timothy Thompson and stage manager Martha Knight.

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LaCause appeared in Broadway's The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Chicago, Once Upon a Mattress, Minnelli on Minnelli and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Lincoln Theatre (a borrowed space while Arena refurbishes its main home) is at 1215 U Street, NW Washington, DC.

Visit arenastage.org.