CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Will Fly Into Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre

Coming to The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre this spring is the area's regional theatre premiere production of the high-Flying Musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The family friendly production, based on the classic film, was announced as part of the theatre's 2017 Mainstage Season last year by producers. The musical will take flight at the area's only year-round producing theatre beginning April 7th.

In the show, everyone's favorite flying car comes to life on stage as an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself. The family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Childcatcher.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, written by Roald Dahl and based on Ian Fleming's novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car, flew onto the silver screen in 1968. The film starred Dick Van Dyke as the loveable inventor Caractacus Potts. The movie was the perfect family film, receiving positive reviews from almost all of the critics. But the Box Office spoke to its true success, coming in as the 10th most popular film of 1969. The movie's theme song, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," was even nominated for an Academy Award.

The magical flying car made its stage debut when the musical adaptation opened at the London Palladium on April 16, 2002. British stage star Michael Ball took on the role of Caractacus Potts, with 19-year-old newcomer Emma Williams as Truly Scrumptious.

Five months before the show closed in London's West End, a Broadway production opened at the Hilton Theatre in April 2005. The Broadway transfer was lead by Raul Esparza as Caractacus and included other notable stage performers including Philip Bosco as Grandpa, Marc Kudisch as Baron Bomburst, Jan Maxwell as the Baroness, and Chip Zien as Goran, the Vulgarian spy. The production received five Tony Award nominations, including ones for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical.

Subsequent tours launched in both the U.K. and U.S. but Way Off Broadway's production will be the area's first regional theatre production.

The cast of Way Off Broadway's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has brought a number of the theatre's leading players together for the production. In the role of Caractacus Potts, made famous by Dick Van Dyke, is Jeremy Trammelle who starred as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks' The Producers at WOB. Truly Scrumptious will be played by Sarah Melinda whose most notable role at the dinner theatre was as Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita. Grandpa Potts will be brought to life by Brian Lyons-Burke who last season had audiences rolling in the aisles as the hilarious King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot. Reuniting to play Baron and Baroness Bomburst are Jordan B. Stocksdale and Jessica Billones, respectively, who last appeared opposite one another as Gomez and Morticia in the theatre's smash-hit 2015 production of The Addams Family.

The cast also includes Joseph Waeyaert and T.W. Oriavéer as the Vulgarian spy duo, Boris and Goran; Samn Huffer as the Toymaker; and Trey T. Kiska as the Childcatcher. PatRick Ford and Keller Kngiht will share the role of Jeremy Potts, Caractacus' son, while Katharine Ford and Olivia Manos share the role of his daughter, Jemima.

Rounding out the cast are Hannah-Mae Burnette, Shaylee Chubin, Daniel Hafer, Michael Hudson, Johnna Leary, Amanda Schrider, Laura Walling, and Madison Ways.

The show has music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and was adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams from the 1968 MGM motion picture. Way Off Broadway's production will be directed by Justin M. Kiska, with choreography by Mallory Rome, and music direction by Jordan B. Stocksdale.

"This is without a doubt one of the most technical shows we've ever done," says Bill Kiska, Way Off Broadway's Executive Producer. "People are coming expecting to see Chitty fly. And they will think she's flying."

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs from April 7 - June 3, 2017, with performances every Friday and Saturday evening, and matinees on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday of each month.

Tickets on a Friday evening or one of the Sunday matinees are $45, with Saturday evening tickets being $48. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Box Office at (301) 662-6600. To learn more about the show, or any of Way Off Broadway's productions, visit www.wayoffbroadway.com.

Following Chitty Chitty Bang Bang this summer will be Happy Days - The Musical, based on the popular 70's television series by Garry Marshall.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, will celebrate its 25th Silver Anniversary Season in 2019. Since it first opened in 1995, the theatre has been a leader in the area's theatre community, proudly bringing both classic musicals, as well as regional and area premieres to the Frederick stage. Productions have included Monty Python's Spamalot, Noises Off, The Addams Family, Les Misérable, Sunset Boulevard, Legally Blonde, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, The Music Man, Jekyll & Hyde, Hairspray, South Pacific, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty, Mel Brooks' The Producers, CATS, The Wedding Singer, Evita, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, La Cage aux Folles, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Annie, Bye Bye, Birdie, The King & I, ...Forum, Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph..., Blood Brothers, Mame, and 42nd Street. Way Off Broadway is also the home of a one-of-a-kind children's lunch theatre, offering entertainment for the entire family, giving children a chance to see their favorite characters live on stage. In addition to its regular season, the theatre produces a number of special events throughout the year including an annual Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus) and an interactive mysteries series. Visit www.wayoffbroadway.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.