Hershey Area Playhouse Kicks Off 2017 Season with COMPANY

Kicking off its 2017 season, Hershey Area Playhouse is proud to present Stephen Sondheim's musical Company, a story of a marriage-avoiding bachelor named Robert, his experiences with his married friends, and the three women he has been dating.

Set in New York City during 1970, the story takes place on Robert's 35th birthday. Throughout the show, he interacts with his married friends and dates single women to determine what he wants for his future. Through a series of vignettes, writer George Furth carries the audience from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. Nominated for 14 Tony Awards, the show focuses on the then-to-be-considered radical ideals of marriage and relationships of the 1970s.

"It has been an absolute joy working on this show," said Company director Joseph Chubb. "I wanted to make sure that the story was told with a focus on the characters and their relationships with minimal set and props. This "bare bones" style, in my opinion, is the best way to tell this story and convey a relatable message to the viewer, letting them really focus on the story. This show will make you think."

Bringing this popular musical to life, the cast members of Company include: Tony Barber as Paul; Kayla Capone as April; Renee Ciardullo as Marta; TJ Creedon as Robert; Natalie DeSantis as Jenny; Heidi Freeland-Trail as Amy; Shawn Graci as Joanne; Wesley Hemmann as David; Aubrey Kyler as Sarah; Kaylor Long as the Waiter; John Messmer as Larry; Valerie Lynn Schrader as Susan; Andrew Sterling as Harry; Amber Zambrana as Kathy; and Travis Allen Zimmerman as Peter.

In addition to Chubb, production staff members for Company include: Michele Robertson, producer; Rick Kopecky, assistant director; Mary Butler George, music director; Emily Drobnock, choreographer; Sarah Scholl, stage manager; Tim Banis and Gretchen Van Scyoc, sound engineers; Daniel Bixler, lighting designer; Carlton Hoke and Jeff Miller, set design and construction; Caleb M. Stelle, pit conductor; Roxanne Hennessy, costumer; Laurie Miller Peterson, fight director; and Thomas Labagh, production assistant.

Experience the powerful and poetic songs of Sondheim's Company, running Feb. 16-19 and Feb. 23-26, 2017. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday performances begin at 2 p.m. Please note: This production may not be appropriate for children.

Tickets are $23 for teens/adults and $20 for those ages 12 and under. Tickets are available by visiting www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com or by calling The Playhouse's box office at 717-533-8525.

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