Totem Pole Playhouse's 2015 Season to Include THE NERD, GREASE & More

Totem Pole Playhouse, America's beloved summer theatre located in Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, has announced a slate of two large cast Broadway musicals, an acclaimed one-man show from PBS, the return of a beloved farce, and the World Premiere of a tribute concert featuring the music of Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline as part of the playhouse's 65th summer season of continuous operation. For the third year in a row, the Franklin County Visitor's Bureau acts as the season's sponsor.

Opening the season will be the return of one of the most popular and successful comedies in Totem Pole's 65 year history, The Nerd, May 29 through June 14. The comedy about an unexpected guest who turns out to be a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence, and even less tact set box office records 27 years ago when it first played Totem Pole. David Hemsley Caldwell will direct the comedy. Michael Donovan Casting (MDC) in Los Angeles, CA is currently working on casting the production. MDC cast Melissa Gilbert in last season hit Steel Magnolias. F & M Trust is the sole sponsor for the production.

The Broadway musical, Shenandoah, directed by Totem Pole Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, Rowan Joseph, will run from June 19 through July 5. Chad-Alan Carr, Artistic Director of the Gettysburg Community Theatre will choreograph. The award-winning Broadway musical ran for over 1,000 performances, winning several Tony Awards.

Based on the well-known film starring Jimmy Stewart, Shenandoah tells the story of a strong willed Virginia farmer trying to keep his family neutral as the Civil War rages around them. The musical will feature a cast of 24 actors and is suitable for the entire family.

Twenty five years ago this year, acclaimed stage, screen, television, and as a voiceover actor, Granville Van Dusen, premiered his one man play, The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg College's Kline Theater. The original production was directed by Academy Award-winning film director, Delbert Mann. During the last 25 years, Mr. Van Dusen has performed the play to great critical success across the U.S. and for the PBS network. This third offering in Totem Pole Playhouse 2015 season runs from July 10 through July 26 and will mark Mr. Van Dusen's final performance of the play, coming full circle and ending where it all began. The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg is sponsoring the return production which will also mark the 150th Anniversary of the death of President Abraham Lincoln.

Presented for the first time at Totem Pole Playhouse, Grease, the long-running Broadway musical which became a smash box office movie will close out the regular 4-show subscription season running from July 31 through August 16. The show will feature such hits as "Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", and "You're the One That I Want." New York director/choreographer Nathaniel Shaw will stage the show. Totem Pole's musical director for the season, Darren Server, will handle the musical chores and lead the band for the show. The production has themes and dialogue which are not appropriate for audience members under the age of 12. The co-sponsors for the show are Walker, Connor, & Spang, L.L.C. and Edward Jones.

In addition to the 4-show regular season, Totem Pole will also offer the world premiere of a special tribute concert, Lovesick Blues, featuring the music of country western legends Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline. Totem Pole audience favorite, Robbie Limon, will portray Williams and Denise Patton who worked on last season's Johnny Cash musical, Ring of Fire, will return to play Cline.

Backed by a 6 piece band, the duo will cover dozens of classic country western hits made popular by each singer as well as several duets of songs which had been sung by both artists. The show will run from August 18 through August 23 and for 8 performances only. Ticket prices range from $50.00 to $30.00. M & T Bank serves as the show's sponsor.

Subscription prices which had been substantially lowered last season from the previous year will remain the same. In addition, a FLEX subscription plan will be offered whereby subscribers have the flexibility to choose the performance they wish to attend rather than be locked into a set date for each production. The popular FLEX subscription plan had been discontinued during the 2013 season.

For the second year in a row Totem Pole will also offer any unsold seats one-half hour before each curtain for $10.00 each to anyone 16 to 22 with a valid driver's license or ID.

Also new this season in addition to a line-up of Broadway and TV stars, union, non-union, and Equity Membership Candidates (EMC) Totem Pole is actively seeking local actors for roles in both musicals. For Shenandoah they are seeking two boys 10 to 13 years old, one Caucasian and one African American, for the leading roles of 'Robert' and 'Gabriel' and a few 25 to 40 year old men and women for small chorus parts. For Grease they are seeking 20 to 26 year olds for several of the smaller roles and chorus parts. Auditions will be Saturday, March 28th from 10am to 12pm for boys ages 10 to 13 and 1pm to 3pm for 20 to 26 year olds interested in being in Grease. Some roles will be paid a small performance stipend.

Those interested in subscribing to the season or purchasing tickets for single shows may do so either on line through Totem Pole's website at www.totempoleplayhouse.org or by calling the playhouse's box office Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm at (717) 352-2164.

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