Promethean Theatre Closes the Curtain on THE FANTASTICKS, 3/21

Promethean Theatre Ensemble will end its current production of The Fantasticks, with music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, directed by ensemble member and new Promethean Theatre Ensemble Artistic Director Beth Wolf, on March 21st.

The musical will feature PTE ensemble members Devon Candura (The Illusion) and Nick Lake (The Last Unicorn, Measure for Measure, The Illusion, and Six Characters in Search of an Author), as well as guest artists Nathan Drackett, Will Hare, Erik Kaiko, Jes Mercer, Michael Reyes and Peter Verdico. Completing the show's artistic team are Aaron Benham (Music Direction), Roger Wykes (Set Design), Christine Ferriter (Lighting Design), and Kendra Bell (Costume Design), as well as PTE ensemble member Sharla K. Nolte as Stage Manager.

The Fantasticks tells the familiar tale of a Boy, a Girl, Two Feuding Fathers, and the Wall between them. A timeless exploration of the bittersweet lessons taught by young love, the show is also renowned for its classic songs, including "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."

The show's minimalist and representational nature fits perfectly with PTE's commitment to using simplicity of design to inspire imagination and bring the audience into the world of the play. As the first musical ever produced by Promethean, it nevertheless presents a major challenge. "I really see this piece as a 'grown-up' love story," says Promethean Artistic Director Beth Wolf. "It's a story about two kids growing up and discovering that having a true partner at your side for a lifetime is better than any fairy tale romance.

The overtly theatrical style of the show really makes the story universal and inspires the audience to use their imaginations. Ultimately, it's a delightful piece of theatre with something honest to say about relationships and the world."

Since their inaugural production of Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy in 2006, Promethean Theatre Ensemble has striven to bring audiences and artists together to collaborate in storytelling. Employing simplicity of design and performance to engage the imagination, the company produces plays rooted in creativity, language and ideas. With the support of its dedicated ensemble, Promethean has gone on to produce Our Country's Good, The Light of Love, Six Characters in Search of an Author, The Illusion (Jeff Recommended), Measure for Measure, The Last Unicorn and their popular Evening of Shakespeare series. The company has also collaborated with the Chicago and Evanston Public Libraries to offer theatre education to teens.

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