2016 Clay & Wattles Theater Company Season Set to Open at The Gary The Olivia Theater

The 2016 Clay & Wattles Theater Company opens with the Tony-award winning play "Act One," by James Lapine, presented for the first time in Connecticut. The inspirational story is based on the autobiography of the same name by the American theater icon, Moss Hart.

Hart's autobiography is essentially a love letter to the theater. It has initiated thousands of young actors and theatergoers alike into the inner workings of theater life for over 50 years. The play offers a comical and moving behind-the-scenes glimpse at Broadway during the 1920's and 30's. It also chronicles the life of the son of a poor immigrant family from England who moves to the Bronx and becomes one of the most successful playwrights and directors of his time, with hits such as "You Can't Take It with You," "Once In A Life Time."

"Act One" will run from June 10-19 at The Gary The Olivia Theater on the grounds of the Abbey of Regina Laudis, 249 Flanders Road, Bethlehem, CT 06751 with a cast of professional actors from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Recently presented on Broadway at Lincoln Center, starring Tony Shalhoub, Andrea Martin and Santino Fontana, "Act One" is filled with colorful characters, and a compelling theme about the power of determination, hard work and friendship.

This season's musical will be the irrepressible "Zorba," a theatrical gem based on the novel "Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazanzakis. It will be presented from July 30 to Aug. 14. "Zorba the Greek" inspired the popular film starring Anthony Quinn as Zorba and Alan Bates as the teacher and writer Nikos. It is the story of the worker Alexis Zorba, a jack-of-all-trades, and his relationship to Nikos, an American of Greek descent venturing to Greece to reopen a lignite mine on the Island of Crete that he inherited. It features Greek village life, vividly drawn characters, great dancing and hauntingly beautiful melodies. Sets will be designed by noted Woodbury artist Matt Wood.

The final production for the 2016 season will be the Tony-award winning musical, "The Fantasticks," the world's longest-running musical, with 42 years and 17,162 performances to its credit at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York. It will play at The Gary The Olivia Theater from September 17-25. With music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones, it tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play, Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into each other's arms by pretending to feud. Discovering the deception, Luisa and Matt reject the matchmaking. Eventually they reunite, sadder but wiser, and profess a deeper more mature love for one another. Poetic, lyrical, yet surprisingly real, "The Fantasticks" will transport you to another world.

Don't miss "Act One," "Zorba," and "The Fantasticks" at The Gary The Olivia Theater this summer.

Season Subscription Tickets are available online now - along with individual, Senior and Group discounts. Go to www.thegarytheolivia.com for tickets to the Clay & Wattles Theater Company's 2016 Season at The Gary The Olivia Theater.

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