The Apple Tree, a musical comedy at Crown City Theatre Company, is extended through July 26th. Half-price tickets are now available July 4th weekend.
The Apple Tree is an evening of three funny, poignant and fascinating one-act musicals about men, women and temptation with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick (the team that created Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me and The Rothschilds), and a book by Bock and Harnick with contributions from Jerome Coopersmith. Each act has its own storyline, but all three are tied together by a common theme (the temptation is often greater then the reward). The first act is based on Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve; the second act is based on Frank R. Stockton's The Lady or the Tiger?; the third act is based on Jules Feiffer's Passionella.
Mostly done as a vehicle for 3 stars it opened on October 18, 1966, on Broadway starring Barbara Harris (Tony Award for Best Actress), Alan Alda (nominated Best Actor), and Larry Blyden. Other major Tony nominations included: Bock and Harnick for Best Composer and Lyricist, Mike Nichols for Best Direction of a Musical and the show itself for Best Musical.
By using a single actress and actor to play the lead in each one-act the original production tried to tie the 3 entities together.
However, UNIQUE TO THIS PRODUCTION is having different actresses and actors in the lead for each one-act as well as a different director. We at Crown City hope that this arrangement makes it more of an ensemble piece that shows off each playlet to its full potential as well as making its universal theme of temptation more accessible to modern audiences.
3 one-act musical comedies by the writers of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. ACT ONE - Based on Mark Twain's "The Diary of Adam and Eve". ACT TWO - Based on Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady and The Tiger". ACT THREE - Based on Jules Feiffer's "Passionella". Under 2 hour run time, with 2 short intermissions. Fun for the whole family! Book, Music and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, Additional book material by Jerome Coopersmith, Originally directed on Broadway by Mike Nichols and produced by Stuart Ostrow, Originally starring Alan Alda and Barbara Harris. No one under 8 years old will be admitted.
Crown City Theatre Company produced "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" musical at St. Matthew's (in the Sanctuary) December 9th, 2007 through February 17th, 2008 and "I'm Just Wild About Harry" in their new space at the church May 9th through August 3rd. Harry was given the critics pick as one of the top musicals of the year by Stagehappenings.com. Their most recent musical "A Chicago Christmas Carol" also garnered Joanne McGee top honors as an actress by Stagehappenings.com. Their first season in their new space also included a "50's 60's Rockin' Tribute: Twist and Shout" to packed houses and "12th Night" which was rated at 3.7 out of 4 stars by Goldstar attendees and had great reviews by all the critics that attended. Crown City also produced the Pasadena Free Shakespeare in Memorial Park from 2005 to 2007 and were formerly known as La Petite Musicale, which produced the Nevada Shakespeare Festival in Henderson, Nevada under that production banner for eight years as well as producing "The Boys From Syracuse" at the Excalibur Theatre in Studio City (Nominated by Les Spindel as "Best Production of the Year") and "Godspell" also at the Excalibur (where they placed it in the inner city, starring Rodney Hicks from the Broadway production of "Rent").
Crown City Theatre Company is a professional theatre company performing on the campus of St. Matthew's Church conveniently located in North Hollywood.http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/theatreweb/crowncity.htm
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