YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU Opens 7/25 At Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre

The 18 member cast of the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre's first play of the 2009 season, You Can't Take It With You, under the direction of Michael Evan Haney, opens Saturday July 25th and runs through August 1st.

Five Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on July 25, 26, 29, 30 and August 1. Four evening performances at 8:00 p.m. on July 25, 29, 31, and August 1.

For Tickets visit the website at www.lyceumtheatre.org or call 660-837-3311.

You Can't Take It With You is the 1937 Pulitzer Prize winning comedic play in three acts written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theatre on Broadway in December of 1936 and played for 837 performances. The play was still running on Broadway when the Hollywood film version directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Lionel Barrymore premiered.

The Sycamores are a large, free-spirited, lunatic family who are seemingly living without visible means of support. The Kirbys are a wealthy stuffy family of great self- importance. When romance blossoms between the only sensible Sycamore family member Alice, and the Kirby's son Tony, who is being groomed to head their very successful company, a perfect comedy erupts with both hilarity and wisdom.

Making his Lyceum debut, Michael Rothhaar will be playing the role of Martin Vanderhoff, the head of the Sycamore household and Grandfather to Alice. Michael's distinguished acting career includes the Broadway productions of The Front Page and The Corn Is Green. He is also a past Artistic Director at the Pennsylvania Allenberry Playhouse. Michael's television credits include Cold Case, The Practice, NYPD Blue, and Ally McBeal to name a few.

Peggy Billo returns to the Lyceum stage playing the part of Penelope Sycamore, daughter to Martin Vanderhoff and mother to Alice. Peggy last appeared at the Lyceum as Mrs. Norman in Children Of A Lesser God. Peggy's acting talents have been showcased in several Missouri theaters including STAGES ST. LOUIS, New Jewish Theatre, Muddy Waters and the Ozark Actor's Theatre. In Los Angeles Peggy appeared in BunBury and The Pagans. Her television credits include 3rd Rock From The Sun, 7th Heaven, and Bold & Beautiful.

Ashlee LaPine has quickly become a Lyceum favorite this season. Her roles have included playing Grace Farrell in Annie, Mrs. Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! and now she takes on the role of Alice in You Can't Take It With You. Ashlee's recent credits include Helen In Winesburg, Ohio at the Kansas City Rep, and Emily in Our Town at the Coterie Theatre.

Todd Carlton Lanker is making his Lyceum debut in You Can't Take It With You playing the role of Tony Kirby, Alice Sycamore's love interest. A few of Todd's many credits include playing the title role in Hamlet with the two/thirds Theatre Project, Pontius Pilate in the world premiere of The Master and Margarita, and George Gibbs in Our Town at the Coterie Theatre.

The Lyceum Theatre welcomes back David Girolmo, last seen as Oliver Warbucks in Annie, will play Mr. Kirby, Tony's father in You Can't Take It With You. The part of Mrs. Kirby will be played by Amy Warner. Ms. Warner's stage credits include Desiree in A Little Night Music, Gertrude in Hamlet, and Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf .

Returning to the Lyceum stage is Ron Wisniski, most recently see as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! Mr. Wisniski plays the Russian dance instructor, Boris Kolenkhov, a dear friend to the Sycamore family. Ron's many credits number more than 100 plays and musicals including National Tours and Off-Broadway productions.

Also returning to the Lyceum for her third season is Mallory Hawks, playing Essie Carmichael, daughter of Penelope and Paul Sycamore and sister to Alice. Ms. Hawks was most recently seen in Arrow Rock playing Jo March in Little Women the Musical

Rounding out the incredibly talented cast will be Lyceum Favorite Alan Knoll as Paul Sycamore; Chioma Ayanwu, as Rheba the Sycamore's maid; Harold Hynick as Mr. De Pinna, Lyceum Artisitic Director Quin Gresham as Ed, Leo Christopher Sheridan as Donald, Andrew Wells, Wade Hughes and Steve Bertani.
Directing You Can't Take It With You is Michael Evan Haney. Mr. Haney comes to the Lyceum from Cincinnati where he serves as Associate Artistic Director for the Tony-award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

The production team includes: Caitlin Ayer, Scenic Designer; Randy B. Winder, Lighting Designer; Garth Dunbar, Costume Designer; Ryan Hall, Sound Designer; Tony Dearing, Production Stage Manager and Emilee Buchheit, Assistant Stage Manager.

 

 

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