A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Set for Two River Theater

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the full cast and creative team for its production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Tony Award-winning musical farce written by comedy giants Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music and lyrics by theater legend Stephen Sondheim. The director is Jessica Stone (Absurd Person Singular), the choreographer is Denis Jones (Honeymoon in Vegas), and the musical director is Gary Adler (Avenue Q).

Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, November 14 and continue through Sunday, December 13. The opening night performance is Friday, November 20 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. The lead production sponsor is Riverview Medical Center.

Inspired by Stone's acclaimed 2010 Williamstown Theatre Festival production-and with a wink and a nod to Plautus-Forum will feature an all-male company of actors led by two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Broadway's An Act of God, the original cast of Wicked) as Pseudolus and Drama Desk Award winner Michael Urie (Buyer & Cellar, Ugly Betty) as Hysterium.

Also featured in the cast are Paul Castree (9 to 5, Young Frankenstein), Eddie Cooper (Little Shop of Horrors, Banshee), Tom Deckman (A Wind in the Willows Christmas, Spamalot), Kevin Isola (My Wonderful Day, Brooklyn Boy), David Josefsberg (Honeymoon in Vegas, Altar Boyz), Max Kumangai (Lysistrata Jones, Boardwalk Empire), Graham Rowat (Mamma Mia!, Guys and Dolls), Manny Stark (Smash, On the Town), Bobby Conte Thornton (Comedy of Tenors, Grease), and David Turner (Arcadia, Sunday in the Park with George).

Director Jessica Stone made her Two River Theater debut last season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular. Her other directing credits include Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (The Old Globe and Huntington Theatre Company); June Moon (Williamstown); Arms and the Man (The Old Globe); and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Bucks County Playhouse). Previously, she worked as an actor for 20 years, appearing on Broadway in Anything Goes with Sutton Foster, Butley with Nathan Lane, and The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

Choreographer Denis Jones most recently choreographed Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical (Dallas Theater Center) and Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn (Goodspeed Opera House, The Muny). His Broadway credits include Honeymoon in Vegas.

Music Director Gary Adler received two 2005 Drama Desk nominations for his music and lyrics for the Off-Broadway show Altar Boyz. As a musical director, his credits include Avenue Q.

The creative team includes scenic designer Alexander Dodge, costume designer Clint Ramos, lighting designers Jeff Croiter & Jake DeGroot, and sound designer Drew Levy. The projection designer is Aaron Rhyne, the orchestrator is Joshua Clayton, and the hair and makeup designer is David Bova. The casting is by Adam Caldwell, and the production stage manager is Libby Unsworth.

Ticket prices range from $37 to $65, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $20 and include the best available seats at every performance. Tickets are available from tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.

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