Seated on floor: Elijah Davis & Matthew Cassidy. Seated in chairs: Michael O'Hara, Sasha Saco, Ellen Squier, Jaci D'Ulisse, Kate Skelly & Isaiah Davis. Standing: Sanjay Sharma, John Boccanfusco, Bill Osman, Reise Bridgers, Jim Petro, Dani Tucci-Juraga, Jaimie L. McMillin, Jeff Price, Mort Paterson, Charlotte Gougher & Susan Blair.
Love the holidays? Love a good mystery? If so, the Actors' NET of Bucks County has a musical comedy for you. Actors' NET secured the rights to one of the most beloved holiday musicals available, which will be presented between December 6 and December 22 at the Heritage Center Theatre in Morrisville.
"However," explained NET cofounder and General Manager, Joe Doyle, "because there are other companies in the region doing this show as well, the rights holder set tight restrictions on it. One of the restrictions? The NET cannot advertise the show's title beyond a 25-mile radius from their venue or announce the title on any website except its own."
So, how can a would-be playgoer know what show is being performed?
"For those who want to know the title, we can direct them to our web site: www.actorsnetbucks.org," Doyle explained. "There you can see the exciting news. Or phone us at 215-295-3694. If the title inspires our callers half as much as it does us, both the information and the ticket reservations can be obtained at the same time."
"Believe it or not," Doyle said, "we were given the option of either saying we are producing a beloved holiday musical or using the name of the musical genius behind this great show, which was first a hugely popular film shown annually around this time of year."
Pam Jorgensen of Franklin Park, NJ, directs this holiday classic, which stars Jeff Price of Monmouth Junction, NJ; James Petro of Hamilton, NJ; Jaimie L. McMillin of Bordentown, NJ and Dani Tucci-Juraga of Morrisville, PA, who also choreographs.
"Without violating our agreement with the rights holder, I believe I can safely say that Mort Paterson of Philadelphia also costars as the leading men's former commanding officer, who has retired to run a struggling business establishment. Paterson's real life wife, Susan Blair, portrays the woman who helps the former general run the business."
"Matt South of Levittown, PA, serves as musical director for the show, which features one of the most beloved songs of all time," Doyle noted. "Matt will produce the musical accompaniment live using a flexible, state-of-the art digital program designed to bring the full sound of a Broadway orchestra to little theatres like ours."
Others in the cast of this "mystery musical" include Bill Osman of North Brunswick, NJ; Jeff Hufnagle of Levittown; Matthew Cassidy of Morrisville; Charlotte Gougher of Newtown, PA; Rachel Tovar of Hamilton, NJ; and Laura Egan of Philadelphia.
Members of the singing and dance ensembles include (alphabetically) John Boccanfusco of Yardville, NJ; Reise Bridgers and Wesley Cappiello of Hamilton; Thomas Elijah Davis and Isaiah Davis of Langhorne; Jaci D'Ulisse of Trenton; Michael O'Hara of Yardley, PA; Amanda M. Ramus of Fairless Hills, PA; Sasha Saco of Hamilton; Sanjay Sharma of Langhorne; Kate Skelly of Bordentown; and Ellen Squier of Langhorne.
Cheryl Hufnagle of Levittown stage manages. The lighting design by Jack Bathke of Princeton, NJ is operated by Andrena Wishnie of Morrisville. Set designer is Tami Feist of Yardley.
Show times for all three weeks from December 6 - 22 are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.; additional performances are Thursdays, December 12 and 19 at 8 p.m., with a special Saturday matinee at 2.pm on December 21. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+), $15 for WHYY card members, and $10 for children age 12 and younger. To reserve, phone 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com. The company's website is www.actorsnetbucks.org; Facebook page is www.facebook.com/theactorsnet, and Twitter is @actorsnet.
The Heritage Center Theatre is located at 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge.
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