Surflight Theatre Presents I DO! I DO!, Opens Tonight

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Roy Miller and Executive Producer Timothy Laczynski, continues its 2011 season with I Do! I Do!, the Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt musical based on The Fourposter by Jan De Hartog.

Directed by Nancy Robillard (Surflight's "Love Letters"), this well-loved classic by the creators of The Fantasticks, spans five decades in the life of a married couple - from the nervousness of their wedding day to the wisdom of old age. The production is choreographed by Sharon Halley with musical direction by Jeremy Randall. I Do! I Do! performs from August 24 through September 4, 2011. Opening night is Wednesday, August 24 at 8:00 p.m.

The story of Michael and Agnes and their 50 years of marriage famously takes place around a large four-poster bed and introduced the standard, "My Cup Runneth Over." Written as a star vehicle for theater legends Mary Martin and Robert Preston, the original Broadway production of I Do! I Do! received seven Tony Award nominations, with Preston winning Best Actor. Since then, such luminaries as Carol Lawrence and Robert Goulet, Carol Burnett and Rock Hudson, Lee Remick and Hal Linden, and Karen Ziemba and David Garrison have enjoyed success in the musical two-hander.

And now the Surflight's "cup runneth over" as Amy Bodnar (Broadway's Ragtime (original production) and Oklahoma!) and Craig Waletzko (Broadway's Young Frankenstein and Monty Python's Spamalot) take their turn at this funny and heartwarming musical about the joy, struggles, humor and passion that is every marriage.

The creative team also includes Andrew Reidemann (scenic design), Caitlin Reed (costume design), Marciel Greene (lighting design), Nevin Steinberg (sound design), Tae Jong Park (sound engineer), and Amanda Kosack (production stage manager).

Harvey Schmidt (music) and Tom Jones (book and lyrics) are the authors of over a dozen Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals including The Fantasticks (the world's longest-running musical and currently on stage in NYC), 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, and Celebration.

I Do! I Do! opened at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers) December 5, 1966, and ran for 561 performances. It received an Off-Broadway revival at the Lamb's Theatre in 1996 and starred Karen Ziemba and David Garrison.

Nancy Robillard's directing credits include extensive work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional and summer theatre. Robillard has directed a number of world premieres including Fast Break (Culture Project), Honor and the River (Luna Stage) Rosemary & I with Olympia Dukakis (Metro Stage) and Unsinkable Women (Walnut Street Theatre and National Tour). New York productions: Culture Project, Vital Theatre, Directors Company, Algonquin Theatre, Theatre for the New City, and HERE. Regional: the Kennedy Center, Walnut Street Theatre, MetroStage, Northern Stage, Luna Stage, Open Stage of Harrisburg, Gateway Playhouse, Keystone Rep, and Tri-Arts. On Broadway Robillard was assistant director to Mike Ockrent on Big, and Alan Arkin on Taller than a Dwarf. She also assisted Alan Arkin on the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Power Plays. Robillard has an MFA in directing from Illinois State University (home of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre) and has taught acting and directing at several colleges. Currently she works with emerging writers in the MFA program at NYU. This fall she will direct the world premiere of the musical Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup by John Pielmeier and Matty Selman, which will open in Boulder, CO.

Surflight Theatre, 201 Engleside Avenue, is located in historic Beach Haven, New Jersey. I DO! I DO! performances are Wednesday, August 24 at 2pm and 8pm; Thursday, August 25 at 2pm and 8pm; Friday, August 26 at 8pm; Saturday, August 27 at 8pm; Sunday, August 28 at 2pm and 8pm; Tuesday, August 30 at 2pm and 8pm; Wednesday, August 31 at 2pm; Thursday, September 1 at 2pm and 8pm; Friday, September 2 at 8pm; Saturday, September 3 at 8pm; and Sunday, September 4 at 2pm. Tickets are $36-$54. Tickets are available online at www.surflight.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Surflight box office, by phone at 609-492-9477. For groups (15 or more) call: 609-492-9477 x201.

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