Gone With The Wind Spoof I'LL NEVER BE HUNGRY AGAIN Plays The Mountain 6/2-6/14

The Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown is kicking off the 2009 anniversary season with an adaptation of another 70th anniversary celebrant, the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind. I'll Never Be Hungry Again is a musical spoof that takes the sweeping drama and classic romance and turns it on its head. The play focuses on David, a black University of Michigan graduate student who has to read Gone With the Wind for a Southern literature class. After a night of partying, David passes out mid-book, awakening to find himself at the plantation home of ‘Starlett' O'Hara herself. What follows is a laughter-filled irreverent look at David's experiences as he gets sucked into one of America's most famous romances.

In crafting the 70th anniversary season, Producer Teresa Stoughton Marafino says, "We looked for highly entertaining shows for our 70th anniversary. Coincidentally, the most famous movie of all time, Gone With the Wind, premiered the same year of our 1939 opening. So, the musical spoof I'll Never be Hungry Again, based on the famous line in the show, was a natural selection."

Marafino says she is also excited to have three of the principals from the Barter Theatre's 2005 world premiere of I'll Never be Hungry Again, including actress Seana Hollingsworth (who originated the role of ‘Starlett' O'Hara) and her husband, Jim Hollingsworth, who makes his Playhouse debut as musical director and pianist for the show. Frank Taylor Green makes his Mountain Playhouse debut reviving the role of David which he originated at the Barter.

Paul Domencic (‘Whett' Butler) and Larry Tobias (‘Ghastly' Wilkes) both return to star in the show along with Ashley Puckett Gonzales (‘Smelanie' Hamilton) who is making her Mountain Playhouse debut.

John Hardy is making his directorial debut at the Mountain Playhouse. Over the course of a thirty year career in professional theater, Hardy has directed over one hundred professional productions in all styles and genres from Macbeth to the musical Man of La Mancha. He recently received the Sara Spencer Award, for lifetime achievement, from the Southeastern Theatre Conference. He received his MFA from the University of Alabama and PhD from Texas Tech University.

Opening Night

The June 2 opening night performance will be followed by a reception at Green Gables Restaurant which all audience members are invited to attend to visit with the cast and crew.

Sunday Talk Back

The first Sunday Talk Back of the season will be held following the 3 pm matinee performance on Sunday, June 7. The audience is invited to stay for a casual conversation with the actors and producer.

2009 Season
Following I'll Never be Hungry Again (June 2-14), the season continues with Honus & Me (June 16-28), Over the Tavern (June 30-July 12), The Pajama Game (July 14- August 2), Lend Me a Tenor (August 4-16), Bubba's Revenge (August 18-30), The Glass Menagerie (September 15-27), Late Nite Catechism 2 (September 30-October 11).

The Mountain Playhouse, which opened in 1939, is Pennsylvania's oldest professional summer theater. Annually, The Playhouse sponsors the International Comedy Playwriting contest which helps encourage and develop new comedy for theater. The Mountain Playhouse is located next door to Green Gables Restaurant in Jennerstown on Route 985, one-half mile north of the historic Lincoln Highway (Route 30). For information call 814-629-9201 or visit the website at www.MountainPlayhouse.org.

 

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