The Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 200th anniversary season with STATE FAIR. This new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic features an award winning score that includes such timeless classics as "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's A Grand Night For Singing," STATE FAIR will be a fun-filled and uplifting start to the Walnut's bicentennial season. The production runs Sept. 2 through Oct. 19 on the Walnut Street Theatre Mainstage.
Set against the colorful backdrop of a grand tradition of the American Heartland, STATE FAIR takes us on the road with the Frake family as they leave behind the hum-drum routine of farm life for three days of fun and adventure at the annual Iowa State Fair. Parents Abel and Melissa Frake (
Mark Jacoby and
Dee Hoty) have their hearts set on blue ribbons while their children (daughter Margy, played by
Cary Michele Miller and son Wayne, played by
Joe Jackson) have other things in mind, namely finding a little romance on the midway. Set to the magical strains of an Academy Award-winning score and augmented by other titles from the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook, STATE FAIR is the kind of magical and warm-hearted story that harkens back a simpler time on the American landscape.
STATE FAIR has had a storied and starry life, starting out as a hit novel from Iowa native
Phil Stong. The book proved so popular that a feature film version starring Will Rodgers was completed and released not six months after the appearance of the novel. After being nominated for the 1933 Academy Award for Best Picture, the story was remade into a movie musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1945. The only musical the duo ever wrote specifically for the screen was an immense hit, and scored the Oscar for Best Original Song for "It Might As Well Be Spring." Another popular film remake followed in 1962 starring
Pat Boone,
Bobby Darin and Ann Margaret.
In the 1990's
Louis Mattioli and
Tom Briggs began work on finally bringing STATE FAIR to the stage. The two expanded on the six original songs by adding unused and alternate material from the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalogue, fashioning a cohesive score from many different parts. Included in the new work were pieces originally earmarked for Oklahoma! ("When I Go Out Walkin' With My Baby" and "Boys and Girls Like You and Me"), Me and Juliet ("That's The Way it Happens" and "You Never Had it so Good"), Allegro ("So Far") and Pipe Dream ("The Man
I Used To Be," The Next Time it Happens"). What followed was a score filled with Rodgers and Hammerstein gems which blended beautifully with the original songs set in 1940's small town middle America. Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR debuted on Broadway in 1996 and went on to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
Guiding this tale of love on the midway is Barrymore-Award winning director
Bruce Lumpkin (Walnut credits include last season's Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, Evita, Grand Hotel, La Vie En Bleu,
Godspell and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel). Longtime Music and Vocal Director
Douglass G. Lutz (Les Misérables …quot; Barrymore nom., Peter Pan, Carousel,
West Side Story and many more) joins him. Choreographer Michelle Gaudette returns as well. Michelle, a former Radio City Rockette, has previously choreographed Man of La Mancha, Carousel (Barrymore nom.), La Vie En Bleu and Evita here at the Walnut.
The STATE FAIR design team is creating a spellbinding and brilliantly colorful work of art that takes us from a rural Iowa farmhouse to the bright lights of the Iowa State Fair. Many engaging and intricate pieces of theatre magic are in store for Walnut theatregoers. Set Designer
Jon Savage work has been seen all across the country from Maine to Hawaii, and he is excited to be working along side such a wonderful group of theatre artisans. Lighting Designer Jack Jacobs previously illuminated Man of La Mancha,
West Side Story,
Godspell and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel. Costume Designer
Colleen Grady, long-time Costume Shop Manager/Designer for the Walnut, returns for her 12th season. Colleen's previous credits include Evita,
West Side Story,
Godspell, Windy City, Carousel and La Cage Aux Folles (winning a Barrymore for Outstanding Costume Design). Colleen is currently nominated for a Best Costume Design Barrymore Award for her work on Les Misérables. Sound Designer
Ryk Lewis returns for a third season at the Walnut, having previously designed for every musical production since 2006's Windy City.
The cast of STATE FAIR is an exceptionally strong and enormously talented ensemble of actors, most with strong ties to Broadway and the
Walnut Street Theatre. The elder half of the Frake Family consists of parents Abel and Melissa, played by Broadway veterans and Tony Award Nominees
Mark Jacoby and
Dee Hoty. Mark last played the Walnut in his Barrymore nominated role of Julian Marsh in 42nd Street. Mark has performed on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom),
Sweet Charity, Ragtime, Man of La Mancha and (most recently), as Judge Turpin in the revival of Sweeney Todd. Mark was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Gaylord Ravenal in the 1994 revival of Showboat.
Dee Hoty wowed audiences in her Barrymore winning role of
Kay Thompson in last season's Stormy Weather at the Prince. Her storied career on Broadway has brought her three Best Actress Tony Award nominations for Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rodgers Follies.
Featured as the Frake children are
Cary Michele Miller as Margy and
Joe Jackson as Wayne. Cary is currently nominated for a Best Actress Barrymore Award for her high-flying performance as the title character in the Walnut's 2007 production of Peter Pan. She has appeared at the Walnut previously as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel. Joe's previous appearances at the Walnut include Les Misérables and Carousel. Joining Cary and Joe for a little romance on the midway are
David Elder as
Pat Gilbert and
Kelley Faulkner as Emily Arden. David's fleet feet have been showcased at the Walnut previously in Windy City and 42nd Street. Kelley returns to the Walnut after appearing in Les Misérables, 42nd Street and Windy City.
The remaining cast members will be very familiar to Walnut audiences and fans of Philadelphia theatre alike, including
Maggie Anderson (Windy City);
Anne Connors (Beauty and the Beast, Cats,
Gypsy);
Kelley Faulkner (Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Windy City); Kemper Florin (Man of La Mancha);
Lee Golden (
West Side Story, Windy City, many others);
William Hartery (Peter Pan, 42nd Street, Carousel, Beauty and the Beast);
Danielle Herbert (Les Mis, Carousel, Man of La Mancha); Sonny Leo (42nd Street); Katie O'Shaughnessey (Les Mis, Peter Pan and Man of La Mancha among others); John Peakes (42nd Street,
West Side Story); Fran Prisco (Les Mis);
Nicholas F. Saverine (Les Mis) and
Peter Schmitz (Peter Pan, Les Mis, Carousel). Newcomers include Jenna Edison, Tim Falter,
Brian Ogilvie, Owen Pelesh,
Meredith Riley Stewart and Beth Wheeler.
STATE FAIR wouldn't be complete without awestruck kids, and we've got quite a troop! Split into two groups of five, the Tues. through Thurs. group includes: Meghan Arters from Lincoln University, PA; Isaiah Ellis (Peter Pan) from Cherry Hill, NJ; Catherine Moiser-Mills from St. Davids, PA;
Brandon O'Rourke (Les Mis, Peter Pan, Carousel) from Philadelphia and
Danielle Leigh Rosenthal (Les Mis) from Cherry Hill. The Fri …quot; Sun. group includes
Emily Cobb from Ivyland, PA; Maggie Fitzgerald (Les Mis) from Haverford, PA; Dante Mignucci (Les Mis, Peter Pan) from Havertown, PA; Katelyn Rapp from Pennsville, NJ and Evan
RoBert Smith from Gwynedd Valley, PA.
Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
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