Love Is In The Air At Bristol Riverside Theatre

Bristol Riverside Theatre ends its mainstage season triumphantly with the farcical period-piece musical Triumph of Love, based on the play by Marivaux, with book by James Magruder, music by Jeffrey Stock, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead on May 1-20. Directed by Keith Baker, music directed by Douglass Lutz, and choreographed by Stephen Casey, the ensemble cast features Jake Delaney, Joy Franz, Adam Hoyak, Alex Keiper, Rebecca Robbins, Danny Rutigliano, and Carl Wallnau.

Previews begin Tuesday, May 1 with opening night on Thursday, May 3. Performances run Wednesday through Sunday with a single Tuesday preview until April 1. Tickets start at $45, with discounts for students, groups and military personnel. Tickets are available by visiting brtstage.org or calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100. Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA.

Love can make a woman do the strangest things. Set in the 18th century, Triumph of Love follows the ruthless Princess Leonide as she literally wears the pants so her beloved Agis can return to his rightful throne. It's not her fault if this deceptive dress-up causes the entire household to fall in love with her! With her confidante, Corine, by her side, Leonide must rescue her man before his stuffed-shirt uncle and sourpuss aunt find out who's really beneath those ever-changing bodices and breeches. This tongue-in-cheek musical is a delightful celebration of springtime romance.

Keith Baker (Director) has directed more than 40 productions for BRT including The Producers this season, Working and Jesus Christ Superstar last season, Man of La Mancha (nominated for three Barrymore Awards) and Rumors, Lost in Yonkers, Ragtime (nominated for nine Barrymore Awards), Gypsy starring Tovah Feldshuh, Chicago (nominated for six Barrymore Awards), The Balkan Women (winner of a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play), The Dresser (nominated for a Barrymore Award for Best Director of a Play) and Dear World (nominated for three Barrymore Awards). As an actor he appeared this season in Quartet, and has also starred in BRT's productions of Witness for the Prosecution, The Language Archive and Mountain: The Journey of Justice Douglas, as well as in Deathtrap, Inherit the Wind, Barrymore, A Raw Space, Old Wicked Songs, Defiance, Proof, Hamlet, A Little Night Music, Arsenic and Old Lace, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. Baker has been nominated eleven times for the prestigious Carbonell Awards, for which he was twice the recipient for Best Actor. Prior to coming to BRT, Baker was Artistic Director for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and the Florida Repertory Theatre.

Douglass Lutz (Music Director) recently music directed BRT's productions of The Producers, Jesus Christ Superstar and Working. He has conducting over 200 musicals in the United States and internationally including West Side Story at the Kennedy Center and the premieres of West Side Story in Peru, Brazil, Spain and Belgium. He also conducted the American premiere of Love Story at The Walnut Street Theatre, and is the recipient of Barrymore nominations for Les Miserables, The King & I, Miss Saigon, Peter Pen, and Carousel and the Carbonell Award for Best Music Director for The Most Happy Fella at Florida's Jupiter Theatre.

Stephen Casey (Choreographer) is a three time Barrymore nominee, twice for his choreography of BRT's Ragtime and Little Shop of Horrors, and for his direction of The Musical of Musicals at Montgomery Theatre. Other BRT credits include this season's production of The Producers, last season's Jesus Christ Superstar as well as Man of la Mancha, Pride and Prejudice, What a Glorious Feeling, and Rent. He has also worked at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival where he recreated the Jerome Robbins dances in West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, as well as choreographed Oklahoma!, South Pacific, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and 1776, and at Montgomery Theatre where he directed and choreographed The Great American Trailerpark Christmas Musical, Marry Me a Little, and last season's Forever Plaid.

Jake Delaney (Agis) has toured with the national companies of The Addams Family, 'SWonderful, and Fiddler on the Roof. He has been a frequent guest at Bucks County Playhouse, starring in Carousel, Oklahoma, All Shook Up, and My Fair Lady. His regional credits include numerous productions at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Cumberland County Playhouse, and Theatre By The Sea.

Joy Franz (Hesione) returns to BRT where she has been seen this season in Quartet and in previous years in Lost in Yonkers and A Little Night Music. On Broadway, she has appeared in the original cast and the revival of Into The Woods as well as the original Broadway productions of A Little Night Music, Pippin, Company, and Sweet Charity. Off-Broadway she has performed at Lion Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Westside Arts and Village Gate. She has been a frequent guest at Paper Mill Playhouse, Barrington Stage and New Harmony.

Adam Hoyak (Harlequin) was last seen at BRT in Ragtime. He won a Barrymore Award as part of the Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical for Black Nativity at Theatre Horizon. A frequent guest at The Eagle Theatre, his other local appearances include productions at Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, 11th Hour Theatre Company and Media Theatre.

Alex Keiper (Princess Leonide) comes to BRT following performances this season at the Walnut Street Theatre in The Humans and Arden Theatre Company in the world premiere of Touchtones. She received a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical for Lizzie Borden at 11th Hour Theatre Company where she has also appeared Ordinary Days, And the World Goes 'Round, and the world premiere of Field Hockey Hot. Other local credits include several productions at Arden Theatre Company (The Secret Garden, Incorruptible, and A Little Night Music), InterAct Theatre Company (the world premiere of Down Past Passyunk), and Philadelphia Theatre Company (Hand to God).

Rebecca Robbins (Corine), making her BRT debut, has appeared at the Walnut Street Theatre in Annie, Souvenir, Jerry's Girls, Mary Poppins, The Music Man, and A Grand Night for Singing. She has been featured in leading roles at Pittsburgh CLO, Baltimore Center State, and Asolo Repertory Theatre. She has performed in both the Broadway and national tour productions of The Phantom of the Opera, and Off-Broadway has been seen in several productions at City Center Encores.

Danny Rutigliano (Dimas) earned a Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as Sancho in BRT's production of Man of La Mancha and appeared this season as Max Bialystock in The Producers and last season as King Herod in the highly acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He has been seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot and The Lion King, which garnered him an Ovation Award as Best Featured Actor as well as in multiple productions at Center City Encores! Series including the title role of Fiorello! Off-Broadway credits include Hollywood Pinafore at York Theatre, Topper at Musical Theatre Works, Daydreams-The Music and Magic of Doris Day at Intar Theatre, and Godspell at La Mamma E.T.C.

Carl Wallnau (Hermocrates) returns to BRT where he was featured in Witness for the Prosecution, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Evita and What You Will. He has performed in the first national tour of Titanic and Off-Broadway productions at Second Stage, Pearl Theater, Lark Theater, and New York Music Festival. In addition to regional credits at Paper Mill Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Festival and Asolo Theatre, he has appeared locally at Arden Theatre Company as the title character in Bruce Graham's play Funnyman as well as at People's Light and Theatre Company, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, 1812 Productions and Cape May Stage. He is currently Artistic Director of the Centenary Stage Company at Centenary College where he is also Professor of Theatre Arts and Chairman of the Fine Arts Department.

Triumph of Love brings together a creative team of BRT veterans including set designer Roman Tatrowicz, costume designer Lisa Zinni, lighting designer Joe Doran, and sound designer Liz Atkinson.

Since 1986, BRT has continued to bring critically acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County. The theatre is the recipient of over 68 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by Theatre Philadelphia. Under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker and Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community. In addition to its Mainstage productions, BRT offers four concerts including the holiday tradition An American Christmas Songbook, the new play development series America Rising, and the summer theater arts camp ArtRageous. For information, visit www.brtstage.org

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