A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Opens at the Manatee Players, 2/21-3/17

Stephen Sondheim's hilarious musical A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM opens at the Manatee Players on February 21 and runs through March 17! This will be the last show at the Riverfront Theater before the opening of the new Manatee Performing Arts Center in March.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from 2000 year old comedies with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. The result is a non-stop laugh-fest in which a crafty slave (Pseudolus) struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan (Philia) for his young master (Hero), in exchange for freedom. Music & Lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim and the book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart.

Mike Nolan plays 'Pseudolus'. Joining him in the merriment are Rodd Dyer as 'Hysterium', Jason Ellis as 'Hero', Caitlin Longstreet as 'Philia', Mark Shoemaker as 'Senex', Meg Newsome as 'Domina', Jgar Hellwig as 'Miles Gloriosus', Charles Craig as 'Marcus Lycus' and Denny Miller as 'Erronius'. The talented ensemble includes Cheryl Gutner, Sharon Bartley, Emma Slotabec, Erika Quartuccio, Alina Evans, Sarah Harrington, Hunter Brown, Leo Williams and Will Horton.

Performances are Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $26 including facility fee for adults, $15 including facility fee for teachers and $13 including facility fee for students. Tickets may be reserved by calling 748-5875 Monday - Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players' website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.

The show is being directed and choreographed by Bob Trisolini with Bobby Brader as musical director.