Round Barn Theatre season kicks off soon
NAPPANEE � Nine months of repertory musical theatre begins again at Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre in Nappanee on April 22, with the opening night of Plain and Fancy in its national home.
The perennial favorite, a story of life and love on an Amish farm, in its 17th season will be accompanied by The Secret Garden, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Singin� in the Rain, and for the holidays, The Wizard of Oz, all chosen by last year�s season ticket subscribers and patrons.
Round Barn Theatre auditions are currently being held in New York City, and local auditions take place Feb. 14-15. Artistic director Scott Saegesser and executive producer Richard Pletcher feel confident the season will live up to its nationwide reputation as the premier musical repertory regional theatre with top-notch actors and a talented technical crew committed to creating new and clever ways of presenting Broadway musical classics, movies, and books.
Plain and Fancy began its historical run in the Locke Township Meeting House at Amish Acres in 1987 with four actors. Upon completion of the round barn�s million-dollar restoration project a decade ago, Joseph Stein�s delightful musical moved to the state-of-the-art theatre in 1992. Its stage is dedicated to the author also known for Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba, and The Baker�s Wife.
Some 2,700 performances later before 250,000 patrons, the theatre�s marquee production will run 100 times this year.
On the heels of the opening of Plain and Fancy (April 22 � Nov. 1), are the following shows.
The Secret Garden
May 7 � June 15
The tear-jerker story of orphan Mary Lennox who upon discovering a secret garden that holds a love story from the past becomes transformed as she develops friendships and family ties and reawakens an English manor to its glory of days gone by. It�s an inspiring tale of the magic children spread through their strength, wit, and fortitude.
Grease
June 25 � August 10
Grease will light the stage just in time for summer vacation, and rev up the nostalgia meter for baby boomers. A high school love story, Danny and Sandy overcome teenage obstacles and become hopelessly devoted. It was 25 years ago that �50s teen idol Frankie Avalon was cast as Teen Angel in the film version of Grease, singing what is perhaps the score�s funniest song, �Beauty School Dropout.�
Guys and Dolls
August 14 � September 21
Opens one week after the 41st annual Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival. A fly-by-night gambler woos a Salvation Army lass, and a showgirl finally hooks the founder of �the oldest, established, permanent, floating crap game in New York.� Songs include �Sit Down, You�re Rockin� The Boat,� �A Bushel And A Peck,� �Luck Be A Lady,� �Fugue for Tinhorns,� �Marry The Man Today,� and the title song. It�s a classic musical comedy that pairs the good-hearted gals with some gambling goats against the backdrop of old-time New York.
Singin� in the Rain
September 25 � November 2
This classic brings the welcome return of guest artist, Dirk Lumbard, not starring in but directing the adaptation by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green of the MGM classic. Each unforgettable scene, song and dance, is accounted for, including the show stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm! The era is Movieland in the late �20s, when the coming of sound - talking pictures - is striking terror to every silent film star�s heart. To the glamorous Queen of the Silver Screen Lina Lamont, for whom words of two syllables represent a major challenge, the mysteries of the microphone are unfathomable. The solution devised by her matinee idol co-star Don Lockwood and his partner Cosmo, is to dub Lina�s voice, and have her mouth the words while they are actually spoken by a young extra, Kathy Selden. It works, and the popularity of Lina and Don soars as their relieved fans find that their idols actually can talk. But as the trio works its off-screen magic to save Lina�s career, Don finds himself falling in love with Kathy and is appalled to realize that he and his scheme have permanently ruined her career.
The Wizard of Oz
November 11 � December 31
L. Frank Baum�s 1900 children�s fantasy, musical adventure is a genuine family classic that made Judy Garland a star for her heartfelt performance as Dorothy Gale, an orphaned young girl unhappy with her drab black-and-white existence on her aunt and uncle�s dusty Kansas farm. Dorothy yearns to travel �over the rainbow� to a different world, and she gets her wish when a tornado whisks her and her little dog Toto to the Technicolorful land of Oz. Having offended the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy is protected from the old crone�s wrath by the ruby slippers that she wears. At the suggestion of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy heads down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where dwells the all-powerful Wizard of Oz, who might be able to help the girl return to Kansas. En route, she befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion. The Scarecrow would like to have some brains, the Tin Man craves a heart, and the Lion wants to attain courage; hoping that the Wizard will help them too, they join Dorothy on her odyssey to the Emerald City.
Tickets
Season tickets remain on sale at more than a 20 percent savings off individual show ticket prices and include unique benefits like a Plain and Fancy VISA and VIP Card. The VISA entitles one to come often, obtaining a free ticket with the purchase of a ticket. The VIP Card entitles the bearer to a 10 percent discount throughout Amish Acres grounds including all shops, online purchases, hotel rooms, dinners, and tour packages. Conveniently, seats can be reserved for all six shows at once, and exchange privileges are extended to subscribers. Dinner options include family style Threshers Dinner and select Friday evening Theme Buffets, both available within subscriptions at discounts.
The Round Barn Theatre welcomes children to experience the magic of live performances by holding its child/student (4�17 years) ticket price to just $6 per show ($10 for The Wizard of Oz).
College Student discount
In addition, the theatre, with the generous support of Lake City Bank, is making it easier for college students to enjoy professional musical theatre by providing half-price tickets to anyone with a valid college student identification card.
This program affords students the opportunity to experience professional productions of classical Broadway musicals at the regional theatre level. Because the Nappanee theatre is located in close proximity to many of northern Indiana�s colleges and universities, including the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University/South Bend, Bethel College, Goshen College, Grace College, Ancilla, St. Francis, IUPUI/Ft. Wayne, Tri-State University, IVY Tech, Vincennes, Holy Cross College, and St. Mary�s College, many students are able to take advantage of this offer, often fulfilling arts credits by their attendance.
Lake City operates forty-four locations in 12 contiguous northern Indiana counties.
According to Michael Kubacki, President, �Lake City Bank contributes thousands of dollars to support education, humanitarian efforts, the arts, community events, and economic growth and development. The contributions are an important part of Lake City Bank�s Corporate Vision Statement goal of �...community involvement that builds values and prosperity for shareholders, customers, employees, and our communities.� This association with the Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres adds another dimension to achieving this goal.�
For information and tickets online, visit www.amishacres.com. Enter the General Store to view package options and make purchases. Or call the box office, 800-800-4942 ext. 2 for personalized service from a qualified attendant.
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