'Annie' at Hershey Theatre is a Summer Treat for the Whole Family

It's hard to go through life without some kind of exposure to the classic musical Annie. Many people are familiar with the Tony-winning musical from its original Broadway production back in 1977. Even non-theatre fans have probably heard of the little red-headed orphan who belts out the iconic tune "Tomorrow." And the 2014 movie version starring Jamie Foxx mainstreamed the song "It's the Hard Knock Life," bringing awareness of the musical to a younger generation.

The national tour of Annie opened at the Hershey Theatre on Tuesday, July 21, and plays there through Sunday, July 26. Like a refreshing ice cream cone on a hot day, Annie is a great summer treat that is perfect for the whole family.

The story follows 11-year-old orphan Annie, played by Issie Swickle, who has her hopes set on finding her birth mother and father. The mean head of the orphanage Miss Hannigan, played by Lynn Andrews, strongly dislikes Annie (well, really all kids in general), and is disgusted when wealthy businessman Oliver ("Daddy") Warbucks, played by Gilgamesh Taggett, takes Annie under his wing for the Christmas holiday.

Swickle exudes confidence on the stage, and she brings a nice freshness to the title role while still preserving the classic image. Andrews dominates her character, and plays a convincing antagonist. Taggett is also quick to impress as his character balances authoritative business with fatherly love.

Garrett Deagon and Lucy Werner make up the comic duo of Rooster and Lily, respectively, and are entertaining in their roles, particularly when they team with Andrews for their performance of "Easy Street." Ashley Edler is a breath of fresh air as Warbucks' assistant Grace Farrell, and her voice is as sweet as her character.

The kids who make up the rest of the orphans put on quite the show and are a joy to watch, each bringing their own unique character to life. And of course I can't leave out one of the main stars of the show, Sandy, who brings a smile to everyone's face every time she trots on stage wagging her tail.

In full disclosure, Annie has never been a favorite musical of mine; however, I really enjoyed this production. The show is filled with a surprising amount of chuckles, for both adults and kids. I found myself laughing more than I expected, and even my 7-year-old son, who is usually Mr. Serious, was smiling and giggling throughout the show. One word of caution for parents... While the show is mostly very family friendly, there is a bit of mild language used, including several uses of the "D" word and a few "shut up"s.

This production of Annie absolutely does justice to the original, and anyone hoping to relive the familiar tunes and story they remember from years ago should be pleased with the show. Those experiencing the show for the first time can expect to enjoy a classic feel-good musical with catchy tunes and plenty of talent.

Annie plays at the Hershey Theatre through Sunday, July 26, 2015. For more details and ticket information, please visit www.hersheytheatre.com.

Hershey Theatre to Welcome Annie

Hershey Theatre is proud to welcome the new U.S. National Tour of Annie to the stage from Tuesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 26. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of Annie will be a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original.

Tickets for this show are $25.00, $30.00, $48.00, $53.00, $63.00, $68.00 and $73.00 (tax and applicable fees apply) and are available at Hershey Theatre Box Office. They can be charged by phone at 717-534-3405 and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com.

The original production of Annie opened April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever.

The beloved score for Annie includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”

This brand new production features a 25 member company: in the title role of Annie is Issie Swickle, a 9-year-old actress from Davie, FL, making her tour debut. Gilgamesh Taggett will star as Oliver Warbucks. In the role of Miss Hannigan is Lynn Andrews. Also starring in the tour are Ashley Edler as Grace, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily and Allan Ray Baker as FDR. Sunny, a 4-year-old rescue terrier mix, stars as Sandy.

For more information, please visit www.AnnieTheMusical.com.

Little Theater of Mechanicsburg Brings a Board Game to Life in 'Clue: The Musical'

While much of the country is trying to solve the mystery of why there have been so many shark attacks in the Outer Banks this year, Little Theater of Mechanicsburg is busy trying to solve another mystery: Who killed Mr. Boddy?

LTM's production of Clue: The Musical brings the classic Parker Brothers board game to life, adding a unique twist where the audience can help figure out the who, what, and where to solve the mystery. The show is a combination of musical meets game, and the result is 90 minutes of lighthearted suspense, fun music, quality acting, and witty humor.

Upon being seated, audience members are given a clue sheet and pencil to keep track of clues throughout the performance. Early in the show, a pre-selected audience member goes on stage with Mr. Boddy to choose the three cards for that performance. The cards, which contain the solution to the mystery, are put in a large envelope marked confidential that stays on the stage for the duration of the performance, and the game begins.

The Who
Those familiar with the game will quickly recall the six characters: Mrs. Peacock (played by Stephanie Via), Professor Plum (played by Eric Mansilla), Miss Scarlet (played by Amber Zambrana), Mr. Green (played by Ryan Boyles), Mrs. White (played by Danny Sites), and Colonel Mustard (played by Ron Ross).

The What
"Wrench, candlestick, pipe, knife, revolver, rope." This phrase is repeatedly chanted throughout the performance, with the various characters using the weapons in different scenarios.

The Where
The kitchen, the billiard room, the ballroom, the lounge, the study, and the conservatory are depicted by six doors, which individually swing open when a room is in play.

Mr. Boddy (played by Matthew A. Robinson) acts as the host for the evening, presenting clues throughout the show to help solve the mystery. Following Mr. Boddy's murder, a detective (played by Roxanne Hennessy) also joins the scene. At the conclusion of the show, the envelope with the three cards is opened to reveal the murderer, weapon, and room, and audience members can compare their answers to the outcome of the performance. And there might just be a little twist at the end, too.

It's been a few years since I last visited Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, and I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to get back! As the name implies, the theatre is small, creating a very intimate environment where audience members are just inches away from the action. It's the perfect setting for the interactive nature of Clue: The Musical, really making the audience a part of the game.

With six characters, six weapons, and six rooms in play, there are a total of 216 different ways the game could end, so each performance has a different outcome. I'd love to go back to see the show again and see how it ends at a different performance. However, if the rumors are true, the show is sold out for the remainder of its run through July 5. For more information, visit the LTM website at www.ltmonline.net.

Dutch Apple will Present Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma'

Oklahoma, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration, is set in a Western Indian territory (soon to be the brand new state of Oklahoma) where a cowboy named Curly and a farm girl named Laurey are stubborn, foolish, and in love. However, love is a bumpy ride with these two holding the reins, and the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre invites you to ride along from June 18 through August 1, 2015!

Christopher Lewis is returning to the Dutch Apple stage as Curly. He recently played Feuilly in Les Miserables at Dutch Apple, and he has worked at numerous theatres across the nation. Christopher refers to this as his “dream role” and dedicates this performance to his father, who has also played Curly.

Laurey, the target of Curly’s affection, will be played by Kayleen Seidl, who will be making her Dutch Apple debut right after closing a national tour of Guys & Dolls in which she portrayed Sarah Brown.

While Curly tries to invite Laurey to the box social, Jud, played by Justun Hart, throws his hat in the ring for her heart as well. Justun is just one of a handful of Oklahoma cast members who are returning to Dutch Apple after a successful national tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Others who are also just coming directly from the tour include Danielle Barnes, Ben Cramer, Carver Duncan, Avery Epstein, Kelsey Beckert, and Corinne Munsch (a graduate of Cumberland Valley High School).

Laurey’s friend Ado Annie, who is in a love triangle of her own, will be played by Theresa Walker. Theresa was last seen as Patsy in Crazy For You and Zaneeta in The Music Man at Dutch Apple. Theresa will be playing opposite of her “real life, real funny, leading man,” Craig Smith. Craig, who was last seen as Bela Zangler in Crazy For You, competes with Will Parker, played by Will Leonard, also fresh off of the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers national tour, for Ado Annie’s hand. Will was also in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof and is “ecstatic to be playing one of his dream roles.”

Laurey’s Aunt Ellar will be played by a familiar Dutch Apple face, Lisa Coday, who was last seen as Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl and Dinah in Dixie Swim Club. Andrew Carnes, Ado Annie’s father, will be played by Kirk Lawrence, who was last seen in Mid-Life 2! (The Crisis Continues) and as Mr. Potter in A Wonderful Life.

The cast will be under the direction of Dean Sobon, who directed the national tours of Fiddler on the Roof and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as well as Crazy For You at Dutch Apple. Ford Haeuser, who worked with Dean during Crazy For You as Wyatt and Dance Captain, will be choreographer.

Complete with lasso tricks, can-can dances, a sneaky traveling salesman, and a brand new state, Oklahoma features classic Rodgers and Hammerstein songs such as "People Will Say We’re in Love", "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'", "Oklahoma!", and "Surrey with the Fringe On Top".

Oklahoma will be at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre June 18 through August 1, 2015. Ticket prices range from $49 to $56 for meal and show with a special rate for groups of 16 or more. A limited number of show-only seats are available for $34. Call 717-898-1900 to make a reservation or order your tickets online at DutchApple.com.

2015 Tony Award Predictions

Hurray! It's Tony Awards weekend!!! I have Sunday's menu planned, the specialty cocktail selected, and most importantly, my picks for this year's winners.

Tonight my kids and I had fun going through the list of nominees and picking our favorites. Now that's what I call quality family time. :) My boys put some serious thought into their decisions, struggling over whether a play with a puppet sounds better than a play with the word "Dog" or "Wolf" in the title. That's a tough choice for a 5- and 7-year-old to make! We're all looking forward to tallying up our scores tomorrow night to see how many we picked correctly!

My boys and I had fun filling out this year's Tony Awards ballot!

I've listed my picks below, and I have to say I think it's going to be a good night with a few surprises. I think Curious Incident is going to dominate the play category, with Hand to God coming in a close second. As for musicals, I think it's going to be a three-way toss up between Fun Home, Something Rotten!, and An American in Paris all bringing in several awards. We'll see!

* My pick for the winners

Play
* The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar
Hand to God by Robert Askins
Wolf Hall Parts One & Two by Hilary Mantel and Mike Poulton

Musical
An American in Paris
* Fun Home
Something Rotten!
The Visit

Book of a Musical
An American in Paris - Craig Lucas
Fun Home - Lisa Kron
* Something Rotten! - Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell
The Visit - Terrence McNally

Score
Fun Home, Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: Lisa Kron
* The Last Ship, Music & Lyrics: Sting
Something Rotten!, Music & Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
The Visit, Music: John Kander, Lyrics, Fred Ebb

Play Revival
The Elephant Man
Skylight
* This Is Our Youth
You Can't Take It with You

Musical Revival
The King and I
* On the Town
On the Twentieth Century

Actor (Play)
Steven Boyer, Hand to God
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
Ben Miles, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Bill Nighy, Skylight
* Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Actress (Play)
Geneva Carr, Hand to God
* Helen Mirren, The Audience
Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles
Carey Mulligan, Skylight
Ruth Wilson, Constellations

Actor (Musical)
Michael Cerveris, Fun Home
Robert Fairchild, An American in Paris
* Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Ken Watanabe, The King and I
Tony Yazbeck, On the Town

Actress (Musical)
Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century
Leanne Cope, An American in Paris
Beth Malone, Fun Home
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
* Chita Rivera, The Visit

Featured Actor (Play)
Matthew Beard, Skylight
K.Todd Freeman, Airline Highway
Richard McCabe, The Audience
Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man
* Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Micah Stock, It's Only a Play

Featured Actress (Play)
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can't Take it with You
Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man
Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
* Sarah Stiles, Hand to God
Julie White, Airline Highway

Featured Actor (Musical)
* Christian Borle, Something Rotten!
Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century
Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!
Brandon Uranowitz, An American in Paris
Max von Essan, An American in Paris

Featured Actress (Musical)
Victoria Clark, Gigi
Judy Kuhn, Fun Home
* Sydney Lucas, Fun Home
Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I
Emily Skeggs, Fun Home

Scenic Design (Play)
* Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Bob Crowley, Skylight
Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
David Rockwell, You Can't Take it with You

Scenic Design (Musical)
* Bob Crowley and 59 Productions, An American in Paris
David Rockwell, On the Twentieth Century
Michael Yeargan, The King and I
David Zinn, Fun Home

Costume Design (Play)
Bob Crowley, The Audience
Janea Greenwood, You Can't Take it with You
* Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
David Zinn, Airline Highway

Costume Design (Musical)
Gregg Barnes, Something Rotten!
Bob Crowley, An American in Paris
William Ivey Long, On the Twentieth Century
* Catherine Zuber, The King and I

Lighting Design (Play)
* Paule Constable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Paule Constable and David Plater, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Natasha Katz, Skylight
Japhy Weideman, Airline  Highway

Lighting Design (Musical)
Donald Holder, The King and I
Natasha Katz, An American in Paris
* Ben Stanton, Fun Home
Japhy Weideman, The Visit

Direction (Play)
Stephen Daldry, Skylight
* Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Scott Ellis, You Can't Take it with You
Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Hand to God

Direction (Musical)
* Sam Gold, Fun Home
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!
John Rando, On the Town
Bartlett Sher, The King and I
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris

Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, On the Town
Christopher Gattelli, The King and I
Scott Graham & Steven  Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!
* Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris

Orchestrations
* Christopher Austin, Dan Sebesky, Bill Elliott, An American in Paris
John Clancy, Fun Home
Larry Hochman, Something Rotten!
Rob Mathes, The Last Ship

If you'd like to fill out your own ballot, you can print one out through the Tony Awards website at http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/2015_Printable_Ballot.pdf.

Dutch Apple's Les Misérables is Sure to Impress

There were no empty chairs at empty tables in the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre this past weekend, and there's a good reason for that. Dutch Apple's production of the classic musical Les Misérables opened over the weekend and proved to be a top notch show filled with a stellar cast that is sure to impress.

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables follows prisoner 24601, a.k.a. Jean Valjean, as he is released from 19 years in prison. Upon his release, Valjean immediately gets caught stealing silver from the Bishop of Digne, but the Bishop's kindness encourages Valjean to seek a better life.

The show doesn't waste any time proving its talent. The opening "Prologue" features a strong ensemble of male voices, quickly followed by the impressive talent of Jacob Waid in the lead role of Jean Valjean. Waid's operatic voice is a perfect fit for this demanding role, and the audience is treated to an award-worthy performance from him. His vocals are impeccable, as demonstrated in songs like "Bring Him Home," and his acting talent is equally impressive. Also quick to impress with vocal talent is Amanda Kuchinski, who plays Fantine. She showcases her flawless voice in her beautiful performance of "I Dreamed a Dream." Her acting isn't quite on par with her singing, and if I'm being really critical I wasn't a fan of the wigs that she wore, but her voice is so good that it's easy to look past this.

In the role of Javert, Adam Clough provides a performance reminiscent of Russell Crowe in the 2012 movie version of Les Misérables, with the only major difference being that Clough is actually good. Other notable performances include John Anker Bow in the role of Thernardier and Maya Naff as Eponine. Both Bow and Naff have solid acting talent with the voices to match. Additionally, the ensemble as a whole is extremely talented, and the company numbers are a highlight of the show. Supporting cast members also provide quality performances that aren't quite as impressive as those of Waid, but nonetheless are good fits for the show.

While the talented cast of this production far outweighs the show's weaknesses, there are a few areas that don't quite live up to the high quality that the overall production provides. For starters, the set -- while visually appealing -- is extremely loud. Often during a quiet start of a solo or song, the set is loudly rolled on or off the stage, providing an unwelcome distraction. Another downfall to the show is the orchestra. With a small orchestra consisting only of trumpet, trombone, reeds, and percussion, the show features a mix of live and recorded music. The recorded music is often a welcome treat due to an unacceptable number of missed notes by the live musicians, most consistently the trumpet player. With a cast as talented as this one, it's unfortunate that the orchestra isn't of comparable quality. But in spite of its few weaknesses, the show comes through and ultimately treats the audience to a spectacular production.

At the end of the day, Dutch Apple's production of Les Misérables is a not-to-be missed performance full of talent. Les Miz veterans will be pleased with the quality of this show, while first-timers will be given a first-rate introduction to the renowned musical.  

Les Misérables plays at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre May 7 through June 13, 2015. Additional details and ticket information can be found at www.dutchapple.com.

The Illusionists – Live From Broadway – Coming to Hershey Theatre

The world’s best-selling touring magic show, The Illusionists – Live From Broadway, will take the stage at Hershey Theatre on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4. 

Tickets for this show are $29.00, $55.00, $65.00 and $75.00 (processing fees apply). They are available at Hershey Theatre Box Office. They can be charged by phone at 717-534-3405 or 800-745-3000, and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com. 

Having shattered box office records around the world, The Illusionists – Live From Broadway is now touring the United States. This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw-dropping talents of five of the most incredible illusionists on earth. Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, The Illusionists have dazzled audiences of all ages. Creative Producer Simon Painter said, “We can’t wait to bring this electrifying show on the road for a truly entertaining experience for the whole family. The Illusionists is the most non-stop and powerful mix of outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage.” 

For more information, please visit www.TheIllusionistsLive.com.