Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor will wrap up its 2013 mainstage season of laughter with a 50th anniversary production of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” starting on Aug. 6 and running through Sept. 1.
With a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and music and lyrics by Sondheim, the show stars Peter Scolari, Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman and is directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, musical direction by Ethyl Will. Previews start on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m.
In line with tradition, the first preview on Aug. 6 is a “pay what you can” performance, with a limited number of tickets available after 2 p.m. Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a musical inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251–183 BC), telling the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door.
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J Morgan White, Peter Scolari, Grant Harrison, and Glenn Giron. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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The musical's original 1962 Broadway production won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book. “Forum” has enjoyed several revivals on Broadway and in London’s West End and was made into a successful film starring the original lead of the musical, Zero Mostel.
Bay Street Theatre Producer Gary Hygom has promised that “‘Forum’ is going to be a fantastic show. We are very happy to welcome Marcia Milgrom Dodge back to Bay Street and are thrilled that Peter Scolari will be joining the cast. This is going to be a grand finale to such a wonderful season!”
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Jackie Hoffman and Tom Deckman. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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Conrad John Schuck, Jackie Hoffman, and Peter Scolari. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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Broadway veteran Peter Scolari is known for his small screen success cross-dressing alongside Tom Hanks in “Bosom Buddies” and as the uptight quintessential Yuppie in the long-running “Newhart.” He is currently in the cast of the hit cable sitcom “Girls” on HBO.
Known to many moviegoers for his role as Painless in the Robert Altman movie “M*A*S*H” and his work in “Star Trek 4” and “Star Trek 6,” Conrad John Schuck has appeared in Broadway shows with Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, and Matthew Broderick. Television viewers will remember him as Sgt. Enright on “McMillan & Wife.”
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Glenn Giron, Peter Scolari, Grant Haralson, and Morgan White. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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Last seen in the recurring role of David's mother on NBC's “The New Normal,” Jackie Hoffman was in the original Broadway casts of “The Addams Family,” “Xanadu,” and “Hairspray,” for which she won the Theatre World Award for most outstanding Broadway debut. She also trails a long list of Off-Broadway and regional credits.
In a casting coup, Broadway producer and Sag Harbor community local Stewart Lane has been cast as Eronius.
The remaining cast includes: Jen Bechter, Halley Cianfarini, Jessica Crouch, Tom Deckman , Lora Lee Gayer, Glenn Giron, Laurent Giroux, Shiloh Goodin, Nathaniel Hackmann, Terry Lavell, Phoebe Pearl, Nick Verina and J. Morgan White.
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Conrad John Schuck, Jackie Hoffman, Peter Scolari, and Tom Deckman. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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Musical Director Ethyl Will has conducted 11Broadway productions and is the first woman ever to conduct at Radio City Music Hall, where she has conducted the “Christmas Spectacular” for the past three years.
Director Marcia Milgrom Dodge previously directed at Bay Street productions of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Hair,” and “Once on this Island,” among others.
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Peter Scolari and cast. Photo by Jerry Lamonica.
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BASIC FACTS: “A Funny Thing on the Way to the Forum” runs from Aug. 6 through Sept. 1, with tickets priced from $67.50 and up. The first preview on Aug. 6 is a “pay what you can” performance, with a limited number of tickets available after 2 p.m. Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10.
The Bay Street box office is open daily from 11 a.m. till show time. For more information, showtimes or to purchase tickets, visit www.baystreet.org or call 631-725-9500. www.baystreet.org.
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