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Millbrook Playhouse announces 2017 summer season

By JACK FELIX

Sun-Gazette Correspondent

MILL HALL — Producing artistic director David Leidholdt and the Millbrook Playhouse’s board of directors have announced the 2017  summer season.

Beginning in early June, the lineup includes four musicals on the upstairs Main Stage, and four shows in the downstairs Cabaret.

With one untraditional contemporary selection, and a couple of  “classic” playwrights, the old barn theater, following last summer’s  successful shows and fall fundraiser, kicks off its 54th season with the following attractions:

MAIN STAGE

“Life Could be a Dream,” June 9-16 — This ’60s jukebox musical, penned by the creator of “The Marvelous Wonderettes,”  moves from the Cabaret to the Main Stage as the season opener. Loaded with pop hits (“Sha-Boom,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “The Glory of Love,” “The Great Pretender,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel” and a dozen others), this is the finger-snapping, do-wop musical, sure to appeal to Millbrook’s audiences.

“Seussical the Musical,” June 23-July 1 — Featuring the Millbrook Youth Ensemble, the musical tale will be narrated by The Cat in the Hat  with  all of Dr. Seuss’ colorful characters (including Horton the Elephant and Gertrude Fuzz) singing and dancing in this family fare attraction.

• Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” July 7-16 — Legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table search for the Holy Grail turns into a witty, wacky spoof with the diva Lady of the Lake, a bevy of showgirls, a killer rabbit and other assorted oddballs in this loony musical.

“Fun Home,” July 28-Aug. 5 — Based upon the graphic novel by Allison Bechdel, the 2015 Tony Award Winning “Best Musical” is a challenging selection, given the strong adult language and intense emphasis on sexuality. The factual based musical takes place at the family funeral home in Beech Creek, which certainly warrants its designation as a honest, refreshing and groundbreaking musical.

CABARET

“Barefoot in the Park,” June 16-25 — One of Neil Simon’s earliest and “classic” comedies finds a couple of newlyweds getting a visit from the wife’s mother. Their humorous efforts at matchmaking go awry when spontaneity (like walking barefoot in the park) is what the loopy mother is really hoping for.

“Wait Until Dark,” June 30-July 9 — The cozy Cabaret stage will be transformed into the Greenwich Village  apartment of a young blind woman,  who desperately tries to thwart three thugs, bent on murder if necessary  to  retrieve  a doll stuffed with drugs, which her husband  mistakenly picked up at the airport. This  tension-filled drama, even with a familiar storyline,  should provide its share of chills.

• Ken Ludwig’s “Comedy of Tenors,” July 14-29 — The sequel to the hilarious “Lend Me a Tenor” promises to hit more high notes with its low down laughs. This time, the merry mixup with mistaken identities involve four tenors, two wives, four girlfriends and a soccer stadium full of screaming fans. Sounds like a solid recipe for a silly farce.

“Mrs. Mannerly,” Aug. 4-13 — Based upon the author’s semi-autobiographical memoirs, this is a comedy of manners — or at least of trying to master them. A young rascal sets his sights on getting a perfect score in etiquette class, although the long-time, demanding teacher has never handed one out. Although the artistic director confirms there has not been casting for any role or any play, I wonder if perhaps  a  very popular, diminutive actor might not show up to play either role (as he has done in the final cabaret show the last two summers).

For more information, contact the box office at 570-748-8083 or visit www.millbrookplay house.org.

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