By Kacky Walton
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-962767.mp3
COA: Kacky Walton talks with Justin Willingham about the Fantasticks at Germantown Community Theatre
Memphis, TN – Kacky Walton talks with Justin Willingham, who plays Matt in The Fantasticks, running through April 17th, 2011 at Germantown Community Theatre.
Thursday night at 7:30, Friday and Saturday nights at 8, and Sunday afternoon at 2:30. For information or tickets, call 937-3023 or visit the GCT Website.
The Fantasticks: Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones. Music by Harvey Schmidt. Directed by Andy Saunders with Musical Direction from Kenny Long.
The cast includes:
El Gallo: Kent Fleshman
Hucklebee: Rob Koch
Bellomy: Patricia Carlin
Matt: Justin Willingham
Luisa: Emily Chateau
Henry: Spencer Miller (Originated by Jo Lynne Palmer)
Mortimer: Nicholas Long
Mute: Philip Sandager
The Fantasticks tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling parents, but soon grow restless and stray from one another. Will their separation provide a deeper appreciation for the love they once shared or create a permanent gulf between them?
The Fantasticks originally opened at New York's Sullivan Street Playhouse on May 3, 1960, and played 17,162 performances before closing January 13, 2002, making it the world's longest-running musical.
About the fund set-up to help members of the Memphis theatre community who may be going through health or financial difficulties:
Members of the Memphis theatre community have set up a community fund to aid and assist volunteers, actors, and staff of the community who are in medical or specific social financial distress or need. The account is called the Emergency Needs for the Theater Artists Community FUND. The process to receive funds will be monitored and applied by a committee appointed by Theatre Memphis and will be open to the entire Memphis theater community as defined by the committee. Each award of cash will be reviewed on an individual basis with the priority going to medical needs and assistance.
To donate to the fund, cash, checks or credit cards are accepted at Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117, with a designation for the "Palmer Account." To contribute by phone, call 901.682.8601 or look for a link at the Theatre Memphis Website to pay through Paypal.