A Comedy For The 12th Annual Teen Production At The Rep

Teen Production
Top row, left to right : Callie Hacker, Hazel Santino, Laureen Tipple, Sam Cord, Chris Weiderman, Emma Buschmann, Kelly Hill, Ryan Nelson.
Middle row, left to right : Evan Needham, Nick Garcia, Jessi Sheiman, Katie Sutter, Jeff Friedman, Claire Bent, Kelly Hughes.
Bottom row, left to right : Emily Martinez, Jennifer Stannard.
Photo by Jessica VanBrackle (Fortuna HS)
click on photo for full resolution version

The Ferndale Repertory Theatre's 12th Annual All Teen Production laughs it up with the delightful comedy, You Can't Take It With You. Written by Moss Hart and George F. Kaufman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play was described as "the season's best comedy" by The New Yorker when it premiered in 1936. Humboldt County teens make up the families of the zany Sycamores and straight-laced Kirbys who are brought together by the upcoming marriage of their children, Alice and Tony. Directed by Gavin Donnellan, You Can't Take It With You begins March 3 and runs through Saturday, March 12 for six performances only, all at 8PM. Art From the Hart gallery will showcase teen art work from Ferndale and Fortuna High Schools and will have a reception for the featured artists on Friday, March 4 from 6:30PM to curtain time at 8PM.

When Alice Sycamore must introduce her fiance's conservative family to her eccentric family of firework enthusiasts, she braces for a clash. Grandpa hunts snakes, throws darts and ignores income tax payments, while other family members write plays, operate amateur printing presses and play the xylophone. When the pair of wildly different families meet, the worlds of the wealthy, uptight Kirbys and the slightly off-kilter Sycamores collide. Perhaps the greatest American comedy ever written by the remarkable writing team of Kaufman and Hart, You Can't Take It With You features a wonderful cast from all over the county: Jessi Sheiman (Penny), Katie Sutter (Essie), Kelly Hughes (Rheba), Nick Garcia (Paul), Callie Hacker (Mr. De Pinna), Jeff Friedman (Ed), Ryan Nelson (Donald), Evan Needham (Grandpa), Laureen Tipple (Alice), Sam Cord (Tony), Claire Bent (Kolenkhov), Kelly Hill (Gay), Chris Weiderman (Mr. Kirby), Emma Buschmann (Mrs. Kirby), and Hazel Santino (Olga). Design team is Daniel L. Lawrence (set/sound), David West (lights), Leo Roehrich (costumes), Bruce Keller (poster), and Jessica VanBrackle (photography).

You Can't Take It With You is a warmhearted comedy, which was a huge success in its day, and after more than 60 years it continues to remain one of the most popular and successful plays of modern times. We want to thank the sponsors of this production, The Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation and Spencer Engineering.

For tickets and information, please call (707) 786-5483. Support our youth in theatre.