A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Something Familiar, Something Peculiar, Something for Everyone, A Comedy Tonight!

The opening weekend for Ferndale Rep's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been postponed to the following week, August 10th (Preview), August 11, Gala Opening Night, August 12, Saturday (8pm), and August 13, Sunday at 2pm. The remaining weekends remain the same.

Photos by Dan Tubbs

L-R Front: Evan Needham, Steve Carter, Minderella Willens Hi-res version L-R Front: Steve Carter, Bob Service, James Read Hi-res version

L-R Front: Evan Needham, James Read, Minderella Willens Hi-res version L-R Front: Evan Needham, Minderella Willens, Bob Service, James Read, Steve Carter Hi-res version L-R Front: Evan Needham, James Read, Steve Carter Hi-res version

The Ferndale Repertory Theatre closes its 34th season with a bang and is pleased to present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart (the latter best known for his Emmy-winning writing on the CBS series M*A*S*H), A Funny Thing... combines the situational twists of ancient Roman plays with the high-energy, high-jinx, and clever comedy of a vaudeville show. Premiering on Broadway in 1962, Forum ran for almost 1,000 performances, proving once again that audiences love Stephen Sondheim's witty lyrics and toe-tapping songs. Performances begin August 10th at 8:00pm with a Preview; all tickets for the Preview performance only are $10. The Gala Opening is Friday, August 11th at 8:00pm. In conjunction with the opening is a reception at 6:30pm for the artist featured in the Art from the Hart Gallery. Performances continue every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00pm through September 1. There are five matinees at 2:00pm: August 13th, 20th, 27th, September 2nd and 3rd. Please note that there is NO evening performance on Saturday, September 2. Thursday, August 31st, is the Actor's Benefit Night, where all proceeds go to the hard working cast and crew. Ticket prices are $15 general admission and $10 for children 12 and under. There is a group rate available for parties of 10 or more. For information and reservations, call (707) 786-5483.

Old situations and new complications abound in this Tony Award-winning musical. The cast of characters includes courtesans, young lovers, old men, and the one witty slave, Pseudolus, who endeavors to win a lady for his master and, thus, his own freedom. The lady is a courtesan, of course, and the young man is under strict orders not to interact with women, but that doesn't stop Pseudolus from cooking up and executing many a hair-brained scheme and, eventually, succeeding in gaining his own independence.

Director/Music Director, Dianne Zuleger, Vocal Coach, Nanette Voss, and Choreographer, Loene Gossett have selected a most illustrious cast for the zany characters: James Read (Pseudolus), Steve Carter (Hysterium), Bob Wells (Senex), Carol Martinez (Domina), Minderella Willens (Philia), Evan Needham (Hero), Jeri Johnson-Myers (Miles Gloriosus), Lonnie Blankenchip (Marcus Lycus) and Bob Service (Erronius) take on the main roles with, Kim Hodel, Chyna Dale, Serena Zelezny, Amber Mentink, Kathyrn Darnall, Cindy Urhammer, Mary Lou Walker, Ahmad Cox, Bryce Willis and rounding out the cast of courtesans and proteans. Design credits go to David Kenworthy (set & sound design), Emily Blanche (light design), Dianna Thiel (costume design) and Erin Cunningham (hair and make-up design). Patricia Stanley works as Publicity Director, Dan Tubbs is Poster Designer and Archive/Publicity photographer, Daniel Lawrence is Technical Director and Stage Management is in Shannan Dailey's capable hands.

A study guide for this Tony Award-winning, Best Musical is available for students and interested parties. Forum is gloriously free of serious moments; the show's action, dialogue, songs and dances are the essence of farce; the only goal is to keep the audience laughing from the first note of the opening number, Comedy Tonight, until the final curtain comes down.

For information and reservations, please call (707)786-5483.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

SHOW DATES AND TIMES

THURDAY  Aug. 10.....PREVIEW....................8:00PM
FRIDAY   Aug. 11.....GALA.......................8:00PM
SUNDAY   Aug. 13................................2:00PM
 
FRIDAY   Aug. 18................................8:00PM
SATURDAY Aug. 19................................8:00PM
SUNDAY   Aug. 20............,...................2:00PM
 
FRIDAY   Aug. 25................................8:00PM
SATURDAY Aug. 26................................8:00PM
Sunday   Aug. 27................................2:00PM
 
THURSDAY Aug. 31..ACTOR’S BENEFIT NIGHT.........8:00PM 
FRIDAY   Sept. 1................................8:00PM
SATURDAY Sept. 2.....Matinee ONLY!..............2:00PM 
SUNDAY   Sept. 3................................2:00PM

TICKET PRICES:
All tickets: $15
Groups of 10 or more: $10
Ticket Booth opens at 7:15 (Eve) 1:15 (Mat)

Ferndale Repertory Theatre
Post Office Box 892 • 447 Main Street • Ferndale, CA 95536-0096

Tickets: (707) 786-5483 • Fax: (707) 786-5480 • Email: info@ferndale-rep.org