Gretna Theatre, under the Producing Artistic Direction of Larry Frenock, is entering the mid- point of its 84th season. Performing at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse sitting in the heart of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, the theatre company continues to produce family musicals and comedies and remains an area gem.
Gretna Theatre's 2011 season has been full of success and Broadway names with an opener featuring Shirley Jones; Dan Goggin, the creator of "Nunsense", directing the grand finale in his saintly series, "Nunset Boulevard;" Broadway's Erin Stewart and London's Peter Simon Hilton in a mesmerizing "My Fair Lady;" a swingin'-good-time with "Sisters of Swing - The Story of the Andrews Sisters;" and finishing its well-received run this weekend, Stephen Sondheim's a "Little Night Music" with Broadway's Brad Little and Barbara McCulloh. Season media sponsors include WGAL-8, Ameritech Media, and The Lebanon Daily News.
But the fun isn't over yet. Agatha Christie's "The Unexpected Guest" is Gretna Theatre's first murder mystery in years! Starring Off-Broadway's Roger John Clark ("In Your Image" and "Two Pay the Price") and Julie Leedes ("Reading Under the Influence" and the national tour of "Spider-man Live!"), this play is sure to keep audiences guessing. Set in a foggy estate in Wales, this mystery opens as a stranger walks into a house to find a man murdered and his wife standing over him with a gun. But the woman is dazed and her confession unconvincing, thus wafting a Pandora's Box of loves, hates, suspicions, and intrigues into the night air. Playing July 14th - 17th.
Closing the season is the musical comedy "Funny Girl," the story of Fanny Brice, whose career
spanned from comedienne to vaudeville to star, the Ziegfeld Follies, Hollywood films and a the radio superstar, Fanny Brice was one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time. This musical is her story. Starring Broadway's Farah Alvin ("Nine" and "The Look of Love") as Fanny Brice, she performs alongside co-stars CarolAnn Page (director/choreographer of "A Little Night Music" and the off-Broadway production of "Menopause, The Musical) and Broadway's Rusty Reynolds (Gretna Theatre's "George M!" and Broadway's "Miss Saigon").
Playing July 21st -31st, this musical is sponsored by Homestead Village and The Patriot-News. Gretna Theatre is also proud to be continuing its Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) season, sponsored by The Hershey Company, presenting five new hour long musicals geared toward children 3-10 years of age. All shows feature the main stage sets, our acting interns, and company members. "GLEE-ful Rapunzel," plays July 9th. "Phoebe Sue and Her Mystery Crew Solve the Haunting of Hoodwink House" plays July 16th. "Hansel and Gretel in the Big Apple" on July 23rd, and "Rumpelstiltskin and the Funny Kid" on July 30th.
TYA shows are Saturdays in July at 11 am. Reserved seat tickets are $7 and children under 3 are just $5. Tickets to any Gretna Theatre show are available for purchase online at www.gretnatheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at 717-964-3627.
