The World's Longest Running Musical THE FANTASTICKS

Palm Beach Dramaworks presents

The World's Longest Running Musical

"The Fantasticks"

Opening July 13th -- Strictly Limited Engagement

Don & Ann Brown Theatre

West Palm Beach's only resident professional theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, will present "The Fantasticks" – the world's longest running musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt – as their summer offering, opening Friday, July 13th (8PM) for a strictly limited engagement at the new Don & Ann Brown Theatre(201 Clematis Street). Special priced preview performances are slated for July 11th & 12th with regularly scheduled curtain times through August 5th.

The Fantasticks tells the story of two neighboring fathers who trick their children into falling in love, under the believed pretense that children cannot fall in love unless that love is forbidden. The fathers construct a wall between their houses, as well as a fabricated family feud; they hire a troupe of actors to stage a fake kidnapping of daughter, Luisa so Matt can come to her rescue and in turn settle the family dispute. Of course, all things do not go according to plan.

Dramaworks' Resident Director J. Barry Lewis will direct and Craig Ames will serve as Musical Director. Theatre-goers may remember Lewis and Ames from their earlier collaboration on Dramaworks' acclaimed and award-wining production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." The production will feature Jim Ballard, Jennifer Molly Bell, Cliff Burgess, Tangi Columbel, Dennis Creaghan, Cliff Goulet, Jacob Heimer and Barry Tarallo. The production will feature scenery designed by Michael Amico, costumes designed by Brian O'Keefe and lights designed byJohn Hall.

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt first met at the University of Texas in 1950 --- Jones was a drama student, majoring in play production and Schmidt was studying art with hopes of becoming a commercial artist; however, their first collaboration, a musical revue entitled "Hipsy-Boo!" was such a success, they continued with their musical Theatre Partnership which eventually brought the two to New York and nine years after their first successful musical, The Fantasticks was created and performed as a one-act at Barnard College. In 1960 The Fantasticks opened at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village where it played for 42 years. In 2002, The Fantasticks closed and in 2006 re-opened at the newly constructed Snapple Theatre in Times Square where it continues to run.

Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Florida Professional Theatres Association, Florida Theatre Conference, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

The performance schedule is as follows: Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM; Matinee performances are on Saturdays and Sundays at 2PM. Individual tickets are $55 for all performances. Student tickets are available for $10. Group rates for 20 or more, and discounted season subscriptions are also available. The Dramaworks' new Don & Ann Brown theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, open Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 8PM, and Sundays from 11AM to 8PM, or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

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Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

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