W’boro Players ring in spring with ‘Forum’

With their new set, nearly complete for the upcoming play, the Players are rehearsing nightly at their warehouse building off Dephine Ave. and cast members are starting to feel it all coming together, according to co-director Duane Hahn.

The group will present the musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The play is based on a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

The spring production will be held on May 10- 12 at 8 p.m. and on May 13 at 2 p.m. at Louis Spilman Auditorium Waynesboro High School.

This production should be considered rated PG, said Hahn.

"This is a funny, crazy kind of wild slapstick with characters who have mixed-up identities," said Hahn. "Several new people are cast in this play; several older cast members are in it, too. Four of our cast members are repeating roles they did before many years ago when we did this play."

Newcomers to Waynesboro Players are Erin Hart, Barbara Wimble, J.D. Kiser and Benjamin Wilkins.

Hahn promises this musical to be a fun show.

"We have one guy ordered in from Chicago," said Hahn. "He is a guest actor, Michael Waltz, our previous set designer from last year's musical, 'Big River.' We've pretty well finished designing the set, although he was coming to help with that as well. Another cast member was hurt in an accident - Gary Flavin - and has said he is not able to do the part, so he is going to be replaced by Waltz, who is busy learning the lines. He is a good friend of mine. He has quite a bit of experience."

The Players will be enjoying shiny, new costumes for the production.

"They are pretty much all brand new," Hahn explained. "We haven't tried them all on to be sure they are what we want and that we like them, but we are all excited that they are new. I am trying to really bring out the vividness of this musical. My idea was to use wigs and wild looking colors so it is very colorful. The set is going to be wacky, lively and zany and the play is intended for all ages. It's very light hearted, really nice.

"We have a wonderful crew," Hahn added. "We have had great help painting. We have a great set crew and painters who have used stucco and have built a three-story structure. So far, we've only been able to use the center. Our rehearsal building isn't as tall as the structure, so we'll have to work with that when we move it to the high school. We have a wonderful orchestra leader, who has worked with Oak Grove Theater and at Mary Baldwin, Don Roe, who is our music coordinator."

Barbara Lawson is also co-director. Music director is Brian Holsopple, choreographers are Jami Lea Cook and Erin Hart and producers are June Hall and Becky Price.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is a musical comedy set in ancient Greece. In the play, Pseudolus, a slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesean, Philia, for his master, Hero, in exchange for freedom.

"Psedolus has to outsmart Hero's parents, Domina and Senex, the slavemaster, Lyrus, and the general, Miles Gloriosus, who has already paid for Philia," Hahn explained. He added that the play is based on the comedies of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus.

The cast of this production includes Pseudolus, played by Bob Wright; Senex, played by Brian Holsopple ; Domina, played by Barbara Spilman Lawson; Hero, played by Colton Berry; Hysterium, played by Duane Hahn; Lycus, played by guest actor Michael Waltz; Miles Gloriosus, played by Chris Ruble; Philia, played by Alecia Brooks; Erronius, played by Jay Rhodes; Vibrata, played by Sarah Sanders; Gymnasia, played by Nancy Houseknecht; Gemini, played by Erin Hart; Gemini, played by Donna Rousseau; Gemini, played by Donna Rouseau; Panacea, played by Leslie Rueff; Tintinabula, played by Barbara Wimble; Protean, played by Joe Bruce; Protean, played by Jake Frank; Protean, played by J.D. Kiser; and Protean, played by Benjamin Wilkins.

"This play really allows our cast to shine," said Hahn.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students.

Ticket are available in Waynesboro at Donna's Hallmark, Quality Cleaners, Waynesboro Public Library and Waynesboro Florist; in Verona at Granny's Attic; in Fishersville at Augusta Insurance Agency; in Staunton at the Bookstack; at Shenandoah Travel Agency or online at http://www.waynesboroplayers.org.

For more information about the Waynesboro Player's upcoming play, contact Hahn at 949-5376.