Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s outdoor, summer theatre located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, will present its 51st season during the summer of 2019 with "Man of La Mancha," "Tintypes," and "The Music Man."
Directed by Porthouse producing artistic director Terri Kent, Man of La Mancha opens June 14 and runs through June 29. A preview performance will take place on June 13. Written by Dale Wasserman and with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, Man of La Mancha is a powerful and simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking musical inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' masterpiece Don Quixote. Featuring songs such as "Dulcinea" and "The Impossible Dream," "Man of La Mancha" follows the journey of a dying old man determined not to abandon his ideals or passion.
Man of La Mancha features Fabio Polanco* (Les Miserables Broadway National Tour) as Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote, Genny Lis Padilla* (Broadway’s On Your Feet!) as Aldonza, Brian Chandler* (Broadway’s The Lion King) as The Governor/Inkeeper, and Cody Hernandez* (The Golden Bride and Urinetown! Off-Broadway) as The Duke/Dr. Carrasco/Knight of Mirrors. The cast also includes Joseph Ball, Timothy Culver, Terence Cranendonk, Zoe Dongas, Christian Feliciano, Bernadette Hisey, Grace Hunt, David A. Hurt, Jr., Sam Johnson, Elijah Lee King, Clay Miller, Talia Rockland, Michael Rodgers, Brandon Schumacker, Morgan Thomas-Mills, Morgan Tomasetti, Jim Weaver*, Elaine Werren, and Jay White.
The production team includes choreography by Martín Céspedes, music direction by Jonathan Swoboda, costume design by Grace Cochran Keenan, lighting design by Cynthia R. Stillings, scenic design by Patrick Ulrich, sound design by Parker Strong, and technical direction by Ryan Gadjos. The props master is Devin T. Gallo and the production stage manager is John Godbout*.
Performances are June 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 at 8 p.m and June 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.
Directed by Porthouse executive producer Eric van Baars, Tintypes opens July 5 and runs through July 20. A preview performance will take place on July 4. Nominated for multiple Tony Awards, "Tintypes" is a collection of snapshots of America's last Age of Innocence prior to World War I. Written by Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte, and Mel Marvin, Tintypes features patriotic and ragtime classics such as "The Yankee Doodle Boy," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "America the Beautiful," and "You're a Grand Old Flag."
Tintypes features Shamara Costa*, Mavis Jennings*, Samanatha Kennett, Devin Pfeiffer, and Josy Soriano.
The production team includes music direction by Jennifer Korecki, costume design by Susan Williams, lighting design by Jakyung C. Seo, scenic design by Ryan Patterson, sound design by Parker Strong, and technical direction by Ryan Gadjos. The props master is Devin T. Gallo, the stage manager is Patrick L. Johnson, and the production stage manager is John Godbout*.
Performances are July 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 at 8pm and July 7 and 14 at 2 p.m.
Directed by producing artistic director Terri Kent, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man opens July 26 and runs through August 11. A preview performance will take place on July 25. With book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, The Music Man is the funny and romantic story of fast-talking salesman Harold Hill. When Hill arrives in River City, Iowa to con the townspeople and hurry off with their money, he doesn't count on falling for the town librarian in the process.
Meredith Willson’s The Music Man features Thom Christopher Warren* (Broadway’s The Lion King) as Harold Hill, Emma Sohlberg* as Marian Paroo, Terence Cranendonk* as Constable Locke, Molly McGinnis* as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Ryan Scoble* as Marcellus Washburn, and Rohn Thomas* (The Shawshank Redemption, The West Wing) as Mayor Shinn. The cast also includes Ezra Bernstein, Lucy Bowers, Timothy Culver, Zoe Dongas, Christian Feliciano, Taylor Fox, Mason Henning, Bernadette Hisey, Grace Hunt, David A. Hurt, Jr., Morgan Jane, Sam Johnson, Elijah Lee King, Anna Marmaduke, Jade Martin, Clay Miller, Clinton Owens, Mia Renard, Talia Rockland, Michael Rodgers, Brandon Schumacker, Danielle Stanek, Morgan Thomas-Mills, Morgan Tomasetti, Hallie Walker, Elaine Werren, and Jay White.
The production team includes choreography by John R. Crawford-Spinelli, music direction by Jonathan Swoboda, costume design by Brittney Harrell, lighting design by Jason Potts, scenic design by Nolan O’Dell, sound design by Parker Strong, and technical direction by Ryan Gadjos. The props master is Devin T. Gallo and the production stage manager is John Godbout*.
Performances are July 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31 and Aug. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 at 8pm and July 28 and Aug. 4, 10, and 11 at 2 p.m.
Subscriptions are available in person or by phone only at 330-672-3884.
Single and group tickets can be purchased in person at the Porthouse Box Office, located in the Roe Green Center lobby of Kent State’s Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent, OH 44242, online at porthousetheatre.com, or by phone at 330-672-3884.
*Denotes membership in Actors' Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
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Media Contact:
Joni Koneval, 330-672-0116, jkoneval@kent.edu