For Immediate Release: October 27, 2005
Media Contact: Charles Harrison, Act Out Theatre, 856.769.3638

Act Out Theatre will present Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' nostalgic musical work "I Do! I Do!" beginning November 11, 2005 at the Davidow Performing Arts Auditorium at Salem Community College in Carney's Point, New Jersey. Schmidt and Jones, the authors of "The Fantasticks," wrote this intimate musical about marriage. Performances are November 11, 18 and 19 at 8 p.m., November 13 at 7 p.m. and November 12 and 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, with discounts available to groups, seniors and students. A Family & Friends six-ticket package is available for $90. To purchase tickets, or for more information, please call Act Out Theatre at (856) 769-3638, or visit www.actouttheatre.org.

"I Do! I Do!" begins with Michael and Agnes on their wedding day and traces their life together over a period of 50 years, until the day they leave their house to the next pair of newlyweds. In that time they go through their wedding night jitters, raise a family, negotiate mid-life crises, quarrel, separate, reconcile and grow old together, all lovingly to the strains of a tuneful, charming score which includes the standard "My Cup Runneth Over."

"The show is very comical and has all the elements of a good musical...humor, witty dialogue, fast pace, catchy tunes, great characters, " say director David Keller. "And while it also shows marriage's ups and downs, in the end, their love transcends any transgressions. In this day and age, with divorce rates and single parent family households escalating, it seemed fitting to produce a play that upholds the sanctity of marriage."

Amy Fitts will make her Act Out Theatre debut when she steps on stage as Agnes. Originally of Durango, Colorado, she has resided in New York City for the last nine years. Her regional work includes the Pittsburgh Public, People's Light and Theatre Company, Peterborough Players, Hangar Theatre, Depot Theatre and several Shakespeare Festivals. She has worked with such New York theatres as Joe's Pub, Jean Cocteau Rep, HERE, The Duplex and others.

Playing the role of Michael, Paul Kranz teaches English and Communications Academy classes at Woodstown High School, where he has been a teacher for 19 years and has directed the annual musicals for the past 16 years. "I Do! I Do!" marks Paul's return to Act Out Theatre having performed in the company premier play "The Arrival," written and directed by David Keller, and more recently, the role of Jim in Peter Eckstrom's musical adaptation of O.Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." Additional credits include turns in "Moll Flanders," "The Foreigner," "Scapin," "Candide," and "Bus Stop," as well as "The Music Man," "Guys and Dolls," and the role of Lt. Cable in "South Pacific." When not teaching or performing, Paul performs with local band, Northern Lights (thenorthernlightsband.com).

David M. Keller (Director), Producing Artistic Director and co-founder of Act Out Theatre, produced and directed last season's "Tuesdays With Morrie," as well as "The Gift of the Magi" and "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" in previous seasons. Mr. Keller's professional acting experience includes "The Skin of Our Teeth," "Born Yesterday" and "Our Town," all with the Delaware Theatre Company. In addition, he has performed in many semi-professional shows throughout the region and has also directed and written several scripts. Mr. Keller received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Scranton and a Masters Degree in Theatre from Villanova University where he performed in "West Side Story," "JB," "Oedipus Rex," "Candide," "Evita" and "Measure for Measure." He is currently Director of Development at Appel Farm Arts and Music Center and working on obtaining his Actors' Equity Association membership card (the Union for professional actors).

Kahlil Gunther (Music Director) is an active pianist and accompanist, performing extensively in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area as a soloist and with vocalists and ensembles. He has worked as a musical director for regional theatres (including Act Out Theatre's "The Gift of the Magi" and "This Moment" cabaret), dinner theatres and community theatres, as well as college productions, church choirs and cabaret performers. Since 1995, Gunther has been Director of Choral Activities at Woodstown High School where he also provides music direction for the Drama Club. He is currently recording Waiting for Autumn, an album of his original piano music.

Katie LaPalomento (Choreographer), having danced since the age of five, has choreographed and performed in "Fiddler on the Roof," "Damn Yankees" (Lola), "Music Man" (Zaneeta), and "Singing in the Rain" at Woodstown High School, and "Anything Goes" (Angel), "Oklahoma," "Wonderful Town," and "Guys and Dolls" (Adelaide). She attends Rowan University and instructs dance at the Academy of Performing Arts in Woodstown, where she has been for three years. She teaches preschool dance, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and last year she started a musical theater class with children 2 1/2 to 18 years old.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

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