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  Arden Theatre Company Presents A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart Directed by Terrence J. Nolen May 18 - June 18, 2006 For Immediate Release: May 10, 2006 Closing the 2005-2006 season with a bang, the Arden Theatre Company returns to legendary composer Stephen Sondheim for the musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Sponsored by Commerce Bank and Harmelin Media, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will run May 18 – June 18, 2006. The Arden Theatre Company is located at 40 N. 2nd Street in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia, Pa. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, an irreverent farce bursting with infectious energy and sexy fun, is one of the funniest musicals ever written. To win his freedom, a Roman slave schemes to win the hand of a beautiful courtesan for his master. Led by the hilarious, Barrymore Award-winning actor Tony Braithwaite (Café Puttanesca), the show features an all-star Philadelphia ensemble: Mary Martello (Sweeney Todd, Café Puttanesca), Tom McCarthy (All My Sons, Death of a Salesman), Jeffrey Coon (A Year with Frog and Toad, The Baker's Wife), Tom Teti (The Baker's Wife), Buck Schirner (Daedalus), Aaron Cromie (Twelfth Night), and Dave Jadico (The Arabian Nights). In addition to reuniting Philadelphia's most acclaimed thespians, the show features fast-rising theatre stars including Jarrod Lentz and Caroline Dooner as the musical's young lovers, Hero and Philia. Director Terrence J. Nolen, Producing Artistic Director and co-founder of Arden Theatre Company, is thrilled to stage the hit Broadway musical at the Arden—and draw from Philadelphia's stellar theatre talent for an unforgettably fun performance. "I wanted to do a show that brought together Philadelphia's best comedians, and it didn't take long to realize that A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was a perfect romp for these Philadelphia actors. Throughout the cast there are so many tremendous performances. It's a grand ol' time!" Nolen says. In addition to the extraordinary cast, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum features a distinguished production and creative team: costume designer Richard St. Clair (A Year with Frog and Toad), lighting designer James Leitner (The Underpants), choreographer Michael Donaghy (Sweeney Todd) and musical director Charles Gilbert (A Year with Frog and Toad, The Dinosaur Musical). Scenic designer Donald Eastman (A Year with Frog and Toad) based his spectacular, sophisticated Roman streetscape on historic research of Roman architecture and aesthetics. Rome wasn't built in a day… but the Arden's in-house technical staff—Technical Director Glenn Perlman, Assistant Technical Director Scott Weddell and Scenic Artist Adam Riggar —constructed and painted the set's three 20-foot, multi-level houses in only a month on the theatre's F. Otto Haas Stage! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, is full of bawdy, fast-paced humor and memorable songs ("Comedy Tonight," "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid," "That'll Show Him"). Based on ancient Roman comedies, the story centers on a slave named Pseudolus and his hilarious attempts to win his freedom by encouraging the romance between his master's son, Hero, and a young virgin named Philia who is owned by Marcus Lycus, a dealer in courtesans, and promised to a swaggering soldier named Miles Gloriosus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opened on Broadway on May 8, 1962 and earned a Tony Award for Best Musical. The original production—starring Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, David Burns, Ruth Kobart, and John Carradine (who was replaced by Erik Rhodes)—was directed by Broadway legend George Abbott and played 966 performances, Sondheim's longest Broadway run to date. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was made into a film in 1966, directed by Richard Lester with Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton, a very young Michael Crawford and Phil Silvers (who also starred in a well-received Broadway revival in 1972). The show was revived in 1996 with Nathan Lane as Pseudolus, replaced later in the run by Whoopi Goldberg. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum previews begin on Thursday, May 18. Preview performances run May 18, 19, 20 and 21. Opening night is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, and the show runs through Sunday, June 18, 2006. Tickets, currently on sale, range from $27 to $45 and may be purchased by calling the Arden Box Office at 215.922.1122 or ordered online at www.ardentheatre.org or visit the box office at 40 N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia. Discounts are available for groups for 10 or more. The Pay-What-You-Can performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, open to the public, is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. Patrons pay what they choose to attend the performance, with proceeds to benefit Upper Darby Summer Stage. Since 1976, Summer Stage has involved more than 500 young people each summer in the production of children's shows and Broadway musicals which are attended by more than 24,000 each season. Visit www.udpac.org/summerstage/. The Young Professionals Circle will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 19 before the 8 p.m. preview of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Co-hosted by Arden Theatre Company and Social Philly, the festive pre-show party at Arden Theatre Company includes Roman-themed cocktails and delectable hors d'oeuvres. Cost is $35 per person which includes the pre-show party and admission to the performance. This is an RSVP ONLY event -- Ticket purchases must be made by 5 p.m. May 15 by calling Karen Gross, Public Relations Associate at Arden Theatre Company, 215-922-8900 x49. A Funny Thing Happened After the Forum, a sensational Late Night Cabaret, is open to the public and takes place 11 p.m. Friday, June 16 in Arden Theatre Company's Haas Theatre. Don't miss Forum stars Mary Martello, Jeffrey Coon, and Richard Ruiz—plus hysterical master of ceremonies Tony Braithwaite-- performing songs they love to sing! Expect musical theatre favorites, standards and tons of laughs in this lively after-show cabaret. $20 general admission, $15 for Arden subscribers. Reservations encouraged. Call the Arden Box Office at 215-922-1122. The Arden is accessible to people with disabilities, providing wheelchair accessibility, assisted listening devices and large print programs at every performance. Accessible seating is available by reservation. For more information, call the Arden Box Office at 215.922.1122. WHERE: WHEN: REVIEWING PRESS: Will receive invitations to the opening night performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Other members of the press: Are invited to see the show during the first week of the run by scheduling tickets through the Public Relations Associate at 215.922.8900 x49 or kgross@ardentheatre.org. WHO: INTERVIEWS AND PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE 
Questions? Contact us at 215.413.7150 or info@theatrealliance.org.
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