The Cast of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FOUM at the Loveland Stage Company Theater. Photograph by Nancy Downing.
The Loveland Stage Company (LSC) opens A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM on March 3, 2017. Veteran actor John Sloan is making his debut in directing FORUM. His producers are OCTA and ACT award winner Pat Furterer and veteran actor Jill Gornet, his mother. Orchid winner for Choreography, Marjory Clegg and Orchid winner for Music Direction, John Nixon are united again to enhance this hilarious comedy with dance and music.
The book for Forum was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, who were inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus (254–184 BC). The legendary Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics, which was his first score for a Broadway show. The musical’s original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards, including Best Author (Musical) and Best Musical. Forum has enjoyed several Broadway and West End revivals and was made into a successful Hollywood film starring the original lead, Zero Mostel.
In the Prologue, a Roman citizen named Prologus welcomes the audience to the theater and introduces the neighbors who live in three houses. In the center is the house of Senex, who lives with wife Domina, son Hero, head slave Hysterium and Forum’s main character, Pseudolus. The house on stage left is owned by Marcus Lycus, who is a buyer and seller of beautiful women. The house on stage right belongs to Erronius, who is abroad searching for his kidnapped children.
The show begins with Senex and Domina going on a trip and leaving Pseudolus in charge of Hero. Hero tells Pseudolus that he is in love with Philia, one of the courtesans next door. Pseudolus promises to help him win the love of Philia in exchange for freedom. They visit Marcus Lycus and learn that Philia has been sold to the renowned warrior Miles Gloriosus. Pseudolus comes up with a plan, but piles sidesplitting mayhem upon sidesplitting mayhem to carry out his scheme.
The LSC cast and their character include: Megan Archibald (one of the Geminae), Adrianna Boris (Philia), Tom Cavano (Erronius), Jonathan Eckman (a Protean), Vincent Eldridge (a Protean), Alex Farmer (Panacea), Kiya Fix (Tintinabula), Gary Glass (Senex), Benjamin Johnson (Hero), Micheal Kiser (Pseudolus), Matt Lovell (Hysterium), Ken Macke (Marcus Lycus), Tom Morris (Miles Gloriosus), Tyler Ray (a Protean), Susan Schapiro (Domina), Denise Schnieders (Gymnasia), Jenna Schroeder (one of the Geminae) and Bobby Jo Swearingen (Vibrata).
Tickets are available for evening performances at 7:30 pm on March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 or matinee performances at 3:00 pm on March 5, 12 and 19.
To order tickets, please visit our website at www.lovelandstagecompany.org.
All performances are held at the Loveland Stage Company Theater, 111 South Second Street, Loveland, Ohio 45140.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 