2002-2003 Season - Munster Theatre Company

Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie (Sara Dobrinich) , a spunky, young nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile (Matthew Domasica). Nellie learns that the mother of his children was a Polynesian island native. She is unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, and refuses Emile's proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, the strapping Lt. Joe Cable (Lenny Weiss) denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl, Liat (Ashley Troumarliaris), with whom he's fallen in love, out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting and conquering her prejudices. The production also features: Bloody Mary (Molly Hanson), Luther Billis (Joey Manderino), Captain Brackett (Justin DalCorrbo), Commander Harbison (Jim Bochnowski), and a wonderful cast of over sixty Theatre Company members.

With Memorable Rodgers & Hammerstein songs:
       Some Enchanted Evening
     I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right-out of My Hair
     There is Nothin Like a Dame
     I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy
     Cockeyed Optimist
     Happy Talk
     Bali Ha'i

Our Student- Directed Winter Play *Rehearsal for Murder* Produced by Larry A Brechner Asst Produced by Carol Lynn Brechner Directed by Molly Hanson Assistant Directed -Dan Phillips
February 13-15, 2003 at 7pm Advanced tickets $5-adult / student $4 Rehearsal for Murder is a thrilling "theatrical" mystery where playwright (Andrew Bridgman), prepares for the first reading of his new play. The actors, producer (Lindsey Ellingsen), director (Chetan Chabal) and others connected with the show come onto the stage, and under their humorous (and utterly real) theatrical talk, tension grows. We discover that everyone connected with this play was involved with another play by the same playwright.	Ashley Troumouliaris Andrew Bridgman Nancy Bielfelft Lindsey Ellingsen Chetan Chaubal
At its opening night, exactly a year ago and in this same theatre, the beautiful leading lady (Ashley Troumouliaris), who was also the playwright's fiancée, was murdered! As these people start with he new play, startling connections to the murder begin to unfold. The growing tension reaches the boiling point with surprising revelations, countered by others even more surprising. The dazzling, yet basically logical twists build to a climax and solution that are theatrically stunning! The authors of this thriller have all had direct Broadway experience, and their dialogue has a special sting of wit and reality. For the best mystery in years, post a notice on your theatre callboard, and come to see Rehearsal for Murder.

A Special Fall Musical presentation of
A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum

Forum cast
Erica Ranade Andrew Bridgman
Mike Hughes Matthew Domasica Caroly Jania

Produced and Directed by Larry A Brechner Musical Direction by Dr Timothy Bartlett
Assistant Director Carol Lynn Brechner
Choreography by Julie Ason
November 14-16, 2002 7pm
(Nov 17 Sunday Matinee at 2pm)

Munster Theatre Company is pleased to present the Stephan Sondheim musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The Production and Directing Staff include: Larry A Brechner

Producer/Director; Dr. Timothy Bartlett Music/Orchestra Director; Carol Lynn Brechner, Assistant Director; Julie Ason, Choreographer, and Molly Hanson, Student Director.

Set in about 200 BC in Rome, it is a Vaudevillian musical farce centered on the House of Senex. The Story begins with Senex (Andrew Bridgman) and Domina (Erica Ranade) leaving on a trip, trusting the household to the slaves Hysterium (Lenny Weiss) and Pseudolus (Matthew Domasica). The next house is that of Marcus Lycus (Jim Bochnowski), a seller of courtesans. Their son, Hero (Michael Hughes) falls in love with a courtesan, Philia (Carolyn Jania), who has been sold to a Roman Captain, Miles Gloriousus (Joey Manderino). Hero sends his slave, Pseudolus to get Philia, and will free him if succeeds. The final house of Erronius (Justin Dal Corobbo), an old man who is gone searching for his lost twin children stolen in infancy. With cunning disguises and mistaken identities the characters musically takes the audience on a comic joyride “with something for everyone”.

The script from M*A*S*H’s Larry Gelbart, and Burt Shevelove, and the first full score (music and lyrics) from Stephan Sondheim which features tunes: “Comedy Tonight, Lovely, Everybody Ought to have a Maid,” and many more. Forum is a delight for everybody. Originally starring Zero Mostel as Pseudolus, more recently Nathan Lane and Whoopee Goldberg have brought this lovable rascal to life.

Forum will run Thursday, November 14; Friday, November 15: Saturday, November 16 at 7pm, and Sunday, November 17 at 2pm in Munster Auditorium. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door and are available at the Auditorium Box Office on performance nights or in advance by calling: (219) 836-3200 x245, by email at auditorium@iname.com .

Oct 3 & 4, 2002 7pm
$4 all Tickets

Seven wildly funny comedians, including the landlady, live in Shotzie Starr’s (Genevieve Grdina) boarding house for stand-up comics. On the way up are Ed (Michael Hughes), a loud-mouthed, insult-slinger; Zack (Ryan Blanchard), a nervous wreck; Pepper (Natalie Stigall), the tart-tongued sophisticate; and Gloria (Lindsay Weiss), an actress with a grab bag of comic personalities. Straight-man Phil (Daniel Albrecht-Mallinger) and his ditzy wife, Delilah (Amanda Pogach), and colorful Shotzie with her bizarre appearance and ability to pop out one-liners have lost their headliner status and are hoping to make comebacks. The only “normal” resident is Shotzie’s granddaughter Terri (Jenna Candiano), a college student whose pizza delivering boyfriend, Howard

Lindsay Weiss         Amanda Pogach
     Ryan Blanchard         Daniel Albrecht-Mallinger
Genevieve Grdina

(Matt Gifford) is-you guessed it- an aspiring comedian. The action at Shotzie’s becomes manic when bumbling kidnappers Huey, Dewey and Louise (Matthew Tepperman, Phillip Shapiro, Sarah Standley)crash their van and take refuge there with their victim, haughty socialite Melora Higgenbotham (Becka Stork), in tow. Police surround the house and the unrestrainable comics are suddenly in the proximity of reporters’ TV cameras. All hilarity breaks loose, on stage and in the audience!

Is There A Comic In The House? will run one weekend only on October 3 & 4 at 7pm in the Munster Auditorium. Tickets are $4 at the door and are available at the Auditorium Box Office on performance nights or by calling: (219) 836-3200 x245 or my email MunAud Box Office.

For ticket information
Box Office Manager
Deb Kelley
(219) 836-3200 x245
Email: Box Office AOL IM - MunTickets