03/06/14 The longest-running musical in history, The Fantasticks, will be the Huffington Concert Series’ next featured performance on Monday, March 10. Performed by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, this steampunk-inspired adaption of the classic musical promises to provide an unparalleled experience.
The Fantasticks is a classic romantic comedy about a boy, a girl, their meddling fathers and the wall that divides them. With music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones, the musical is based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand. The musical includes the memorable songs Try to Remember and Soon It’s Gonna Rain.
Of the steampunk concept, director Carl Beck said “It’s not an intrusive concept. It seems like the allegoric-quality can blend with the fantasy, giving it a quasi-period feel and making for a stronger statement than The Fantasticks usually gets.” He added that the story is not being re-written or changed in any way. Outside of the costumes, set and props, this show is, in its entirety, the original.
“It’s classical simplicity. It’s not a contemporary character tale. It’s about a boy who is overly in love with a girl. [Their] fathers are trying to keep them together by pulling them apart,” Beck said. “Steampunk seems to lend itself to this story by finding beauty among the broken pieces.”
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance are available through the Culver Academies Theatre Department. People interested in purchasing tickets may do so by calling (574) 842-7058 or emailing Marsha Coven (Marsha.Coven@culver.org). Tickets are also available at the Steinbrenner Performing Arts Center Box Office from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Eppley Auditorium Box Office one hour before the performance.
