Heritage Repertory Theatre Prepares for 2000 Season

June 19, 2000 -- With opening night of the Heritage Repertory Theatre on June 22, the Drama Building at the University of Virginia is abuzz with activity. Now in its 27th year, HRT's professional company of over 100 actors and technicians are busy working on this summer's season of five plays and musicals.

The season opens on June 22 with Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel." Named by Time magazine as the "Best Musical of the 20th Century", this show was the personal favorite of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Nancy Snow (Maria in last summer's West Side Story) returns to play Julie Jordan, and Metropolitan Opera Guild Regional Finalist Harold Mortimer is in from New York to play Billy Bigelow in a production directed by Robert Chapel (West Side Story, A Chorus Line).

The Pulitzer-prize winning drama Picnic by William Inge opens on July 7. The story of a young drifter's impact on the women of a sleepy Kansas town will be directed by Douglas Sprigg, who directed such popular HRT productions as "The Miracle Worker" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Sprigg will also direct "Same Time Next Year" by Bernard Slade, opening on July 13. This two-character romantic comedy will feature two returning U.Va. alums, Michael Perilstein and Robbie Berry who have been working professionally in New York and Los Angeles since receiving their M.F.A.'s.

Heritage Rep. will open two shows in one week in mid-July, with "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" opening July 18, followed two days later by the Fats Waller musical "Ain't Misbehavin'" opening July 20. "Charlie Brown," which will also be directed by Robert Chapel, features Charles Schulz's beloved "Peanuts" characters in the "new" version of this classic musical that played on Broadway last year. "in't Misbehavin'" will feature Tim Cain from last summer's hit "The All Night Strut," and will be directed and choreographed by Mike Malone whose work has been seen at the Kennedy Center and on Broadway.

The HRT Box Office is now open for in-person and phone sales. Individual tickets are on sale for $25, with student/child tickets at $14 and senior citizens at $21. Season tickets to all five productions are available for $100, with discounts for students/children and seniors. The box office, located in the Drama Building on Culbreth Road, may be reached Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (804) 924-3376.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact the Office of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.
SOURCE: U.Va. News Services

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