The Jewish Community of Louisville’s CenterStage will close out their 2010-11 season with the hilarious, Tony Award winning musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, May 12-22 in the Jewish Community Center’s Linker Auditorium.
This Broadway smash hit musical comedy, inspired by the farces of the famous Roman playwright Plautus, is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
Forum tells the story of a slave named Pseudolus (Monty Fields), who attempts to gain his freedom by helping his young master, Hero (Kyle Braun), and woo Philia (Jessica Adamson), the courtesan next door. However, Philia is already promised to Captain Miles Gloriosus (Jon Adams). Pseudolus schemes to let Hero catch Philia’s eye but his father, Senex (Russ Dunlap) returns early from a trip, upsetting the ruse. Pseudolus enlists the help of the head slave, Hysterium (Chris Bryant) to restart the plot.
Written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Forum opened on Broadway in 1962, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical. In 1966, the play was brought to the big screen before being revived on stage in 1972 and again in 1996 with Nathan Lane as Pseudolus. The play features such popular songs as “Comedy Tonight,” “Love, I Hear,” and “I’m Calm.”
This is one of the few times CenterStage has produced a broad slapstick comedy. “While Forum may be outside our comfort zone, I know our audiences will love it,” says CenterStage Artistic Director, John R. Leffert. “The cast has worked extremely hard and have really met the comedic challenge this show presents. They keep me laughing every night in rehearsal.”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum runs for two weeks with performances on Thursdays, May 12 and 19; Saturdays, May 14 and 21; and Monday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, May 15 and May 22 at 2 and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $18 each. Twenty $10 rush tickets are available for weekday and Sunday evening performances and must be purchased in person at the Jewish Community Center (3600 Dutchmans Lane) day of show prior to 5 p.m. For information or ticket reservations, call 459-0660.