by Becky Donner
It’s time to whitewash the fence – nightly! Halifax County Little Theatre opens their main stage season with a musical version of Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Opening November 16, the show will run for three weekends at The Prizery.
Director Andy Rice is working with musical director Cheri Blackwell to recreate the story of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, rambunctious boys who would rather fish and play than attend school. Their shenanigans are entertaining to watch but also get them into trouble at times. Set to a script by well known playwright Ken Ludwig with a musical score from Don Schlitz, the show features classic scenes such as white washing the fence, school mischief, Tom’s first love Becky Thatcher, and the dangerous Injun Joe and a murder in the graveyard. It should be great fun for the entire family.
Cast in the title role is Evan Snead, a young man with a lot of stage experience for his young years. Caleb Flowers will portray Huckleberry Finn, and Debbie Cook, new to the Little Theatre stage, will be Aunt Polly. Camden Mahan will play the tattle-tale cousin Sid.
Portraying Judge Thatcher and his daughter Becky will be Jeremy Duffer and Alex Reddy, and veteran actor Larry Jennings is tackling the evil Injun Joe. A host of other men, women, and youth will portray many of the other townspeople and characters pivotal to the story.
Assisting Rice in other production roles are Ben Berneche as Stage Manager, Catherine Glass as Producer, Ginny Bogart as Costume Designer, and Ron Miller in Set Realization. Cari Mahan is accompanist, and Marshall Slayton will head up the Set Building. Many more people will be assisting in various backstage positions.
Rehearsals have been underway for nearly 8 weeks now, with Pat Crew and Tricia Ricketts teaching the cast members the choreography, Cheri Blackwell teaching them music, and director Rice blocking the show and spearheading the whole production.
Season memberships are now being sold, and brochures can be picked up at The Prizery or the public libraries. If you would like a season brochure mailed to you, email Becky Donner at thedonners@embarqmail.com and one will be sent to you. Single tickets can also be purchased at The Prizery by calling 572-8339 or by going to the HCLT website: www.hclt.org.
The show promises great entertainment as the holiday season approaches. As Huck and Tom say to each other, “Hot dang! Ain’t this the best!”