Event: The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents seven performances of the longest-running American musical in theatre history, “The Fantasticks.” Written by College of Fine Arts alumni Tom Jones (B.F.A. ’49, M.F.A. ’51) and Harvey Schmidt (B.F.A. ’52), “The Fantasticks” is a moving tale of two young lovers motivated by their feuding fathers and the wall they erected to keep their children apart. Now in its 50th year of running, “The Fantasticks” is a timeless story of youth, love, pain and joy that resonates with all audiences.
When: Oct. 15, 17, 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.
Where: B. Iden Payne Theatre in F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto.
Tickets: $20 public, $17 faculty/staff and seniors, $10 students. Now on sale at the following authorized ticket outlets: Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling 512-477-6060 or 800-982-BEVO.
Background: “The Fantasticks” is a moving tale of two young lovers motivated by their feuding fathers and the wall they erected to keep their children apart. Once the children discover their fathers’ distaste for one another is nothing but a ruse to spark their romance, their bond is strained as each journeys from home to experience a greater world. They return battered and shaken only to discover a more mature, meaningful love awaits them. Told in part by memorable songs such as “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”
Jones and Schmidt first began collaborating while students at The University of Texas at Austin as members of the Curtain Club, a student organization preceding the Department of Drama, now the Department of Theatre and Dance. Their first full-length musical written after graduation, “The Fantasticks,” premiered at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York on May 3, 1960 where it ran for 42 years and 17,162 performances.
“The Fantasticks” is directed by Rod Caspers with musical direction by Lyn Koenning and presented at The University of Texas at Austin through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
