Several of The Mac-Haydn Theatre’s audience favorite performers will be on hand to help the theatre celebrate it’s Ruby Jubilee 40th Anniversary season this summer.
John Saunders, whose versatile acting and strong singing have led to roles ranging from Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls to Archibald Craven in Secret Garden, andfrom Noah in 110 In the Shade to Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie, will start his 9th summer in Chatham as Henry Higgins, the curmudgeonly bachelor who teaches a flower girl to be a lady in My Fair Lady. Later in the season audiences will see a side of John never shown before as he follows in the footsteps of such character actors as Harvey Fierstein in playing Edna, Tracy Turnblad’s mother - yes, we did say Edna, Tracy’s mother - in Hairspray.
John Saunders as Bustopher Jones in the 2006 production of Cats.
Eliza Doolittle, the ambitious girl who seeks Higgin’s help to ‘become a lady in a flower shop’, will be played by Renée Brna. Since her 2004 Mac-Haydn summer, which included roles of Magnolia in Showboat and feature vocalist in Swing, Ms. Brna has played Meg in the first national tour of Little Women, been on Broadway in Coram Boy, and played Cosette in Les Miserables and Belle and Meg in A Christmas Carol.
Voted the audience’s favorite performers for two years in a row, sisters Karla and Kelly Shook will return to The Mac-Haydn Theatre to be part of the 40th season, saying “We couldn’t miss it.” Karla will start her summer as Millie, the feisty but loving bride in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and will also play Betty Blake in Will Rogers Follies and Maria in The Sound of Music.
Kelly Shook will add her crisp choreography touches to several of the shows, and will be on stage as Cassie in A Chorus Line. She’ll also repeat a favorite role, Ziegfeld’s Favorite in Will Rogers Follies.
Monica M. Wemitt will show off her inimitable vocal and character talents in two roles this season: the ultimate operatic diva Carlotta in Phantom, and the wise and caring Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music. Last summer’s audiences could not stop laughing at her Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and she brought poignant perfection to her songs as Lizzie in 110 In The Shade.
Rob Richardson will join Karla Shook in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, putting his rich baritone voice and strong, handsome presence to the oldest brother, Adam. Last summer he played Starbuck in 110 In The Shade and Syd in Pajama Game. From the Mac-Haydn stage, he heads to rehearsals for his Broadway debut, in the upcoming premiere of A Tale of Two Cities.
Jim Kidd has performed at Mac-Haydn for a number of years, most recently as Jud in Oklahoma last summer. He will be back this year to repeat another of his wonderful character roles, Alfie Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Singin’ In The Rain audiences marveled at the dancing and comedy talents of Colin Pritchard, playing Cosmo Brown last summer. This year he will show off both to best advantage again, starting with a tap dance feature as Mike in A Chorus Line. He will then play John Saunder’s husband - yes, we said John Saunder’s husband - as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray.
These Mac-Haydn favorite performers will be joined by a new company of talented singers, dancers and actors chosen from over 1,000 people seen in recent auditions especially for the 40th Anniversary line-up of shows.
The Mac-Haydn Theatre opens the Ruby Jubilee 40th Anniversary Season on May 22, with the classic show that was their very first opening night, My Fair Lady, which will run through June 1. Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, a popular requested show, will play next, June 5 through 15; followed by the ultimate ‘show business’ show, A Chorus Line, June 19 through 29.Then, it’s three weeks of rockin’ good times with Hairspray, July 3 through 20.The Kopit and Yeston version of Phantom brings a change of pace with gorgeous music and a touching story, July 24 through August 3. The dazzle of the follies and the wit of Will Rogers combine next in Will Rogers Follies, August 7 through 17. The all-time family favorite The Sound of Music closed the first Mac-Haydn season, and will be the last regular show of this summer, August 21 through 31.
