In what may be one of the quickest

turnarounds in theatre, the Clayton Alliance for Summer Theatre (CAST)

will present "The Fantasticks" for four days starting tomorrow,

10 days after they began production work and rehearsal.

"The Fantasticks"

will be CAST's first-ever professional theatre production. It is also

unique because all of the performers and musicians are former Clayton

County school graduates who have gone on to perform as professional entertainers

in a variety of venues. The cast includes Morrow High School graduates

Michael Vaughn, Jamie Moore, Jason Kraack, Cynthia (Sigler) Corley, Sean

Simmons and Matt McCord. Musical director Kelly (Jackson) Roberts is also

a Morrow High School graduate. Other members of the cast include Jesica

(Raymer) Sbordi, a Mt. Zion High School graduate, and Mark Clark, a Forest

Park graduate.

"The Fantasticks"

is Broadway's longest musical and it just closed last fall at the Sullivan

Street Playhouse after 42 years. The story follows Matt and Louisa, next-door

neighbors who have been kept apart by their parents so that they would

eventually fall in love. Matt and Louisa's parents know that the easiest

way to get children to do something is to forbid it. After they fall in

love, the young couple desires something more and both go out looking

for more excitement in the world. In the end, they find fulfillment at

home with each other.

In addition to Matt and Louisa

and their meddlesome parents is the mysterious El Gallo, who serves as

the catalyst for the lessons that Matt and Louisa learn, as well as Henry,

Mortimer and the mute, all actors who help El Gallo. "The Fantasticks"

is one of the most beloved shows in the world and features the songs,

"Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain" among

others.

Vaughn will play El Gallo in

the production. He recently directed "Footloose" and "Fiddler

on the Roof" for CAST and has appeared with the Atlanta Ballet Company

and done four national tours with the American National Theatre of Philadelphia.

Moore, who will play Henry,

is an instructor, writer and performer with Atlanta Workshop Players.

He has also appeared in commercials for Roberds Furniture, the Georgia

Lottery and Zaxby's Restaurants.

Kraack, who will play Matt,

has appeared in over 30 musical productions and has toured the United

States with the Missoula Children's Theatre, as well as performed at the

Kennedy Center with the Washington Symphony.

The role of Louisa will be

played by Sbordi, who has performed at the Broadway palm Theatre in Fort

Meyers, Fla. and appeared with Kraack in the musical, "Chris Cross"

at the World's fair in Seville, Spain in 1992. Simmons, who will appear

as Mortimer, is better known as "Buck in the Truck" for Kicks

101.5 FM. The role of Bellomy will be played by Clark, who recently appeared

in Henry Players' production of "Big River."

McCord, who plays Hucklebee,

also recently appeared in "Big River" and is an attorney for

the Clayton County Solicitor's Office.

Corley, playing the mute, has

served as a dance teacher for Mt. Zion High and worked with the Paul Taylor

Dancers in New York City.

"The Fantasticks"

will be performed at the Tarpley Theatre in the Clayton County Schools

Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 15-17 and

at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for

students. Phone 770-473-2950.

"The Fantasticks"

7:30 p.m., Aug. 15-17

2:30 p.m Aug. 18

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