A majority of the talented cast as well as the crew in the latest WHCT production are from West Hartford.
Submitted by Katie Meagher, West Hartford Community Theater
WHCT will present ‘The Producers.’ Submitted photo.
West Hartford Community Theater (WHCT) will be putting on the musical comedy “The Producers” at Hall High School on Nov. 14, 15, and 16.
WHCT was created in 2008 with an eye toward providing the highest quality live musical theater experience for West Hartford residents and the greater Hartford community. The brainchild of Conard High School graduates Bruce LaRoche and Maria Librio Judge, WHCT draws upon the unique and richly diverse pool of talent that exists right here in West Hartford and the surrounding area.
Over the years, WHCT has produced many shows including “The Music Man”, “Oklahoma”, “Brigadoon”, “The Sound of Music”, “My Fair Lady”, “The Secret Garden”, and “Les Miserables.”
In addition to their large fall productions, the group also regularly performs at Blue Back Square and various nursing homes and community centers throughout town. In the January of 2013, a small group of WHCT members actually traveled to Italy to perform at the world famous Oscar Niemeyer Theater – the only community theater in the U.S. to have ever been invited to perform there.
WHCT rehearses and builds sets for ‘The Producers.’ Submitted photo.
“The Producers” is an outrageous musical comedy by Mel Brooks. Based on the Mel Brooks 1968 film by the same name, the original production opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,052 successful performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony awards. The humor of the show (while not appropriate for young kids) spares no one, pokes fun at just about everything, and draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and parodies of sex-starved little old ladies.
The movie critic Roger Ebert says he once found himself in an elevator with Mel Brooks after the movie was released. A woman got into the elevator, recognized Mel Brooks, and said, “I have to tell you Mr. Brooks, that your movie is vulgar.” Brooks smiled and said, “Lady, it rose below vulgarity.”
The large majority of the cast and crew are residents of West Hartford. They are an incredibly hard working group who are passionate about putting on top notch shows using local talent (including a resident who was formerly on Broadway). Many of the group’s past productions have sold out.
The show will take place at Hall High School on Nov. 14 at 7:30, Nov. 15 at 1:30 and 7:30, and Nov. 16 at 1:30. Tickets are $20 in advance or $22 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www.whtheater.org.
Cast
(in order of appearance)
Usherettes…………………………………………….Rebekah Battersby, Meghan McDermott
Max Bialystock………………………………………………………………Michael Cartwright
Leo Bloom………………………………………………………………………….Ryan Binder*
Hold-Me Touch-Me……………………………………………………………..Terry Szymanski
Mr. Marks………………………………………………………………………….Eric Goldberg
Accountants………………………………..Michael Dolan, Harry van der Hulst, Matt Nelson
Peter Krzyzek, Melvin Swinton, Sam Bass, Quincy Evans
Showgirls………………………………..Lindsay Castonguay, Courtney Krzyzek, Regan Flynn
Kayla Rodriguez, Claudia Keenan, Sofi Andrews
Franz Liebkind………………………………………………………………………..Nate Strick
Charmen Ghia…………………………………………………………………..Michael Morales
Roger De Bris…………………………………………………………………………Mitch Hess
Bryan………………………………………………………………………………….Jeff Snyder
Kevin………………………………………………………………………………….Sal Uccello
Scott……………………………………………………………………………..Michael Morgan
Shirley………………………………………………………………………Noel-Marie Karvoski
Ulla………………………………………………………………………………….Beth Johnson
Lick-Me Bite-Me……………………………………………………………………Joan Delaney
Kiss-Me Feel-Me…………………………………………………………………….Waas Porter
Jack Lepidus……………………………………………………………………….Michael Dolan
Donald Dinsmore……………………………………………………………………Matt Nelson
Jason Greene………………………………………………………………………Eric Goldberg
Lead Stormtrooper……………………………………………………………..Michael Morales
Stormtrooper Rolf………………………………………………………….Harry van der Hulst
Stormtrooper Mel……………………………………………………………….Melvin Swinton
Sergeant……………………………………………………………………………….Jeff Snyder
O’Rourke………………………………………………………………………….Eric Goldberg
O’Riley………………………………………………………………………………….Sam Bass
O’Houlihan………………………………………………………………………Melvin Swinton
Guard…………………………………………………………………………………Sal Uccello
Baliff…………………………………………………………………………Harry van der Hulst
Judge………………………………………………………………………………Michael Dolan
Forewoman of the Jury……………………………………………………………….Susan Porta
Trustee………………………………………………………………………………..Jeff Snyder
Ensemble
Claudia Keenan, Courtney Krzyzek, Eileen Rausch, Eric Goldberg, Ewa Callahan, Harry van der Hulst, Jeff Snyder, Jen Jensen, Joan Delaney, Julie Levine, Karen Shakun, Kayla Rodriguez, Lindsay Castonguay, Lisa Camargo, Matt Nelson, Meghan McDermott, Melvin Swinton, Michael Donal, Noel-Marie Karvoski, Noreen Cavanaugh, Peter Krzyzek, Quincy Evans, Rebekah Battrsby, Regan Flynn, Sal Uccello, Sam Bass, Sofi Andrews, Stephanie Chernoff, Susan Bailey, Susan Porta, Terry Szymanski, Waas Porter
* Actor appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association
