Editor's pick: Musical theater

Oliver!

Fri., Aug. 5, Sat., Aug. 6, Fri., Aug. 12, Sat., Aug. 13, 8:00 p.m. and Sun., Aug 7 and Aug. 14, 2:00 p.m., at the Rivoli Theatre, Route 42, South Fallsburg, NY. $18 general admission; $15 seniors and students 16 and under. 845/4343-7232.

Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop (SCDW) has experienced some lean years recently during which it was impossible to stage a full-scale Broadway-type musical production due to financial constraints. But thanks in part to a Sullivan County Arts and Heritage Grant, the drought will end this August when Lionel Bart’s musical, “Oliver!” comes to the stage. Based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, “Oliver Twist,” the show features the poignant ballads “Where Is Love?” and “As Long As He Needs Me,” the rousing “Consider Yourself,” “Food, Glorious Food” and “Oom-Pah-Pah,” and the endearing “I’d Do Anything.”

Under the direction of Lori Schneider, with musical director Lucie Evens, the cast features over 40 performers, aged seven to 70-something. They come from as close as South Fallsburg, Mountaindale and Liberty and as far as Callicoon, New Hampton, Glen Spey and Wallkill. Some are seasoned performers while others are making their stage debuts. Ten-year-old Taylor Lemorand, who takes the title role, is a young woman who had her ten-inch locks cut in order to take the part, donating them to cancer patients. (See “Young thespian donates lovelocks, The River Reporter, July 28).

“This is truly a family show,” says Schneider-Wendt. “There are several families involved in the production—brothers and sisters, parents and children, even children and their teachers. It’s really incredible to see so many young people falling in love with the power of theatre.”

The SCDW is the longest standing community theatre group in our area, now in its 55th year of providing and promoting quality theatre in Sullivan County.