Oliver set to open this Weekend

The Wellesley Players are proud to announce the presentation of the classic musical Oliver! Consider yourself invited to experience the story of an orphan boy who is banished from his orphanage for daring to ask for more food. The title character falls in with a group of petty thieves led by Fagin, who teaches Oliver the ways of a pickpocket.

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the show has book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The original production ran on Broadway for six years, won three Tony awards, has been revived several times, and was made into an Oscar-winning movie. Favorite and familiar songs in the show include Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, It’s a Fine Life, Oom-Pah-Pah, Reviewing the Situation, As Long as He Needs Me, and Who Will Buy? What better way to celebrate the 200^th birthday of Charles Dickens than to attend this sure to be dazzling production.

Oliver! is directed by Richard Repetta, who has led several Wellesley Players productions in recent years. Chris Holownia returns to music direct, following his success with last year’s production of Annie. Choreography is by PJ Terranova , a veteran performer himself with several national tours as well as in off Broadway performances and choreographer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the US Open. Performances will be March 16^th, 17^th and 23^rd at 7:30 pm and March 18^th, 24^th and 25^th at 2:00 pm at the Sorenson Center for the Arts at Babson College in Wellesley. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors or students. Special rates are also available for groups of 10 or more.

Visit Wellesley Players website to purchase tickets, or get directions and additional information. https://wellesleyplayers.club/boxoffice/

The cast of 40 actors includes many Wellesley Players veterans as well as some newcomers well known to area theatre. Principal players include Andrew Cekala of Weston as Oliver; Erik Rodenhiser of Salem as Fagin; Joseph Nedder of Westwood as The Artful Dodger; Beth Rontal of West Roxbury as Widow Corney; Lonnie Powell of Natick as Mr. Bumble; Jim Fitzpatrick of Attleboro as Bill Sykes; and Nicole Vander Laan of Somerville as Nancy; Jim Tabor of West Roxbury as Mr. Brownlow; Lauren Sabbag of Norwood as Bet; Darlene Howland of Wellesley as Mrs. Bedwin; Jennifer Wiley-Cordone of Clinton as Charlotte; Valerie Gates of Wellesley as Old Sally; Lois Goodman of Wellesley as Mrs. Sowerberry; Mike Ciccolella of Framingham as Noah Claypole; Jim Pugh of Wellesley as Mr. Sowerberry; Tony DeMarco of Wellesley as Dr. Grimwig, and Michael Roth of Cambridge as Chairman.

Members of the adult ensemble include Michael Roth of Cambridge; Anne Ludlow (also Rose Seller) of Chelmsford; Diana Eng-King of Dover; Karen Ieong (also Milkmaid) of Watertown; Corinne Settlow(also Strawberry Seller) of Wellesley and Alan Singer of Weston.

Youth playing the Workhouse Orphans or Fagin’s Pickpockets include Anya Beletsky of Brookline; Abby Fournier of Natick; Bethan Wiley-Cordone of Clinton; Isaac Hargrave, Caroline Kapp, Nicola Lynch-Collier, Luca Marcino and Molly Retik of Needham; Michael Gankin of Newton; Natalie Hall and Casey Monteiro of Sudbury; Olivia Friedman, Matt Lieberman, Caroline Murphy Racette, Will Olszewski, Alexander Perry Caitlin Pfaff and Grace Zientara of Wellesley.

The Wellesley Players is in its 86^th season serving Wellesley and surrounding communities. Recent productions include: Annie (3 EMACT nominations), Fiddler on the Roof (11 EMACT nominations, 2 EMACT awards),Steel Magnolias (First Runner Up EMACT Festival and winner of 5 additional awards),One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , and this year’s productions of Little Women, the Musical and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.