DC Players present “A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College’s DC Players will present Stephen Sondheim’s farcical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” on Nov. 5 – 7 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in Schomburg Auditorium.

The show was inspired by Sondheim’s study of the farces of the ancient Roman playwright, Plautus. It tells the bawdy story of a young slave trying to win his freedom by helping his master woo the girl next door—who happens to be a courtesan.

“Forum” stars DC students Jared James, North Baltimore, as Senex; Andy Ullom, Newark, as Erronius; Mark Vandevender, Westlake, as Hero; Andrea Galbraith, Medina, as Vibrata; Sara Langley, New Paris, as Tintinabula; Ashley Hetherington, Fremont, Ind., as Panacea; Aubrie Ridinger, Grafton and Lindsay Zwiebel, Napoleon, as The Geminae; Trevor Ault, Oregon, Tyler Ault, Oregon, and Joemese Scott, Oviedo, Fa. as The Proteans; Tim Kurtz, Maumee, Jerika Hennes, Washington Court House, Brad Grillot, Houston, Brittany Stuper, Ashtabula, Lina Avila, Austin, Texas, Anthony Jamison II, Cleveland, and Adam Fausey, Napoleon as Citizens; and Kaitlin Switzer, Defiance, and Christina-Marie Drake, Oakwood, as Roman Art.

Also starring are DC graduates Nick Rausch, Napoleon, as Marcus Lycus; David Zwiebel, Napoleon, as Pseudolus; and DC professor Kristen Sorensen as Domina.

 “Forum” is the first Broadway production to boast both music and lyrics by Sondheim. His desire was to give Broadway a taste of the farcical humor of the ancient Romans. His study of all 21 of the surviving comedies of Plautus allowed him to create characters and a story line that drew freely from the original scripts.

The show opened on Broadway in 1962 and ran for 964 performances. It won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book. Since then it has enjoyed several Broadway and London West End revivals.

All seating for the show is by reservation. Adult admission is $10 and students under age 18 are $8. Reservations can be made by calling Carolyn Gilgenbach at 419-783-2462 or by e-mail: cgilgenbach@defiance.edu

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

October 13, 2009