“THE FANTASTICKS”

On November 20 the Panola College Drama Department will present The Fantasticks. This musical holds the record as the longest running Off-Broadway show in history.  It has run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse for 35 years. 

“The Fantasticks” is a musical about illusions:  the illusions of the young lovers, the illusions of their parents and the illusions of the old actors.  But most of all, it is about the theatrical illusion itself, that agreement between the artists and the audience to create an imaginary world together, to get moonlight from a cardboard disc and, by an act of mutual magic, to transform a few scraps of torn paper into gently falling snow. “Shakespeare said ‘On you imaginary forces work,’” commented Liz Hedges, Drama Professor.  “That precept has been our guide in this production.”  

The Panola College cast includes Keron Jackson (Ft. Worth) as El Gallo, Alisha Jones (Tyler) as the girl, Luisa, J.L. Penny (Union Grove) as the boy, Matt, Bryan Beaver (Gladewater) as Henry, the old actor, Frank Weskamp (Tyler) as Mortimer, the younger actor, Mr. Joe Hough as Bellamy, the girl’s father, Mr. Freddy Mason as Huckaby, the boy’s father.  The cast is completed by the six magical mutes, Lisa LeJeune (Carthage), Courtney Lynch (Elysian Fields), Melanie McEwen (Carthage), Joe Wall (Beckville), and Bobby Watson (Jefferson).  Production Assistants are Monique Borens (Gilmer) and Erin Murray (Gladewater).   Stage Manager is William Weeks (Tenaha). 

Performances begin on Thursday, November 20 with a dinner in the Panola College ballroom at 6:00 p.m. sponsored by Phi Rho Pi Speech & Debate Club. Performances without dinner continue on Friday and Saturday, November 21 & 22.  All performances begin at 7:30 pm. For more information, or to purchase tickets call the Panola College Drama Department at 903-693-2064.