Trinity Rep in Providence will present "The Fantasticks," ranking as the longest running musical in history, in the Chace Theater from March 30 - April 29.  The production will be directed by Amanda Dehnert.

For the handful who don't know, "The Fantasticks" tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, but soon grow restless and stray from one another.  The pivotal question becomes: will their separation provide a deeper appreciation for the love they once shared or create a permanent gulf between them? 

Featuring book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, this quintessential celebration of romance defied convention in 1960 with its combination of darkness and optimism, naturalism and magic. The score features such classic songs as “Try To Remember,” “Soon It’s Gonna Rain," "Much More” and “I Can See It.”
 
The cast includes resident company members Rachael Warren and Stephen Thorne as the young lovers, with Joe Wilson, Jr., Stephen Berenson, Mauro Hantman, Brian McEleney, Fred Sullivan, Jr. and Nate Dendy.

"The Fantasticks" originally opened at New York’s Sullivan Street Playhouse on May 3, 1960, and played 17,162 performances before closing January 13, 2002, making it the world’s longest running musical. 

Jones and Schmidt wrote "The Fantasticks" in 1959 for the summer theatre at Barnard College.  Their first Broadway show, "110 in the Shade," was nominated for a Tony Award and was successfully revived by the New York City Opera.   A new production is planned this season in New York. 

Their other shows include "I Do! I Do!,"   "Celebration"  and "Philemon." In 2001, their western musical, "Roadside," premiered at the York Theatre in New York.  In addition to an Obie Award and the 1992 Special Tony Award for "The Fantasticks," Jones and Schmidt are the recipients of the prestigious ASCAP-Richard Rodgers Award. 

For tickets and information, call 401-351-4242 or visit www.trinityrep.com.

NOTE: The first performance on March 30th at 8:00 pm is Pay What You Can (PWYC) sponsored by The Rhode Island Lottery. PWYC tickets go on sale in the box office at 7:00 p.m. the evening of the performance, with a limit of one ticket per person.

Talkback sessions with the company will be held after every performance.

-- OnStage Boston