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‘Magnificent Millbrook Variety Hour’ to feature skits, song and dance

PHOTO PROVIDED Members of the Millbrook Playhouse Youth Ensemble include, in front: Emily Chapman of Mill Hall, Kendall Eichenlaub of Jersey Shore, Ivy Patterson of Beech Creek, Elizabeth Nestor of Lock Haven, Maia Crowell of Lock Haven and Daisy Samples of Lock Haven; in the middle row: Claire Bowman of Mackeyville, Elaina Shaffer of Jersey Shore and Garrett Cunningham of Woolrich; and in back: Olivia Miller of Lock Haven, Katie Owens of Loganton, Aimee Hunsinger of Mill Hall, Elizabeth Shaffer of Jersey Shore, Olivia Hanna of Lock Haven and Bri Bottorf of Lock Haven.

MILL HALL — Millbrook Playhouse kicks off its 54th season with its second annual fundraiser, “The Magnificent Millbrook Variety Hour.” This one-night-only ’70s-style variety show will help raise funds for Millbrook’s youth and educational programs.

The shenanigans take place Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Elks lodge on downtown Main Street, Lock Haven.

“I am so excited to have this amazing group of actors back this year to help us kick off our 54th season with this once in a lifetime event,” said David E. Leidholdt, producing artistic director.

He will welcome back old friends in an effort to renew the theater’s commitment to providing educational programs for local youth.

“In a time when there are less and less opportunities for young people to find creative outlets, Millbrook goes full steam into another season of quality educational programming. Events such as this give us the opportunity to raise the much-needed funds to continue our programs. Purchasing a ticket to the event helps us fulfill our mission, ‘to provide quality, professional live theatre and encourage the development and appreciation of the theatre arts with a strong educational component,'” Leidholdt said.

PHOTO PROVIDED Rehearsing for “The Magnificent Millbrook Variety Hour” are, from left, Kendall Eichenlaub, Ivy Patterson, Bri Bottorf and Olivia Hanna.

This year’s show is a 1970s pastiche masterminded by director Robert W. Schneider (director of Millbrook’s “Rock of Ages” and “Leading Ladies”) and Millbrook favorite Shannon Agnew (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Kitchen Witches,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes”). This dynamic duo describes the show as a cross between “Laugh-In,” “The Dean Martin Variety Show,” and “Hollywood Palace.” So pull out your go-go boots and beaded vests — you’ll go back to the groovy times and sing some swinging ’70s songs!

The evening’s festivities feature some favorite Millbrook alumni and special appearances from members of The Millbrook Playhouse Youth Ensemble. Along with Agnew, the cast includes: James Cella (“Rock of Ages,” “Dial M for Murder”), Catherine DeLuce (“The Rocky Horror Show,” “Mary Poppins”), Alex Frost (“The Rocky Horror Show,” “Baskerville”), David Groccia (“The Rocky Horror Show,” “Rock of Ages”), Meghann Reeder (“Rock of Ages,” “Into the Woods”), Brad Reinking (“The Rocky Horror Show,” “Rock of Ages”).

Adding to the writing team will be Lock Haven University’s Stuart Harsh. Musical direction is by Justin Adams, with DeLuce as the evenings choreographer. Lighting and set design are by Ethan Vail, sound design by Simon Ghezzi, and the production coordinator is Alisha Tyler-Lohr.

The Millbrook Playhouse Youth Ensemble members include: Bri Bottorf of Lock Haven, Claire Bowman of Mackeyville, Emily Chapman of Mill Hall, Garrett Cunningham of Woolrich, Maia Crowell of Lock Haven, Kendall Eichenlaub of Jersey Shore, Olivia Hanna of Lock Haven, Aimee Hunsinger of Mill Hall, Trinity Miller of Lock Haven, Olivia Miller of Lock Haven, Elizabeth Nestor of Lock Haven, Katie Owens of Loganton, Ivy Patterson of Beech Creek, Elaina Shaffer of Jersey Shore, Elizabeth Shaffer of Jersey Shore, Daisy Samples of Lock Haven.

The cast is subject to change.

Tickets are available through the box office. A Family Pack is available at a discount, limit one per patron. Season and patron ticket holders are automatically offered a 20 percent discount on tickets. Log in to your account prior to placing your order to receive the discount. The online convenience fee is $2 per ticket. The website is www.MillbroookPlayhouse.org. There are no fees at the box office or by phone at 570-748-8083.

You are permitted to bring food items and non-alcoholic beverages into the Elks club. You may not bring alcoholic beverages. The lodge provides a cash bar for audience members who wish to buy drinks.

If you haven’t purchased your Season Flex Pass, passes are still available. Flex passes are a block of eight tickets for the price of seven, which can be used in any combination for any of the eight regular season performances. The passes also enable you to select your seats in advance of individual tickets going on sale to the general public. As an added bonus, if you make your purchase before April 15, you get a bonus ninth ticket for the same price for even more value.

Patron passes are the same as season tickets and include a donation to Millbrook Playhouse, which is recognized both in the playbill all summer and on the website.

Flex passes are only $175 (a $225 value), and Patron passes are only $200. They are both available now by calling the box office at 570-748-8083, going online at www.millbrookplayhouse.org or emailing Info@MillbrookPlayhouse.org. (There is a $2 per season/patron ticket fee for online orders — there is no fee for redeeming your tickets.)

THE 2017 SEASON

Main Stage shows

Life Could Be A Dream — June 9-18

Seussical the Musical — June 23-July 1

Monty Python’s Spamalot — July 7-16

Fun Home — July 28-August 6

Cabaret Stage shows

Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park — June 16-25

Wait Until Dark — June 30-July 9

Ken Ludwig’s Comedy of Tenors — July 14-29

Mrs. Mannerly — August 4-13

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