The Heritage Theatre Festival has provided a stream of entertaining productions as the University of Virginia’s only professional summer theatre since 1974. Leading actors, directors, designers and technicians from across the country unite to form the company each year to produce a fun-filled season of musicals and plays.
This summer, Heritage celebrates its 40th anniversary season with the 2002 Tony Award-winning musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” with a kick-off on June 26 at the Culbreth Theatre.
Adapted from the popular 1967 Universal film of the same name that starred Julie Andrews, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” brings the Roaring Twenties to life with an abundance of flappers and memorable songs. The musical tells the story of a young girl who leaves the comforts of her Midwestern farm life to explore the bright lights of New York City.
As with numerous Heritage productions from previous seasons, Robert Chapel, a professor of musical theatre in the U.Va Department of Drama, directed the show. Chapel has been with the Heritage Theatre since 1987, first as a stage director, then as managing and stage director and, since 1995, as its producing artistic director.
“As we always open the Heritage season with a large, heartwarming musical, I felt that ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ was that – and more,” Chapel said. “The show fits nicely into the season’s opening tradition.”
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” will be presented at the Culbreth Theatre from June 26-28 and July 1-5 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, July 5. Tickets for the show are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and U.Va. faculty, staff and alumni, and $20 for students. Single and season tickets are available at the U.Va. Arts Box Office (located in the lobby of the drama building), online at www.uvahtf.org or by phone at 434-924-3376.
Playing the title character will be Heritage audience favorite and Charlottesville native, Carly Amburn, whose credits include featured roles in last summer’s productions of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” and “Annie Get Your Gun.” Making his Heritage debut is Matt Gibson, a New York actor, dancer and singer whose credits include appearing in the Broadway revival of “Gypsy.”
Kirra Schmidt, the production’s choreographer, returns to the Heritage for her fourth season. Schmidt is an accomplished dancer who has appeared on Broadway in a number of productions, including “Follies” and “Anything Goes.” She has also gained wide acclaim as a choreographer, including work on the NBC-TV show “Smash” and productions of “It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman” and “West Side Story,” among others.
According to Chapel, the rehearsal process for the musical was a productive one, revealing an exceptional and multitalented cast ready to meet the show’s diverse demands.
“I have been fortunate to find 26 true ‘triple threats’ – performers who can act, sing and dance,” Chapel said. “I am really looking forward to sharing this show with our audiences – who will delight in this hilarious and zany evening at the theater.”
As with other recent Heritage season opening hits such as “The Sound of Music” and “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is definitely one for the whole family. “This is a show for young and old alike, and I hope parents will bring their kids,” Chapel said.
Along with this week’s special pre-season presentation of “An Evening with Groucho,” starring world-renowned Groucho Marx interpreter Frank Ferrante, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is the first of four Heritage shows this summer.
The 40th season will continue throughout the summer featuring the hilarious whodunit “Shear Madness;” the puppet-powered modern coming-of-age musical “Avenue Q” (for mature audiences); and the award-winning farce “One Man, Two Guvnors.”
Free parking for all Heritage performances is available at the Culbreth Road parking garage, located alongside the drama building. More on the 2014 Heritage Theatre Festival season is here.
