A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Music, & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart

Performed
August 12-15, 18-22 1992
at
The Boal Barn Playhouse

Production Staff

Director	Marilyn Knoffsinger
Music Director	Len Dudis
Choreographer	Barry Lee Mackall
Scenic Designer	Sarah L. Hunt
Master Carpenter / Lighting Designer	Stephen S. Jusko
Costume Designer	Elaine C. Meder
Stage Manager	Deborah M. Meder

About the Show

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (254–184 BC), specifically Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus, and Mostellaria, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from a line often used by vaudeville comedians to begin a story: “A funny thing happened on the way to the theater”.

The musical’s original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Author (Musical). A Funny Thing has enjoyed several Broadway and West End revivals and was made into a successful film starring the original lead of the stage musical, Zero Mostel.

The Cast

(in order of appearance)

Senex, an old man	Christopher S. Kirkpatrick
Domina, his wife	Deanne Swanson
Hero, his son, in love with Philia	Jonathan Dunski
Philia, a virgin	Julie Heron
Hysterium, slave to Senex and Domina	Michael McCollum
Pseudolus, slave to Hero	Stirling Scot Shelton
Erronius, an old man	Hal Hallock
Miles Gloriosus, a warrior	Michael A. Huckabee
Lycus. a buyer and seller of courtesans	Richard Porter
Euphoria, courtesan madam	Natalie Hallock
Tintinabula, a courtesan	Emily A. Lloyd
Panacea, a courtesan	Gillian Geraghty
Geminae I, courtesan	Marcia Muller
Geminae II, courtesan	Michelle Muller
Virbrata, a courtesan	Patty Shane
Gymnasia, a courtesan	Kristy Walker
Chastia, apprentice courtesan	Melissa Wallner
Proteans	Michael A. Buchanan
	Aaron Colangelo
	Larry S. Gohn
	David S. Hall
	Michael L. Kronberg
	Mark Strzepek