University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Pitt-Johnstown Theatre Department Opens Season with "Carnival"

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Pitt-Johnstown Theatre Department Opens Season with "Carnival"

Article Body: Soar in a captivating bubble of delight as the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Theatre Department opens its new season with Bob Merrill and Michael Stewart’s Carnival.

The production will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 19 through Saturday, October 21 and Thursday, October 26 through Saturday, October 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 22 and October 29, in the Studio Theatre of the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the UPJ campus.

Audiences will be transported to the Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris, a rundown French circus which has the good fortune of adopting an enchanting waif, Lili. As Lili falls in love with the charming puppets, she becomes a part of the act. But the naive young woman doesn’t understand the connection between these endearing friends and the surly puppet master, Paul.

Most movie musicals are derived from Broadway, but in this case the reverse is true: Carnival debuted on Broadway in 1961, based upon the 1953 movie, Lili, starring Leslie Caron. The movie’s theme song was “Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo,” but Carnival’s hit song is “Love Makes the World Go Round.”

Featured in the large cast are Jackie Aubele, Jacob St. Clair, Kevin Strasbaugh, and Paige Stokes, along with guest performers Kevin Rozich and Charles Amershek. Choral direction is by Matthew Thomas, with orchestra conducted by Michael Bodolosky. Settings are designed by James Moore, costumes by Linda Capp, with lighting/sound design by Michael Feight. The show is directed by Rodney Eatman, with choreography by Sharon Wissinger.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the ArtsLine at 1-800-846-ARTS from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets are $12. Discount tickets of $10 are being offered to senior citizens (over 65 years of age), students under 18 and members of the Pitt Johnstown community (faculty, staff, students and members of the Pitt Johnstown Alumni Association who carry the “gold card”). The box office is open for in-person sales from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The box office opens one hour before performances.

Founded in 1927, the University of Pittsburgh of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is a four-year, degree-granting college of the University of Pittsburgh with an enrollment of approximately 3,200. The university offers more than 40 majors and is known for its engineering technology, education, humanities, natural and social sciences degree programs. UPJ has been ranked “Third in the North” among public comprehensive colleges and universities, northern region, by U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges, 2007.

Posted by Sernell, Jeff on 10/9/2006 1:00:00 PM