1991

The year 1991 ushered in a return to "stars" appearing at the Bucks County Playhouse. The Playhouse was celebrating its 51st Season, musicals such as South Pacific, The Music Man, Hello, Dolly! and others dominated the schedule. The difference this season was that celebrities would play the leads in many of these musicals.

Opening the season was Andrea McArdle starring in They're Playing Our Song. She had performed the role at Bucks eight years earlier breaking all previous box office records. Appearing opposite her was Carson Church. In the ensemble was two very familiar faces to Playhouse audiences, Randy Hooks and Hubert Fryman, Jr.
Andrea McArdle as Sonia and Carson Church as Vernon in They're Playing Our Song.
The second show of the season was Nunsense starring Georgia Engel, Georgette Baxter of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" fame. Georgia played Sr. Mary Amnesia to rave reviews and many sold out houses. This production of Nunsense was directed by Hubert Fryman, Jr.
E.Faye Butler as Sr. Mary Hubert and Georgia Engel as Sr. Mary Amnesia in Nuns
Other musicals followed. South Pacific starring Eve Plumb (Jan from "The Brady Bunch"; The Music Man starring Gary Sandy of T.V.'s "W.K.R.P. in Cincinnati" and Joanne Worley of television's "Laugh-In" as the Wicked Witch in Into the Woods.
Barbara Goodison as Marian and Gary Sandy as Harold Hill in The Music Man.
La Cage aux Folles was seen in 1991 with two familiar faces: Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson of television's "The Jeffersons") and game show host Gene Rayburn. Mr. Rayburn played Georges opposite Hubert Fryman's already well known portrayal of Zaza. Ms. Sanford portrayed Jacqueline, the owner of the Chez Jacqueline restaurant. Both stars brought their own special sparkle the show and were loved by audiences. Interestingly, Mr. Rayburn was a Playhouse regular almost 30 years prior when he appeared in many plays including Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter among others.
Hubert Fryman , Jr. as Zaza and Gene Rayburn as Georges in La Cage aux Folles.
South Pacific starring Eve Plumb (Jan of "The Brady Bunch") played in late summer. Plumb took the role of Nellie Forbush.
Hello, Dolly! starred Edie Adams, wife of legendary comic, Ernie Kovacs. The cast also featured John Bolton (far left) as Cornelius Hackyl. Bolton went on later to direct and act on television and was an original company member of the Broadway musical, Titanic.

The 1991 Season ended with a Bucks County Playhouse holiday favorite, Annie. This time around, Daddy Warbucks was played by Stephen Newport and Miss Hannigan was played by Carrie Wagner. Also featured in the cast was Stephen Casey as the character of Rooster. Stephen returned several years later to serve as Artistic Director of the Bucks County Playhouse, a position he holds today.