1998

Both musicals and straight plays could be seen throughout the season. In the true tradition of Summer Stock Theatre, the Playhouse embarked on an ambitious schedule of one week runs. Several shows ran for one week during one month and then repeated during subsequent months. Although it made things hectic for our actors, as they had to know three or four shows at any given time, audiences liked the idea that if they missed a production during one month, they could come and see it again later.
After opening the season with our traditional production of Godspell and the comedy Lend Me A Tenor, musical theatre's longest running musical, The Fantasticks, played for two weeks in May. The production starred Kirk Vaughn-Robinson as El Gallo, Michaelanne DelCasino as Luisa and Michael Brown as Matt. Eileen Fulton, star of CBS television's As The World Turns and one of the original Luisas in the New York company made a stop at Bucks to visit our cast.
Eileen Fulton and the cast of The Fantasticks
Next up was West Side Story starring Rick Hamilton as Tony and Laura Griffith as Maria. Both actors performed leading roles in many of the seasons productions.
One of the phenomenal hits of the 1998 Season was the musical Damn Yankees. This production, directed and choreographed by Playhouse Artistic Director, Stephen Casey, proved to be a homerun each time it appeared during the Summer season. Rick Hamilton portrayed Joe Hardy, the man who bargained with the devil so that he could play on his favorite baseball team. Carlene Rohmann portrayed the devil's sexy assistant, Lola.
Rick Hamilton and Carlene Rohmann in Damn Yankees
The Washington Senators of Damn Yankees
Man of La Mancha, always an audience favorite, made its first of three appearances in June of 1998. The production was headed by Kirk Vaughn-Robinson as Don Quixote, Grey Fortuna as Sancho Panza and Anna DeKoyer as Aldonza.
The next production of 1998 featured an old Playhouse friend and a new one. Sean Burger who appeared at Bucks a few seasons back returned to play the Top Banana in Sugar Babies while Jennifer Heavner portrayed the female lead. Jennifer also played leading roles in our productions of Moon over Buffalo and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Sean Burger and Jennifer Heavner starred in Sugar Babies
Jennifer Heavner and the boys of Sugar Babies.
The second of two straight plays, Moon over Buffalo played for two weeks in June and August. Heading the cast was Jennifer Heavner and Tom Henry. Tom went on to appear in our productions of How To Succeed..., She Loves Me and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying made a stop at the Playhouse in July and again in August. The cast was headed by Steven Pacek as J. Pierrepont Finch the young man who chose not to work hard but to have others work hard for him. Playing opposite Steven was Aimee Pilgermayer. Aimee also went on to portray Christine in Phantom and the title role in Cinderella.
Aimee Pilgermayer and Steven Pacek in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Kevin Starzynski and Jennifer Heavner in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
The Music Man ran for the first three weeks in October. The cast was headed by Tony Wichowski as Harold Hill and Laura Griffith as Marian.
Phantom also starred Jennifer Heavner as the evil diva of the opera house, Carlotta. Here she is seen with Christopher Cain.