2000

It was the 61st Season of the Bucks County Playhouse and musicals again dominated the schedule.

Opening the season was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This production starred Susan Keeth as the Narrator. Susan played the role in two prior productions at the Playhouse. Newcomer Steve Hassmer took over the role of Joseph.

Grease played in May to packed houses. The rock and roll musical had closed the 1999 season but audiences seemed to be waiting for its return in May. Susan Keeth reprised the role of Sandy (she had played it in December) and Scott Ihde took over as Danny Zuko.

The M.G.M. musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers played at the end of May. In the role of Millie was Playhouse favorite Kara Powers. Kara had appeared in many productions over the years. Most notably she had been seen as Carlotta in Phantom, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! and Anna in The King and I.

Playhouse friend, Jennifer Heavner returned for two weeks to play Miss Mona Stangley in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Jennifer last appeared during the 1998 season where she performed leading roles in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Lend Me A Tenor, Moon over Buffalo, Sugar Babies and Phantom.

Audiences loved our production of Me and My Girl which featured newcomer Jim Lynch as Bill Snibson and Suzanne Slade as Sally Smith. It was Suzanne's first adult lead. Audiences virtually watched Suzanne grow up on the Playhouse stage having first performed in the musical Annie.

South Pacific played for two weeks in July. In the leads were Kristina Passier as Ensign Nellie Forbush (right) and Craig Weidner as Emil de Becque.

Oliver! played for two weeks at the end of July and featured Tom Henry (second from right) in the role of Fagin. Playhouse audiences had seen Tom previously in productions of She Loves Me, It's A Wonderful Life, Lend Me A Tenor and most recently as The King in The King and I. Milena Govich (far left) played Nancy, her first role at Bucks. Luke Martin (far right) played the Artful Dodger. The role of Oliver was shared by two young actors: Luke Shimpeno and Conner Stern. Luke is pictured on the left.

My Fair Lady received rave reviews during its three week run in August. Tom Henry played Professor Henry Higgins and Kristina Passier played Eliza Doolittle.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel played for two weeks in August and starred Lisa Yaeger as Julie Jordan and Ron Williams as Billy Bigelow. Ron had previously appeared at the Playhouse in Guys and Dolls as Sky Masterson in the 1999 season and as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when we first performed it back during the 1996 season.

Damn Yankees returned in October after pleasing audiences for the first time in 1998. Also returning was Playhouse veteran and audience favorite, Carlene Rohmann as Lola, the role she originated in our 1998 production. Tom Henry also returned to perform the role of Applegate.