2001

The 62nd season at the Bucks County Playhouse began in April with the return of Jesus Christ Superstar to the Playhouse stage. Audiences had been asking for the musical's return for several years, and we were only to happy to oblige.

Jesus Christ Superstar played two weeks in April 2001. In the leads were Suzanne Slade as Mary Magdalene and Louis Palena as Jesus. The cast boasted a chorus of over 100 local actors and actresses.

Another Playhouse favorite hit the stage as the second production of the 2001 season. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat played in late April and featured Michael Brown in the title role and Suzanne Slade as the Narrator.

A day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends was seen during the first two weeks of April when You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown was performed. The ensemble cast featured (clockwise from left) Richard Fabris as Linus, Suzanne Slade as Lucy, J. Michael Maury as Charlie Brown, Jeff Scot Blameuser as Schroeder, Susan Keeth as Sally and Jim Lynch as Snoopy.

They're Playing Our Song ran for two weeks at the end of May with Jim Lynch as Vernon Gersch and Maura Kelley as Sonia Wlasik.

The musical Footloose made its Bucks County Playhouse premiere in June. Based on the 1980s movie starring Kevin Bacon, the Playhouse production starred Michael Brown as Ren McCormack.

Cabaret played for three weeks in June. The show starred Louis Palena as the Emcee, Jim Lynch as Cliff Bradshaw and Suzanne Slade as Sally Bowles.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music returned to the Playhouse in July for three weeks. The cast included two complete sets of area children as the von Trapp Children. Lisa Yaeger starred as Maria with Playhouse regular Tom Henry as Capt. von Trapp.

Kismet ran for two weeks in July and August and received rave reviews for everything from sets to costumes to performances. Clockwise from top left: Tom Henry as the Wazir, Merry Rawls as Lalume, Neil Michaels as the poet, J. Michael Maury as the Caliph and Lisa Yaeger as Marsinah. Kismet had not been on the Playhouse stage for 18 years.

Guys and Dolls made a two week stop in August. In the leading roles were Tom Henry as Sky Masterson and Merry Rawls as Sarah Brown.

Cole Porter's Anything Goes played for two weeks Featured in the cast (clockwise from top left) Kevin Starzynski as Sir Evelyn, Dana Winkle as Reno, Jim Lynch as Billy, Kristen J. Smith as Hope, Damian Bartolacci as Moonface and Suzanne Slade as Erma.

A Playhouse favorite, Phantom made a return after a lengthy absense. This production starred Neil Michaels as the Phantom and Lisa Yaeger as Christine Daee. Both had appeared earlier in the season in Kismet.

Nunsense...A-Men played to packed houses for two weeks. The musical featured the return of 4 actors who performed in the show for us back in 1999. Louis Palena returned as Sr. Mary Amnesia as did Kristian Korsgaard as Sr. Mary Leo, Kevin Starzynski as Sr. Mary Hubert and Richard Amelius as Sr. Robert Anne. The major addition to the cast was Bucks County Playhouse favorite, Erik Reid as Sr. Mary Regina, the Reverend Mother.

The Nuns returned in December for the Playhouse premiere of Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical. From left to right was Jamie Udinson as Sr. Mary Amnesia, Suzanne Slade as Sr. Robert Anne and Carlene Rohmann as Sr. Mary Hubert.