2006

The 67th Season at the Bucks County Playhouse opened with an Easter tradition, Godspell.

Seussical the Musical made its Playhouse debut running from late April thru much of May. The cast featured several Playhouse veterans most notably, Louis Palena as The Cat in the Hat. Also seen in this production shot in the center is Jill Palena as Gertrude McFuzz and on the left, Johanna Lloyd as Mayzie La Bird.
Following Seussical was Into the Woods featuring an ensemble cast that included from left to right: Peter Martino as Jack, Tressa McCallister as Cinderella, Louis Palena as the Baker, Kendra Heverlo as The Baker's Wife and Jill Palena as Little Red Riding Hood.
The Playhouse had its first 2006 debut in June when Urinetown the Musical was performed from June 7 thru 18, 2007. The cast featured from left to right: Tressa McCallister, Eva DeVirgilis, Peter Martino, Nathan Anderson, Bradley Little, Jill Palena and Doug Orleski.
Playhouse newcomers, Justin Lore and Johanna Lloyd played the roles of Bobby Strong, the leader of the pee-for-free revolution and Hope Cladwell, daughter of the evil owner of the Urine Good Company.
The play The Graduate made the first of two stops during the 2006 Season. Starring as college student, Benjamin Braddock was Playhouse regular, Peter Martino. Also in the cast was local actress, Janet Gray who played Mrs. Robinson.
The opening of the musical Miss Saigon was delayed for one week as the town of New Hope suffered through yet another flood. The flood occurred in late June and ravaged the town. In this image, the Playhouse can be seen underwater in the top right portion of the image. The Playhouse reopened one week later with Miss Saigon and the season continued on.

The Elton John and Tim Rice musical Aida made its Playhouse debut in July. The classic story of Aida centered on a love triangle between the three main characters - Radames, Aida and Amneris. The plot dealt with the conflict of being torn between their love for each other and their greater duties to the Pharoah.

Heading the cast from left to right: Patrick Ludt as Radames, Anne Barr as Amneris and Natalie R. Perkins as Aida.

Following a production of Ragtime, The Music Man returned to the Playhouse stage starring several Playhouse favorites. Jim Lynch returned as Professor Harold Hill opposite Tressa McCallister as Marian Paroo. The image above from left to right features Jim Lynch, Tressa McCallister, Eva Eskow as Amarylis, Pierce Rolli as Winthrop Paroo and Playhouse veteran Penny Larsen as Mrs. Paroo.

August saw another production new to the Playhouse stage. The Full Monty played for four weeks and featured New Hope native, Scott Laska in the role of Jerry Lukowski. Scott had started his acting career fourteen years before at the Playhouse in children's theatre productions as well as mainstage performances of Camelot, A Christmas Carol and The King and I.

Featured in the male ensemble from left to right: Lesly Donald, Jim Lynch, Scott Laska, Peter Martino, Bob Marcus and Curtis Conlin.

Audiences loved the Hot Mikado which ran in late September. Described as a 1940s style musical updating the classic Gilbert and Sullivan musical, the show featured Louis Palena as Ko-Ko and Jillian Pirtle as Katisha.
Always a favorite with Playhouse audiences, La Cage aux Folles returned to the stage in October. The musical comedy featured Michael Moeller as Zaza, the star of a St. Tropez nightclub and Jim Lynch as his partner, Albin.
Productions of Hair and big the musical followed. The final production of 2006 was Miracle on 34th Street, based on the popular holiday movie of the same name. The story centered on a Macy's department store Santa who so totally enchanted children and shoppers, that his mental state was called into question.

The cast featured from left to right: Lauren K. Brader as Doris Walker, Jim Lynch as Fred Gaily, Claire Norden as Susan Walker and Bob Marcus as Santa Claus.