Cleveland State University Dramatic Arts Department proudly presents their first production of the 2009-2010 season, The Fantasticks, with music by Harvey Schmidt and Lyrics by Tom Jones.

After a 42-year run, The Fantasticks closed in New York in January of 2002 with the distinction of being the world's longest continuously running musical, not to mention one of the most beloved.

This is a love story with a twist. It tells the timeless tale of a boy and a girl who fall in love “against all odds” with feuding fathers and a wall to keep them apart. But what they don’t realize is that the two old men who built that wall have a plan to help make sure the children realize the true potential of their relationship. They hire a “bandit” and two odd ball actors to stage an attempted kidnapping of the girl in the process of making the boy a “hero”. Things go awry though, and everyone ends up facing the fact that the magic of a moonlit night only lasts until the harsh reality of the sun rises.

Through its lyrical storytelling and brilliant staging, this musical shows that at some point we may each lose the innocence and illusion of childhood and be forced to face harsh loss and truths of adulthood. But life is still capable of holding moments of magic and discovery. And you don’t have to travel to the far reaches of the world to find it.

Directed by Dr. Michael Mauldin and with music direction by John Krol, the production is running now through October 18, Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

The cast features CSU dramatic arts majors Amy Schwabauer, Lew Wallace, Eric Perusek, Chris Walker, Stephanie Wilbert, Randy Muchowski and Steven Daycek and Dr. Michael Mauldin. Also featured is Cleveland actor Joseph Pines in the role of El Gallo.

Please call 216.687.2109 or 216.687.2113 for reservations or information, or visit www.csuohio.edu/theater.

Free parking is available in CSU lot S1 (East 24th Street between Chester & Payne).

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