PRESS RELEASES

CARNIVAL (THE SHOW) PERFORMED UNDER THE BIG TOP IN PENN YAN’S FIREMEN’S FIELD AUGUST 7, 8 AND 9

Carnival cast represents one of the best ever assembled by PYTCo, including (front) Sylvia Queener; (second row, seated) Eileen Farrar; Chelsea Strong; Becky Shoemaker; Dawn Heller and Anita Gaston; (third row, standing) Laura Wheeler; Hannah Gaston; Rachel Gaston; Alex Bodine and Shane Furman; (back row, on ladders) Jonathan Heller; Brooke Miller and Angelia Heller.

 

Puppets and puppeteers whose Carnival performances will delight a child of any age are from left: Carrot Top; Renardo; Alex Bodine as Paul the puppeteer; Lauura Wheeler as his assistant, Jaquot; Margurite and  Horrible Henry.

 

Becky Shoemaker in her role as Lili, sings “Love Makes the World Go Round” with Carrot Top and Horrible Henry.

 

PYTCo, the Pennsylvania Yankee Theater Company, is mounting Carnival—and a tent in which to perform it—in Penn Yan’s Firemen’s Field. The 1961 Broadway hit by Michael Stewart, with music and lyrics by Bob Merrill, will be performed at 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8 and again at 2:00 PM on Sunday, August 9. Advance sale tickets can be purchased at Pinckney Hardware and Henderson’s Drug Store at $8 for adults and $6 for children; tickets sold at the door will be $9 and $7.

Based on the 1953 film Lilli, the Tony-award-winning musical show is probably best remembered for the song “Love Makes the World Go Round.” This is sung by the innocent young heroine, Lili, who falls in love with the carnival’s handsome yet shallow magician, Marco the Magnificent. But it is the wounded and brooding puppeteer, Paul Berthalet, who truly loves her, though he can only express it through his puppet charters, Carrot Top, Horrible Henry, Renardo, and Marguerite. This romantic story and all the colorful characters help make this one of the most family-friendly shows around. A full cast of PYTCo performers brings the story colorfully to life.

Cast members include Becky Shoemaker as Lilly, Alex Bodine as Paul the puppeteer, Laura Wheeler as his assistant Jacqot, Justin Wilmott as Marco the Magnificent, Sylvia Queener as his assistant Rosalie, Eileen Farrar as Madame Schleigle, and Shane Furman as Dr. Glass. This cast represents some of the best-trained and most-experienced actors in the history of PYTCo’s productions. Directed by John Christensen with musical direction by Peg Patterson, Carnival is performed by agreement with Tams-Whitmark Music Library Inc.

Firemen’s Field is on Hicks Street behind Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Company on Lake Street in Penn Yan. A portion of the ticket sales will go toward the Sampson Theatre renovation, the former vaudeville theater on East Elm Street in Penn Yan. For more about the Sampson, its past and future, and PYTCo, visit www.SampsonTheatre.org