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The Fantasticks

March 8, 2019 Toni Butler

“Try To Remember” a time when this romantic charmer wasn’t enchanting audiences around the world. The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.

The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that, “without a hurt, the heart is hollow.”

This production was produced in honor of Russ Johnson, a tremendous Drama Teacher that taught us to love and live… and do a little theatre (in a little theatre!) too!

Director’s Note:

The Fantasticks is about the illusions we have about life and learning that the reality of life can be even more beautiful! I have loved directing this production with this cast; each individual means so much to me and sharing this time with them has been a joy! I’m also so grateful to have this opportunity to honor my mentor, Russ. Thank you for coming and celebrating this amazing man with us! And now… enjoy The Fantasticks!

~Toni Butler
Director, The Fantasticks

Ode to Russ:

Russ Johnson taught High School Theatre for 30 years at Kearns High and Taylorsville High. “Theatre has been my life. It has given me the chance to do what I love with people I love. The gift that actors bring to their audience is so amazing and rare.” His favorite thing about teaching was “the kids… handsdown!”. He fell in love with The Fantasticks the first time he saw it (Off-Broadway). “It is a story that appeals to all age groups and all types of people.” He has directed The Fantasticks four times! He is the proud father of 4 children and grandpa of 16 grandchildren. And he is a Disney and Scotland Fanatic! We love you, Russ! Thank you for giving us the gift of theatre in our lives!

Check out this sweet article in the Deseret News! (Thank you, Deseret News!) #Love4Russ

The Fantasticks performed March 16-23, 2019

The Fantasticks

Production Team

  • Director/ChoreographerToni Butler
  • Musical DirectorLogan Bingham
  • PianoMichelle Willis
  • Technical Director/Crew AdvisorToni Butler
  • ELA CREWZoe Paraskeva, Elliot Berry, Emily Preece
  • Art DirectorLogan Bingham
  • Fight CaptainTrenton Conover

Cast List

  • El GalloGeoff Beckstrand
  • The MuteLydia Butler
  • LuisaMaggie Scott
  • MattPreston Rowland
  • BellomyNed Searle
  • HucklebeeJohn Holmgren
  • HenryDallin Remund
  • MortimorTanner McDaniel
The Fantasticks: Full Cast

The Fantasticks: Full Cast

The Fantasticks: Death of El Gallo

The Fantasticks: Death of El Gallo

The Fantasticks: Think It's Gonna Rain

The Fantasticks: Think It’s Gonna Rain

The Fantasticks: Henry and Mortimor

The Fantasticks: Henry and Mortimor

The Fantasticks: El Gallo and The Mute

The Fantasticks: El Gallo and The Mute

The Fantasticks: Plant a Radish

The Fantasticks: Plant a Radish

The Fantasticks: Much More!

The Fantasticks: Much More!

The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks Button

The Fantasticks Button

The Fantastickswith Russ

The Fantastickswith Russ

The Fantasticks First Meeting

The Fantasticks First Meeting

Fantasticks: Full Cast

Fantasticks: Creating the Banner

Fantasticks: Mute alone

Fantasticks: Banner

Fantasticks: Lydia Mute

Fantasticks: Matt and Mute

Fantasticks: Plant a Radish
Fantasticks: Fathers

Fantasticks: Matt
Fantasticks: Matt and Luisa

Fantasticks: Matt and Luisa and Mute

Fantasticks: Henry and Mortimor

Fantasticks: Mute Dancing

Fantasticks: Mute

Fantasticks: Rade

Fantasticks: El Gallo and Fathers

Fantasticks: Never Say No

Fantasticks: Hucklebee and Beolomy

Fantasticks: El Gallo

Related

Filed Under: 2019 Season

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