Amanda Dehnert’s Staging of The Fantasticks Opens at Arena Stage

Amanda Dehnert’s reimagined staging of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s The Fantasticks, now at Arena Stage, has opened to generally positive reviews. The production, which runs hrough January 10, features choreography by Sharon Jenkins and musical direction by George Fuliginti-Shakar.

The company features Sebastian La Cause (El Gallo), Addi McDaniel (Luisa), Timothy Ware (Matt), Michael Stone Forrest (Hucklebee), Jerome Lucas Harmann (Bellomy), Laurence O’Dwyer (Henry), Nate Dendy (The Mute), and Jesse Terrill (Mortimer/The Handyman).

The creative team includes Eugene Lee (scenic design), Jim Steinmeyer (illusion design), Jessica Ford (costume design), Nancy Schertler (lighting design), and Timothy Thompson (sound design).

Here is a summary of some local reviews for The Fantasticks:

Washington Post
A Fantasticks lesson in love
“A delightful holiday package is waiting for you on U Street. The contents are not new, exactly. Yet they have been reconditioned to conceal the telltale signs of age and yield a diversion that feels fresh and alive again…Take the kids and help open their ears to simple treasures.”

Washington City Paper
Reviewed: The Fantasticks
“Director Amanda Dehnert has taken a page from Fosse’s playbook in a magic-filled Fantasticks equally likely to have audiences recalling staging tricks rather than the show itself.”

DC Theatre Scene
Review: The Fantasticks
“Arena Stage’s vibrant reimagining of this much-adored little romance offers a beautiful mix of laughter, song, and dazzling visuals. It also welcomes, with admirable restraint, a chance to bridge generations and rekindle those tingly feelings of childhood romance.”

Potomac Stages
Review: The Fantasticks
“Let down your guard; this is a little musical indulgence for aging children.”

For further information, visit www.arenastage.org.