Broadway in Evansville: The
Enchantment of Camelot
Chicago's Jam
Theatricals www.jamtheatricals.com and The Centre www.smgevansville.com are
proud to present CAMELOT as part of the Old National Presents
Broadway at The Centre 2009-10 Season, sponsored by WFIE Channel 14, for one
performance only. This musical was written by the team of Alan Jay Lerner and
Frederick Loewe, and premiered on Broadway in 1960, going on to win four Tony
Awards and was made into an Academy Award-winning movie.
Directed and choreographed by
Timothy French, this all-new production premiered July 8, 2009 in Grand Bend,
Ontario and features Mark Harapiak, as King Arthur; Jayme Armstrong as Queen
Guenevere; and Gabriel Burrafato as Sir Lancelot.
It was
interesting to me to find out how little people know about Camelot. Myself
included. Attending this fantastic production would be a perfect opportunity to
learn about this fascinating period in history and enjoy the story that is
spellbinding and unforgettable. For those who might not be acquainted with the
story of Camelot, allow me to fill you in on some of the details.
The idyllic kingdom
of Camelot is set among the historic
grandeur of medieval England
and the kingdom is thrown into chaos when a love triangle emerges between the
beautiful Queen Guinevere, gentle King Arthur, and dashing knight Lancelot.
King Arthur charms Guinevere into marrying him and all in the kingdom seems
perfect. Until Sir Lancelot appears on the scene and he wins the friendship of
King Arthur and ultimately the love of Queen Guinevere. Many twists and turns
happen along the path, but ultimately the noble King must decide whether to
sacrifice his true love or his prized honor.
The show is complete with phenomenal
costumes and music, not to mention colorful characters such as magicians,
sorcerers and noblemen. Camelot is unlike most musicals because it has romance,
comedy, drama and a full score of songs you won't forget.
Actor Mark Harapiak, who portrays
the grand King Arthur, grew up in a small town in Northern Manitoba called The
Pas and moved at age 18 to study dancing.
He is Ukrainian and studied with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and also in Kiev, Ukraine
with The Ukrainian State Dance Ensemble. Mark tells me that “Camelot will
appeal to all ages. There are many universal themes that everyone can relate
to: Love, Betrayal, Hope. Also, like any good musical it has wonderful songs
and some rousing numbers. One of my favorites is the song ‘If Ever I Would
Leave You’ – Gabriel Burrafato, who plays Sir Lancelot, sings this song and he
does a terrific job. I also enjoy my scenes with Jayme Armstrong who plays
Guenevere. She is very talented and we have a lot of fun together.”
Mark says that traveling across the United States
to perform with this company has been a great experience and he's enjoyed the
American cities. He has a few tricks to “try and make things homey on the road.
I always bring my own pillow cases and sheet from home” and “I have a lot of
music on my iPod – that helps me feel normal,” he says.
“To unwind after the show... Some
nights I head back to the hotel for some quiet time and a bit of Sports Center,”
he relates. “Other nights the cast will find a local bar and soak up some local
flavor and enjoy a few cocktails.” Mark and the cast can definitely find some
great flavor in Evansville!
The period of time when John F.
Kennedy was President of the United
States has affectionately been called
“Camelot” for years. I found that President Kennedy's favorite line from the
Camelot production was when Arthur bestows knighthood upon a young boy and
tells him to pass on the story of Camelot to future generations:
“Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Camelot.”
Don't miss your
chance to see this terrific production!
Tickets,
starting at $21, are on sale now and can be purchased at The Centre box office,
all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.
Discounts are available for subscribers and groups of 20 or more by calling
812-435-5544
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Photos courtesy | Jam Theatricals
