Photo credit is Jay Paul
Cast from left back row: Russell Rowland, Debra Wagoner, Liz Blake White
Cast from left bottom row: Matt Shofner, Jackie Reynolds, Josh Marin, Nicole Oberleitner, Matt Beyer
Richmond, VA – Virginia Rep’s Children’s Theatre of Virginia kicks off 2013 with The Magic Flute on Friday, January 18 at Willow Lawn, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Richmond, Virginia. The show is part of the Acts of Faith Theatre Festival and will run through February 10, 2013. Fairy tale magic hangs in the air when the mysterious Queen of the Night sends young Prince Tamino – armed only with a golden flute and a feathered friend – to rescue her lovely daughter. The Prince soon learns that nothing is as it seems and he must pass many tests before he and his beloved Princess can live happily ever after. Inspired by Mozart’s masterpiece, the musical imparts a poignant message of tolerance as it weaves a web of make-believe and music.
First commissioned by Virginia Rep in 2006 in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday, this fun musical features book, music and lyrics by Paul Deiss, who currently serves as the Resident Musical Director at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. Deiss has written several shows for Virginia Rep over the years including The Song of Mulan, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Shoemaker and the Christmas Elves.
Virginia Rep is delighted to bring back director Susan Sanford who staged the first production of The Magic Flute. Sanford’s directing credits include The Song of Mulan and The 1940’s Radio Hour. Sanford has many acting credits with Virginia Rep, most recently in Seussical, God of Carnage and Spring Awakening.
Jacqueline Reynolds and Josh Marin. Photo by Jay Paul
Several of the original cast members will be returning including Debra Wagoner (Madeline’s Christmas and Patsy Cline at Virginia Rep), Russell Rowland (Closer Than Ever, My Fair Lady, and Annie Get Your Gun at Virginia Rep), and Matt Beyer (Seussial and Sound of Music at Virginia Rep). Josh Marin (Seussical, Spring Awakening, and The
Producers at Virginia Rep) will play the role of Prince Tamino. Jacqueline Reynolds, a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University and currently in The Producers will play the fair Princess Pamina. Rounding out the cast are Nicole Oberleitner (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Year with Frog and Toad for Virginia Rep and Urban Cowboy on Broadway), Matt Shofner (Young Tom Jefferson, Spelling Bee and Anything Goes for Virginia Rep), and Liz Blake White (Seussical and Honk! for Virginia Rep).
The show lasts about one hour and is best enjoyed by children 4 years and older with plenty of humor to entertain older kids and adults. There will be an Acts of Faith talkback immediately following the performance on Sunday, January 27.
Ticket Information
- Box Office 804-282-2620 www.va-rep.org
- Full Price Tickets: $10 – $16 Discounted Group Rates available.
Also, don’t miss other great shows at Virginia Rep! Click here for more information on Closer Than Ever and The Producers.
About Virginia Repertory Theatre
Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, combines the talents and strengths of two nonprofit companies that shared facilities, resources, and management teams for over a decade. Now the heritages of Barksdale Theatre (founded in 1953) and Theatre IV (founded in 1975) live on in their new form, as Central Virginia’s leading professional theatre company. Virginia Rep presents national caliber productions of the great dramas, comedies, and musicals including classics, contemporary works, and world premieres, always seeking to demonstrate the unique power of theatre to engage, enthrall, educate, and inspire. Productions are staged at four distinct venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and Theatre Gym at the downtown Virginia Rep Center, Virginia Rep’s Children’s Theatre of Virginia located at Willow Lawn, and Virginia Rep’s Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern.
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