A flying car will take center stage as Theatre-at-Tusculum presents Ian Fleming’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” as its annual fall musical production.
The musical is the stage adaptation of the 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke who played the lead character Caractus Potts. The film and subsequent stage adaptation are based on the novel, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car,” a children’s story by author Ian Fleming, who is probably best known for his James Bond novels.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov.13-14, 19-21 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 22 in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum College campus.
Caractus Potts, portrayed by Chris Greene, and Truly Scrumptious, played by Audrey Shoemaker, rehearse “Doll on a Music Box” from the upcoming Theatre-at-Tusculum’s production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
The story follows Caractus Potts, a widower, who is being brought to life by Theatre-at-Tusculum veteran, Chris Greene, and his two children, Jeremy and Jemima Potts, played by Jackson Beddingfield and Mylee Doty respectively. Beddingfield and Doty were last seen on the stage in the Theatre-at-Tusculum production of “How to Eat Like a Child and Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-Up.” Audiences may also remember Beddingfield from his role as Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol” and Doty from her role as Tassel in “The Addams Family Musical.”
Other main characters include Grandpa Potts, played by Wess duBrisk’ Truly Scrumptious played by Audrey Shoemaker’ Baron and Baroness Bomburst of Vulgaria played by Tom Sizemore and Sandy Nienaber, the Toymaker played by Angela Willis, and the wicked Childcatcher played by Margo Olmsted. Bringing added fun and laughter to the production are Vulgarian Captain played by Mike Willis and his two Vulgarian Soldiers played by Kendra Tarlton and Casey Martha as well as Vulgarian Spies, Boris and Goran, played by Jeff Ward and Brian Ricker.
The cast includes an adult ensemble of 24 playing various roles including an English crowd at the 1910 British Grand Prix, workers in a candy factored owned by Lord Scrumptious (played by Richard Schuech), a Fun Fair crowd and ‘Morris Men’ dancers, a group of ancient inventors, and lords, ladies, and townspeople of the fictional nation of Vulgaria.
A junior ensemble made up of 32 children portray Fun Fair crowd children and the poor banished children of Vulgaria who are in hiding from the Childcatcher who has been employed by the Baroness of Vulgaria who has banished children from the nation.
Leading the production team are Director Marilyn duBrisk and Assistant Director Brian Ricker.
With a cast of nearly 70 and several cast members playing multiple roles, Costume Director Barbara Holt and her team of volunteers have been busy preparing over 140 costumes for the production.
Rehearsing a scene from “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in which Grandpa Potts is in danger of being beheaded by the sinister Baron and his soldiers are, from left, Mike Willis as a Vulgarian captain, Tom Sizemore as Baron Bomburst, Casey Martha as a Vulgarian soldier, Wess duBrisk as Grandpa Potts, and kneeling is Kendra Tarlton as a Vulgarian soldier.
Costuming is not the only massive undertaking with this production as Technical Director, Frank Mengel, with help from local artist Garry Renfro and volunteers, have tackled the challenge of creating a world that includes turn-of-the-century England, the fictional country of Vulgaria, and of course, a flying car. Stage Managers, Jim Holt and Suzanne Greene are charged with the task of running the show and all its technical intricacies. Props will be managed by Hannah Faith Rader and Kayeanna Olmsted, with help from props gatherer Sandy Nienaber.
Choreographer Kim Berry has been busy creating several dance sequences that include many styles of dance, including traditional English Morris Men dancing, tap, and Samba, just to name a few.
Musical Director Angie Clendenon with assistance from accompanist Kasie Shelnutt and percussionist David Price have been working hard to bring the well-known score to the stage including the Academy Award nominated song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Music and lyrics in the score were written by famed Disney composers Richard M. Sherman and Robert M. Sherman whose work include the musical scores to “Mary Poppins,” “The Parent Trap,” “The Jungle Book” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” The film’s script was written by Roald Dahl (“Matilda,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and Ken Hughes, who also directed the film. Music and lyrics were written by famed Disney composers Richard M. Sherman and Robert M. Sherman whose work include the musical scores to “Mary Poppins,” “The Parent Trap,” “The Jungle Book” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” The film was adapted for stage by Jeremy Sams and the music is presented through special arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing
Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (60 and over) and $5 for children (12 and under). Tickets may be reserved by calling Tusculum College Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620 or by e-mailing Box Office Manager Jennifer Hollowell at jhollowell@tusculum.edu.