Theatre-at-Tusculum will present an entertaining and energetic stage production of Disney’s “Tarzan” for seven performances in November.
The musical is based on the 1999 animated film of the same name, which featured music and lyrics by legendary musician Phil Collins, and the book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. Performances will take place at the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Theater on the Tusculum University campus. Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 2 p.m. Nov. 4 and 11.
The musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International and is being directed by Tusculum’s artist-in-residence, Marilyn duBrisk. The production team includes familiar and new faces with Brian Ricker as assistant director, Kasie Shelnutt as musical director and Elizabeth Sparks as choreographer.
Erin Schultz, Tusculum’s Arts Outreach costume artist, whose work is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission, designed the costumes. Trenda Berney oversaw makeup design. Frank Mengel led set design work, with lighting design provided by Beth Wilson-Schnura and sound effects curated by Dave Johnson. Stage managers are Jim Holt and Brian Ricker, with box office and house management led by Jennifer Hollowell.
The production features local theater veterans and many new faces to the Tusculum stage. Tusculum students Carter DelSorbo, Trevor Kahland and Colton Grindstaff will lead the cast of more than 70 as adult Tarzan, Kerchak the silver-back gorilla and the human villain Clayton, respectively.
The cast includes other Tusculum students and several members from the East Tennessee region. DelSorbo’s real life mother, Chirsta DelSorbo, will portray Tarzan’s ape mother, Kala. Local favorite Parker Bunch will play adult Tarzan’s ape friend, Terk, and Craig Robertson, a newcomer to the Tusculum stage, will portray Young Terk.
In addition to the jungle menagerie, human characters in the production include the lead roles of Jane, portrayed by Sarah Sanders, and Porter, Jane’s father, played by Josh Beddingfield. Snipes, Clayton’s second in command, is portrayed by Simon Johnson, who leads an expedition crew of Theatre-at-Tusculum veterans – River Donnelly, Michael Fillers, and Michael Willis.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 60 and older, and $5 for children 12 and younger. They may be reserved by calling Tusculum University Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620 or by emailing jhollowell@tusculum.edu. People should include their name, a contact telephone number, the date, the number of tickets and the type of ticket. Seating is general admission.
Patrons can pick up and pay for tickets at the box office the day of the performance, or they can schedule a time to come to the Arts Outreach office. Payments are with cash or check only.
The box office is located in the lobby of the Annie Hogan Byrd, with the Tusculum Arts Outreach offices to the right of the lobby. The box office opens 90 minutes before each show. The theater will open 60 minutes before the start of the performance.
Theatre-at-Tusculum is under the auspices of Tusculum University Arts Outreach which is led by Artist-in-Residence Marilyn duBrisk, Assistant Director Brian Ricker, Coordinator Jennifer Hollowell; Technical Director Frank Mengel and Costume Director Erin Schultz. It is supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Hearts for the Arts and many generous donors. For more information about Theatre-at-Tusculum or other Tusculum University Arts Outreach programs please call 423-798-1620, visit http://art.tusculum.edu, or connect via Facebook at Tusculum University Arts Outreach.