Audiences are in for a treat with twist with during Island City Stage’s South Florida premiere of “The Fantasticks,” a reimagined version featuring two young compelling gay leads.
The show kicks off Island City Stage’s 13th season on Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 17. The beloved musical, featuring the hit song, “Try to Remember,” is an allegorical story concerning two neighboring parents who trick their children into falling in love by pretending to feud. The LGBTQ-focused rewrite, by original librettist and lyricist Tom Jones now focuses on two young gay men, Matt and Lewis, at the center of the story, instead of a young man and woman. Instead of their fathers doing the plotting, this time it is their mothers.
“‘The Fantasticks’ is the classic it is for a reason - it’s a beautiful story with a sumptuous score,” said Andy Rogow, artistic director of Island City Stage, in a press release. “This new same-sex version just makes it all the more relatable to the fans, like me, who wore out their albums listening to it. We worked hard to obtain the rights to perform this version and I'm sure our audiences will fall in love with the show all over again.”
Island City Stage’s production of “The Fantasticks” is directed by Rogow and stars Jonny Lee Jr. Lewis and Kevin Hincapie as the young lovers Lewis and Matt, Margot Moreland and Jeni Hacker as the mothers Mildred and Bessie, and Jesse Luttrell as El Gallo. Rounding out the cast are Michael Gioia, Rayner Gabriel, Mortimer, and Louie San Luis. The male leads have all played leading roles in musicals in New York and around the country. More familiar faces are playing the female leads. Award-winning actress Margot Moreland was last seen in “The Prom” (Slow Burn Theatre) and returns to Island City Stage for “The Fantasticks.” She received a Carbonell for “Ruthless!,” “Heartbeats,” “Tomfoolery,” and “Annie; the Silver Palm for Mamma Mia!” Jeni Hacker is a seven-time Carbonell award winner for roles such as Diana in “Next to Normal,” Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” Helen in “Fun Home,” Fosca in “Passion,” Connie in “After,” Jean in “The Actors” and Mom in “Grindr Mom.”
During its original run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, “The Fantasticks” logged a record-breaking 17,162 performances. When the original production closed in 2002, news of the closing made the front page of The New York Times. In 2006, the revival opened at The Theater Center, directed by Jones. That production closed June 4, 2017, after playing 4,390 performances in the Jerry Orbach Theatre, for a combined total of 21,552 performances in New York — still the longest-running musical production worldwide. This newly revised version of the classic show premiered in 2022 in Michigan.
Individual show tickets start at $50. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Dr. Deborah Floyd will take place on Oct. 27 with tickets at $65. Founded in 2012, Island City Stage is a professional theater committed to sharing stories of universal interest, engaging diverse audiences with entertaining, challenging, and inspiring productions and programs, often exploring the LGBTQ+ culture. These shows are brought to life on stage through the talents of professional artists whose credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, major regional theaters, film, and television. Island City Stage offers an intimate setting with six rows of stadium seating to foster a feeling of inclusion and participation in each theatrical event.
For tickets and more information, call 954-928-9800 or go to islandcitystage.org.
