Copious Notes

SummerFest presents Patti Heying’s production of Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde July 15-19, 2009, in the Arboretum on Alumni Drive. In this version, Jekyll is played by one actor (Bob Singleton) and Hyde is played by four different actors who interact with Jekyll. Photos by Rich Copley | staff.

Adam Fister as Claude burns his "draft card" in SummerFest's 2008 production of "Hair." He will play Daniel in "Once on This Island" this summer. Photo by Rich Copley | LexGo.com.

So, who are we going to see onstage at the Abrboretum when SummerFest kicks off July 8? Which usual suspects will be on stage, and who are some of the new talents we can look forward to getting to know?

Answers to those questions are somewhat epitomized at the top of the bill of the first play, Joe Ferrell’s production of Henry IV, Part 1. The title character will be played by Eric Johnson, who was Antony in last summer’s production of Antony and Cleopatra and has been a leading man in the Arboretum several times, while Prince Hal will be played by Trent Fucci, who’s played supporting roles in the past and is stepping into the spotlight. Personally, as a colleague, I can’t help thinking Walter Tunis was probably born to play Falstaff.

Once on This Island will be led by Adam Fister, whose performance in Hair last summer was a star-establishing turn, and Jackie Chance, who will be a new face to a lot of viewers.

Here’s the lineup for the shows, which will run July 8-26.

Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare, directed by Joe Ferrell

King Henry the Fourth — Eric Johnson
Prince Henry of Wales (Hal, son of King Henry) — Trent Fucci
Lord John of Lancaster (son of King Henry)– Zach Moseley
Earl of Westmorland (loyal to the King)– Mike van Zant
Sir Walter Blount (loyal to the King) — Joe Gatton
Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester (rebelling against King Henry) — Tim Hull
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (Thomas’ older brother, also rebel) — Mark Smith
Hotspur, Henry Percy, (Northumberland’s son, rebel) — Jack McIntyre
Lady Percy (Kate, Hotspur’s wife) — Brooke M. Haney
Lord Edmund Mortimer (Kate’s brother, rebel) — Michael Grice
Lady Mortimer (his wife) — Haley Manion Smith
Owen Glendower (Lady Mortimer’s father, rebel) — Terry Withers
Earl of Douglas (rebel) — Nick Vannoy
Sir Richard Vernon (rebel) — Nick Schwartz
Sir John Falstaff — Walter Tunis
Edward (Ned) Poins — Jesse Hungerford
Bardolf — Jeff Sherr
Peto — Sean Harkless
Mistress Quickly (Hostess) — Bianca Spriggs-Floyd
Chamberlain/Sheriff — Zach Moseley
Messenger — Evan Chethik

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Patti Heying

Dr. Jekyll — Bob Singleton
Elizabeth – Kim Dixon
Lanyon – Adam Luckey
Utterson, etc. – Jacob Karnes
Carew, Inspector, etc. – Matt Seckman
Poole, Maid, etc. – Susan Wigglesworth
Dark Angel, etc. – Pinelopi Williams
Dark Angel, etc. – Jim Trujillo

(note: in this version, Hyde is played by four actors)

Once on This Island by Lynn Ahrens and Lynn Flaherty, directed by Margo Buchanan

Julie-Ann Aguhob — Mama Eurali
Katie Berger — Beaux Homme
Tamia Bowden — little girl
Manuel Castillo — Armand
Jackie Chance — Ti Moune
Clark Davis — Storyteller
Taylor Eldred — Andrea
Adam Fister — Daniel
Tarynn Grundy — little Ti Moune
Alicia Helm McCorvey — Erzulie
Tamera Izlar — Asaka
Tyshaun Lang — Tonton
Luther Lewis — Agwe
Justin Norris — Storyteller
Pam Perlman — Beaux Homme
Peggy Stamps — Storyteller
Jason Thompson — Papa Ge
Juonita Thurman — Storyteller
Manny Thurman — Storyteller
Joseph Waterbury-Tieman — Storyteller
Emanuel Wright — Storyteller

Actors Walter Tunis and Adam Luckey chat with director Joe Ferrell during a rehearsal of "Antony and Cleopatra" for last year's SummerFest. Ferrell will direct "Henry IV, part 1," this summer. Photo by Rich Copley | LexGo.

Kentucky Classical Theatre Conservatory’s Summerfest, held annually at the Arboretum across from Commonwealth Stadium, has unveiled its lineup of three plays, none of which have been presented in the Arboretum in the past decade. They are:

• Henry IV, Part 1, July 8-12: Joe Ferrell directs William Shakespeare’s story of King Henry trying to maintain the throne and a relationship with his hard-drinking son and heir.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, July 15-19: An adaptation of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s story by Jeffrey Hatcher, whose work has been seen locally at Lexington Children’s Theatre and Actors Guild of Lexington. Patty Heying will direct.
• Once On This Island, July 22-26: Margo Buchanan directs the Caribbean musical by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, whose hits have included Ragtime, Seussical, Island and music for 20th Century Fox’s animated Anastasia.

Performances will be at 8:45 p.m. Weds.-Sun., at the Arboretum on Alumni Drive. Tickets will go on sale in June for $10 adults and $5 children 12 and under. Season tickets to all three shows will be $25 adults and $12 children.

Auditions will be at 4 p.m. April 4 and 5 at the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre’s Schmidt Vocal Arts Center, 412 Rose St. For more information visit the SummerFest website.