MEDIA THEATRE HAS A SONG-FILLED SPRING AND SUMMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: ROGER RICKER/ MEDIA THEATRE/ 610-891-0100

                   MEDIA THEATRE HAS A SONG-FILLED SPRING AND SUMMER

The hills may be alive with the sound of music, as the song says, and so is the borough of Media as The Media Theatre has a full schedule for the warm months ahead.  The theatre’s Spring and Summer schedule brings a popular contemporary musical, a Disney classic, summer camps, one of the world’s most popular musicals, and the sixth time a “Delco Idol” winner will be announced.

“RENT”, the popular musical which focuses on a group of artists living on Manhattan’s Lower East Side during times of hardship, has its regional professional premiere at The Media Theatre May 5-June 6. The ‘pop-opera’ is based on Puccini’s La Boheme and won 4 Tony awards in 1996 as well as the Pulitzer Prize.  “RENT” became one of Broadway’s longest running hits (12 years) and spawned a new generation of stage and screen stars (Adam Pascal, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel) as well as a younger generation of theatre-goers. The contemporary score includes the hit “Seasons of Love” and the story touches on serious topics which have remained relevant.  Patrick Ludt, seen in Media’s popular “Wizard of Oz” as the Tin Man, portrays the role of Roger, a singer-songwriter hoping for “One Song Glory” in the musical and Andrew Deichman takes on the role of Mark, the videographer documenting the lives of his friends. “RENT” is directed by Artistic Director Jesse Cline.

Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast” comes to life with all of the great songs from the animated classic in an edited “Junior” version for the stage. Performed by a cast of children and teenagers, “Beauty and The Beast” will enchant all ages weekends in June.  Media’s Christopher Infantino becomes Gaston in the production. The cast also includes Katie Stecklair as Belle, Tre Fountain as The Beast, and Brandon DeSanto as Lefou.

Broadway Music Theatre Camp begins five two-week sessions June 21. Each day, campers ages 6 and up have courses in acting, vocal music, and choreography at Delaware County’s only professional music theatre. Campers are split into appropriate age groups until the final 90 minutes of each day when they all work together on stage rehearsing the performance which takes place the final Friday of each session.  Campers create unique three-to-four minute scenes in the acting class with topics relevant to their age. The sessions this year will include music from Rodgers and Hammerstein (June 21-July 2), Andrew Lloyd Webber (July 5-16), Disney (July 19-30), Stephen Schwartz (August 2-13), and Contemporary Music Theatre (August 16-27).

“Les Miserables”, one of the most popular musicals throughout the world, will be performed by The Media Theatre Teen Ensemble July 14-August 8. The score contains the song “I Dreamed A Dream” which had a resurgence in popularity this past fall when artist Susan Boyle sold over 7 million copies of her recorded version. Based on Victor Hugo’s popular literary classic, “Les Miz” (as its fans refer to it) is set in early 19th-century France and follows the intertwining stories of a cast of characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution.

And, entering its sixth summer, a new winner will be announced at the “Delco Idol” competition which begins July 7, continuing for 5 consecutive Wednesday evenings. Contestants range in age from 14-24 and must live within a 55-mile radius of The Media Theatre. The “JR” Idol contest will delight audiences Sunday nights beginning July 11 with competitors even younger (ages 6-13). Jesse Cline, Artistic Director, holds auditions for the “Idol” contests June 7 and 8 to choose the 30 who will make it to the actual vocal competition.

For information on “RENT”, “Beauty and the Beast”, Media Theatre Summer Camps, “Les Miserables” or the “Delco Idol” contests, call 610-891-0100 or visitwww.mediatheatre.org

(Pictured: Actor Andrew Deichman who portrays Mark, the documentary film-maker, in "RENT" May 5-June 6 at The Media Theatre.)