Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre 2013 season marks 30 years
Posted: February 23, 2013
Star staff report
winchester — “Les Misérables” will open Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre’s 30th summer season on June 12.
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the musical was written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.
After years of waiting to obtain a license to present the famed production to the professional musical theater company’s patrons, SSMT will present 13 performances on the Ohrstrom-Bryant stage June 12-23.
Directed by producing artistic director Harold Herman with music direction by Thomas Albert, the full-scale original script and score of “Les Misérables” will bring back to the company two actors who have previously performed at SSMT.
The roles of Jean Valjean and Javert will be portrayed by Stephen Cramer and Christopher Sanders, respectively.
Cramer had the role of the Rev. Shaw Moore in SSMT’s two productions of “Footloose.” He has entertained audiences in the United States and Canada, making his Broadway debut in 2000 in the New York production of “Les Misérables” as Jean Valjean.
Before coming to Broadway, he spent three years in the national and Canadian tours of “Les Misérables.”
Cramer is a six-time Helen Hayes Award nominee. His classical roles include Alfredo in “La Traviata” and Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly.”
Sanders was Emile in SSMT’s “South Pacific” in 2011. He is an award-winning actor/singer and has performed in venues around the world.
He has worked with George Hearn, Roddy McDowell, Carol Lawrence, John Raitt, Debbie Boone and Rosemary Clooney.
Sanders’ theatrical credits include Javert in “Les Misérables,” the beast in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha,” Juan Peron in “Evita,”and Cinderella’s prince/wolf in “Into The Woods.”
His concert work includes engagements with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Knoxville (Tenn.) Symphony, Pasadena (Calif.) Pops, and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the National Theatre and Concert Hall Taiwan. Christopher tours the country as the baritone for the legendary 1940s singing group, The Pied Pipers.
SSMT’s 2013 season will continue with three more full-scale Broadway musicals.
“Chicago” will run June 26-July 7, bringing back the razzle-dazzle and jazz of the Prohibition era. Set in Chicago and filled with dance and the music of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, the musical tells a story of fame and fortune.
“Crazy for You,” an old-fashioned Broadway musical comedy set to the music of the Gershwins — George the composer and Ira the lyricist — tells the story by playwright Ken Ludwig. The show is full of familiar songs, such as “Bidin’ My Time,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Shall We Dance?”
One of SSMT’s main goals throughout its 30 years has been to offer entertainment for the whole family.
The fourth show fits the bill. “Shrek” will take the stage July 24-Aug. 4, with an added matinee Aug. 1. The music is by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. The musical is based on the 2001 DreamWorks film “Shrek” and William Steig’s book “Shrek!”
The performance times are 8 p.m. each Wednesday through Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sundays, with matinees every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Weekday matinees will be presente dat 2:30 p.m. June 19, July 3, 17 and 31 and Aug. 1.
Tickets are on sale for all shows at $27 and $28, with subscriptions for the season at a 15 percent savings. They may be purchased at the Shenandoah Box Office in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre lobby, by calling 540-655-4569 or online at shenandoahsummermusictheatre.com.