Actor Pat Pohrte of Munster has found a simple explanation to sum up the plot to the hit musical “The Fantasticks,” which he says has the title of “the longest-running musical in the world.”
“I explain ‘The Fantasticks’ being just about the same story as ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ except with the spin that it’s the two fathers trying to bring this young man and young woman together, rather than two families trying to tear apart an unlikely romance,” Pohrte said.
“It’s a beautiful story and it’s easy to see why this musical has remained popular with audiences throughout the decades.”
Pohrte is among the cast of eight in “The Fantasticks” by Marian Theatre Guild with performances at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays Nov. 4-19 in the auditorium of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Whiting.
Directed by Peggy Glennie of Highland, Pohrte plays the male lead Matt opposite Kaitlin Kovach, also of Munster, as Luisa. They are both Munster High School graduates.
“There’s a very natural chemistry on stage between myself and Kaitlin and that’s a magic that is not always easy to capture,” Pohrte said.
“It definitely helps that we have known each other. What you see happen on stage between these characters is believable.”
The rest of the cast includes the narrator character El Gallo played by Matt Zipko, Susan Bobos as The Mute, Kevin Sherman as Bellomy, Ray Huntington as Huckabee, Carl Wolf as Henry, and Phil Kizziah as Mortimer.
Showcasing favorite hit tunes including “Try to Remember,” “Metaphor” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” “The Fantasticks” was written by stage lyricist Tom Jones with music by Harvey Schmidt and opened on off-Broadway in New York in 1960, where if continued for 42 years until 2002, adding up to 17,162 performances.
It is based on the 1894 play “The Romancers” by Edmond Rostand. Throughout the decades, luminaries who performed in the off-Broadway casts or later touring productions include Jerry Orbach, Liza Minnelli, Elliott Gould, Glenn Close, Kristen Chenoweth, Bert Convy and Eileen Fulton.
“I wasn’t very familiar with The Fantasticks, despite the show’s long history,” said Pohrte, who has been in rehearsals since mid-September after being cast following auditions in August.
“I just remember a local run of the show being done at College of St. Joseph’s Calumet back in 2007.”
Launched in 1926, Marian Theatre Guild traditionally produces two to four shows a year according to Pohrte, who has been with the nonprofit theatrical company “on and off” since 2007.
“The last big production Marian Theatre Guild did was a run of the musical ‘Young Frankenstein’ in fall 2022, which was a very large show with a full orchestra, many costumes, props and set pieces,” Pohrte said.
“Prior to that musical, it was the small play ‘Bleacher Bums,’ and now, ‘The Fantasticks.’ (It) is a musical more on the smaller side. We have a pianist and a harpist who have prerecorded the needed show music for us.”
Pohrte said the church auditorium of St. John the Baptist can hold more than 800 people and has acoustics that audiences often compliment.
“A favorite part of any run produced by Marian Theatre Guild is the dinner theater option for preshow dining on Saturday nights,” Pohrte said.
“Seating is at 5:30 p.m. with prior reservations required and there’s always a great menu, with fried chicken, roast beef, green beans and all the sides with plenty to eat. The Marian Theatre Guild Board of Directors is already hard at work planning the next season shows and dates, some big and some small, and of course the dinner menus too.”
‘The Fantasticks’
When: Nov. 4-19
Where: Auditorium of John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1849 Lincoln Ave., Whiting
Cost: Tickets are $18-$20; preshow meal on Saturdays is $38
Information: 219-473-7555; facebook.com and search for Marian Theatre Guild
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
