Let the quest begin! The Knights of the Round Table descend upon Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Lerner & Loewe’s timeless masterpiece Camelot. This sumptuous tale is sure to delight audiences with its soaring melodies, magnificent costumes and an enduring love story set among the historic grandeur of medieval England Saturday, January 30, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. For tickets call 586.286.2222.
From the celebrated team of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, who created the beloved musical My Fair Lady, comes this dazzling musical adaptation of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, one of literature’s most cherished fables. The idyllic kingdom of Camelot is thrown into chaos when a love triangle emerges between the beautiful Queen Guenevere, gentle King Arthur, and dashing knight Lancelot. Faced with an arduous moral dilemma, the noble King must decide whether to sacrifice his true love or his prized honor. Magicians, sorcerers and noblemen run rampant, only to collide in a flurry of fanfare as Lerner and Loewe spin an unforgettable web of spellbinding action and forbidden love. Camelot is one of those extraordinary musicals that has something for everyone - romance, comedy, drama, and a score full of memorable songs like "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood," "Camelot," "The Lusty Month of May" and "If Ever I Would Leave You."
Camelot first premiered on Broadway in 1960 at the Majestic Theater. The production ran 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals and foreign productions. The 1967 film version garnered three Academy Awards. The original cast album was America's top-selling LP for 60 weeks.
Directed and choreographed by Timothy French and featuring Mark Harapiak and Jayme Armstrong in the lead roles of King Arthur and Queen Guenevere, with Gabriel Burrafato as Sir Lancelot, this all new production was originally produced by Drayton Entertainment and premiered July 8, 2009 in Grand Bend, Ontario. The national tour is produced by Moonglow Productions.
Mark Harapiak’s (King Arthur) credits include The Foursome and Damn Yankees for Drayton Entertainment; five seasons with the Stratford Festival including: The Winter’s Tale, Man of La Mancha, Equus, Coriolanus, The Boy Friend, and Pirate of Penzance. Two seasons with the Shaw Festival, credits include: Pal Joey, Pygmalion, She Loves Me. Three seasons with the Blyth Festival: Billy Bishop Goes to War (Rose Theatre); Jerry in The Full Monty, Footloose, and Guys and Dolls (Stage West); Man of La Mancha (Mirvish); Evita, and Camelot (MTC Theatre Calgary); Anyone Can Whistle, Napoleon (Talk is Free Theatre); Sound of Music (Theatre Aquarius).
Jayme Armstrong (Guenevere) gained notoriety in 2008 when she became a Top 3 Finalist on the CBC Television program, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. Favorite theatre credits include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Sally in Cabaret, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Oliver! and South Pacific (Stratford), and the Hollywood production of Ruthless! The Musical (LA Weekly Award – Outstanding Comedy Performance). She has performed across North America, Austria, and on the prestigious London Palladium Stage. She recently starred in her solo concert, Legends: The Music of Judy Garland and Rosemary Clooney.
Gabriel Burrafato (Lancelot) has performed on Broadway and National Tours. Roles include Beast, Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Silver Mist); Enjolras, Les Misérables (1000 Island Playhouse); Legolas, The Lord of The Rings (Mirvish); Magaldi, Evita US National Tour (25th Anniversary Harold Prince Revival); Akmed, Bombay Dreams (Broadway); Phra Alack, King and I (Stratford Festival); Pharaoh, Joseph… Dreamcoat and Annas, Jesus Christ Superstar (Theatre Aquarius).
Timothy French’s (Director / Choreographer) credits include: Me And My Girl, Damn Yankees, The Boy Friend, Carousel (Drayton Entertainment). Other Theatre: Director and Choreographer for Dreamgirls (Grand Theatre/Theatre Aquarius/MTC), Evita (MTC/Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre), I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Grand Theatre), Choreography for Camelot, Guys & Dolls (MTC/Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Shaw Festival), Gypsy (Neptune Theatre), Cabaret, A Little Night Music (Grand Theatre). Tim has co-created, directed and choreographed numerous hit rock & roll reviews for Stage West. He has been Resident Director for Toronto Mirvish productions of Dirty Dancing and The Producers.
Ticket prices range from $17 to $60 with discounts available for students, senior citizens, military personnel (both active and retired with a valid military I.D.), and groups of 20 or more. Purchase tickets in person at the Macomb Center box office Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Friday 12 - 6 p.m. The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts is located on Macomb College's Center Campus at 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, Michigan 48038. Tickets and additional information, including a complete season schedule, are available online at www.MacombCenter.com or by calling 586.286.2222.
Camelot is sponsored in part by the Concorde Inn and the Macomb Center’s premiere sponsors for the 2009-2010 season AT&T, The Macomb Daily and National City.
About the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts
The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts is a community enrichment program of Macomb College dedicated to providing a diverse range of family-oriented cultural enrichment experiences. The Macomb Center presents high-quality professional performances, offers educational outreach in the arts and, in partnership with the adjacent Albert L. Lorenzo Cultural Center, creates unique opportunities for multifaceted cultural programming.
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Details-at-a-glance:
Camelot
Saturday, January 30, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Macomb Center for the Performing Arts
44757 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township 48038
586.286.2222 www.MacombCenter.com
Tickets: $17 to $60
Discounts available for students, seniors, military personnel, and groups of 20 or more
Media contact:
Sandy Hazelton-Pianko
586.226.4737
hazelton-piankos@macomb.edu