December 3, 2004

Purdue Theatre offers school matinees of 'A Funny Thing Happened . . . '

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – School matinees of Purdue Theatre's production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" will be presented at 11 a.m. Feb. 22 and 23 in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse.

Student matinee tickets are $5. Each student will receive a study guide compiled by Purdue Theatre as a supplement to the production. The study guide includes historical and biographical information as well as discussion questions and writing exercises.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and is based on a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. The fast-paced farce combines humor with the energy of classic vaudeville.

David Swan, from the New York metropolitan area, will be the director. He has compiled directing credits from off-Broadway shows and from the national tour of "They're Playing Our Song" with Erin Moran from the TV show "Happy Days." His wife, Kate Swan, is the choreographer of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." She was dance captain for the Broadway production and national tour of "Beauty and the Beast."

Jonathan Swoboda from the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, Calif., serves as music director. He has directed the music in previous Purdue Theatre shows, including "Into the Woods" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Public performances of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" begin Feb. 18 and continue through Feb. 26. Tickets are on sale by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

The production is presented with support from the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

To purchase school matinee tickets, call Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre marketing director, at (765) 494-3084.

CONTACT: Sparger, (765) 494-3084, theatre@purdue.edu

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page