Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn to debut in season’s final family production
JENNERSTOWN – The world premiere of a new play, which combines “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,” will make its debut on the Mountain Playhouse stage in Jennerstown now through Sunday, Aug. 18. The play, which captures some of the most memorable scenes from two popular Mark Twain novels, was commissioned by the Mountain Playhouse for this season’s family show offering.
“As we review scripts each year, we find that there is a dearth of quality shows that fit the family play description,” said producer Teresa Stoughton Marafino about commissioning a new play for the annual family show. “That’s why we chose to commission a play, which would appeal to the entire family.”
Two years ago, the playhouse commissioned an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, “Great Expectations.”
“We are very grateful that the Karl and Mary Ann Poorbaugh Foundation applauded our efforts to produce quality family entertainment and has helped both years by underwriting the commission fee,” Marafino said.
Marafino also notes that Somerset Trust sponsored the lead roles of “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” and Sidney and Alberta Riggs of Somerset are key sponsors of the play.
Playwright Rob Barron, who scripted “Great Expectations,” was also commissioned to write “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.” In May, a play reading was held at the playhouse where the script was presented for the first time and then fine-tuned for the production.
“The challenge was to take some 800 pages and produce a two-hour play,” said Barron, who is also directing the play.
In the title roles are Eric Wheeler playing Tom Sawyer and Trey Compton playing Huckleberry Finn. Wheeler will be best remembered for his appearance as the young Pip in “Great Expectations” at the Mountain Playhouse.
Since then, he has performed in the “Lollipop Lady” in New York, “Annie Get Your Gun” at the Palace Theater in Greensburg and “Aladdin” for Greensburg Civic Theater in which he played the monkey, “Alakazzam.” Wheeler will be a freshman at Somerset High School in the fall.
Compton, who will be a senior at North Allegheny High School in Wexford, recently received the Gene Kelly award for his performance as Finch in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and for the past three years, he has been a finalist in Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest.
Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and matinees at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” range from $14 to $23 depending on matinee, evening or weekend performance and seat location. Discounted student tickets are available for $9 and every Wednesday evening, which is Teen Night, tickets are just $6.
The Mountain Playhouse is located on Route 985, about one-half mile north of the Lincoln Highway (Route 30) at the crossroads in Jennerstown. For information, call 1-814-629-9201.