WESTPORT, NY — The Depot Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of the final production of its 45th season, THE FANTASTICKS—it’s the world’s longest-running Off-Broadway musical, and one from the Depot Theatre’s very first season in 1979.
THE FANTASTICKS is a celebration of love, its enduring mysteries, its sweet simplicities, and all the foolish ways we tend to mess it up. One young couple is pitched into an odyssey of tomfoolery, debauchery, and misfortune by ruses of their parents’ designs, a band of clowns, and the ways of the world. The show boasts a cherished score of classic tunes, including “Try to Remember” and “Soon it’s Gonna Rain.”
As the 45th season finale, the show represents both a nod to the theatre’s history and an approach to the classic story through a contemporary lens. In this retelling, a troupe of summer campers assume the iconic roles of the lovers, the parents, the bandit, the mute, and the old actors.
“The archetypal roles in this quintessential story about love will be played by a cast that features professional talent from New York City, Chicago, and Cleveland,” said Michael Glavan, Depot Theatre’s Artistic Production Manager. “We are excited to showcase the telling of this classic story with new voices.”
MEET THE CAST
Sam Balzac * returns to the Depot in the role of Hucklebee (The Boy’s Father). Previous Depot appearances include SPELLING BEE, PIPPIN, HOW TO SUCCEED, CAMELOT, SHOW BOAT, and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN! Originally from Jay, Sam is now an NYC-based performer and composer/lyricist for musical theatre. Off-Broadway: FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMAN (York Theatre). Favorite regional: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (The Barn MI), CABARET (Lost Nation Theater), Tom Stoppard’s ROUGH CROSSING (Cortland Rep), and recently ROCKY HORROR at Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake.
Amanda Giles makes her Depot debut in the role of The Mute. A Chicago based actor, credits include: KAYMARKET (Underscore Theatre), FAR FROM HEAVEN (Porchlight Theatre), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (HRT) & Elizabeth in IF/THEN, and Young Gertrude in LOVING REPEATING, both Jeff award nominated performances.
Isha Narayanan * is making her Depot Theatre debut in the role of Matt (The Boy). She is a performer and educator based in New York City and New Jersey. Select recent credits include SATI: GODDESS INCARNATE (Ensemble) at 54 Below, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Detective) at NYU Tisch Drama: New Studio on Broadway, and OFFSTAGE (Performer/Myself) at Tisch New Theatre.
James Rose * will play the role of Luisa (The Girl) in their Depot debut. James made theatre history as the youngest openly non-binary performer to take on the title role in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH in 2022. Other Regional Credits include CABARET (Frenchie, Barrington Stage), MARIE ANTOINETTE (Therese de Lamballe, opposite Lauren Ambrose), THE ADDAMS FAMILY (u/s Morticia), DAMN YANKEES (Joe Hardy). They led the indie short film “Barstool” winning Best Actor at the Berlin Indie Film Festival, and co-starred in the all-transgender cast of “Adelphe,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. James holds degrees in Music Theatre and Child Psychology from NYU, and in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) from Cornell.
Madeline Saintsing * will play the role of Henry (The Old Actor) in her Depot Theatre debut. She is a North Carolina native currently living in New York City. She attended the of North Carolina at Greensboro where she received her BFA in Acting, and she has since continued her training at the Atlantic Acting School and Stella Adler Studios. Her regional theater credits include THE LEARNED LADIES at The Classic Theatre of Maryland and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Triad Stage.
Rebecca Lee Whitcomb will play the role of Bellomy (The Girl’s Father) in her Depot Theatre debut. Past favorite roles include: Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Rizzo in GREASE, Peter in PETER PAN. Upcoming: Guinevere in CAMELOT.
Zach Monczewski will make his Depot debut in the role of El Gallo (The Narrator). A graduate of Kent State with a BFA in Musical Theatre, past credits of Zach’s include Basilius in HEAD OVER HEELS (Kent State University), Officer Lockstock in URINETOWN (Kent State University), Ensemble/Nostradamus U/S in SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Beck Center for the Arts), and The Beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (BHS).
Cassidy Sledge makes her Depot Theatre debut in the role of Mortimer (The Man Who Dies). International credits include THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Margaretta / Maria U.S). Off-Broadway: HERE THERE BE DRAGONS (Sasha/Boblin). Originally from California, she earned her BM from Northwestern University, and is now based in NYC.
THE FANTASTICKS will run from August 10-27. Tickets can be purchased online at DepotTheatre.org or by calling 518.962.4449.
The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, NY, and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association.
For more information about the Depot Theatre’s main stage and Academy youth programs and for news updates visit DepotTheatre.org.
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*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
THE FANTASTICKS
August 11 – August 27, with a $25 Preview on August 10
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
About the Depot Theatre
The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2023 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the Adirondack Foundation – Generous Acts Fund and the Essex County Arts Council. The Depot Theatre 2023 Season is sponsored by the Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation.
The Depot Theatre Academy is a robust educational experience for area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre—whether that’s backstage or on stage.