Playful Theatre Productions opens the 2024-25 Kelsey Theatre season with “Groundhog Day The Musical” from September 20-29. The production takes place at Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus.
The musical is based on the 1993 movie. It follows weatherman Phil Conners, who reports on Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Day ceremony. Conners finds himself reliving the same day repeatedly. The show features a book by Danny Rubin and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
John Fischer from Hamilton plays Phil Conner, and Joan Schubin, also from Hamilton, portrays Rita Hansen. The cast includes actors from various towns:
Trinity Anjelic from Trenton; Lynn Baskin from Lambertville; Tom Bessellieu and Christopher Schmalbach from Lawrenceville; Denise Carey from Newtown, Pennsylvania; Jessa Casner and Kevin Palardy from Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Juliana Davies from Pennington; Alex Dubinsky from West Creek; Aaron Ferrara from West Windsor; Chrissy Johnson, Nicholas Kianka, Jenna Moschella, Pat Rounds, Emily O’Sullivan and Shawn Simmons from Hamilton; Michael Gearty and Jeffrey Scharf from Yardley, Pennsylvania; Rebecca Maria Ticas Guardado from Piscataway; Alan Naidoff from Princeton; Cara Pergament from Robbinsville; Amanda Santos and Mina Schneider from Lawrence; Jordyn Sava from South Brunswick; and Aidan Stallworth-Glitz from Ewing.
Suzanne Smith and Hilary Leboff produce the show. Frank Ferrara directs, with Jennifer Boutros as assistant director. Michael Gilch serves as musical director, and Haley Schmalbach choreographs. Shannon Ferrara is associate musical director and costume coordinator. Vicki Kaiser designs lighting, Ruth Kresge manages the stage, Nancy Russell manages stage and props, and Shawn Simmons designs the set.
Dates and showtimes are Friday, Sept. 20 and Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Kelsey Theatre on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. The production is rated PG13 due to some adult themes. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.org or by calling the Kelsey Box Office Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon, at (609) 570-3333.
