Salem theater to present 'Forum'

Staff report

SALEM

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” will open Friday at Salem Community Theatre and run for seven performances over three consecutive weekends.

The classic musical-comedy, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is being directed and musically directed by Adam Day Howard of Kent in his first directorial role at SCT.

“Forum” premiered on Broadway in 1962 and was adapted into a movie a few years later.

It follows the antics of a Roman slave named Pseudolus (reprised from the previous SCT production by Eric Kibler), and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his master (Curtis Meyers) woo Philia (Brittany Smile).

The cast includes several SCT veterans, including Michael Dempsey, Dave Wack, Kathy Fawcett, Dick Fawcett and Donny Wolford. Matthew Schomer also returns to the SCT stage after several years, playing the pompous centurion Miles Gloriosus.

Anna Sturgeon, Emma Janofa, Jackie Stevens, Tara Holl and Curtis and Dillon Kerner round out the cast.

Howard studied theater at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. He has served as a music director, actor and composer and is on the adjunct faculty at Kent State University.

Howard is adding some unique twists to his costuming and staging to set it apart from what theater-goers may have experienced with the show.

“You won’t see many togas on stage in this production,” said Howard. “We’ve chosen to use more contemporary costumes to suggest our own stereotypes, while still paying homage to the ancient Romans — who would probably laugh loudly!”

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 8, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Nov. 9.

Tickets are $15 ($11 for seniors and $8 for students). To purchase reserved seats, call 330-332-9688.