Little Mary Sunshine

Book, lyrics and music by Rick Besoyan

Presented August 2002 at Paris Hill Academy

Sponsored by New Balance Foundation.

Directed by Kenn Sawyer.

One of the most successful Off Broadway stage shows, Little Mary Sunshine played to packed houses in Greenwich Village for almost three years and won every award for its score and enchanting performance.

It was billed as "a musical about an old operetta"--a musical spoof of old time favorites like "Rose Marie" and "Naughty Marietta"-- but gently kidded and made delightful in its own right. With its deliberately corny songs and naive situations, Little Mary Sunshine pokes fun at all the cliches of the innocent musicals our grandparents enjoyed, but it is done freshly and with flair; it quickly wins audiences with its brilliant fooling. There are 24 songs in all, including thundering choruses, schmaltzy waltzes and lilting duets-- all kidding and all in fun.

The plot is a little bit of everything: Colorado Rangers, a stalwart Captain, a lovely Mary, a chorus of simpering school girls and a villainous Indian. Little Mary Sunshine pokes fun at over-earnest heroes and heroines, dastardly villains and every coquettish soubrette of that bygone era. As a loving lampoon, it has become something of an American institution as well as an international favorite.

Cast
Ernestine Von Liebedich	Shirli Allen
Yellow Feather	Eddie Baldridge
Hank	James Blake
Blanche	Julia Brinkkotter
Tom	Brendon Chandler
Mabel	Meghann Connell
General Oscar Fairfax	Michael Davis
Buster	Owen Davis
Nancy Twinkle	Kelsey Franklin
Tex	Joe Governale
Gwendolyn	Sofie Governale
Little Mary Sunshine	Toby Haber
Henrietta	Jenna Johnson
Fleet Foot	Tom Littlefield
Chief Brown Bear	Jason Pelletier
Maud	Kelsey Reed
Slim	Brandon Sukeforth
Capt. Big Jim Warrington	Chris Thiele
Pete	Josh Twitchell
Cpl. Billy Jester	Josh Witham
Cora	Megan Wood

Crew
Producers	Kathy Davis and Linda Sturdivant
Director	Kenn Sawyer
Music director	Sara Sturdivant
Accompanist	Kevin Smith
Second piano	Jeremy Hill
Choreography	Alyssa Maurice
Stage manager	Norman Hutchins, Jr.
Costumes	Jean Waite, Carol Larkins, Cynthia Reedy, Diane Maddix, Judi Foster, Robin Twitchell, Cathy Raynor, Joline Betsch, Kathy Davis
Props	Corrine Wyman, Julia Brinkkotter
Lights	John Farr
Set construction and painting	Claire Sessions, Steve Sessions, Adam Bartow, Norman Hutchins Jr., Corrine Wyman, Zach Reed, Rob Betz, Jenna Johnson, Ed Baldridge
Scenic painter	Zilpha Chouinard
House manager	Elton Cole
Stage hand	Naomi White
Poster art	Jada Fitch
Poster, program, tickets	Richard McIntosh, Linda Sturdivant, Kathy Davis