Plain and Fancy

Attended by patrons from many lands – its universal themes speak to every age and culture over 50 years after its Broadway debut
Book by Joseph Stein & Will Glickman, Music by Albert Hague, Lyrics by Arnold Horwitt
May 13 – November 1

Purchase Your Tickets Here
A Note from the Director
The Cast
Scenes and Musical Numbers
Technical and Artistic Staff
Cast Biographies
Theme Buffet Menu

Plain and Fancy was the first Broadway musical to open in 1955, shortly before Silk Stockings and Damn Yankees, and ran for 461 performances followed by over 350 performances in London. It was a hit by any standard. Now, nearly five decades later, Amish Acres has become the national home for this delightful musical, celebrating its 22nd season, after over 3,300 performances before 345,000 patrons. It is the heartwarming tale of a New York couple that experiences a rare glimpse of life and love on an Amish farm. Whether it is your first trip to Bird-in-Hand or a return visit, the community revealed through Plain and Fancy's music, laughter and joy, will touch people of all origins, backgrounds and faiths! The theatre's stage has been dedicated to Joseph Stein, co-author of the show, whose support and guidance has given the theatre much of its charm, character, and direction. Among its songs "Young and Foolish" became one of the year’s most popular songs, recorded by Dean Martin.

A Note from the Director

“The number 22 is significant in many systems of numerology, often called the Master Builder or Spiritual Master in Form. This 'master number' includes all the attributes of the number 2, twice over, and also those of the 4. People who are 22s are said to find themselves feeling as if they live in two worlds, one which is overwhelmed by the mundane, and the other by the fantastic.” Wikipedia.org

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Plain and Fancy a Happy 22nd Birthday! I find the wikipedia information on the number 22 to be very interesting. I love the portion about the people finding themselves feeling as if they live in two worlds! Our little tale of Culture Clashes & Love in Bird-in-Hand can definitely relate to that thought process. When I was 22 I had just made my first really huge leap on my own. It was scary, exhilirating and humbling all at the same time. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, 22 chapters of Revelation in the Bible, 22 paths between the sephiroth in the Kabbalah, Psalm 22 described by the New American Standard Bible as “A cry of anguish, a song of praise,” is the Psalm to which the dying Jesus was said to have made reference. It is the number of yards in a chain, the typical number of episodes in a television show’s season, the central number in the numerologically-based political platform of fringe U.S. Presidential candidate Love 22…and don’t get me started on Catch 22’s! I assure you I’m not trying to sound like a bad Jim Carrey film, but it is clear that this particular number is special.

Plain and Fancy’s 22nd Birthday will be special for us as well. Once again we have a dynamite cast composed almose entirely of new faces. It is great fun to be able to watch new personalities tackle these timeless roles every year. This is essential to keeping the show fresh. It continues to amaze me that after all these years I still have yet to encounter an audience member who didn’t absolutely love Plain and Fancy! I’ve once again tried to stay true (as much as possible) to the vision of the author, whom I feel I know well by now. I would like to thank all of you for continuing to support The Round Barn Theatre and hope you will enjoy yet another stroll through Bird-in-Hand.

~ Jeremy Littlejohn

“Hilda, how old are you?” – Dan King
“I’m 22.” – Hilda Miller
“22, that’s a wonderful age!” – Dan King

The Cast

Dan King ..................... Jeffrey Funaro

Ruth Winters ............... Amber Burgess

Katie Yoder ................. Karen Courliss

Papa Yoder.................. Jeremy William Hilgert

Isaac Miller.................. Joe Ford

Emma Miller..................Rachel Black

Hilda Miller....................Trisha Hart Ditsworth

Ezra Reber....................J.D. Simper

Peter Reber..................Michael Wolter

Scenes and Musical Numbers

Act I

Scene 1 A Shell Station Outside of Lancaster
You Can’t Miss It - Dan, Ruth, Company

Scene 2 the Road to Bird-in-Hand
It Wonders Me - Katie, Company

Scene 3 a Rest Stop outside of Bird in Hand

Scene 4 the Yoder Yard
Plenty of Pennsylvania - Emma, Company
Young and Foolish - Peter

Scene 5 the Yoder Parlor
Why Not Katie – Ezra, Isaac
Young and Foolish (Reprise) - Katie, Peter

Scene 6 the Little Room Under the Stairs
It’s A Helluva Way to Run a Love Affair - Ruth
This Is All Very New To Me – Hilda

Scene 7 the Yoder Yard
Plain We Live - Papa, Company

Scene 8 the Yoder Yard
The Shunning - Papa, Katie, Company

Act II

Scene 1 the River Farm
How Do You Raise A Barn? - Company
Follow Your Heart - Peter, Katie, Hilda

Scene 2 the Yoder Kitchen
City Mouse, Country Mouse – Emma, Isaac

Scene 3 the Yoder Parlor

Scene 4 the Little Room Under the Stairs
I’ll Show Him - Hilda

Scene 5 the Reber Yard
Young and Foolish (Reprise) - Katie

Scene 6 the Yoder Yard
Plenty of Pennsylvania (Reprise) - Company

Technical and Artistic Staff

Executive Producer: Richard Pletcher

Artistic Director: Jeremy Littlejohn

Music Director: Phil Rittner

Technical Director: Erin Ramer

Production Stage Manager: Regina Warren

Props Master / House Mgr.: Lance Mullins

Set Designer: Richard Pletcher

Costume Designer: Scott Saegesser

Lighting Designer: David Castaneda

Sound Designer: Paul Dodds

Master Carpenter: Alvin Yoder

Box Office Manager: Jennifer Scheffer

Marketing: The Village Group, LLC

Read the Technical and Artistic Staff Biographies

Cast Biographies

Rachel Black (Emma) is a native of Lexington, Kentucky and holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Vanderbilt University and The University of Kentucky. She was most recently seen as Martha Watson in Circa 21’s production of White Christmas. Some of her other favorite roles include Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Sally in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Thanks to supportive family and friends. To God Be the Glory!

Amber Burgess (Ruth) is thrilled to be returning to The Round Barn Theatre for the 2008 season. A current resident of Chicago, she is originally from Jamestown, ND and has been traveling the U.S. for the past five years working in regional theatre and cabaret. Most recently she has been seen in her cabaret at the Bailiwick Theatre and in Smoke on the Mountain with the Provision Theatre Company both in Chicago. Amber has been playing stringed instruments since the age of nine and has been working in the theatre since she was eight. Her largest career goal is to perform in all 50 states. Thus far she has performed in AK, OH, KY, IN, MI, ND, SD, MN, VA, and IL. She has sung solo in every major cathedral in France, and in her spare time enjoys running, writing, reading, knitting, and dreaming about polishing her future Tony Award for Best Actress. Visit http://www.amberburgess.com.

Karen Courliss (Katie) is happy to be making her Round Barn debut! Karen graduated from Bethel College in 2007 with a degree in Vocal Performance. Some of her favorite roles include Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls under the direction of Jeremy Littlejohn, Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan, Antonia in Man of La Mancha and several comedic operas at Bethel. She was also seen at Elkhart Civic Theatre as Liesl in The Sound of Music. Karen currently resides in Mishawaka with her amazing husband Tim.

“Thank you Mom, Dad, Kevin, Kelli and Tim for always believing in me!”

Trisha Hart Ditsworth (Hilda) grew up in Mesa, Arizona but now lives in New York City. Cruise Ship contracts, an Asian Tour and Regional Theatre have kept her busy for the past few years. Trisha feels incredibly lucky to be doing what she loves. Special thanks to Mom and Dad!

Joe Ford (Isaac) Plain and Fancy marks Joe's 21st production at the RBT. The list begins with Fiddler on the Roof in 1996, and doesn't include his favorite show here to-date, last fall's staged reading of Floyd Collins (Floyd). His top five productions here in the last 12 years include Joseph...Dreamcoat (Joseph, 2002), 1776 (Edward Rutledge, 1998), West Side Story (Bernardo, 2002), The Secret Garden (Dr. Neville Craven, 2003) and The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow, 2003). Recent favorites back home in Chicago are the world-premiere musical Madame X, and the Jeff Award-nominated American Premiere of Jerry Springer - The Opera.

Jeffrey Funaro (Dan) has performed at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (NY), Mac-Haydn Theatre (NY) and Carousel Music Theatre (ME). Favorite shows include The Music Man (Quartet), White Christmas (Ezekiel Foster), Violet (Preacher), and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. He has also Music Directed Seussical and Gilligan’s Island the Musical. Jeff has a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School, CAP21 Program, and an MA in Music Composition from CUNY Queens College.

Jeremy William Hilgert (Papa) hails from Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. Jeremy comes fresh from a revival of his critically acclaimed performance as Mr. Bullard in A Midnight Cry at the Growing Stage Theater in Netcong, New Jersey. Some of Jeremy's favorite roles include Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense A-men, Horton in Seussical, and Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad. Jeremy studied voice and opera at Temple University and received a B.A. in Political Science from Centenary College. "A very special thank you to my amazing family and friends!" Check Jeremy out on the web at www.jeremywilliamhilgert.com.

J.D. Simper (Ezra) is very excited to be in his first full season with the company. Recent Round Barn productions include Fred in A Christmas Carol, a member of the Cowboy Quartet in The Will Rogers Follies and Bee Doyle in Floyd Collins. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice, Music and Theatre from Bethel College. He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support. Love you all.

Michael Wolter (Peter) is very excited to make his debut at the Round Barn! Michael is the proudest of natives of Red Wing, Minnesota, and a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Regional credits include Motel in Fiddler on the Roof and Protean/Hero U.S. in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Arizona Broadway Theatre) and Don Pedro in Mananas de Abril y Mayo (National Theatre for Arts and Education). In NYC Michael appeared as Patroclus in Troilus and Cressida (SoHo Rep) and Charles Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (Stella Adler Studio). Michael thanks The Round Barn and Amish Acres for this great opportunity and dedicates his performance to his Mom, Dad, Sarah, Heidi and Christopher.