Notes from the Executive Director:
I am immensely proud to present the thrilling stage musical, Oliver! at Mountain Page Theater. Based upon the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, this timeless classic achieved a record-breaking run on the London Stage and Broadway, received a 1963 Tony for Best Original Score, and its 1968 film adaptation won six Academy Awards for Best Picture. It has since become one of the most popular school musicals influencing an interest in classic literature education for children worldwide.
Charles Dickens mastery of creating unforgettable characters that transcend time makes his stories as relevant today as during the Victorian period in which he lived. It has been my dream to bring this play to our theater and that dream has come true due to the incredible dedication of our production team, headed by Ashley Sandahl, Zachary Eden, and Richard Rutherford, and the talented cast assembled for this remarkable presentation.
Many of the children of our Young Acting Krew (YAK) have become seasoned veterans who have rehearsed tirelessly for this production. Others are performing for the first time. Each has grown in skill, determination, socialization, and personal development. Fostering the experiences and accomplishments of the youth of our community is our primary goal and reason for the existence of this theater.
I would also like to acknowledge our wonderful parent volunteers, and our exceptional Board of Directors, all of whom work tirelessly to create a safe and magical environment, including constructing sets, creating props, and maintaining the building and landscape. Special thanks to our Patron of the Arts, Susan Johnson, our most steadfast Patron of the Arts, the Saluda Community Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation, and Hope Pace Flower and Faith Mitchell, for providing the land their dear mother, the late Hilda Pace, allows us to use for the benefit of the children. Her spirit lives on in all we present, now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Corinne F. Gerwe
