MTE Presents Carnival!

The Midlakes Theatre Experience presents the Magical Muscial Comedy, Carnival!. Performances are March 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2008, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. Performances are held in the Midlakes High School auditorium. The high school is located at 1554 Route 488, Clifton Springs, NY, just off Route 96 east of Clifton Springs.

Ticket information

Seating is general admission. Presale ticket prices are $6 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets at the door are an additional $1. Tickets are available at the Midlakes High School Office, Whitson Pharmacy (Phelps), Peirce's Gift Shop (Clifton Springs), Area Records (Geneva), and Renaissance-The Goodie II Shoppe (Canandaigua).

Cast (in order of appearance)

Production Staff

The production is directed and choreographed by Keith E. Childs, with music direction by Tom Ventafreddo. Mr. Theodore Mullen and Mr. Charlie King serve as technical directors. Mrs. Sue Gray is in charge of the costume design and construction, with Mr. Ross Gifford designing the lights. Mrs. Mary Quinn is designing the show’s graphics, as well as constructing the show’s puppets. Mr. Mark VanHorne is the business manager. Student directors are Bethany Cheney and Ariel Pirwitz.

About the show

Carnival! is set on the outskirts of a small town in Southern Europe. Although it occasionally imagines itself to be the Grand Imperial Circus of Paris, this circus is, in reality, shabby with few attractions. Lili, a young orphan, comes to visit, looking for a friend of her father. For her, the circus is a source of wonder and magic. When she encounters the puppets of Paul Berthalet she treats them as friends and they respond in kind. Lili is given a job with the circus in which she talks to the puppets, all of whom curiously and humorously exhibit character traits also possessed by members of the carnival. In due course, helped by the puppets, Lili realizes true love.

Carnival! played for 719 performances on Broadway at the Imperial and Winter Garden Theatres and starred Anna Maria Alberghetti. The Broadway production won two Tony Awards in the 1961-62 season (Actress and Scenic Designer), The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, and The Outer Circle Critics Award for Creative Contributions to the Season.

Recent Shows

2007-08 Season
The Hollow
MTE, November 2007
Carnival!
MTE, March 2008

2006-07 Season
Proposals
MTE, November 2006
Mame
MTE, March 2007
My Fair Lady
PCSCT, July 2007

Who We Are

Midlakes High School Theatre Experience (Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District, New York) involves students in all aspects of the theatrical production, not just acting. The organization has never shied away from challenges, believing that when teenagers are given a high standard, they will strive to reach it.

Phelps-Clifton Springs Community Theatre is a community organization dedicated to the production of quality theatre. It is also the unofficial booster club of MTE, lending a hand during the builds and runs of the high school shows.

Awards

Midlakes Theatre Experience and Phelps-Clifton Springs Community Theatre are honored to be recipients of several theatre awards from the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and the Theatre Association of New York State. More...

Carnival photo
Rehearsals are underway for the spring musical production of Carnival!
Carnival photo
Tom Ventafreddo leads a vocal rehearsal with the ensemble.
Carnival photo
Lili (Rebekah Dressner) meets one of the puppets from the Grand Imperial Circus of Paris.