The Fantasticks' opening at Post Playhouse

“The Fantasticks” set the record as the world’s longest running musical while being presented 17,162 times during a 42-year run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York beginning in 1960.

Known best for the hit “Try to Remember,” the show includes 15 tunes. Some of the others include “Much More,” “Never Say No,” “You Wonder How These Things Begin” and “There is a Curious Paradox.”

The story centers around Matt and Louisa. They are tricked into falling in love by their fathers, who pretend to feud. The fathers hire a swashbuckler to stage a phony abduction so Matt can be the hero and “save” the girl. The plot turns sour, but eventually there is a “Happy Ending,” as one of the songs illustrates.

Jeanna Schoope, a student at Drake University in Des Moines, plays the part of Louisa and Greg Schmerber, who attends Webster University in St. Louis, is cast as Matt. The friendly feuding fathers are played by Shane Strawbridge, a music major at Howard Payne University in Texas, and Seth Reid, who attends Illinois Wesleyan. The nararrator/abductor is portrayed by Mike Link, a drama major at Clarke University at Des Moines, Iowa.

“The Fantasticks” is being directed by Thomas Ossowski, head of the Music Theatre Department at Illinois Wesleyan the past seven years, but now a member of the faculty at Florida State. Dr. Roger MacNeill, who was director of vocal music at Chadron State College for 23 years prior to retiring in 2005, is the music director.

Mimi Norman of Chadron is providing the piano accompaniment.

Reservations may be made by calling 308-665-1976 in Crawford.

The Playhouse is supported by Chadron State College, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Arts Council.