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Broadway hit 'Oliver!' coming to Tarpon

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The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center summer musical production, Oliver!, opens July 10 and runs weekends through July 26.

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BY MARK SCHANTZ

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: July 4, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - The city's Cultural Services Department is heating up the summer even more by showcasing one of Broadway and London's hottest musical hits of all time, "Oliver!"

The musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic "Oliver Twist" will be presented at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center later this month

"Oliver!" ran on stage for 2,618 shows in London and 774 performances on Broadway.

Gen Haley, city cultural services spokeswoman, said the "Oliver!" score by Lionel Bart is considered one of the best ever written, with timeless songs such as "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," and "Where is Love?" Bart also penned the musical's book and lyrics.

The story follows the adventures of young orphan Oliver Twist, Mr. Fagin and the Artful Dodger.

Tarpon Springs' own Carter Dvornik plays the spunky Twist with a genuine flair, said Haley.

Another local actor, Rick Bronson, "brings tremendous personality" to the role of Fagin, who he teaches his young brood the art of picking pockets, Haley said.

Christina Capehart "delivers a very strong performance" as Nancy, the bar singing lady of ill repute who becomes Oliver's only true friend in London's shady underworld, Haley said. Another young talent, Sara Sharfstein, plays "a charismatic Artful Dodger," Haley explained.

The original Broadway Artful Dodger was a young English actor named Davy Jones, who later was a member of made-for-TV rock band The Monkees.

Phil Collins, a former member of the rock group Genesis, also portrayed the Artful Dodger on stage as a youth.

The lowdown

The performances of "Oliver!"during its run at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, inside City Hall, at 324 E. Pine St., will be presented at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays on July 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26.

For more information call 727-942-5605 or visit www.tarponarts.org>.

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