‘Ruthless!’ Opens In Sherman June 16

SHERMAN — Mystery, comedy and murder most foul will command the Sherman Playhouse stage when the second show of The Sherman Players’ 2000 season opens June 16 for a four-weekend run.

Brian Feinberg of Danbury is directing the cast of eight with the help of musical director Joanne Spring of Danbury and choreographer Doreen Rafferty of Brookfield. Bruce Thomson of Carmel, N.Y., is the producer.

Ruthless!, an off-Broadway hit musical in the 1990s, is a satire that spoofs plays and films such as The Bad Seed and Gypsy. The plot concerns the seemingly sweet 8-year-old Tina Denmark, who will stop at nothing, including murder, to play the leading role of Pippi Longstocking in the school play.

Brittaney Talbot of New Milford is playing Tina Denmark, and Lori Anne Tyson is cast in the major role of Judy Denmark, Tina’s mother, a sweet, naïve suburban homemaker who appears to have little talent as an actor. Ms Tyson also plays Ginger DelMarco, Judy’s alter ego, a vicious Broadway musical star.

Lori Metcalf is the aging Broadway diva trying to make a comeback as Tina’s manager. Stacy-Lee Erickson doubles as Louise, Tina’s bratty nemesis who is starring in the school play, and Emily Block, a reporter with information on Ginger DelMarco’s former life.

Kathleen Tasman is Eve, the assistant to Ginger DelMarco who also wants to be a Broadway star and who is harboring a dark secret. Elie Finkelstein is Lita Encore, a celebrated theater critic and Judy’s adoptive mother, and Rachel Barton plays Miss Thorn, Tina’s third-grade teacher, a former actor and the author of the school play, Pippi in Tahiti.

Elena McEneaney will be heard, but not seen, as a radio vocalist.

Ruthless! opens June 16 and runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 pm through July 8. There will be one matinee on Sunday, June 25, at 3 pm, at Sherman Playhouse, Routes 37 and 39 behind Sherman Firehouse.

Ticket prices are $16; $14 for students and seniors. For reservations call the box office at 860/354-3622.