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BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College’s Theatre and Music Programs will offer a delightful spring musical, The Apple Tree, by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Directed by Luke Hardt, Associate Professor of Theatre and Director of the Bethany College Theatre, with musical direction by William Ton, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Stampede Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, performances will be held on campus at Wailes Theatre in Steinman Hall on April 21, 22, and 23 at 8 p.m., and April 24 at 2 p.m.

The Apple Tree was originally produced in 1967 and revised in 2006, then starring Kristin Chenoweth. This family-friendly show is three one-act musicals under the one title.

The first act, based on The Diaries of Adam and Eve, by Mark Twain, is a humorous retelling of the world’s first couple. Adam (played by sophomore theatre major Max Hardt of Bethany) is at first resentful of Eve (played by sophomore Alyssa Smydo of Washington, Pennsylvania). After being tempted to greater knowledge by the Snake (played by sophomore chemistry major Gabrielle Berrios of Hamilton, New Jersey), the couple endure the fall from grace and find their mutual love.

Act II is based on the famous Frank L. Stockton short story The Lady or the Tiger? In a mythical kingdom, King Arik (played by business major Mike Lyons of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania) has devised a perfect system of justice – all trials are a simple choice between two doors. When the King’s daughter Barbara (played by freshman education major Ashley Taylor of Wakeman, Ohio) is caught in a tryst with a commoner (played by freshman bio-chemistry major Charles Crate of Moore, South Carolina), she is torn between revealing the secret of which door to choose to Sanjar.

In Act III, Passionella, playwright and cartoonist Jules Feiffer renders a unique twist of the Cinderella fairytale. In this version, Ella (played by junior communications and media arts major Taylor Ferko of Munhall, Pennsylvania) is a chimney sweep that is transformed by a televised Godmother (played by well-known local actor, Walt Warren of Martins Ferry, Ohio) into a glamorous movie star, Passionella. Her new fame is quickly found to be hollow until she meets Flip Charming (Max Hardt).

Tickets for the spring musical are $5. Reservations are encouraged by calling 304.829.7124.

About Bethany College

Bethany College is a small college of national distinction located on a picturesque and historic 1,300-acre campus in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the state’s oldest private college.