ARROW ROCK, MO – The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre will take audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England with Oliver!. Performances take place June 18 through June 26, 2016.

Join young, orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family, and, most importantly, for love. When Oliver is recruited by the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving, but charismatic, Fagin. When Oliver is falsely accused of a theft he didn’t commit, he is rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman, to the dismay of Fagin’s violent sidekick, Bill Sykes. Caught in the middle is the warm-hearted Nancy, who is trapped under Bill’s thumb, but desperate to help Oliver. With spirited, timeless songs like “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Food, Glorious Food,” and “Where Is Love,” Oliver!is a musical classic.

Peter Reynolds returns to the Lyceum to direct Oliver!.The production stars Columbia’s own Spencer Rainwater as Oliver Twist, Lyceum favorite Don Richard as Fagin, Emily Afton as Nancy, Arthur Lazalde as Bill Sykes, and Cole Nowlin as The Artful Dodger.

Playing Oliver Twist, Spencer Rainwaterreturns to the Lyceum after having performed in A Christmas Carol, The Will Rogers Follies, The Music Man and The Wizard of Oz. Also returning to the Lyceum is Don Richard in the pivotal role of Fagin. Don was last seen during the 2015 Season as Thenardier in Les Misérables and Clem Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies. Broadway credits include the original casts of Jane Eyre, Urinetown and most recently, the revival of Side Show.For seven years, he toured America and Canada with Wicked, and also appeared in the national tour ofSunset Boulevard featuring Petula Clark.

Making her Lyceum debut in the role of Nancy, Emily Afton has performed on Broadway in Hairand on the National Tours of Hair, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and I Love a Piano. Regional credits include Waitress (A.R.T.), A Funny Thing…Forum (Goodspeed), and Les Miserables (Maine State). Also making his Lyceum debut is Arthur Lazalde as the menacing Bill Sykes. Lazalde’s Off-Broadway credits include The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (Mint Theatre Company), and As You Like It (Harold Clurman Theatre Lab).  Additional credits include the national tours of Man of La Mancha and Guys and Dolls,Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Metropolitan Opera), Lombardi (The Milwaukee Rep), Three Musketeers (Cape Fear Regional Theatre), Coriolanus (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), 1776 (Utah Shakespeare Festival), and Taming Of The Shrew, Measure For Measure, The Winter’s Tale, Merry Wives of Windsor (Texas Shakespeare Festival).

Playing the Artful Dodger, Cole Nowlin returns to the Lyceum after appearing as Gavroche in last season’s Les Misérables. Other Lyceum appearances include A Christmas Carol, The King and I, and The Wizard of Oz.

The cast also includes BOB BOHON (Mr. Bumble), Bailey Blaise (Old Sally/Charlotte/Ensemble),Dakota Mackey-McGee(Bet/Ensemble), Michael McKenzie (Mr. Brownlow), JUDI MANN(Mrs. Sowerberry/Mrs. Bedwin),Nollie Moore(Ensemble),Elliot Peterson(Noah Claypole/Ensemble), HALLIE RIEVES-RAINWATER (Old Sally/Ensemble), Yvonne Strumecki(Widow Corney), Joseph Tudor(Ensemble),Leslie Walker(Ensemble),Jeffrey C. Wolf(Mr. Sowerberry/Mr. Grimwig), Monica Woods(Ensemble) and Jeffrey Zicker(Ensemble).

Playing the children of the workhouse and Fagin’s gang are Keegan Adkins, Columbia, MO; Isabel Alvizo, Boonville, MO; Claire Glaude, Columbia, MO; Garrett Boyce, Hartsburg, MO; Lilian Buie, Marshall, MO; Simeon Buie, Marshall, MO; Cailyn Chaney, Ashland, MO; Sophia Christy, Hardeman, MO; Zeb Fulcher, Detroit, MI; Camdyn Garber, Tipton, MO; Lauren Kennon, Miami, MO; Amanda Kurukulasuriya, Columbia, MO; Wyatt Logan, Columbia, MO; Helen Miller, Columbia, MO; Mollie Miner, Sedalia, MO; Summer Olshefski, Manteno, IL; Abigail Rainwater, Columbia, MO; Cooper Rainwater, Columbia, MO; Parker Rainwater, Columbia, MO; Cole Walker, Columbia, MO; and Alexis Wong, Broken Arrow, OK.

Peter Reynolds, a Lyceum regular, directs the production. Mr. Reynolds most recently helmed the 2015 Lyceum productions of Les Misérablesand Rumors. Peter serves as the Artistic Director for Mauckingbird Theatre Company in Philadelphia where he is the Head of Musical Theater at Temple University. Peter has worked at many Philadelphia area theaters including Act II Playhouse, Media Theatre, Hedgerow Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Walnut Street Theatre, Curio Theatre, Cape May Stage and the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. Regionally: 6 years as Artistic Director of HealthWorks Theatre-Chicago, winner of the Award of Excellence in Prevention Education; Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, HotCity Theatre-St. Louis, Chicago Dramatists, Theatre Building Chicago, Maples Repertory; Villanova Theatre, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Drexel University, Arcadia University, and Southern Illinois University.

Returning as choreographer is SAM HAY whose previous Lyceum credits includeFunny Girl, Little Shop of Horrors and The King and I. Recently, Sam received a Zoni Award for Best Choreography for his work on Phoenix Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins, as well as a BroadwayWorld nomination for his choreography in Phoenix Theatre’s Chicago. His choreography has also been seen at Little Theatre on the Square, Webster Conservatory, and Grandstreet Theatre. Recently, Sam assisted Mark Stuart Dance Theatre on their Broadway Bound Original dance musical Standard Time. Now in his 13th season, Lyceum Resident Musical director JAMES WOODLAND will serve as Musical Director and Conductor for Oliver!. James is the retired head of the BFA Acting Program at Missouri State University, and, in previous years, he was head of the Musical Theatre programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Miami. Professionally, James has musical directed at North Shore Music Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Brian C. Smith’s Off-Broadway at 26th Street Theatre, Florida Shakespeare Theatre, Maryland Shakespeare Festival, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, and Stages St. Louis.

Scenic design is by Lyceum Theatre Resident Scenic Designer RYAN J. ZIRNGIBL. Mr. Zirngibl has designed many productions at the Lyceum including Les Miserables,A Christmas Carol, Around the World in 80 Days, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof. Returning to The Lyceum,Lighting Designer JONATHAN REED is currently the Production Manager for Yale Repertory Theatre and Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Drama Technical Design and Production program. Costume Designer MOLLY AKIN-MCKINLEY is an alum of Mizzou, and currently attends The University of Alabama where she is pursuing her MFA in Theatre: Design and Production. Resident Sound Designer Ryan Matthew Hall returns for his eighth season. At the Lyceum he has designed Les Miserables, The King and I, Spamalot, The Producers, To Kill A Mockingbird,Fiddler on the Roof, and many more.Tony Dearing returns for his 24th year as Production Stage Manager and Ivan Dario Cano serves as Assistant Stage Manager.

Single Tickets for Oliver! are priced at $36.00 for adults. Senior, student and children discounts are available. Special Group Rates are available as well. Performances are June 18 – June 26, 2016, Evening performances are at 8pm and matinees are at 2pm. For tickets: www.lyceumtheatre.org, (660) 837-3311 x1, or in person at the Lyceum’s box office at 114 High Street, Arrow Rock, MO 65320.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3), professional theatre located in the unique village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, a 19th century National Historic Landmark. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences in the heart of Missouri for 55 years producing a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies. Each year, this 408 seat theatre attracts professional talent from across the country to produce an eight show season (June-November). Performers, designers, directors, and technicians take residence in Arrow Rock for six months to bring its patrons Broadway caliber productions throughout the summer.

The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States working under an LOA to LORT (D) contract, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

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