OCT on the road

OCT’s Rattlebox On the Road production of “The Impresario” features an original book and libretto by OCT Executive and Artistic Director Greg Thompson. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman]

While “The Glass Menagerie” is on stage at the Ocala Civic Theatre from Nov. 7-24, a six-person cast will be performing in OCT’s Rattlebox On the Road production of “The Impresario” from Nov. 15-17 in the parish hall at the historic Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Ocala.

Featuring an original book and libretto by OCT Executive and Artistic Director Greg Thompson, the “light and comical tale of divas, delusions and players of every definition is set in a golden age of Ocala, at the Marion Opera House,” noted the news release.

In the hour-long one-act play, with music by Mozart, a weary theater manager must cope with a meddlesome assistant who fancies himself an opera singer, two jealous prima donnas and a star-struck financier with an eye for the ladies. According to provided materials, “The Impresario” features five OCT vocalists:

• Jason Bartosic, resident music director, played the Duke of Plaza-Toro in “The Gondoliers” at Idaho State University; Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family: A New Musical” at the Palace Theatre in Pocatello, Idaho; Horace Vandergelder in “Hello, Dolly!” with the Ashland Summer Repertory in Ohio; Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray” with the Idaho Summer Repertory; and Sparky in “Forever Plaid” at the Temple Theatre in Sanford, North Carolina. OCT roles include Mary Sunshine in “Chicago” and Tito Morelli in “Lend Me a Tenor.”

• Jamille Lea Brewster, resident voice teacher, made her Ocala debut with “Summer Songs” and appeared in the ensemble of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Roles elsewhere include Lucia in “Lucia di Lammermoor” and The Countess in “The Marriage of Figaro” at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In El Paso, Texas, she played Papagena in “The Magic Flute” with the El Paso Opera, Cinderella in “Into the Woods” at Sun City Musical Theatre, Mabel in “The Pirates of Penzance” with the Gilbert & Sullivan Company of El Paso, and Cosette in “Les Miserables” with UTEP Dinner Theater.

• Ashlyn Gibbs was last seen as Marie, the fairy godmother, in “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Previous OCT roles include Amalia in “She Loves Me,” the Wardrobe in “Beauty and the Beast” and ensemble in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” At the Art Center of Citrus County, Ashlyn played Nellie in “South Pacific” and Julie Jordan in “Carousel.” She sang Ida in “Die Fledermaus” at Western Plains Opera Company in Minot, North Dakota.

• Adam Pryor sings with the Brick City Cabaret Company of OCT and has appeared in “Heart and Music and Words, Music, Art: A Love Story.” He also has performed in OCT’s Starlight Studio and at “The Spitfire Grill: From Screen to Stage.” He is the chorus and orchestra director at West Port High School and director of music at Grace Episcopal Church.

• James Ray Taylor III has played numerous roles at OCT, including Joseph Pulitzer in “Newsies,” Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast,” Johnny Cash in “Million Dollar Quartet,” Aaron in “First Date” and Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family: A New Musical.” He sings with the Brick City Cabaret Company of OCT and has appeared in “Heart and Music and Words, Music, Art: A Love Story.”

The production’s pianist is Chris Goddard, interim organist at Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville and an adjunct professor of music at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. He has performed internationally and toured extensively across North America.

Grace Episcopal Church is located at 503 SE Broadway St., Ocala. There will be four performances of “The Impresario,” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16; and 2 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger. Buy tickets at ocalacivictheatre.com, at the box office or by calling (352) 236-2274.