Great Escape Stage Company (GESC) in Marshall, Michigan, continues its 2014 season with the scamming, scheming, double-crossing hit Broadway musical, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS for ten performances over three weekends, from May 30 through June 14.

Based on the popular 1988 MGM Frank Oz-directed film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS centers on two con men living on the French Riviera - the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money; and a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, who, more humbly, swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health.  After a chance meeting, they discover that their small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. So they make a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress wins the territory and the other must leave town. What follows are a series of schemes, masquerades, and double-crosses in which nothing is exactly what it seems.

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS opened on Broadway in March 2005 to rave reviews.  Clive Barnes (New York Post) raved, "A knockout punch to Broadway's funnybone! One of the liveliest, funniest, best-performed musicals in years.  Super-smart and superior in every way."  And Terry Teachout (The Wall Street Journal) proclaimed, "I know funny when I see it, and this show is a perfect hoot!  A big hit." DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS was awarded 11 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The show features a book by Jeffrey Lane and music and lyrics by David Yazbek (The Full Monty).

Tickets for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS go on sale May 12th and are priced at $15.  (Students under 18 are only $12.) Performances are Thursday thru Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM – from May 30 through June 14.  For tickets and information call (269) 781-2700 or visit www.GreatEscapeStageCompany.com.

Great Escape is a small professional not-for-profit theatre located at 155 West Michigan Avenue (SE corner of Eagle St) in Historic Downtown Marshall.

Please be aware, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS contains adult humor.

9/12-22 - Reservations are now being accepted for INTO THE WOODS, the delightful musical by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine, opening this Thursday at Great Escape Stage Company in Marshall.
 
A mash-up of familiar Fairy Tale characters and some completely new characters, the first act of the show focuses on the characters going into the woods to "get their wish"; while the second act reveals what happens when that wish actually DOES come true!
 
Featuring a cast of 18, the rollicking and tuneful musical is appropriate for the entire family (although kids under the age of 10 might find it a little intense and scary!)
September 12-22:
Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays - 8:00 pm
Sundays 3:00 pm 
 
Reservations can be made by calling the box office at any time to leave a message: 269-781-2700.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students (under 18).  Payment can be made at the door when arriving to pick-up the tickets - cash or check (no credit cards.)
 
Doors open for seating 30 minutes prior to curtain time.

Theatre Address:
155 W. Michigan Ave
(SE corner of Eagle Street and Michigan)
Marshall, MI 49068
Box Office: 269-781-2700

For additional information:
Randy Lake 269.589.5127

Thur-Sat at 8 pm
Sun 3pm
all tickets $15
269-781- 2700 - Call at any time to leave a message and staff will confirm the reservation as soon as possible.
 155 W. Michigan Ave, Marshall MI 49068
www.greatescapestagecompany.com

Coming off last month's sold-out production of ON GOLDEN POND, Great Escape Stage Company in Marshall is now offering the hilariously adult musical comedy COMPANY, written by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth.  Focusing on both comical and serious themes of love and marriage, the plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Unlike most book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated plot, COMPANY is a concept musical composed of short comical vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 43rd birthday.  The original 1970 Broadway production was nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards and won six.
 
COMPANY was among the first musicals to deal with adult themes and relationships - and is considered both ground-breaking and pivotal in Sondheim's long musical career.   As the composer/lyricist puts it, "Broadway theater has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with upper-middle-class problems. These people really want to escape that world when they go to the theatre, and then here we are with COMPANY bringing it right back in their faces."
 
The GESC production is being directed & choreographed by Amity Reading - an Associate Professor of English at Albion College recently featured as Titania in the MCP production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - and who last appeared on the GESC stage as all the Femme Fatales in "The 39 Steps." 
 
Truly an ensemble show, the COMPANY cast includes a veritable Who's Who of local stage favorites and some of the area's strongest voices:  Tim Lake, Deb Culver, Alan Elliot, Kerry Wilson, Sue Kernish, Chris Blackford, Donna Daines, Paul Rauth, Don Bolthouse, Hope Tolliver, Kyra Hill, Julianna Gilger and Madelyn Schnoor.  Costumes are by Carole Bolthouse and Technical Direction will be handled by Randy Lake.
 
Performances begin Thursday, June 20, and continue for eight performances thru Sunday, June 30.  Tickets for all performances are $15 and a complete performance schedule can be found at www.GreatEscapeStageCompany.com or by calling the GESC Box Office at 269-781-2700 to make reservations (which are strongly suggested.)  
 
Great Escape Stage Company is a small professional not-for-profit theatre located at 155 West Michigan Avenue (S.E. Corner of Eagle) in Historic Downtown Marshall.

2/28 - 3/2 -  Not THAT far away (Marshall, MI, about 50 minutes' drive) you can see "The 39 Steps"  - (in case you just can't WAIT for Jane Falion's ALSO sure-to-be-stellar production of that show opening here in Lansing at Riverwalk on March 14.)
"The 39 Steps" continues its run this weekend, closing on Sunday 3/3.  The reviewer for the Battle Creek Enquirer loved the production and folks who saw it the first weekend had a great time.  Plenty of tickets still available for the remaining 4 performances - Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 3:00 PM.  Please call to reserve tiks (so we know you're coming!).... 269-781-2700.

Randy Lake
Artistic Director
Great Escape Stage Company
155 West Michigan Avenue
Marshall, MI 49068
http://greatescapestagecompany.com/