Hartt to Present Musical Comedy, On the Twentieth Century

Zach Bencal as Oscar Jaffe and Katie Sarno as Lily Garland rehearse for "On the Twentieth Century."

It’s a delightful ride on the Twentieth Century Limited luxury liner, as a down-and-out Broadway producer pulls out all the stops to convince his former muse and lover, now a successful film actress, to return to Broadway in his new play. Her temperament, not to mention a jealous new lover and a religious fanatic along for the ride, make for lunacy on the rails.

Don’t miss this delectable musical comedy, On the Twentieth Century, Thursday, March 14,  through Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m., in Millard Auditorium.

University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff may receive one free ticket by presenting current University ID at the Lincoln Theater Box Office. Admission for the general public is $20, with discounts for students, seniors, and groups. Please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt for tickets and information.

Directed by Robert Davis, with music direction by Michael Morris and choreography by Darlene Zoller, On the Twentieth Century features music by Cy Coleman, and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who later paired with Coleman on The Will Rogers Follies. Coleman is best known for his work (with Dorothy Fields) on the beloved musical Sweet Charity (“If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Big Spender,” and “I’m a Brass Band”). Comden and Green found success in both stage (Wonderful Town, Bells are Ringing, Applause) and screen (Singin’ in the Rain).

Based on the plays by Ben Hecht, Charles McArthur, and Bruce Milholland, the Broadway production was directed by Harold Prince, and was produced for the Broadway Stage by Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, James Cresson, and Martin Richards. On the Twentieth Century is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Hartt’s cast is lead by Zach Bencal as Oscar Jaffe; Katie Sarno as Lily Garland; Lars Lee as Bruce Granit; Alexandra Bartley as Letitia Peabody Primrose; Alex Domini as Oliver Webb; Kristina Wilson as Imdelda Thornton; Jason Long as Owen O’Malley; Courtney Rada as Agnes/Ensemble; Steven Gant as Conductor/Ensemble; Zoe Stephens-North as Emily/Ensemble; Julian Sarria as Max Jacobs/Ensemble; Jenny Brescia as Dr. Johnson/Ensemble; and James Booth as Grover Lockwood/Ensemble.

Porters/Ensemble are portrayed by Jimmy Bain, Justin Henry, Sarah Kozlowski, and Riza Takahashi. Other members of the ensemble are Jonny Cortes, Andrew Martin, Mischa Storer, Allison Canning, Emily Cohn, Sarah Kawalek, Erin Kelly, Chloe Kounadis, Katie Moskowitz, Nina Paganucci, Cori Stolbun, Nicole Teebagy, Sofie Wasserman-Smith, Taylor Sumner, Kate Suppes, and Jenna Zito.