The Bonstelle Theatre, on the campus of Wayne State University, will open A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim with book by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove at 8 p.m. on April 23.
The plot revolves around Pseudolus, a Roman slave who will do almost anything to gain his freedom. Pseudolus is given the opportunity to win his freedom from his master's son, Hero, if he can arrange a marriage between Hero and a beautiful courtesan, Philia, with whom he has fallen in love. But, the maiden is promised to another for marriage, thus the musical comedy confusion begins.

Director Greg Trzaskoma (Warren) continues his direction at WSU's Bonstelle Theatre after last year's A Christmas Carol and the Hilberry's recent productions of The Comedy of Errors and The Learned Ladies.

Cast members include: Danielle Anne Cochrane (Garden City) as a Protean, Joe Colosi (Warren) as Erronius, Christopher Dybash (Sterling Heights) as Hero, Meagan Evanoff (Warren) as Vibrata, Sarah Garza (St. Clair Shores) as Domina, Beth Ann Gibaud (Garden City) as a Protean, Angela Kane (Wyandotte) as Gymnasia, Sarah Korson (Pleasant Ridge) as Philia, Joe Porter (Cheboygan) as a Protean, William Robb (St. Clair Shores) as Senex, Frank Sawa (Warren) as Pseudolus, Jennifer Sessions (Fraser) as Panacea, Matios Simonian (Dearborn) as Hysterium, Andrea Smith (Livonia) as Tintinabula, Janeé Smith (Detroit) as a Gemini, Brian Thibault (Ferndale) as Miles Gloriosus, Mark Trotter (Birmingham) as Marcus Lycus, and Toni Walker (Detroit) as a Gemini. A Funny Thing... also features scenic design by Fred Florkowski (Redford), costume design by Ricky Greenwell (Melvindale), lighting design by Jeremy McDaniel (Zachary, LA), and sound design by Josh Fisher (Owatonna, MN).

originally presented at the Alvin Theatre on May 8, 1962 in New York City. Other works by Sondheim include: Passion (1994), Assassins (1991), Into The Woods (1987), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), SweeneyA Funny Thing... is American songwriter, Stephen Sondheim's first play for which he provided both music and lyrics. It was Todd (1979), Pacific Overtures (1976), The Frogs (1974), A Little Night Music (1973), Follies (1971, revised in London, 1987), Company (1970), Anyone Can Whistle (1964). He also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965), and additional lyrics for Candide (1973). Side by Side by Sondheim (1976), Marry Me A Little (1981), You're Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983), and Putting It Together (1992) are anthologies of his work as composer and lyricist. For films, he composed the scores of Stavisky (1974) and Reds (1981), and songs for Dick Tracy, for which he won an Academy Award in 1990. He won Tony Awards for Best Score for a Musical for Passion, Into The Woods, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Follies, and Company. Sunday in the Park with George received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum plays at the Bonstelle Theatre located 3424 Woodward Avenue on the corner of Eliot. Performance times are April 23, 24, 30 & May 1 at 8 p.m.; April 25 & May 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14. $11 discounted tickets are available for students, seniors, Wayne State University faculty and staff, and members of the Wayne State University Alumni Association. For more information and tickets please call Wayne State University's theatre box office, open Tuesday through Saturday from 12-6 p.m., at (313) 577-2960.

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