Roars of Approval for The Full Monty

Jay Reiner of The Hollywood Reporter called the show "One of the most exhilarating musical comedy treats to be seen in years" He also noted, "David Yazbek's witty songs have an edgy, hip quality. Jerry Mitchell's dance numbers are fresh and alive with energy and high spirits. And McNally's book is a comic gem. The show has so many highlights and show stoppers, one loses count." In California’s Orange County Register, Paul Hodgins wrote, "The combined genius of O'Brien, Yazbek and McNally has created a work that makes us laugh, as often and as lustily as possible."

The Full Monty Story

The book, Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time, describes The Full Monty this way:

“Buffalo, New York; it’s the heart of the rust belt, and the economy sucks. Jerry, an unemployed, divorced father, is at the end of his proverbial rope with nowhere to turn. He meets his friend Dave outside a ladies-only strip club. With Dave’s wife inside watching the muscles, Jerry and Dave decide to sneak into the club and see what’s going on. The two men are transfixed at the spectacle, especially the amount of money tucked into the dancers’ G-strings.

“The day after, things go from bad to worse for Jerry when he’s served papers: his ex-wife is seeking sole custody of his son, Nathan. Something has to be done—and now. A neon light bulb goes off over Jerry’s head, and he comes up with the idea of getting his friends, a group of ‘real men,’ young and old, black and white, fat and buff, gay and straight, to join him in an evening of stripping.

“They won’t stop with G-strings either; the big draw is that the men will go the ‘full monty.’ There are many obstacles along the way, but in the end the men pull together, discover their inner he-man, and ‘let it go.’”

Will TriArts go the “full monty”?  You’ll just have to come and find out for yourself! Directed by Bob Durkin, Music Directed by Michael Berkeley

Theatre CT. magazine highlighted TriArts’ Youtheatre Summer Program in an article titled “Happy Campers”: “While other camps were offering three-week workshops, TriArts began experimenting with one and two-week workshops, in order to attract more kids with more choices…. Last summer 125 kids signed up, many in more than one workshop.  Enrollments in all workshops totaled 170… One of the new workshops for 2008 is Stage Combat and Martial Arts for Theatre, billed as an intro to stage combat, stunt work and mixed martial arts. (Executive Director Alice)  Bemand said “I am a firm believer in the power of the arts to make a difference in a child’s life.” You can check them out at www.theatrect.com. And you can make a difference in the life of your child by checking out our Youtheatre program at www.triarts.com. (There is no more space left in the Musical Theatre Performing Workshop of Anything Goes or Creative Dramatics. Limited availability for other workshops; please give us a call at 860-364-7469 X. 100.

An Invitation From TriArts’ Artistic Director, Michael Berkeley

Welcome to TriArts!  Whether you find yourself in a Buffalo steel mill, a medieval castle, a 1940’s stage door canteen, a world of divas, or on a battlefield in ancient Egypt, we guarantee you a visit you’ll remember forever. 2008 marks our 10th season at the Sharon Playhouse and TriArts’ 19th season of bringing you fresh looks at the best shows musical theatre has to offer.  With Broadway tickets and gas prices higher than ever, we’re proud to offer you top-notch professional theatre at affordable prices close to home.

I urge you to reserve your seats early, to share the season with friends and family, and perhaps to gift someone with a pair of tickets.  Season subscriptions are still available with over 30% off on standard seats. As long as you keep coming, there’s no limit to the worlds we can create. “In short there’s simply not a more congenial spot for happily-ever-aftering than here…” at TriArts Sharon Playhouse.

— Michael Berkeley, Artistic Director