The Musical Tom Sawyer

By: Jeff DeWitt

Media Contact

Photo Courtesy of:

Elizabeth Ekema-Nardella

Photo Description:

Huck Finn (Dante Marenco), Tom Sawyer (Micah Derry), and Becky Thatcher (Ashley Mendoza) fish along the Mississippi.

LifeHouse Theater continues its 24th season by taking a romp through America’s yesteryears with the return of the popular musical “Tom Sawyer.”  This toe-tapping LifeHouse original adaptation of the classic Mark Twain story follows Tom and Huck Finn through their misadventures on the Mississippi. The 1899 novel by Twain, based partly on himself and his own American boyhood, captures the pranks, pitfalls, and pure joys of growing up during our country’s yesteryears.  Audiences will join with Tom as he endures the tart tongue of his loving Aunt Polly, experiences the joy of his crush on Becky Thatcher, and encounters the consequences of folly with his friend Huckleberry Finn.  Along the way, he’ll be accosted by pirates, the notorious Injun Joe and a mysterious stranger. Performances begin Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 7:30 PM and will continue on weekends through August 22, 2018.  Performances are Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:15 PM (except opening weekend) and 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:15 PM.  In addition to the weekend performances, there will be a special weekday performance on Thursday, June 28 at 7:30 PM.  The performances on Friday, June 8 will also feature an interpreted presentation for the deaf. Regular advance ticket prices for each production are $19 or $25 for adults and $9 or $12 for children ages 3-11 (no children under 3 are admitted). Checks can also be mailed to LifeHouse, provided reservations are made far enough in advance.  Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office, which is open Fridays from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and one hour prior to performance times on the weekends.  Tickets are $2 more the day of the performance. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more.  Guests are encouraged to reserve seats early as performances do sell out. Written by Kelly Jane Schwartzkopf with additional music and lyrics by Melissa and Bethany Schwartzkopf, Nolan Livesay and Wayne R. Scott, this original musical rendition of “Tom Sawyer” is directed by J. Wiley with choreography by Mackenzie Marts and musical direction by Jeremy Yeo.  Costumes are by Cristy Wiley. “Tom Sawyer” features Micah Derry in the title role.  The colorful cast of characters also includes Dante Marenco as Tom’s cohort Huck Finn, Daryon Robinson as Jim, Paul Zanone as the villainous Injun Joe, Michael Daehne as the befuddled Muff Potter, Ashley Mendoza as Tom’s crush Becky Thatcher, and Sarah Pearce as Aunt Polly.  Also featured are Lilly Spencer as Mary, Christian Groza as Sidney, Scott Dieninger as Judge Thatcher, Liam Blanck as Ben Rodgers, Zachary Michel as Jeff Thatcher, Karisa Harriman as Widow Douglas, Leilani Baldwin as Amy Lawrence, and Tom Williams as Mark Twain. LifeHouse Theater’s 24th season concludes with the world-premiere musical “The Disciples of Jesus” (September 1 - 30, 2018).