film adaptation : low brow humor : professional
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the rollicking Marx Brothers musical comedy
Animal CrackersBook by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Music and Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby Directed by Ron Schneider Musical Directed by Robin Jensen Scenic design by Rob Wolin Lighting Design by Eric Craft Costume Design is by Constance Blackman Lee "Disorder is the order of the evening, and lowbrow humor is its highest calling," wrote The Washington Post about the recent revival of the 1928 comic musical. A wacky romp for those in the know and a madcap initiation for those unfamiliar with the classic antics of Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx, Animal Crackers takes us into Mrs. Rittenhouse's oh-so-dignified weekend party as it is upended by Captain Spaulding and other dubious guests. Lunacy ensues, dignities are compromised, and romance reigns in what The Washington Tribune called "a nonstop riot - a profusion of puns, gags, and hysteria with only an occasional pause (or maybe, gasp) for breath." Animal Crackers was the Marx Brothers' second Broadway hit and their final appearance on the Broadway stage. Successful in vaudeville, on Broadway and in the movies, the brothers are widely considered to be among the greatest and influential comedians of the 20th century. CastJeffrey Todd Parrott* as Groucho, Spaulding, and the King of France
Adam Scarf as Harpo, the Professor, Musketeer, and Guest B Chris Metz* as Chico, Emanuel Ravelli, Musketeer, and Guest A Adam Reilly as Zeppo, John Parker, Horatio Jamison, Musketeer, and Butler.Also appearing: Brian Chambers as Hives, Roscoe W. Chandler, and Majordomo Margaret Cross as Grace Carpenter, Mary Stewart, and Girl A Matt Horohoe* as Wally Winston, M. Doucet, and Sgt. Hennessey Heather Kopp* as Arabella Rittenhouse, Mrs. Whitehead, and Madame DuBarry Karel K. Wright* as Mrs. Rittenhouse and the Queen of France. MusiciansRobin Jensen Piano
Timothy D. Turner Keyboard Adam Lang Percussion Presented in Special Arrangements with
Production Company Information
Mad Cow Theatre is a 501(c)(3) arts organization funded by the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs; United Arts of Central Florida; the Downtown Development Board; the Florida Theatrical Association; Orange County government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs program, and members of the Central Florida community like you.
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Performance InformationOpening night is Friday June 2 at 7:30 p.m. This performance will be followed by Mad Cow's traditional champagne reception in the lobby. Preview performances are May 31 and June 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Monday Nights: Each Harriett production includes two discounted Monday night performances. Monday night performances for Animal Crackers will be held on June 12 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. Second Saturdays: Join us on the second Saturday of each production for a special matinee. The Saturday matinee for Animal Crackers will be held on June 10 at 2:30 pm. Talkbacks take place after each Thursday and Sunday performance. Talkbacks are free to audience members, and the public may attend at no extra cost. Regular tickets start at $33. Preview tickets are $15. Discount Monday night performances start at $18. Tickets are available online at madcowtheatre.com or by calling the Mad Cow Theatre box office at 407-297-8788 ext. 1. Other discounts are available for students and active military. More information is available online on our Savings Programs page. All tickets are subject to a $2 facility fee. Students receive a $7 discount with ID. Active military receive a $10 discount with ID. Seniors 65+ receive a $3 discount. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Student groups of 10 or more are eligible for a 50% discount on full-price tickets. Tickets may be purchased by calling Mad Cow Theatre's box office at 407-297-8788 ext. 1 by visiting madcowtheatre.com. Parking Information is available here. Our theatre is located on the second floor at 54 West Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801. Cast Biographies
BRIAN CHAMBERS (Hives/Roscoe W. Chandler/Majordomo) is happy to be back at Mad Cow for his third performance in the Harriett, where he appeared in Sunday in the Park with George and The Philadelphia Story. He also participated in the Science Play Festival in Arcadia and An Enemy of the People. For his role as Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street at the Garden Theatre, Brian was voted best actor in a play (professional) on BroadwayWorld.com.
MARGARET CROSS (Grace Carpenter/Mary Stewart/Girl A), an artist in the 2014 Orlando Cabaret Festival, has created revues for Cocoa Village Playhouse and sung with the jazz collective Mona’s Hot Four. Some favorite roles: Agnes in Guys & Dolls (Mad Cow/Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra); and Hildy in On The Town, Sharon in Finian’s Rainbow, and Kate in Titanic (Cocoa Village Playhouse). B.A. in music, Florida State; director of music at Palmdale Presbyterian Church in Melbourne; proud mother of Dinah Lee.
MATT HOROHOE* (Wally Winston/M. Doucet/Sgt. Hennessey) has performed in Mad Cow's productions of Sunday in the Park With George (George), Death of a Salesman (Biff), and Clybourne Park (Karl/Steve). Trained at Montclair State University, Matt is a member of Actors' Equity. He taught at Colonial High School for the last three years and is thankful to his wonderful children.
HEATHER KOPP* (Arabella Rittenhouse/Mrs. Whitehead/Madame DuBarry) performed in the recent Cabaret Festival in It Was a Very Good Year 1970/1980. Other local credits: It Was a Very Good Yule at the Movies, The Secret Garden, The Who’s Tommy and Hair (all at Mad Cow) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Isn’t It Romantic, Forbidden Broadway, Sisters of Swing and the upcoming Some Enchanted Evening (Winter Park Playhouse). She has performed in regional theatre in Maine and Missouri and Viking Ocean Cruises.
CHRIS METZ* (Chico/Emanuel Ravelli/Musketeer/Guest A) is making his debut at Mad Cow Theatre. Recent credits include Peter and the Starcatcher and Peter Pan (freeFall Theatre); The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pluto, and The Taming of the Shrew (Orlando Shakespeare Theater); Llama Llama (Orlando Repertory Theatre); and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. TV: Impractical Jokers. Chris received his BFA in acting from the University of Central Florida. For my father.
JEFFREY TODD PARROTT* (Groucho/Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding/King of France) is thrilled to be back with the herd. Mad Cow credits include The Big Meal and The History Boys. Other regional credits: South Pacific and Both Your Houses (Asolo Repertory Theatre); The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby: Parts 1 and 2, The Taming of the Shrew, and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Orlando Shakespeare Theater); and Violet (Theatre Raleigh). BFA in music theatre, Elon University. Thanks to Mitzi and Ron, Mark, the Godfreys, his family, and his wife Lisa.
ADAM REILLY (Zeppo/John Parker/Horatio Jamison/Musketeer/Butler) Thankful to be grazing in green pastures, Adam is returning to Mad Cow after having been in Three Sisters, Long Day's Journey into Night, Clybourne Park, Photograph 51, and The History Boys. He is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, which is across campus from the birthplace of the technology that operates the driverless car. He had no part in its making but hopes not to drive one in the future.
ADAM SCHARF (Harpo/The Professor/Musketeer/Guest B) teaches improvisation at Sak Comedy Lab and performs at Sak as a member of its main ensemble and in his two-man Improv show, Scharf & Waldon. He has appeared in television commercials and MTV’s The Inbetweeners. Adam would like to dedicate his performance to his father Frank Scharf, who spent hundreds of hours watching the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges with Adam during his childhood.
KAREL K. WRIGHT* (Mrs. Rittenhouse/Queen of France) is delighted to be back in the pasture. Previous roles at Mad Cow include Ben Franklin in 1776, Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Ruth Steiner In Collected Stories, Mrs. Graves in Enchanted April, Mrs. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer, and Lavinia in The Heiress. Karel is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and received her BFA from the University of Minnesota and an MFA from the University of Illinois. www.karelkwright.com
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