Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Presents The Secret Garden July 3 to 16

Story by Kristen Street

Jessica Presnell and Calvin Keener star as Mary and Colin in the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre production of The Secret Garden.

Lees-McRae’s annual Summer Theatre program is marking its 25th year of performances this season. The second of three beloved Broadway musicals coming to Lees-McRae this summer is The Secret Garden.

The show will run Friday, July 3, Monday, July 6, Monday, July 13, Wednesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m., and also Sunday, July 5, and Wednesday, July 15, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for the show are $24 for adults and $13 for students and children. Matinee tickets are $19 for adults and $9 for students and children. All shows will take place at the Hayes Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus.

The Secret Garden is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, with music by Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Marsha Norman. It is directed and choreographed by Janet Speer with musical direction by Joshua Gersen. It is the story of an 11-year-old orphan who returns to Yorkshire to live with an embittered, reclusive uncle and his invalid son on an estate that includes a locked garden. The girl, Mary Lennox, heals herself and those around her by tending the abandoned garden and forming caring friendships.

The Summer Theatre program has become well known in the mountains since its debut 25 years ago. This season the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre’s lineup includes CATS, The Secret Garden, and Guys and Dolls.

The summer’s first performance, CATS, went very well.

“CATS exceeded all of our expectations in attendance and audience approval. We are very proud of it, especially since it was directed and choreographed by our alums Christopher Galloway and Benjamin Simpson,” said Speer, who has been at the head of the Summer Theatre program since the beginning.

The Secret Garden is gearing up to be just as much of a success. Many of the actors are professionals, traveling from all over the country to take part in this performance. Others are locals, including Bob Haas, who plays Ben the gardener, and Jessica Presnell, who plays the lead role of Mary Lennox.

The Secret Garden is one of Speer’s favorite musicals to direct.

“What touches me the most about The Secret Garden is its music. The music is just stunning. It also sends a great message about the importance of connections between people,” Speer said.

The Summer Theatre program relies on patrons to support its operating costs; ticket sales pay for less than two-thirds of the expenses. The program recycles all materials used in set construction. In addition, Lees-McRae Summer Theatre provides tickets to local families who cannot afford to attend the shows.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at 828-898-8709 or click to www.lmc.edu/sites/SummerTheatre.

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