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The Dorset Players conclude their 84th anniversary season with "Oliver!", the award-winning musical adapted from Charles Dickens's classic novel, "Oliver Twist." Performances will be held on May 17-19 and May 24-26 at 7:30pm and on May 20 and 27 at 2:00pm.

"Oliver!" follows the travails of Oliver Twist, a young orphan, as he moves from a public workhouse in 19th century London, into the world of a gang of pickpockets led by the scheming Fagin and his sartorially splendid pupil, Jack Hawkins, otherwise known as the Artful Dodger. Young Oliver encounters several additional low-lifes, including the greedy Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, who run the workhouse, as well as the villainous Bill Sykes and Nancy, a thief whose willingness to extend a kindness to Oliver brings about her doom. There is also the warm-hearted Mr. Brownlow, who recognizes something in the young orphan who never loses a pure heart.

Made into the 1969 film version that was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture, "Oliver!" features such well known songs as "Food, Glorious Food," "I'd Do Anything," "Consider Yourself," "Pick A Pocket or Two," and "Where is Love?"

Over the past few months, Director Kevin O'Toole, Music Director Michael Gallagher and Choreographer Ron Ray have marshaled a cast of 38 adults and children from ten area towns in New York and Vermont to help bring "Oliver!" to the Dorset Playhouse stage. Isabelle Deroches of Pawlet portrays Oliver, while Lily Burnham dons a stovepipe hat to play the Artful Dodger. Tom Ferguson, fresh off a triumphant turn as Lady Bracknell in the Players' recent production of "The Importance of Being Ernest," is Fagin.

Bob Fry and Margaret Dawedeit are very familiar with their respective roles as Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney. Bob played Bumble in BBA's 1997 community production of the musical, and Margaret, in her only other dramatic appearance, portrayed Widow Corney in a fifth grade school production.

"Oliver!" is proudly sponsored by Berkshire Bank, Casella Waste Management, The Glenn N. Howatt Foundation, Mettowee Mill Nursery, Orvis, and Suzanne Dortch. Tickets will be $25 for adults ($17.00 for members) and $10 for those under 19. On opening night, May 17, it is "two for one - buy one ticket and get another ticket for that night free of charge! For tickets, call the box office at 802-867-5777.

Our good friend, Bob Bushnell, died peacefully at his home in Pawlet, Vermont on Saturday, April 28, 2012. A long-time member of The Dorset Players, Blue Hill Troupe and past President of the Dorset Theatre Festival, Bob was 74.

Starting in 1997's production of "The Music Man," Bob added his fine tenor voice to several Players' musicals. Last May, he made his final appearance onstage, singing his beloved Gilbert and Sullivan, as the Boatswain in "H.M.S. Pinafore."

A celebration of Bob's life will take place at the Dorset Playhouse on Cheney Road in Dorset, Vermont on Saturday, May 19, at 11:00am. Given Bob's life-long love affair with music, it will provide those who knew Bob with another opportunity to sing and reminisce about a wonderful friend and trouper.

Meet the Cast: Isabelle Deroches, Lily Burnham, Tom Ferguson, Bob Fry, Margaret Dawedeit, Denny Rogers, Ellen Russell, Zachary Zupan, Claire Iannuzzi, Julie Oliva, Danielle Houston, Todd Houston, Shelby McEchron, Janet Groom, Becky Nawrath, Drew Hill, Janet Saint Germain, Sarah Duffany, Saul Kimmel, John Macri, Morgan Wallace, Patrick Staples, Nikolai Sands, Nico Avulle-Embree, Serena Dublois, Cydney Jeffrey, Lily Gallagher, Emily Sullivan, Ariah Holliman, Markie Moore, Emma Putney, John Sebastian Thorn, Colvin Hathaway, Charles Citron, Leslie Sullivan, Marianne Burnham, CeCe King, and Charlie Schubert.

Who are the Dorset Players?
Everyone who becomes a member, and every year at this time, each of us is asked to renew our membership status. Supporting the arts, no matter how small is supporting the idea of artistic endeavors world wide. So whether you join or renew as an individual for $30 (the cost of lunch for 2) or sponsor a production for $500 (without which we wouldn't be able to bring you the variety of shows every year), you are helping to maintain local community theatre.