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Will Logan

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From left, Julia Albino, Will Logan and Cassidy Rose O'Brien in a scene from the show. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
From left, Julia Albino, Will Logan and Cassidy Rose O'Brien in a scene from the show. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc..
The cast of 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
Will Logan and Cassidy Rose O'Brien in a scene from the show. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'Hansel and Gretel' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Julianne Mosher

You don’t need to head deep into the forest to witness the timeless story of Hansel and Gretel, or A Question of Crumbs. In fact, just head down to Port Jefferson to witness Theatre Three’s latest magical production.

Written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Douglas Quattrock, the show starts off inside a bookstore (featuring the same set from the theater’s mainstage show, Crossing Delancey.) A sister and brother are flipping through the story of Hansel and Gretel, but cannot afford to purchase it. They ask the clerks if they can borrow it to read at home. Out of the goodness of their hearts, the kids skip away, excited to read the story amongst themselves.

We’re then brought into the home of the mischievous Gretel (Julia Albino) and the aloof Hansel (Will Logan). Their father (Jason Furnari), a woodcutter, works a lot and is completely under the control of his new wife, the kids’ stepmother (Cassidy Rose O’Brien). They play pranks on her and she is very, very unhappy. She hates the children and tells her husband that he must dump them in the woods so they can live a happy, childfree life. Although he really doesn’t want to, he agrees and coerces the kids to the woods and tries to leave them there. 

Luckily, young Gretel is smart, and she knows better. She and her brother can outsmart their dad, instead causing him to get lost in the woods. When the stepmother tries to get them lost the next day, the siblings leave breadcrumbs to help them find their way back home. However, thanks to Hansel not paying too much attention to what he was doing, the plan backfires and the kids end up not being able to find their way back.

In the woods, they’re met by Scrimshaw (Steven Uihlein) and Harvis (Liam Marsigliano), contract kidnappers hired by an evil, child-eating witch. They spot Hansel sitting on a log and convinced him to follow them to the witches’ candy-coated home, where he is put on the menu. Gretel finds her brother and helps him escape, but before that happens, several surprises ensue. 

Directed and choreographed by Colleen Britt, the show is filled with catchy musical numbers, fun dancing and colorful costumes designed by Jason Allyn. Hansel and Gretel is a joy to the stage that kids of all ages will love and will have their parents laughing along.

With a small cast, all five actors bring something great to the table. Albino and Logan do a great job as their versions of the fable’s characters, bringing wit and joy to the stage, while Uihlein and Marsigliano are fun supporting antagonists. Furnari’s spacey father figure is a great addition to the show while O’Brien’s stepmother (and, spoiler alert, the witch) is star quality.

So, grab your favorite candy and head down to Theatre Three for this sweet show.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Hansel and Gretel through Feb. 8. Children’s theater continues with Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 19 to March 29 and The Adventures of Peter Rabbit from April 16 to May 10. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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The cast of 'Raggedy Ann & Andy' Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
Isabella Scarpa and Will Logan star as 'Raggedy Amy & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
"Jazz Hands!" A scene from 'Raggedy Ann & Andy'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Julianne Mosher

A heart-filled tale of friendship and adventure headed back to Theatre Three this week with their latest children’s theater production of Raggedy Ann & Andy — also known as “Friends and Friends and Friends.”

Based off of characters created by Johnny Gruelle, this special and unique tale, written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Kevin Story, brings these two lovable rag dolls to life in a comical musical that the family is sure to enjoy.

Directed by Sanzel with musical direction by Doug Quattrock, the show starts off at the Tiwilliger sisters’ toy shop where they specialize in creating toys that come to life to bring joy to children in need. They hear of a little girl named Marcella who is ill and decide to make a brother for one of their favorite toys, Raggedy Ann (played by Isabella Scarpa), named Andy (Will Logan).

However, the toymakers, Martha (Gina Lardi) and Abby (Louisa Bikowski) have an evil brother, Mortimer (Steven Uihlein) who wants to use his family’s magic selfishly and to not use it to help local boys and girls. Casting a spell and with the help of his (reluctant) sidekick Rose Carpet (Emilia Guzzetta), the evil Mortimer steals Andy’s heart and the toys team up to get it back.

With the help of the tin soldier (Jason Furnari), the clown (Ryan Van Nostrand), the lion (Liam Marsigliano) and the queen doll (Julia Albino), the group heads to find Mortimor and retrieve Andy’s heart. Through a quest full of twists and turns, the audience waits to see if Andy will go back to his lovable self so he and Ann could help Marcella feel better.

Choreographed by Josie McSwane, the show is full of catchy tunes with themes of friendship, loyalty and love as the actors dance along. This musical will also show children the importance of friendship and how it’s nice to help when a friend is in need. 

And the best part is, while the show is geared for younger audiences, adults can reminisce about their own childhood toys thanks to Jason Allyn’s costume design — Raggedy Ann and Andy’s outfits are to a T, looking as if they just came off the shelves at the store.  Plus, the cast is available in the lobby after the show for photos. It’s a great afternoon out that is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Raggedy Ann & Andy on Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. through July 27. Children’s theater continues with Pinocchio from Aug. 2 to Aug. 10 and A Kooky Spooky Halloween from Oct. 5 to Oct. 19. All seats are $12. 

Theatre Three will also present a special program, The Silly Sorcery Showcase on July 21 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $20. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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From left, Richard O’Sullivan, Will Logan, and Heather Legnosky in a scene from the show. Photo by Jackie St. Louis/SPAC

By Stephanie Giunta

“What does today’s audience want in Christmas?” was one of the first questions posed at the onset of Smithtown Performing Arts Center’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!). The cast promised a jocular twist on the beloved holiday classics and a fresh look at timeless tales injected with modern-day pop culture — and they delivered. In fact, I think I heard Santa’s “Ho! Ho! Ho!” in both laughter and solidarity all the way from the North Pole.

The show, a whimsical combination of vaudeville, ad-lib, and traditional narration, was originally written by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez, and debuted in 2003 in Cape May, New Jersey. For the past 20 years, the show has been adapted across the country, and kept fresh and new with the poignant inclusion of topical media narratives. Even Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift made the cut!

Will Logan (Will), sets the stage by performing the timeless Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. Heather Legnosky (Heather) and Richard O’Sullivan (Rich) concede, but only because they are desperate to work to qualify for health insurance. Claiming the audience has grown bored of the same seasonal production they put on year after year, they convince Will to add a little spice to the performance —by cramming every Christmas story and holiday tradition into a comical hurricane of a variety show. And with this irreverent mash up, no Christmas carol or reference is safe. Especially your fruitcake. 

Directed by Jordan Hue, the trio takes the audience through a smattering of seasonal favorites, including The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and It’s A Wonderful Life. As someone who is a die-hard Christmas fan and has seen the Rankin Bass classics countless times, the actors used so many references to their comedic advantage. 

Specifically, Will’s portrayal of Hermey the bicuspid-obsessed elf who is a wannabe dentist, and Rich’s rendition of Yukon Cornelius [Rudolph], had me laughing. Not only do they deliver the lines from the show verbatim with some racy humor peppered in, their ability to mimic the original cartoon voice overs is so on point. 

Through the quick rush of all of the myths and memories, there are some surprisingly touching moments. Heather’s delivery of Linus’ monologue from A Charlie Brown Christmas was a beautiful, heartfelt moment among the stop-and-go kitschiness and jollity, allowing the audience to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. And with a snap of your fingers, the moment passes and the crew moves onto the Gift of the Magi, where Heather morphs into a new-age character straight from the Jersey Shore. 

Will, Heather, and Rich are gifted actors that have the ability to transition from scene to scene with speed and precision, keep the mood light, and the audience enthused. The creative overlap between storylines, especially the back-and-forth between A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life lets their talent shine through. Their change in intonation, articulation and ability to play two roles simultaneously was only trumped by the fluidity of their overall performance. And Rich’s deadpan way of casually referring to Charles Dickens as ‘Chuck Dickens’ had me in stitches. 

The show takes a warm, soft feeling of Christmas and pokes fun in an off-the-cuff, non-traditional manner. It’s like a chocolate chip cookie with potato chips inside — sweet, but unexpectedly salty, and ultimately a solid combination. 

Put your sneakers on, and get ready for a high-speed run down memory lane filled with jaunty holiday innuendoes that will leave you laughing and craving peppermint hot chocolate.

Cast & Crew: Will Logan, Heather Legnosky, Richard O’Sullivan, Jordan Hue, Michael Mucciolo, Kelly Mucciolo, Joseph Castoro and Megan DelMonico

Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main Street, Smithtown will present Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) through December 23. Recommended for ages 12 and up, tickets are $32 adults, $30 seniors, $28 students. To order, call 631-724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

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