Jeffrey Schecter, seen on Broadway in A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof, and Nice Work If You Can Get It, plays Pseudolus in the St. Louis Muny's summer staging of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the third production of its 99th season.
Schechter recently stepped in for Peter Scolari, who struggled with allergies during rehearsals that resulted in vocal stress and a severe sinus infection
鈥淭o my great sadness, our Forest Park setting was brutal on Peter鈥檚 allergies,鈥� said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson in a statement. 鈥淗e worked so hard, and was a true delight on and off-stage. But it was clear that our trees and cottonwood had gotten the best of him, and he was suffering from an aggravated sinus infection.鈥�
鈥淚f I could go on with my performance, I would, but it鈥檚 just not physically possible,鈥� added Scolari. 鈥淚鈥檝e been treated so beautifully, and I鈥檝e had a wonderful time in rehearsal with a beautiful company of actors. I wish I could be there, thanks to all, and I鈥檓 so glad a brilliant actor like Jeffrey Schechter can come in and save the day. He will be brilliant.鈥�
Directed by Gary Griffin and with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Brad Haak, performances are July 5鈥�11.
The cast also includes John Tartaglia (Hysterium), Ali Ewoldt (Philia), Mark Linn-Baker (Senex), E. Faye Butler (Domina), Jason Kravits (Lycus), Marrick Smith (Hero), Nathaniel Hackmann (Miles Gloriosus), Whit Reichert (Erronius), Marcus Choi, Justin Keyes, Tommy Scrivens (Proteans), Justina Aveyard, Molly Callinan, Emily Hsu, Khori Michelle Petinaud, Katelyn Prominski, and Lainie Sakakura.
The limited engagement features scenic design by Timothy R. Mackabee, costume design by Mara Blumenfeld, lighting design by Rob Denton, sound design by John Shivers and David Patridge, and wig design by John Metzner; the production stage manager is Cody Renard Richard.
