The musical, ‘The Secret Garden,’ opens April 12 at WFU

Derek West plays Archie and Allison Jones plays Lily in Wake Forest’s production of the musical “The Secret Garden.”

Wake Forest University Theatre will perform the musical “The Secret Garden” beginning April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the MainStage Theatre in Scale Fines Arts Center. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 12-13, and April 17-20. A matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. on April 21.

Directed by Brook Davis, assistant professor of theater, this Tony Award-winning musical is based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s book. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman adapted the book for the stage.

“The Secret Garden” is set in an estate in Yorkshire, England, where newly-orphaned Mary Lennox is sent to live with her reclusive uncle and his invalid son, Colin. There, she finds a magic, locked garden that helps Colin recover from his illnesses.

Cast members include students Amber Wiley as Mary Lennox, Brad Stephenson as Fakir, Kate Roberts as Rose, Joey Hipps as Dickon, and Ember Rigsby as Colin. Other student cast members are: Derek West, Tanis Smith, Allison Jones, Patrick Walsh, Eve Tannery, Tom Norton, Lauren Russell, Scott Thompson, Samantha Rogers, Lee Norris, Tom Clark, Rebecca Newby, Kate Lambert, Ryan Fries, Alex Myers, and Caroline Clear.

Senior Susan Martin is the stage manager and Frank Ludwig, assistant professor
of theater, is the set designer. The light design is by Jonathan Christman, production manager for the theater department, and choreography is by Nina Lucas, associate professor of theater and director of the university’s dance program.

Pat Mueller of Winston-Salem is the costume designer. Mark Cohen, visiting assistant professor of theater, is the dialect coach. Doug Brown, technical director for the university theater, is the technical director.

Members of the Wake Forest Orchestra will perform the music during performances of “The Secret Garden” under the direction of David Hagy.

Tickets are $12; $5 for students. They can be purchased at the door or by calling the Wake Forest Theatre Box Office at 336-758-5295. The box office is open weekdays from noon until 5 p.m. It is also open one hour before performances. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

For more information, visit the Wake Forest Theatre Department’s Web site, www.wfu.edu/theatre.