Take a giant step back in history to medieval times for Playful Theater Productions’ “A Connecticut Yankee” at Kelsey Theater, Fridays and Saturdays, March 26, 27, April 2 and 3, at 8 p.m., and Sundays, March 28 and April 4, at 2 p.m. A free opening night gala of this Rodgers and Hart Musical will take place on Friday, March 26, with the cast and crew after the show. Sarah Fenty-Pettorsson of West Windsor stars in the role of Sandy.
Her “day job” is as in an executive assistant for an investment bank in New York, but Fenty-Pettorsson says, “I’m making money in the daytime, and doing what I want to do at night. Many of my friends tried to do theater full-time and not only did they starve, it ruined theater for them.”
Adapted from the Mark Twain classic, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” the show opens as the hero, Martin, visits his former fiancee, Sandy, on the eve of his marriage to his current fiancee, Fay Merrill. After Fay knocks him unconscious, Martin dreams he is back in the days of King Arthur’s court.
Nominated for a Perry Award for her role in the Peddie Players’ production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” soprano Fenty-Pettorsson has played the roles of Emma Carey in “Jekyll & Hyde,” Plays-in-the Park, which she says was her favorite role; Anna Leonowens in “The King and I,” Premier Theater; Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” Premier Theater; and Nancy in “Oliver,” Peddie Players. She has sung the National Anthem at Trenton Thunder and Somerset Patriot baseball games and has been involved with many singing groups over the years. She also sings with Gramercy Arts Ensemble, a string and wind trio that plays at weddings and special events.
Fenty-Pettersson was raised in Princeton — except for her four high school years when the family moved to Virginia. The family subsequently returned to Princeton.
Her six older sisters dabbled in the performing arts; two made it their career. Her oldest sister, Marie, is an opera singer with the Miami Opera Company. Her sister, Susan, is a stage manager and works with the West Australian Ballet.
After studying voice for two years at Westminster Choir College, she transferred to Rutgers University. “I realized that I had a foundation with singing but I wanted to study acting.” She studied the Meissner Technique at Rutgers and graduated with a degree in theater arts and voice performance.
She met her future husband, Colin, at American Boychoir School, and they married in 2003. He had attended camp at the American Boychoir School when he was younger and continued his involvement in a program similar to Big Brother with the residents of the school. Colin is a floor governor at the New York Stock Exchange where he monitors trade executions. His future plans include graduate school to obtain his master’s in business administration.
Raised in Flemington, he played the roles of Curly in “Oklahoma” and Freddie in “My Fair Lady” at Immaculata High School, where he was also active in the marching band.
As soon as she knew about her return to New Jersey, she began looking at theaters online and kept checking the Kelsey website, where she found the audition for “Connecticut Yankee.” She auditioned and was called back. “I did the call back the day we moved in,” she says. “I also knew that I was cast that day. I am glad to back in New Jersey.” She says she’s enjoying how her character changes to and from modern day.
Also featured is Hannah Rapaport-Stein of Princeton Junction.
Featured actors include Mike Schiumo of Clarksburg as Martin; Kathie Stamou of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, as Fay Merrill/Morgan Le Fay; Pat Parton of Hamilton as King Arthur; Tom Chiola of Trenton as Sir Kay; Ray Murphy of Hamilton Square as Merlin; Tara Wood of Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, as Guinevere; Jeffrey Scharf of Yardley, Pennsylvania, as Lancelot; and Robbie Ciano of Hillsborough as Sir Galahad.
Also featured are Molly Barson of Newtown, Pennsylvania, Jessica Getlik of Hamilton, Kayla James of Hamilton, Ellen LaCorte of Titusville, Jeff Morton of Bordentown, Brenna Pancza of Newtown, Pennsylvania, Hannah Rapaport-Stein of Princeton Junction, Ciro Scoto of Bordentown, Ben Schindel of Lawrenceville, Catherine Schwartz of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Meg Walker of Bordentown.
The show is directed by Kitty Getlik of Hamilton and choreographed by Thalia King of Yardley, Pennsylvania.
Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students/ children and may be purchased online at www.kelseyatmccc.org or by calling 609-584-9444.
