WILSON, N.C. – Imagine a crotchety, comfortable 600-year-old Noah being informed that he was going to have to build an ark, larger than anything ever conceived of, as a means of saving the human race … not to mention all land animals. Then imagine Noah springing that on his very average, dysfunctional family. This is where our story begins.
Theatre at Barton is excited to present “Two by Two,” a heartwarmingly hilarious musical adaptation of Clifford Odets’ “The Flowering Peach,” opening Thursday, April 10, at 8 p.m., in the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre on the campus of Barton College in Wilson. Additional performances will be held on Saturday evening at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m.
“The Flowering Peach” was a comedic retelling of the Noah’s Ark story. This 1954 play was to be Odets’ last, and in 1970, the work was posthumously adapted into the wonderful musical “Two by Two,” by the celebrated team of Richard Rogers (“The King and I,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Oklahoma!”), Martin Charnin (“Annie”) and Peter Stone (“1776” and “Titanic”), and starring Danny Kaye and Madeline Kahn.
For Barton’s production, adjunct professor of voice, dance, and musical theater Sherry Lee Allen directs. The musical comedy features students Allison Dellinger (Class of 2016, Theatre major), Chris Byrd (Class of 2015, Theatre and Mass Communications double major), Phillip Swinson (Class of 2015, Education major), Courtney Perez (Class of 2018, Theatre major), faculty members Elizabeth Winstead (Barton adjunct professor of voice) and Adam Twiss (director of Theatre at Barton), with guest artists David Winstead and Grace Necaster. The show is designed and built by award-winning Barton technical director, Chris Bernier, together with Barton Theatre students.
“We invite you to join us at the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre to share in the fun, the antics, the enchanting music … and perhaps grab a hammer and pitch in!” shares Twiss.
Tickets are free for Barton College students, faculty, and staff, and are available at the door (or in advance at www.barton.edu/theatre) with a valid Barton ID. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (65 and over) and military, and $6 for non-Barton students.
For additional information, please contact Twiss at (252) 399-6484 or ajtwiss@barton.edu.
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