“Oliver!” Opens at NFCT

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker in this 1960 Lionel Bart musical based on the Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist.”

Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow, takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.

This production, which runs May 17 through June 3, is directed Kelsey Cheslock, with musical direction by Karen Hochstedler and choreography by Jenna Spates.

This production stars Skyler Valderrama as Oliver, Mike Hipp as Fagin, Andrew Lenahan as Bill Sikes, Jenna Wolf as Nancy, Justin Stuart as Dodger, James Pritchard as Brownlow, Glenn Abramowitz as Grimwig, Michaallyn Schepps as Mrs. Sowerberry, Joann E. (JET) Tamin as Mrs. Bedwin, Matt Orr as Sowerberry, Kierra “Elliot” Prentiss as Old Sally, Rick Peters as Bumble, Jocelyn Podlas as Bel and Kathryn Stahl as Charlotte, along with full youth and adult ensembles.

Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Student tickets will be available for $20 at the box office beginning 10 minutes before each performance. These tickets are subject to availability and cannot be reserved ahead of time.

A free opening night reception, sponsored by Sannino Vineyard, will be held May 19 at 7 p.m.