MANSFIELD, Ohio – Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre (RYOT), a theatre program for students in grades 2 – 12, will perform “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is part of the Graham Automall 2014-2015 Renaissance Season and the Mechanics Bank Education Series. The musical is directed by Lori Turner.
Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (“Mary Poppins”), “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is one family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious.”
The story is about an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, who aims to restore an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself. The family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher.
Filled with amazing stage spectacle and unforgettable songs, including the Academy Award nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is ultimately a feel-good story about the power of family and the bonds created to overcome any obstacle.
The show will feature a unique ¾ scale replica of “Chitty,” the titular car from the beloved film. The singular car like it in the nation, Chitty was built for the sole purpose of stage productions of the show. Actor Kristopher Kyer, who portrayed the actor Dick Van Dyke in the film “Saving Mr. Banks” testified to the car’s authenticity, “While filming a commercial, I had the opportunity to drive the actual Chitty car from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! And when I starred as Caractacus Potts and sat in this prop [car], I could not believe how functional and authentic it felt!”
The all-student cast includes Louie Kurtzman, Howard Leuthold, Cooper Sanders, Kinley Shoemaker, Karina Andrew, Beth Clark, Seth Jerabek, Abigail Sanders, Samuel Heininger, Anna Scheuer, Hendrick Stoops, Mikayla Meyers, Jonathan Schill, Emily Raff, Anna Schill, Zoe Blank, Makayla Swiderski, Tammi Turner, Carol Heininger, Gavin Hull, Logan Hull, Danny Fain, Naomi Schag, Katie Yoak, Laura Drake, Gabriella Allen, Molly Delaney, Samuel Brandes, Clara Kral, Natalia Leslie, Maddie Leslie, Madison Smith, Kera Gardner, Megan Hayes, Ella Schag, Caleb Tate, Christian Shepherd, Joel Glover, Alex Tate, Anna Perkins, Abby Heininger, Harrison Leslie, Claire Stewart, Ava Leslie, Thomas Tate, Fiona Donley, Juliana Howard, Madison Adams, Taylor Hessler, Catherine Skelnik, Amanda Gasieki, Jasmine Perry, Gloria Gutchall, Adeline Lamb, Grace Riegal, Jamie Howard, Kaitlyn Hessler, Claudia Stevens, Carolina Trumpower, Zay Brooks, Naji Brooks, Owen Hull, Wyatt Hessler, Colton Hessler, Kylie Snow, Hermione Adams, Nicole Miller, Trinity Cook, Sarah Heininger, Audrey Stevens, Makaya Butler, Madeline Hansen, Brienne Trumpower, Rebekah Allen, Joy Adams, Isabella Dougherty, Gracie Dotson, Audrey Leon, and Angela Allen.
