FAIRFIELD – Fairfield Area Community Theatre will perform its musical “Oliver!” four times from June 13-16 at the Mitcheltree, Slechta, Edgeton Auditorium inside Fairfield High School.

The musical is an adaptation of the 1838 novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens, and was first performed on stage at London’s West End in 1960. FACT’s production is being directed by Diana Flynn, who has been directing FACT productions since she wrote and directed the Holiday Extravaganza in 2014. This is Flynn’s first chance to direct a large-scale musical, and this is certainly a large production with a cast of 55 performers.

Flynn said the novel tells the story of a young orphan named Oliver who escapes a workhouse and ends up with a group of thieves and pickpockets in Victorian England. She said FACT last performed “Oliver!” in 2005, and she and the cast felt that enough years had passed that it was time to do it again.

“The music is so well known,” Flynn said. “There’s a pet store commercial that uses the song ‘I’d Do Anything’ from the play. It’s a very heart-warming story about an orphan who finds his family in the end.”

The musical will be performed at 7 p.m. on the first three days, June 13-15, and then will conclude with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, June 16. Tickets are $10 for youth (ages 2-18) and $20 for adults. Cash and checks only.

Flynn said there are a large number of extras and small parts for youngsters. She said there are about 30 kids performing roles such as orphans and pickpockets.

“And they’re all very cute,” she added.

CAST NOTES

The cast includes seasoned veterans, like Lou Bolster who plays Fagin, and thespians making their stage debut like Dustin Matthews, who plays Bill Sykes. Liam Dowd-Robbins plays the lead, Oliver, and he is making his FACT debut, too. The entire Adkins family is performing as Amber and Nathaniel portray Charlotte and Noah Claypole, while Edmund is an orphan and Thisbe plays a pickpocket.

“They’re all very talented and they all have lovely singing voices,” Flynn said of the Adkins family. “It’s been fun to get to know them. The last time we had an entire family perform was the Sloat family.”

FILLING IN

Flynn wanted to give a special shoutout to Andrew MacKenzie, who plays the role of Mr. Bumble and has also been filling in for Bolster in his role as Fagin during rehearsals. This is also the third time in Bolster’s career that he has portrayed Fagin.

One of the roles, Nancy Sykes, is being shared between Loreena Hansen and Erin Epperson. Hansen will portray Nancy on Thursday and Sunday, while Epperson will do so Friday and Saturday. Flynn said she normally doesn’t cast two actors for the same role, but did this time because Hansen was recovering from an issue with her voice, so Flynn didn’t want to strain her vocal chords by having her perform four straight days.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A production of this magnitude is only possible with a team of volunteers working behind the scenes to make everything go smoothly. Alexandria Adams took the lead on building the sets, which she did on her own for the first three weeks until a construction crew stepped up to finish them.

“She’s a young mother, and a Marine, and I so appreciate her efforts,” Flynn said. “We couldn’t have done it without her.”

Joan Salts is the show’s costume mistress, and Mary Williams is doing set and lights. Tim Lantz is also building the set. The pit orchestra that accompanies the singers is conducted by Jim Edgeton, with accompanists LeAnne Edgeton and Mindy Phomvisay.

“The new FHS principal, Mallory Mahon, is also in the pit playing an instrument,” Flynn said. “The community is so involved in this, and that’s what we love about it.”

Flynn said she was indebted to Alex Kessel of Farm Bureau Financial Services for giving the crew a building in which to construct the set.

“We weren’t able to get into the high school until school was out, so we built the set in pieces, and Alex provided us a place to do that,” Flynn said. “Everything is made out of wood. We have a six-foot platform with three stairways and a railing. It’s a big set.”

Flynn’s assistant is Rachel Biggs, who she referred to as her “assistant everything.”

“She is managing the stage, doing props, running to get posters … everything,” Flynn said.

CAST LIST

The following is a complete cast list courtesy of The Iowa Source:

Liam Dowd-Robbins (Oliver)

Violet Hilger (Artful Dodger)

Lou Bolster (Fagin)

Loreena Hansen (Nancy Sykes, Thursday and Sunday)

Erin Epperson (Nancy Sykes, Friday and Saturday)

Dustin Matthews (Bill Sykes)

Phoenix Haessler and Ledger Logli (Bet, Charley Bates)

Andrew MacKenzie and Dee Ann Lantz (Mr. Bumble & Widow Corney)

Tommy Brower and Meredith Siemsen (Mr. & Mrs. Sowerberry)

Amber and Nathaniel Adkins (Charlotte & Noah Claypole)

Richard Morell (Brownlow)

Ronda Logli (Bedwin)

Doug Marshall (Grimwig)

Gerry Garles (Old Sally)

ORPHANS

Aria Reiter, Audrey Bailey, Edmund Adkins, Hailey Bailey, Audrey Robbins, Aviva Bar Shimon, Carsyn Starnes, Cielo Lee, Cricket Reed, Donovan Adams, Edmund Adkins, Ethan Phomvisay, Kahlessi Kelley, Lucy Bowers, Owen Ehret, Serenity Dille, Valerie Kessel, and Zoey White

PICKPOCKETS

Braezyn Stutzman, Brenna Golden, Brooklyn Reinier, Ledger Logli, Peyton Sirdoreus, Quimby Scotton, Reece Rasmussen, Sloan Brower, Thisbe Adkins, and Vivian Miller

MISCELLANEOUS

Alaris Todar, Erin Epperson, Alexandria Adams, Amber Burroughs, Emma Phomvisay, Brian Robbins, Jason Deprey, and Kamilla Mustafaa