TheatreZone Presents Lionel Bart’s Golden Age Musical Oliver!

Beth Preddy
Apr 28
3 min read

Dickens’ Timeless Story of Hope and Belonging

Naples’ TheatreZone presents Lionel Bart’s Golden Age musical Oliver! June 4–14, bringing Charles Dickens’ story of hope and belonging to the Naples stage.

With book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! transforms Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel Oliver Twist into a musical filled with colorful characters and beloved, memorable songs including “Food, Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” and “Where Is Love?” The show premiered in London in 1960 and on Broadway in 1963. The Broadway production received nine Tony Award nominations and won three, including Best Original Music.

Set in the streets of Victorian London, the story follows the journey of young orphan Oliver as he escapes the harsh conditions of the workhouse — ruled by the blustering Mr. Bumble — and encounters a cast of characters including the Artful Dodger, Fagin, and Nancy. As Oliver searches for kindness and belonging in a world that often seems cruel, the story reveals the power of compassion and hope.

Meet the Cast

The production features Carter Sass in the title role of Oliver. Sass, 11, makes his TheatreZone debut in his dream role. He began performing at age six and has appeared in more than 19 productions with Florida Children’s Theatre in Davie, Fla., including The Music Man Jr., James and the Giant Peach Jr., and Newsies Jr. He recently made his professional debut as Jonathan in A Christmas Carol at The Wick Theatre in Boca Raton, FL.

David Cantor portrays Fagin, the thief master who trains a band of young pickpockets while hoarding money for his old age. Cantor, making his TheatreZone debut with Oliver!, has portrayed Fagin three previous times in regional theatres, bringing an understanding of the character as both rogue and survivor. His credits also include Broadway (La Vie Parisienne) and extensive Off-Broadway, regional theatre, and television work.

Musical direction is by Charles Fornara, who also appears onstage as Mr. Bumble. A veteran performer and conductor, Fornara has conducted more than 200 productions and returns to the stage as an actor for the first time in 10 years with Oliver!. He has previously performed in TheatreZone productions including Sweeney Todd, High Society, The Boy Friend, and Company, and serves as the company’s longtime music supervisor.

“It’s a joy to return to the stage as a performer as well as conductor,” Fornara said. “TheatreZone has always felt like home, and I’m grateful to Mark for the opportunity to step back into a role while continuing to make music with this company.”

Katie Claire McGrath, a New York City–based actor and singer whose credits include Off-Broadway, regional theatre, film, and television, portrays Nancy, one of musical theatre’s most complex characters. McGrath grew up in a theatrical family (her father was the late Tony Award-winning Michael McGrath) and Oliver! was her first show in high school. Nancy, she said, has long been a dream role. “There is always a reason to fight for what is good and what is right,” McGrath said.

Peter Kendall portrays the volatile and dangerous Bill Sikes in his TheatreZone debut, opposite his wife, Katie Claire McGrath, performing in Oliver! as Nancy. The two New York-based actors, sharing the stage together for the first time, perform as romantic partners whose relationship culminates in one of the story’s darkest turns. Kendall has appeared Off-Broadway, in regional theatre, on national tours, and in film and television. About Bill Sikes, he comments, “We’re all a balance of nature and nurture, and each character is doing their best with what they’ve been given,” Kendall said.

Alongside the professional adult cast are 10 young actors, ages eight to 11, who sing, dance, and act as Fagin’s pickpocket gang.

The production is directed by TheatreZone founding artistic director Mark Danni, with choreography by Karen Molnar Danni. “Oliver! is a Golden Age musical that hasn’t been seen in Naples for decades,” Danni said. “It’s a chance for audiences to rediscover this story and for our company to bring younger performers together with professional Actors’ Equity artists.”