UHa students Zach Bencal (left) and Katie Sarno (right) star as Oscar Jaffe and Lily Garland respectively. Courtesy of The Hartt School

The Hartt School will hold productions of ‘On the Twentieth Century’ Thursday through Saturday, March 14-16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 17, at 3p.m., in Millard Auditorium.

“On the Twentieth Century” is a Tony Award winning musical comedy that follows the behind-the-scenes relationship of an actress and a Broadway producer.

In the story, the producer is struggling to create a successful play, suffering many flops in a row.

He boards a train, the Twentieth Century Limited luxury liner, as it travels from Chicago to New York.

He learns that his former lover, who is now a temperamental movie star, will be on board as well and resolves to convince her to return to Broadway to be in his new play.

He persists despite others’ doubts that the now famous actress will agree.

The task is not easy and numerous other passengers get in the way, making for an eventful journey.

Not only does the plotline involve Broadway, but the musical itself is a Broadway production.

“On the Twentieth Century” is adapted from the plays by Ben Hecht, Charles McArthur, and Bruce Milholland.

The Broadway production was directed by Harold Prince, and was produced for the Broadway Stage by Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, James Cresson, and Martin Richards.

“On the Twentieth Century” is directed by Hartt professor of theatre, Robert Davis, with music direction by Michael Morris and choreography by Darlene Zoller.

It features music Cy Coleman, who is well known for his work on the musical Sweet Charity and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Hartt’s cast includes the lead, Zach Bencal as Oscar Jaffe; Katie Sarno as Lily Garland; Lars Lee as Bruce Granit; Alexandra Bartley as Letitia Peabody Primrose; Alex Domini as Oliver Webb; Kristina Wilson as Imdelda Thornton; Jason Long as Owen O’Malley; Courtney Rada as Agnes/Ensemble; Steven Gant as Conductor/Ensemble; Zoe Stephens-North as Emily/Ensemble; Julian Sarria as Max Jacobs/Ensemble; Jenny Brescia as Dr. Johnson/Ensemble; and James Booth as Grover Lockwood/Ensemble.

Porters/Ensemble members include Jimmy Bain, Justin Henry, Sarah Kozlowski, and Riza Takahashi.  Other members of the ensemble are Jonny Cortes, Andrew Martin, Mischa Storer, Allison Canning, Emily Cohn, Sarah Kawalek, Erin Kelly, Chloe Kounadis, Katie Moskowitz, Nina Paganucci, Cori Stolbun, Nicole Teebagy, Sofie Wasserman-Smith, Taylor Sumner, Kate Suppes, Jenna Zito.

University of Hartford students, faculty and staff may receive one free ticket by presenting current University ID at the Lincoln Theater Box Office or call the box office at 860-768-4228.

For more events planned by the Hartt School, visit hartford.edu/hartt