The Fantasticks: Erik Altemus & Matt Leisy to join cast

Erik Altemus will join the cast of the Off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks on 14 Dec 2009, playing the role of 'Matt'. He replaces Nick Spangler, winner of the thirteenth season of the Emmy Award-winning reality television series The Amazing Race, who will play his final performance 13 Dec 2009

Douglas Ullman Jr will play his final performance as 'The Mute' on 27 Dec 2009. Matt Leisy, recently seen in 'The History Boys' at St. Louis Rep, will assume the role on 28 Dec 2009.

Altemus's credits include 'Camelot,' 'Annie' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (The Muny), 'My Fairy Lady' (Saddleback Civic Light Opera) and 'Phantom' (Musical Theater West). Leisy's credits include 'Young Scrooge' in Alan Menken's 'A Christmas Carol' (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), 'Mordred' in 'Camelot' (Pennsylvania Center Stage), 'Great Expectations' (Mill Mountain Theater), 'Oliver' (Westchester Broadway Theater), 'The Sound of Music' (Broadway Asia) and 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (Charleston Stage).

The Fantasticks tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, but soon grows restless and stray from one another. Will their separation provide a deeper appreciation for the love they once shared or create a permanent gulf between them?

Featuring the beloved songs "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain," The Fantasticks is a celebration of love -first love, lost love and true love.

The Fantasticks currently features Lewis Cleale (El Gallo), Nick Spangler (Matt), Gene Jones (Hucklebee), MacIntyre Dixon (Henry), Steve Routman (Bellomy), Kimberly Whalen (Luisa), Michael Nostrand (Mortimer), Tom Flagg, Richard Roland, Michael Nostrand (Mortimer), Douglas Ullman, Jr. (The Mute) and Evy Ortiz.

Produced by Terzetto LLC, Pat Flicker Addiss and MARS Theatricals, The Fantasticks features scenic and costume design by Ed Wittstein, lighting design by Mary Jo Dondlinger and sound design by Domonic Sack.

This musical love story features music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones. Jones also directs The Fantasticks, which was originally directed by Word Baker.

The musical comedy originally opened at New York's Sullivan Street Playhouse on the 3 May 1960 and played 17,162 performances before closing on the 13 Jan 2002, making it the world's longest running musical

The musical is playing at The Snapple Theater Center where it is currently selling tickets through to 30 Jun 2010.