JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

This mid-20^th century love story follows the young Sabrina Fairchild as she returns from Paris after five years to Long Island, where her father is the chauffer for the wealthy Larrabee family. There, she is reunited with the love of her youth, David Larrabee, who suddenly takes an interest in Sabrina. Her situation becomes more complicated when a suitor from France arrives with a marriage proposal while, at the same time, Sabrina finds herself drawn to the older Larrabee son, Linus.

Described as a modern day Cinderella story, Sabrina Fair was written by Samuel A. Taylor and opened on Broadway in 1953. It was also the basis for two films, including the 1954 production starring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.

The JRT production stared Pat Beard as Julia, Elijah Berry as Paul, Emily Carmichael as Sabrina, Andy Cobble as Linus Larrabee Jr., Shelley Gasser as Margaret, Rachel Gloess as Gretchen, Angie Hyche as Maude, Jim Reid as Fairchild, Daniel Wallen as David, and Angus Walton as Linus Larrabee Sr.

John Beard was making his directorial debut with Sabrina Fair. "Every day is a barrage of questions that need answering and decisions that need to be made," says Beard on directing Sabrina Fair. "I have the best help I could have hoped for. Really everyone who does this, does it for love. So, even as we have difficulties, everyone pulls together and carries right on. I think the thing to do is find a wonderful story to tell and tell it as best you can. Most of the decisions about which plays to produce in any theater come down to what will this audience come and see. It can be a real struggle at times to find a show that satisfies both the audience and the entertainers. With a story like Sabrina Fair, I think you have something for everyone. All of the characters are so well written and so real and fleshed out by the author, Samuel Taylor. The actors have really been getting into it. And with two major feature films based on the play, the profile of the story with the audience should be pretty high. You'll just have to come and see."

John holds a B.F.A. degree in musical theatre from Emerson College. Locally, he has appeared on stage in numerous JRT and Johnson City Community Theatre productions, including Harvey, The Tempest, The Fall of the House of Usher, JRT’s 1940s USO Shows, The Mousetrap, Smokey Joe’s Café and most recently in Lying in State.

Rachel Gloess was the assistant director/stage manager; set design was by John Beard, Joe Florence, and Kaeli Gardner; sound design by Kaeli Gardner; and lighting design by April Gardner.

Click here for Sabrina Fair: a review by Heather E. Seay, H&T Online Editor Story published  08-26-2008.