By 1812Blockhouse
In about three weeks, the lights will rise inside the Renaissance Theatre and something unusual will happen. Broadway will feel very, very close to home.
Stephen Sondheim’s riotous musical farce A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum arrives on the Renaissance Main Stage February 21 through March 1, bringing with it Emmy winners, Tony nominees, television favorites, and Broadway veterans. But this is not a touring production passing through town. This is something far more personal.
They come here to live. To rehearse. To mentor. To become part of Mansfield for a while. And they keep coming back.
A Night Built for Pure Comedy
Forum is built for one purpose: to make audiences laugh until their sides hurt.
Set in ancient Rome and inspired by classic Roman comedies, the story follows Pseudolus, a clever slave determined to win his freedom by helping his young master win the girl next door. What follows is a whirlwind of mistaken identities, disguises, door-slamming chaos, and Sondheim’s unforgettable score, including “Comedy Tonight” and “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid.” It is fast, physical, and gloriously absurd. The kind of musical where timing is everything and where experienced comic performers can turn every line, glance, and pratfall into gold. That is precisely why this cast matters.
Familiar Faces From Broadway and Television
Leading the production is Jeff Richmond, Emmy Award-winning composer, director, and producer known for his work on 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mean Girls, and more. Richmond takes the stage as Pseudolus while also directing the production.
Joining him are:
- Brian Stepanek of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Hysterium
- John Lutz of 30 Rock and Late Night with Seth Meyers as Senex
- Kyle Selig, Broadway standout from Mean Girls and Monster High, as Hero
These are performers who make their living on the biggest stages and screens in the country. Yet for several weeks each winter, they choose to come to Mansfield. Not for a contract or a tour stop, but for the experience.
A Theatre That Artists Want to Return To
Over the past three years, something quietly remarkable has been happening at the Renaissance Theatre.
Nationally recognized artists are not just visiting. They are settling in for rehearsals. Working alongside local performers. Spending time in the community. Experiencing the kind of small-town theatre environment that many of them remember from the beginnings of their own careers. What started as a collaboration in 2023 has grown into a tradition. One that artists now actively seek out.
Richmond, an Ohio native, sees the project as a way of giving back to the kind of theatre that first shaped him. Others, like Stepanek, return after appearing in earlier productions such as The Producers, drawn back by the people and the place. They arrive as guests and they leave as ambassadors for Mansfield.
A Production With a Purpose
Proceeds from Forum will support the Renaissance Theatre’s “Road to 100” initiative as the historic venue approaches its 100th anniversary in 2028. Planned improvements include:
- New seating
- A restored curtain
- A revitalized marquee
The goal is simple: ensure that this nearly century-old theatre remains a vibrant cultural home for generations to come.
President and CEO Chelsie Thompson describes the momentum as both thrilling and humbling. Each return visit strengthens the bond between artists and the community, and spreads Mansfield’s story far beyond Richland County.
Performance Schedule
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 PM
Friday, February 27 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 1 at 2:30 PM
VIP and Opening Night reception tickets are limited, and early demand is strong.
For Mansfield, it is one of the first major cultural moments of the new year. For the Renaissance, it is another step toward its next century. And for audiences, it is a chance to sit back, laugh hard, and be part of something that feels both grand and deeply local at the same time.
Source: Renaissance Performing Arts Association
