WEYMOUTH RESIDENT DIRECTS 'A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM'

Weymouth resident Toni Ruscio is directing “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” an uproarious musical coming this November to Riverside Theatre Works in Hyde Park.

“Forum” tells the story of Pseudolus, an Ancient Roman slave who hatches a plot to win his freedom by matching his young master to a lovely but dim-witted courtesan. It’s a tale of love and mistaken identity, featuring slapstick, showgirls, and the songs of Stephen Sondheim.

Performances are November 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. and November 16 and 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $18-25, and are available at www.rtwboston.org or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

Weymouth resident Jim Gross, an accomplished set and lighting designer, designed the sets for the production.

Ruscio, a veteran of the Boston theater scene, is executive director of Riverside Theatre Works, managing shows and concerts for adults and children and overseeing a wide range of theatrical training classes. Last year, Ruscio directed the successful “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” at Riverside, as well as “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Braintree’s Curtain Call Theatre.

About Riverside Theatre Works

Riverside Theatre Works (RTW), the only live theater venue in Hyde Park, aims to bring quality, affordable theater to the community – and enrich lives with exposure to the arts.

Riverside offers private lessons and group classes in music, theater and dance, and produces plays and concerts for children, families, and adults. RTW alumni have gone on to appear on Broadway and national tours, and to use their theater training in all aspects of their lives. Find out more at www.rtwboston.org.