“Oliver!” director Cliff Keen helps Gabe Baldone (Oliver) and Dallas Fields (Dodger) hit their marks during a rehearsal at the Leeds Arts Center and Theatre.

“Oliver!” is coming to Leeds!

 The Leeds Arts Council is now taking reservations for the award-winning musical production.

The show begins next week. Dates are July 15-17, 22-24 and 30-31, at 7 p.m. each night. On July 18 and 25, the show begins at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Seniors 60 and over, and $10 for students.

Call 699-1892 for reservations. Speak slowly and leave your name, phone number, number of tickets needed and date and time of the performance you wish to see. If wheelchair seating is needed please provide that information when purchasing tickets.

Set in London around 1850, the curtain opens with Oliver Twist working at an orphanage. The boys sing “Food, Glorious Food” as they wait for supper. They are all hungry after their one cup of gruel and Oliver asks for more.

Mr. and Mrs. Bumble sing “Oliver!,” and Oliver is a “Boy for Sale” after being upset by his impudence. Oliver is then “purchased” by Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker. Saved from one enemy in Mr. Bumble, Oliver’s new enemy is Noah Claypole. A fight between them leads to Oliver being locked up as he sings the tender “Where is Love.” Oliver runs away where he soon meets the Artful Dodger who sings “Consider Yourself.” He is introduced to Fagin and his boys and is taught that “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.”

Fagin sneaks out late in the evening to meet Bill Sikes at The Three Cripples. Despite the obvious drawbacks of living in the slum, Nancy assures us that “It’s a Fine Life.” The following morning Nancy and Bet arrives and Oliver gets to know them during the song “I’d do anything,” after which Fagin sends the boys out on the streets hoping that they’ll “Be Back Soon.” Well, they aren’t, at least not Oliver. He’s been arrested for looking guilty when Dodger stole a wallet.

Come see what happens next and if Oliver ever finds a real family.

Filled with an atmosphere of mystery, its major characters – Oliver played by Gabe Baldone, Fagin played by Chuck Evans, Bill Sikes played by Barry Perkins, Mr. Bumble played by J.D. Blackmon, Nancy played by Valerie Lemmons and the Artful Dodger played by Dallas Fields – are some of the most theatrically realized characters in all of literature. Other cast members are Suellen Wilkins (the Widow Corney), Ben Wilson (Noah), Michael Lunsford (Mr. Sowerberry), Wendy Riley (Mrs. Sowerberry), Noelle Gunn (Charlotte), Tray Wright (Charles Bates), Emily Lunsford (Bet), Margarita Lunsford (Mrs. Bedwin), Ed Potts (Mr. Brownlow and Dave Crabb (Mr. Grimwig).

Fagin’s Boys are Lucy Lunsford, Jameson Willis, Alec Beiswenger, Grace Riley, Jeramie Scott, Harper Soileau, Joseph Lunsford, Zoe’ Champion and Samuel Blankenship.

Sellers are Melodie Hess, Caitlyn Cartwright, Rachel Cartwright and Sadee Chapmen.

The director of the production is Cliff Keen Jr.