Riding the success and popularity of this year’s production of Oliver! the Highlands Summer Festival will again feature a musical as its flagship production for its 2017 season.

“I thought we needed to capitalize on that” said the festival’s artistic director Scot Denton as he unveiled the 2017 lineup at a launch event at McKeck’s Tap and Grill in Haliburton Nov. 20.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the 1960s farce by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with music by Stephen Sondheaim tells the story of a slave in ancient Rome who tries to earn his freedom by finding a mate for his master.

“It’s one of the funniest musicals ever” Denton said adding there are lots of ensemble roles and that the production will offer an opportunity for elaborate set decoration and costumes.

There will be 10 performances.

Proof a play by David Auburn examines the life of young woman grieving the loss of her father a legendary mathematician who loses his mind to dementia.

“Is Catherine gifted with her father’s genius or is she tainted by his madness?” Denton said.

There will be eight performances of Proof.

Other shows include: Jake’s Gift which follows a veteran as he returns to the beaches of Normandy on the 60th anniversary of D-Day; Three Men in a Boat a stage adaptation of an 1889 travelogue created for the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival; and Hilda’s Yard a Norm Foster comedy that follows the adventures of a pair of empty-nesters in the 1950s.

“It’s a very funny play” Denton said.

The festival’s Early Stages program will also return prepping local youth for the stage.

“We will again invest in the young people of our community” Denton said.

Season passes for the festival which include one ticket for each of the five shows are on sale now for $150. Single ticket prices are $35.

To order tickets call 705-457-9933 or visit www.highlandssummerfestival.on.ca. With Canada and the Dysart celebrating sesquicentennial anniversaries next year the festival will also be giving away 150 tickets to selected shows. Those details will also be available on the festival website.