TOPSHAM —

Carolyn Sweet’s son Logan, six years ago this May, got off the bus like every other normal day. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Logan had a fun play date with a neighborhood friend and then the family was getting ready to go out for bowling. Without any warning Logan collapsed on the living room floor, only to take his last breath in his mother’s arms.

Logan had passed away. He was only six years old. How could a six year old boy die without warning, only two days after a doctor’s physical? The news quickly spread within the community and the family was devastated. The family learned two days after Logan’s passing that his autopsy report indicated that his heart was 75 percent larger than normal and within four months time, the family learned that Logan’s death was caused by a virus that attacked his heart. The virus attack is called Viral Myocarditits.

Later on, the Sweet family learned that if Logan, during his six-year physical, would have asserted his heart in some manner, an irregular heartbeat could have been detected. However, most physicals are conducted with doctors listening to the heart while resting. The findings prompted the Sweet family to have fundraisers to educate and bring awareness to this rare heart condition.

The family founded The Logan Sweet Foundation to raise funds for the Myocarditis Foundation. The emphasis is on good eating habits, good health and the importance of living a healthy and happy lifestyle, and being proactive in your child’s medical visits is part of The Logan Sweet Foundation’s mission as well as helping others who have experienced this tragedy.

Carolyn Sweet came to Studio 48 Performing Arts and Dance Center for lessons earlier this year, for two of her children. Rebecca Beck, owner of the Studio and founder of the New England Regional Theater Company, also the music director and producer, expressed to Sweet that she wanted to help spread awareness of this heart condition, and decided to donate 10 percent of the ticket sales to the “Logan Sweet Foundation” from the upcoming production of  “Oliver!, The Musical” which is the retelling of Charles Dickens’ story, “Oliver Twist,” played by (Johnmarcus Willey) of Bath.

The plot concerns the adventures of an orphan boy (Oliver) in 19th-century London as he escapes abusive treatment in an orphanage and joins Fagin’s Gang, played by( Patrick Scully of Brunswick), and his pickpocket boys headed by Dodger, (Sam Allen of Harpswell). Nancy, played by (Andrea Carr of Topsham), protects Oliver to her death, murdered by her abusive lover, Bill Sykes, played by (Kyle Aarons of Topsham), but a wealthy man Mr. Brownlow, (played by Mike Blakemore of Bath), discovers that Oliver is his grandson. Oliver, in the end, lives comfortably in his grandfather’s home.

The show originally opened in London’s West End in 1960, and ran for over 2,600 performances. It came to the U.S. for a national tour in 1962, followed by a Broadway production opening in 1963. “Oliver!” has had a number of revivals in London and New York, and has been an audience favorite in regional theaters for decades. Many of the show’s themes seem very current to the 21st century, such as poverty and abuse in which, Adam P. Blais, director and choreographer brings to the stage such human elements with a realistic approach, even though the story is fictional.

Songs include “Where is Love,” “It’s a Fine Life,” “I’d Do Anything,” and “As Long As he Needs Me, ” with high-spirited dance numbers filled with unforgettable tunes, including “Pick-a-pocket,” and “Consider Yourself.”

The musical will be accompanied by a live eight-piece orchestra conducted by David Doyon. Tickets are $15/$12/$10. For more information, call 207-798-6966 or to reserve your tickets email nertctickets@gmail.com.