Local production of “The Fantasticks” explores growing pains with humor and song

Cherie Ulmer has loved “The Fantasticks” since she was 18 years old.

To her, it’s a play about learning to come of age despite — or more likely because — of pain and heartache. It’s a message that spoke to her as a young person in 1975, and still resonates today.

Now, she’s the director for a Salem production. It premiered at the Pentacle Theatre on Dec. 1, and will run through Dec. 17.

On…