The day in Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas, begins—as usual—with Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie at the microphones of Radio OKKK, broadcasting at a big 275 watts (at least when they remember to turn the transmitter on). Topping the headlines is the winning entry in the American Heritage Essay Contest, entitled “Human Rights, Why Bother?” Then, Arles exits, and in comes Didi Snavely of Didi’s Used Guns; she leaves and gives way to weatherman Harold Dean Lattimer: “We have this swarm of locusts that are headin’ our way from Louisiana, but we figure the dust will kill a lot of ’em, and the rest’ll probably get blown away or drown in this tropical storm that’s headin’ our way from the coast.”And the comedy continues, from Petey Fisk of the Humane Society talking about the duck problem and Yippy, the Pet of the Week to Phineas Blye, perpetual losing candidate for city council announcing he’s running again and revealing his plan to tax prisoners: “It would be easy, ’cause everyone knows where they are.” Of course, a day isn’t complete without the high school football report from Coach Raymond Chassie, who explains why his football team lost 48-0: “We lost mainly because we couldn’t score.”
And so the day continues, as Tuna’s citizens parade across the stage in all their outrageous and irreverent glory, commenting on life, politics, and what makes them (and sometimes us) tick.
Come see Ocoee Theatre Guild’s first ever DEBUT!
i < 3 u is a half-improvised musical comedy about online dating.
Our hapless hero will “meet” three audience members and try to woo them into an onstage “date”. The audience will act as his wingman providing dating tips and strategies.
Don’t miss this unique experience!
Tickets are on sale at OcoeeTheatreGuild.com
Featuring Beth McClary as Florence Foster Jenkins and Jerry M. Draper as Cosme McMoon.
For more than half a century the name Florence Foster Jenkins has been guaranteed to produce explosions of derisive laughter. Not unreasonably so, as this wealthy society eccentric suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was in fact incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. Nevertheless, her annual recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton hotel, where she resided, brought her extraordinary fame. As news of her terrible singing spread, so did her celebrity. Her growing mob of fans packed her recitals, stuffing handkerchiefs in their mouths to stifle their laughter—which Mrs. Jenkins blissfully mistook for cheers. The climax of her career was a single concert at Carnegie Hall in 1944. Famously, it sold out in two hours.
Circle Theatre – a Romantic Comedy by John Cariana February 10 – 26, 2017
Love / Sick by John Cariani (who wrote Almost, Maine performed at CTC 2008-09) is so new it is not yet published. The work by actor/playwright John Cariani (who is currently playing Nigel Bottom on Broadway in Something Rotten), Love/Sick is ten vignettes about love in the style of the much-loved and oft performed Almost, Maine. Cariani describes it as the darker side of Almost, Maine, but prefers another’s description: “An imperfect romance for imperfect lovers and dreamers.”
In this romantic comedy, It was love at first site when Zoe’, a young attractive attorney, laid eyes on the man of her dreams. His name? Kirk! Handsome, charming and so sweet that he sweeps her off her feet…but her new found love is only pretending to be the perfect mate and has started sleeping with her best friend Yonnie. Kirk uses his charismatic powers to get them both under his spell and Zoe’ truly believes Kirk is the best man she ever met, but is fooled by his love and betrayed by her best friend. As the secrets unfold, Zoe’s zany family members take matters into their own hands and the comedy is non-stop, but at the end of the day, Zoe’ realizes that true love is not what it seems!
Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman runs February 21-25 2016
Caroline, a veteran social worker, thinks she has a typical case on her hands when she meets Peter and Karlie, two teenage drug addicts accused of neglecting their baby. But when she places their infant daughter in the care of Karlie’s mother, Caroline sparks a family conflict that exposes a shadowy, secretive past—and forces her to make a risky decision with potentially disastrous consequences. Powerful and arresting, Luna Gale is a heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of love and betrayal.
Dewey Frye is dead and the rest of his family is left to pick up the pieces…that is if they don’t kill each other first. Not only does matriarch Dorothy have to contend with sudden widowhood, but she’s also faced with church committee harpy Ozella Meeks sticking her nose in the family business, Dewey’s snake-in-the-grass brother making a grab for her house, and two grown daughters reliving their childhood rivalry. Funerals bring out the worst, the best, and the funniest in people….and the Fryes are no exception. Penned by the duo of Osborne and Eppier, “Southern Fried Funeral” is a big-hearted comedy about family…Southern-style.
Performance dates are Feb. 23-25 and March 2-4.
In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway… and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson’s RENT continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the world. And now, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production. A re-imagining of Puccini’s La Bohème, RENT follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters—love.
Based on Playboy of the Western World. To an untidy little country saloon on a wild coast of Mayo, in Ireland, there comes a shy, frightened youth, Christy Mayo, with a tale of having killed his cruel father, with a single blow of a spade, a week ago on a distant farm. He is fleeing the police, and is accepted by Michael James, the publican, and his pretty but tart-tongued daughter, Pegeen, as a hero whom it would be well to hire as pot-boy.
East Brainerd Community Theater presents Steel Magnolias, March16-19 at Christ United Methodist Church on East Brainerd Rd. Times: March 16, 17 and 18 at 7:30. Matinees March 18 and 19 at 2:30. Tickets just $10!
Based on his own experience growing up in rural Natchitoches, Louisiana, Robert Harling’s landmark play “Steel Magnolias” explores the bonds between six women at a beauty salon. Harling based his play on the death of his sister, Susan, from complications related to diabetes. Combining light-hearted comedy and quirky characters with a serious, heart-rending storyline, Steel Magnolias has appealed to audiences both onstage and in its popular 1989 film adaptation. It has been translated into seventeen languages and has been produced across the world.