The curtain will rise at the historic Ringgold Depot later this week with The Ringgold Playhouse’s (TRP) final production of its 2016 season, Tennessee Williams’ classic drama, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” whichopens for a seven-performance run beginning Aug. 18.
Following the success of its big summer comedy, “Noises Off,” TRP is once again turning to a powerful drama to close out its season at the historic Ringgold Depot.
“We ended the season with ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ last year, and it was so popular, we figured we’d tryout another Williams’ work this season,” said Adam Cook, TRP’s executive director. “It’s a great piece of American theatre, and we’re really excited about the talented cast that’s involved with this project.”
The show is being directed by popular TRP regular Ronald King, who directed Larry Shue’s “The Nerd” to open the season.
The “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” cast has been hard at work since mid June. Standing, from left: Zack Jordan as “Gooper,” Carina Miller as “Trixie,” Nikki Sloan as “Mae,” Joshua Chisholm as “Brick,” David Howard as “Rev. Tooker,” Carolina Price as “Lacey,” and Lamar Bankston as “Sookey.” Sitting, from left: Steve Jordan as “Big Daddy,” Whitney Standefer as “Maggie,” and Aleatha Plott as “Big Mama”. (Contributed photo/TRP)
“This cast is so great,” King said. “It’s coming together better than I ever thought it would. This is one of my favorites I’ve ever directed….it’s going to be really good.”
The play is set in a plantation house in 1950s Mississippi.
The family celebrates the 65th birthday of “Big Daddy,” as they sentimentally dub him. The mood is somber, despite the festivities because a number of evils poison the gaiety: greed, sins of the past, and the desperate clawing towards the future emerge between family members. The knowledge that Big Daddy is dying slowly makes the rounds. Maggie, Big Daddy’s daughter-in- law, wants to give him the news that she’s finally become pregnant by his favorite son, Brick, but Brick won’t cooperate in Maggie’s plans and prefers to stay in a mild alcoholic haze the entire length of his visit. Swarming around Maggie and Brick are their intrusive relatives, all eager to see Maggie put in her place and Brick tumbled from his position of most-beloved son. By evening’s end, Maggie’s ingenuity, fortitude, and passion will set things right, and Brick’s love for his father, never before expressed, will retrieve him from his path of destruction and return him, helplessly, to Maggie’s loving arms.
The cast features Whitney Standefer as “Maggie,” Joshua Chisholm as “Brick,” Steve Jordan as “Big Daddy,” Aleatha Plott as “Big Mama,” Zack Jordan as “Gooper,” Nikki Sloan as “Mae,” Dexter Coley as “Dr. Baugh,” David Howard as “Rev. Tooker,” Lamar Bankston as “Sookey,” Carolina Price as “Lacey,” Carina Miller as “Trixie,” and Noah McKinnon as “Buster.”
Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and students, and can be purchased in person at Ringgold City Hall, over the phone at 706-935- 3061, or online at cityofringgold.com.
Production dates: Aug. 18-27 at 7:30 p.m. Special matinee Aug. 27 at 2 p.m.
Where: Ringgold Depot.
Tickets: $10 general admission. $8 for seniors and students
Phone: 706-935- 3061