The Theatre Company Presents...
Southern Hospitality
Friday–Saturday, June 10 & 11 at 7:30pm and Sunday, June 12 at 2:00 pm
First there was Dearly Beloved, then there was Christmas Belles, and now, with many of the same actors returning in their roles, the Theatre Company and the Ozark Arts Council are pleased to present Southern Hospitality, the third play in the trilogy of the “Futrelle Sisters” of Fayro, Texas. Playwrights, Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten have simply outdone themselves. The play is presented through the permission of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Director Mary Bishop says that although she has loved all three plays, this third one of the trilogy may be her favorite. “The comedy is non-stop, and the characters are members of our family…seriously, we all have an Aunt Iney!”
We are pleased to have many of our cast returning to recreate their roles from the first two plays of the series. Jamie Taylor ( who recently directed South Pacific) as Dub, Dana O’Quin (who recently directed Titanic and starred in The Dinner Party) as Honey Raye, Linda Henson (who was in both South Pacific and Titanic) as Twink, and Vive Allen (who was in Titanic in dual roles) as Geneva. Also many Theatre Company favorites are joining this cast, Lisa Johnson, Cameron Carlton and Darrell Whorton, who were recently seen in starring roles in South Pacific; Tom Fitton, Rachel McNair and Katy Enlow, who were recently seen in Titanic and South Pacific; Hannah Whorton, seen in last fall’s dinner theater production of Tender Ties, and also a Theatre Company Senior Award recipient; Leisa Dodson who was recently seen as a witch in Shakespeare, and last fall in the Jones Hope Wooten production of Hallelujah Girls; and joining us for his first time in a Theatre Company production is Dan Reynolds, of K26TV fame in the role of Raynerd, the most loveable character in the play. Bishop says “I am so excited about this cast, and excited to be directing them in such a wonderful southern comedy. It is a bittersweet time for me, as my late husband was a member of the cast of the second play in the trilogy, Christmas Belles. He would have loved this play. E. Michael Bishop will always be with us here in the theater.”
The Story
The Futrelle Sisters—Frankie ( Rachel McNair), Twink (Linda Henson), Honey Raye (Dana O’Quin) and Rhonda Lynn (Lisa Johnson)—are in trouble again. This time, the problem is bigger than ever: Their beloved hometown, Fayro, Texas, is in danger of disappearing, and it's up to the sisters to save it from extinction. Ever since the Super SmartMart and the rendering plant closed, folks have been leaving Fayro in droves, but Honey Raye, with a major assist from her former nemesis, Geneva Musgrave (Vive Allen), has come up with a possible solution. It seems a salsa manufacturing factory is looking to relocate, and a company representative is headed to Fayro on a scouting mission. 
Honey Raye, as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, makes promises that are not to be believed in order to woo the rep to choose Fayro. In fact, Honey Raye has told them that on the very weekend of the rep's visit, the town just happens to be having their biggest celebration of the year: “Fayro Days,” which includes a craft show, a pet costume parade, a beauty pageant and a huge Civil War battle reenactment. So now it's up to the citizens of Fayro to quickly make her promises a reality. The biggest hurdle to impressing the salsa representative is staging a Civil War battle reenactment with only fifteen participants. Added to this is the dilemma of Twink being so desperate to get married that she's practically dragging the unwilling groom, Deputy John Curtis Buntner (Darrell Whorton), to the altar. But this pales next to the financial problems the preacher and his wife are having—unless you don't consider gambling away your mobile home a problem. Frankie, however, seems to have it worst of all, what with her husband, Dub (Jamie Taylor), going through a major midlife crisis at the same time her five-year-old twins are literally tearing up the town. And unfortunately for all of them, the “meanest woman in twelve counties,” Dub's wicked, old Aunt Iney (Katey Enlow), is on her way for a visit. Iney's arrival in Fayro is definitely cause for alarm for the sisters; but it's nothing compared to their panic when the old girl drops dead in the Dubberly home just before the salsa rep shows up. But how the Futrelle sisters and the other citizens of Fayro, including sweet, simple Raynerd Chisum (Dan Reynolds), D. Dayva (Leisa Dodson), the “church lady,” G.J (Hannah Whorton), Dub and Frankie’s daughter and her preacher husband, Justin (Cameron Carlton), along with the irrepressible invisible friend of Raynerd’s, Buck (Tom Fitton) all pull together and save their town is a testament to Southern strength and ingenuity—and a recipe for total hilarity.
A laugh-out-loud farce and a stand-alone play in its own right, Southern Hospitality is the third play in the trilogy that begins with Dearly Beloved and continues with Christmas Belles.
Helping with this play is Ann Graffy, set design and construction. “ Ann is a super set designer,” if you saw the set for the NorthArk production of “The Dinner Party” you know what I mean,” said Bishop. Technical and Lighting Director is Tony Grimes. Tony has been with the Theatre Company for years, and is our “lighting guru.” I am not comfortable directing a play, unless I know Tony is doing lights for me, he is the best,” says Bishop. Playing piano before the play begins, and during intermission is Dicksie Milburn, pianist extraordinaire. Assisting the Director before she leaves on her Alaskan cruise is Roz Slavik. Roz is great at finding props and assisting the director, and we are happy to have her here until she sails!! Working behind the scenes, as stages managers are Michael Hughes, recently seen in Titanic and South Pacific, and Tom Fitton, who was in Titanic, and was one of the hard working stage managers for South Pacific. Cast photographer is Bryan McNair, whose photography talents are very much appreciated.
Production dates are June 10 and 11, 2011 at 7:30 pm and June 12, 2011 at 2:00pm at the Historic Lyric Theater. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 students and Senior Citizens and $5.00 for Children. OAC members have a 20% discount off the above named prices. Box office will open 1 hour before each performance, or tickets can be reserved by calling 870-391-3405. The Theatre Company is a founding member of the Ozark Arts Council.
See you in Fayro!!!
Cast
Miss Geneva Musgrave – Vive Allen
Honey Raye Futrelle – Dana O’Quin
Gina Jo (G.J.) Dubberly Waverly – Hannah Whorton
Rhonda Lynn Lampley – Lisa Johnson
Twink Futrelle – Linda Henson
Justin Waverly – Cameron Carlton
John Curtis Buntner – Darrell Whorton
Dub Dubberly – Jamie Taylor
Frankie Futrelle Dubberly – Rachel Weaver McNair
Raynerd Chisum – Dan Reynolds
Iney Dubberly – Katey Enlow
D. Dayva Davidson – Leisa Dodson
Buck Strickland – Tom Fitton
Crew
Director – Mary Bishop
Assistant Director – Roz Slavic
Technical Director – Tony Grimes
Musical Director – Dicksie Milburn
Set Design and Construction – Ann Graffy
Cast Photographer – Bryan McNair
Stage Managers – Tom Fitton, Michael Hughes
