Volume 21, Issue 3 January, 2011 TCT Presents

January 27-29, 2011 7:30 p.m. & January 29, 2011 2:00 p.m.

hey met in college, five young women who forged their Lisa Kimes is Dinah. Last season, Lisa played Geneva Tfriendships as members of the school swim team. And Musgrave in Dearly Beloved. Among her other roles are they’ve remained friends through the blessings and bruises Lilly Belle Savage in The Curious Savage and Mrs. Mullen of life. They gather, these five Southern women, every in Carousel. August in the same beach cottage on the Outer Banks of The role of Lexie Richards is played by Merry Hughes. North Carolina for a long weekend of sun and sand, of Merry made her debut on TCT’s stage last year in the role laughter and lounging. The Dixie Swim Club eavesdrops of Izzy in Rabbit Hole, a role for which she was named on four of those sultry summer weekends, spanning 33 Best Supporting Actress by the Mississippi Theatre years and invites you into the world of these five women, Association. whose lives are very different, but who are melded togeth- Lynn Nelson, who is Vernadette, has been involved at er by a fierce friendship that transcends time and distance. TCT since 1985. She’s been a board member and officer, Sheree Hollinger, forever the team captain, organizes and has directed, acted and assisted with numerous pro- her life by the book, and tries to do the same for her ductions. Memorable roles she’s had at TCT include June friends. Dinah Grayson, an attorney by profession, serves in Smoke on the Mountain and Mrs. Paddy in The Curious up sarcasm along with her martinis. Then there’s the vain Savage. but devoted Lexie Richards who never heard about a plas- Rounding out the cast is Robin Haire as Jeri Lynn. This tic surgery she didn’t try. And Vernadette Simms? Think of marks Robin’s return to the TCT stage – The Dixie Swim Winnie the Pooh’s beloved but bad-luck-draped Eeyore Club will be her first comedy in 15 years. Favorite TCT and you’ve got Vernadette. And the group’s life-loving ray roles include Babe in Crimes of the Heart and Evalita of sunshine is Jeri Neal McFeeley. Turnover in Daddy’s Dyin’ – Who’s Got the Will? Under one roof one long weekend a year, these five, The Dixie Swim Club is skillfully directed by Cheryl lifelong friends share hormones, hilarity and heartache; Sproles in her TCT directorial debut. Assistant director is dreams and divorces; love and loss; memories of years Leslie Criss with lighting and sound by Bronwyn Teague, gone by and apprehensions about years to come. You’ll Lindsey Tanner and Sheena Barnett. Craig Helmuth is laugh along with these strong Southern women and, quite stage manager. possibly, shed a tear at their more vulnerable moments. This heartwarming comedy about lasting friendship is a Renee Baldwin is Sheree. She’s served on the TCT must-see. The production will be staged at 7:30 p.m. board, and has been involved onstage and off through the January 27, 28, 29, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, years. A familiar face to TCT patrons, Renee starred in January 29, at The Lyric Theatre. Tickets are $15 for Always, Patsy Cline. She’s also had memorable roles in adults and $6 for students. Reserve your seat now – you Anything Goes and Daddy’s Dyin’ – Who’s Got the Will? don’t want to miss this sure fire hit! Notes from the Executive Director appy New Year! 2011 their annual Elvis Birthday With a Mac McAnally concert His here! Time marches Celebration on January 7. On February 26 and auditions for The on and so does TCT. As anyone January 15, TCT will participate in Drowsy Chaperone in late who has been involved in produc- the Mississippi Theatre Association February, you can certainly see tions or events at the Lyric knows, Convention and Festival in our schedule for the few months of the activity never ends. Thanks to Meridian with a production of our year is full. As always, we Sonja Jenkins, Steve Miller, and Oleanna by David Mamet. Look for need your support as volunteers Christopher Schager for directing a Tupelo performance of this and patrons. Don’t let time slip our first three events of the year, Pulitzer Prize winning David away. If you have ever wanted to The Fantasticks, The Haunted Mamet play in February. be involved in some capacity, Theatre, and The Man Who Came As soon as we return from there is a place at TCT for you. to Dinner. A big thanks goes to MTA, Jonathan Martin, one of the Give us a call at 844-1935 to talk the dozens of volunteer cast and actors in Oleanna, will hold audi- about all the opportunities that crew members who also made tions for Harvey on January 17 abound. Thank you for all you these events successful. and 18. On February 5, TCT will have done to help make Tupelo TCT began rehearsals for the partner with the Mississippi North Community wonderful southern comedy, The District Junior Civitans to host A Theatre “The Dixie Swim Club, in December. Splash of Talent, a youth talent Model for Directed by Cheryl Sproles, it will competition. Many of you remem- Volunteer hit the Lyric stage on January 27- ber that TCT partnered with the Community 29. We were thankful to once Civitans for a dinner at Goodlett Theatre.” again partner with the Downtown Manor before our production of -Tom Booth Tupelo Main Street Association for Catfish Moon last season. Executive Director TCT Participates in MTA Festival upelo Community Theatre will their very own natures and places Tparticipate in the Mississippi in our society. During further dis- Theatre Association Convention cussions, the audience sees how and Festivals at the historic their relationship changes. Mississippi State University Riley Time Magazine called Oleanna Center in downtown Meridian one of the best plays of 1992. In January 14-16, 2011. TCT will 2009 Oleanna was revived on complete in the community theatre Broadway starring Bill Pullman festival with its production of and Julia Stiles. Jonathan Martin Oleanna, by the Pulitzer Prize-win- plays John in the TCT production. ning playwright David Mamet. Last seen on the TCT stage in Mamet’s most controversial drama And Then There Were None, details the relationship a college professor has with Jonathan is an attorney and is married to local TCT one of his students who is having difficulty with his favorite Lisa Ganaway Martin. They have two sons. class. The play questions the nature of education in Ole Miss Musical Theatre major and Columbus resi- American, its purpose and function in modern society, dent Sarah Weatherby plays Carol. The talented as well as the nature of political correctness. singer and actress had her Lyric debut in the 2010 John, the professor, is distracted – thanks to his Gumtree production of All Shook Up as Lorraine. She upcoming tenure review and purchase of a new is the daughter of Arleen Peek Weatherby and the home for his family. Carol, the student, is distraught late Simeon T. Weatherby, Sr. Tom Booth directs this over her grades and her feelings about herself as a riveting drama and is assisted by Allana Austin. A person. As they meet, the two discuss the nature of local performance of production will be scheduled understanding and judgment in society, as well as sometime in February.

2 Welcome Back Mac! CT plans to start written six number one T2011 off right by singles in his career. welcoming Mississippi Signed to Show Dog native and local Nashville, Mac favorite, Mac released “Down By McAnally, back to our The River” in August stage for a concert on 2009, immediately February 26 at 7:30 drawing the kind of p.m. in the historic accolades you’d Lyric Theatre. Music expect for a musician was the most obvious and artist who’s been road for Lyman “Mac” sought out by the likes McAnally to take from of Reba McEntire, T.G. his Belmont home- Sheppard, David Allan town. He was a guitar Coe, Shenandoah, and piano prodigy , who performed in , Randy clubs at 13, wrote his Travis, , first song at 15 and Hank Williams, Jr., landed as a Muscle Amy Grant, Jimmy Shoals studio musi- Buffett, Travis Tritt, cian at 18. Mac signed his first record deal at 20 and and many more. And his guitar and vocal skills launched two successful singles that were on the weren’t confined to the studio as he joined Buffett’s . touring , an association that contin- Alabama took his “Old Flame” to Number 1 in ues to this day. McAnally has also produced several 1981. The song cemented his status as a hit maker, a of Buffett’s albums and written many of his songs. reputation that has never waned. As an accom- Two days before the concert in Tupelo, McAnally plished and acclaimed music maker over his storied will receive the prestigious Excellence in Music award career, Mac’s never seen anything quite like the last from Governor Haley Barbour at the annual three years where he was named Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. The Association’s Musician of the Year for 2008, 2009, ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 24, and 2010. Mac was been honored with ASCAP and 2011 in the auditorium at the Mississippi Department Nashville Songwriters Association International of Education in downtown Jackson. The event is free awards for “Down The Road,” the and open to the public. Congratulations Mac! smash which hit Mac wrote. Tickets for the concert are $45 and $30. They When he’s not picking up trophies, McAnally is may be reserved NOW by TCT season ticket holders busy filling concert venues and pleasing fans. Named and by the general public beginning January 17 by to the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2007 and the calling the TCT box office at 844-1935. Mississippi Music Hall of Fame in 2008, McAnally has TCT PERSONNEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TCT EMERITUS 201 North Broadway Fred Cannon Danny McKenzie Jess Mark (1982-2008) P.O. Box 1094 Tracie Maxey-Conwill Steve Miller Gene Murphey Tupelo, MS 38802 Liz Dawson Suzanne Oakley Ruth Liveakos (1969-2008) 662-844-1935 Jay Dey Rob Rice Edith Thomas Jauna Ellis Debra Robison Visit us online at Beth Stone Frick Donna Rumbarger BOX OFFICE MANAGER www.tct.ms Tommy Green Rosemary Rutledge Lisa Hall Jeff Houin Suzye Sheffield [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Josh Mabus Michelle Waits Tom Booth Steve McAlilly Beverly Williams NEWSLETTER EDITOR [email protected] Lynn Nelson

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Auditions for Harvey CT will hold auditions for the clas- seen as much of his eccentric behavior Tsic Broadway comedy Harvey, by as she can tolerate. She decides to Mary Chase, January 17 and 18 at have him committed to a sanitarium to 6:30 p.m. in the rehearsal hall of the spare her family from future embarrass- Lyric Theatre. Talented actor and ment. Problems arise, however, when local attorney Jonathan Martin will Veta herself is mistakenly committed direct. No advance preparation is instead of Elwood. When the truth needed and parts for six adult men comes out, the search is on for Elwood and six women are available. The and his invisible companion. When he 1944 play has become one of the shows up at the sanitarium looking for most successful and popular plays his lost friend Harvey, it seems that the ever produced. Many people are mild-mannered Elwood’s delusion has familiar with the story of Elwood P. had a strange influence on more than Dowd thanks to the 1950 movie of the one of the doctors. Only at the end does same name starring Jimmy Stewart. Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn’t so bad after all. The play begins when Elwood starts to introduce Production dates for Harvey are March 10-12, his imaginary friend, Harvey, a six-and-a-half-foot rab- 2011. For more information about the auditions or for bit, to guests at a society party. His sister, Veta, has tickets, contact the TCT Office at 662-844-1935.