Coming Soon—Two Great Shows!

Volume 29, Issue 2 November 2018 Coming soon—two great shows!

pen the door. You'll never believe what you'll O find. You are about to enter the magical land of Narnia, the land behind the wardrobe door where hen people discuss American playwrights and animals talk, wood nymphs frolic, a white witch co- W the great works produced by this esteemed vers the landscape with snow and bewitches you group, one name always rises to the top – Edward with Turkish Delight, and where a mighty lion res- Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Tupelo Com- cues you when you get into trouble. C.S. Lewis' first munity Theatre is excited to produce this iconic play tale of Narnia is beloved by children and adults the at its TCT Off Broadway space located at 213 East world over and now comes to vibrant life on the Franklin Street. stage of the Lyric Theatre. This show was winner of the New York Drama Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, four young Critics Circle Award in 1962, the Tony Award for evacuees from war-torn London, arrive at a rambling Best Play, the Foreign Press Association Award, An- old country house and stumble upon a spare room, toinette Perry Award, Outer Circle Award, Saturday which is empty but for a large wardrobe. While the Review Drama Critics Award, and Variety Drama others go off exploring the house, Lucy opens the Critics’ Poll Award all in 1963. It was also nominated wardrobe, pushes through the fur coats and finds for the Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a herself by a lamppost in a snow-covered wood. Be- Play for Albee in 1976 and the Tony Award for Best friended by a faun (Mr. Tumnus) who appears sud- Revival of a Play in 2005. The Pulitzer Prize commit- denly, she learns that she is in the strange land of tee for the Best Play in 1963 recommended Who’s Narnia, where it is per- Afraid of Virginia Woolf, but the Pulitzer board, which manently Winter, but has sole discretion in December 6-8, 2018 never Christmas, November 15-17, 2018 awarding the prize, 7:30 p.m. thanks to a spell cast rejected the recom-

December 8, 2018 by the wicked White mendation and no 2:00 p.m. Witch. 7:00 p.m. award was given that When Lucy re- year. Sponsored by: turns from Narnia This production con- The show opened and tells the others of tains language and sit- in October 1962 at her adventure, they uations some patrons the Billy Rose Theatre initially refuse to be- may find offensive on Broadway to (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2)

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lieve her story, but mixed reviews. Without the Edmund follows her producer’s perseverance, into the wardrobe and Albee’s play might never meets the Witch, who have had a successful six promises to make him King if he leads his brother hundred sixty nine- and sisters to her castle. Finally, Peter and Susan performance run. Despite also arrive, by which time the powers of evil have its initial critics, the charac- gained the ascendancy, the faun is under arrest for ters and their conflicts have largely contributed to the treason and the Witch's enemies are all being turned play becoming a classic of modern drama. One critic to stone statues. wrote “The plot stands as one of the great theatrical Aslan the lion (Lord of the Wood) returns to Narnia treatments of the dysfunctional family, a subject to defeat the Witch and enlists the children's help, American drama has been in love with from the be- leading to chases, duels and escapes as the witch is ginning; this is not the drippy prime-time variety of determined to keep Narnia in her possession and to television’s version of ‘family drama’…but rather the end the reign of Aslan. This story of love, faith, cour- obsessive reexamination of how families love and age and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a hate each other...” true celebration of life. A seasoned group of TCT actors tackle this four- First time director Jeff Houin and his assistant character play and tour de force of American drama. director (and wife) Christi Houin have assembled a The award-winning Mark Maharrey, who many re- cast of veteran TCT actors as well as some newcom- member as Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam Coun- ers to the Lyric Stage. ty Spelling Bee, takes on the role of George, the put- In the TCT production, Jonathan Martin plays upon college professor husband who is married to Aslan and Haley Agnew portrays his nemesis, the his spoiled and sharp-tongued wife Martha, the White Witch. The children are played by Tucker daughter of the college president. Martha is por- Cowsert (Peter), Kelby Horne (Susan), Thomas trayed by Lori Greer who was last seen in the award Roper (Edmund), and Mary Chapel Whitehead -winning production of Cicada as the mother and in (Lucy). The trembling faun Tumnus is brought to life Dial M for Murder and Born Yesterday in the by Ben Childers, and Jason Pannell plays a devilish 1990’s. Christian Harrison and Maddie Ludt play Fenris Ulf. The inhabitants of Narnia include both the new and younger college professor Nick and his mythical creatures (Morgan Bailey/Unicorn, Gavin mousy and easily upset wife Honey. Christian was Lane/Centaur, Taylor Brown/Dwarf, Anne Frances seen last year as Big Harp in The Robber Bride- Atkinson/Elf, Julian Carroll/Father Christmas, groom and as Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dol- Kaylee Heitger and Bonnie Catherine Baldwin/ ly. Maddie was seen last season in Last Train to Ni- Wood Nymphs) and forest animals (Jacob Glover/ broc and as the dearly departed wife in Blithe Spirit. Mr. Beaver, Emily Mote/Mrs. Beaver, Savannah Directed by two-time Mississippi best director Rose Scruggs/White Stag, Trinity Locke, Abrielle winner Tom Booth and aided by assistant director Carnathan, Alex Spearman, Brice Stone, George Tracie Conwill, the show is presented in three acts. Martin, and Rachel Burleson). Also inhabiting Nar- It is rated R for language and discussions some pa- nia is the White Witch’s fearsome army (Kaylan trons may find offensive. Flemings, Braxton Johnson, Caleigh Martin, Lan- Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students don Ragin, Harmony Crump, Matthew Butler, and and are on sale now. Curtain will rise at 7:00 p.m. Ethan Navarro). due to the length of the show. Curtain time at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway in Don’t miss your opportunity to visit this dark downtown Tupelo is 7:30 p.m. December 6, 7 and 8, comedy in a searing night of dangerous fun and with a matinee at 2 p.m. on December 8. For more games where by evening’s end, a stunning and al- information or to reserve tickets, call the TCT office at most unbearable revelation provides a climax that 844-1935. You’ll be glad you came! has shocked audiences for years.

Auditions! Auditions! CT will hold auditions for The Glitter Girls November 18 at T 2:00 pm and November 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Tupelo Off Broadway, 213 E. Franklin Street. Parts are available for seven women and three men, ages 20-70+. Written by Mississippi native Mark Dunn, this southern comedy takes us through a specially called meeting of a north Georgia social club called “The Glitter Girls.” The club’s richest member, Trudy Tromaine (who is at death’s door) convenes the meeting to express her wishes to bequeath some of her mil- lions to one lucky “Sister of the Gleam and Sparkle.” Production dates are January 24-26, 2019 and will mark the Mississippi premier of this hilarious story. No advance preparation is necessary. For more information, you may call the TCT office at 662-844-1935 or email directors Lynn Nelson ([email protected]) or Cheryl Sproles ([email protected]).

CT will hold auditions for {title of show} December T 10 and 11 at 6 p.m. at Tupelo Off Broadway, 213 E. Franklin Street. Parts are available for women and men, ages 18-35 and all actors must be able to sing. The one-act musical, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell chronicles the strug- gles of an author and composer/lyricist and their two actress friends during the creative period, along with subsequent events leading up to the show's production. The writer and stars of the show, as well as its director, all won Obie Awards for their work on the off-Broadway production, and the author was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. Production dates are February 14-16, 2019. Those auditioning should bring their own recorded music if singing something other than from {title of show}. If auditioning with a song from the show, TCT will have that accompaniment track available. Haley Agnew Johnson and John McCustion will direct. For more information, you may call the TCT office at 662-844-1935 or email [email protected]

TCT PERSONNEL TCT BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS 201 North Broadway P.O. Box 1094 Renee Baldwin Johnathan Martin Jess Mark (1982-2008) Tupelo, MS 38802 Debra Byrd Meredith Martin Gene Murphey(1969-2016) 662-844-1935 Tracie Conwill Steve Miller Ruth Liveakos (1969-2008) Bev Crossen Lynn Nelson Edith Thomas (1969-2013) Visit us online at Mallory Davidson Suzanne Oakley www.tct.ms Beth Frick Rob Rice BOX OFFICE MANAGER Bobby Geno Debra Robison Lisa Hall Tommy Green Rosemary Rutledge [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Houin Charlie White Tom Booth Chris Hussey Beverly Williams NEWSLETTER EDITOR [email protected] Judd Wilson Lynn Nelson

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Finish Your Christmas Shopping on’t know what to get for the person who has everything? Need ideas for D perfect stocking stuffers? Look no further than the TCT box office. Tickets to TCT productions might even make Scrooge smile! Call the TCT office for prices. You can get a “mini-season” ticket for the remaining shows in the season for as little as $50. Call the TCT office for more information! Remaining shows in the season include: • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe gets your holiday season started off right with a true celebration of life—December 6-8, 2018 • The Glitter Girls, brings hilarity from the “Sisters of the Gleam and Sparkle”—January 24-26, 2019 • A Time to Kill brings Mississippi’s own John Grisham’s riveting nov- el to the stage—March 7-9, 2019 • The Addams Family caps the season with the antics of the darkest and quirkiest family ever— April 25-27, 2019