August 2002 Edition

Serving Up A Comedy: Bathroom Humor

Port Arthur Little Theatre and the Garden Terrace Tea Room have joined together to serve up another slice of comedic dinner theater for your enjoyment. Aug. 16 is the opening date of two weekends of fun; the other dates are Aug. 17, 23 and 24. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., with the play starting at 7:30. The cost is $22 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 727-PALT. The Team room is located at 1035 Nederland Avenue. This show is rated PG-13 for adult situations and humor.

Donny Avery is directing this presentation of Bathroom Humor, by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, and Bridget Farias is assisting him. Carrie Wilson is assisting in costume selection, and Isaiah Good is in charge of the set crew.

Bathroom Humor is a satire that comments on both the pleasures and punishments of the party scene of the '80s. Bridget Farias and Robe Copeland play spouses Laura and Arthur, who attend a business party and are admired by all, Laura for her grace and style and Arthur for his professionalism and good looks. Their "other" faces are revealed when Arthur has an affaire with his sexy secretary, Babette, played by Cheri Wells, and Laura's new habit of drinking causes her long-term affair with one of her husband's employees to come to an end.

Judd Farris plays Sandy, the unfaithful and disloyal employee. Anna Taylor plays Peg, another partygoer who envies Laura and Babette for their "success" with men as well as their slim figures but doesn't want to succumb to their artificiality. Larry Cooper portrays The Big El, an Elvis impersonator whose act definitely needs some work. He strikes a chord in Peg and they share a rare sincerity.

Rachel Lopez plays Stu, a drug addict who thinks he has hit a drug jackpot at the party but in reality spends the night sniffing body powder and eating plant food. Guy Varney plays Peg's father, a polite old man who desperately needs to use the bathroom himself. All of the action takes place in the bathroom of the host's house, adding to the hilarity of the situations.

Make reservations now to see this funny show, giving the expression "bathroom humor" a whole new meaning.

The Music Man Marches In

The Port Arthur Little Theatre started its 2002-03 season with a wonderful musical lesson in American history with 1776 and continues to celebrate early America with its first mainstage production, The Music Man. Written by Meredith Wilson, The Music Man is a valentine to small-town life. Set in 1912 in the little town of River City, Iowa, the story's heart is one of life-changing love.

Damon Gengo, John Adams of 1776, takes on the role of Harold Hill, con man extraordinaire, who arrives in River City with plans to line his own pockets with their money and skip town. His racket is to convince townspeople that he is a professor of music and that he can take the boys of the town and turn them into a magnificent marching band if only the adults will supply the funds for instruments and uniforms.

Matthew Ravey plays his old crony, Marcellus Washburn, who tells Hill that he won't get anywhere in River City, mainly because of the town librarian/music teacher, Marian Paroo, brought to life by Becca Fleming. Hill sets out to charm her and she sets out to prove him a fraud. He stirs up the enthusiasm of the townspeople but gets caught in his own trap when he falls in love with the prim and proper Marian and convinces himself to actually be Harold Hill, Music Man.

Jeff Courts takes the stage for his debut as the long-suffering mayor of River City Mayor Shinn. Ann Holland is his stern wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, and Amanda Henson and Hillary Gray play their children, Zaneeta and Gracie. Jacob Good is Zaneeta's would-be boyfriend, Tommy Djilas, the town ruffian and gang leader.

Gale Walker is Marian's Irish mama, Mrs. Paroo, and Logan Hendon is the lisping little brother, Winthrop. Kara Partain plays Amaryllis, Danny McClintock is Constable Locke, and Phillip Gray is Charlie Carwell. Rosie Einkauf is Alma Hix, head of the dance committee, and Lydia Harris, Courtney Wind and Kerry Pedigo play Ethel Toffelmier, Mrs. Square and Maude Dunlop, respectively.

Danny McClintock, Isaiah Good, Wesley Deggs, Robby Badgett and Tyson Peveto are the traveling salesmen who open the show talking about the sales prowess of one Harold Hill. Carl Heubach is the conductor. Tom Van Velson as Ewart Dunlop, Sandy Wall as Oliver Hix, Michael Chang as Jacey Squires and John Holland as Olin Britt play school board members.

Maia and Cassandra Cote, Duane Sibley, Dallas and Hannah Gray, Derek Molero, Ashley Wise, Kelly Wade, Joseph Jones, Hunter Courts, Cassie Queen, Anthony and Carter Holland, Mason Hendon, Elizabeth Cloys, Jake Lutz, Sophia Lima, Kylie Einkauf, Jenny Yeats, Jennifer Dodd and Sierra and Todd Frederick complete the cast as River City citizens.

Thomas Xavier directs, and Jean Heubach is producing. S. Jay Vinecour and Haley Ledet are serving as co-assistant directors as well as providing the musical accompaniment and choreography. Patti Daniel will serve as stage manager and Kay Lene is securing props. Ann Holland brings her love of the show to the costuming department.

The show plays Sept. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee performances are Sept. 8, 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. All performances are at the PALT Playhouse, 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. Prices for non-members are $10 for adults, with a $2 discount for students and senior citizens. Memberships are still available. For reservations and other information, call 727-PALT.

Join PALT for a delightful step back in time to early American small-town life.

Brooke Doyle Represents PALT

Every year, the Port Arthur Little Theatre sponsors a high-school senior girl to represent it in CavOILcade festivities, and this year Brooke Amber Doyle is princess. A 17-year-old senior at Port Neches-Groves, Doyle is a member of Who's Who Among American High School Students and has served as class reporter and duchess as well as being a six-year member of the Student Council.

She is enrolled in the cosmetology class at PN-G and will be a licensed cosmetologist upon graduation. She practices her chosen trade at Visions of Summer Hair Salon in Groves. She is also planning on going to Lamar State College-Port Arthur in the fall to take theater classes. A 10-year dance student, Doyle performed a dance routine at halftime for two Dallas Cowboys football games and shared her expertise in PALT productions of Cinderella, Peter Pan and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She's even appeared as an extra in an independent film shot in Austin, Vince del Rio.

Her parents, Mike and Cindy Doyle, and her sister Brandi are surely proud of her and all of her accomplishments. She attends St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches, where she substitute teaches for classes in religious education. She enjoys designing clothes and perhaps is designing the gown she will wear in the CavOILcade pageant. She is being escorted by Matthew Ravey.

Everyone at PALT wishes her the best and thanks her for representing the Port Arthur Little Theatre. Break a leg!

Wanted: Newsletter Publisher

PALT is looking for a volunteer to help publish the printed version of Footlights newsletter. The person will need to have knowledge of a desktop publishing program such as MS Publisher or PageMaker. Call 727-PALT if you're interested in helping out!