November 2001 Edition

Steel Magnolias Bloom in Nederland

Port Arthur Little Theatre will present its first dinner theater production of the season, Steel Magnolias, in conjunction with The Garden Terrace Tea Room in Nederland. The smash comedy-drama, directed by Mike Hayes, will be staged Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17 with dinner beginning at 6:30 and the show starting around 7:30 p.m. The dinner and show price is $21 per person. For reservations and more information, call The Garden Terrace Tea Room, located inside Christian General Store on Boston Avenue, at 729-4832 or the PALT reservation line at 724-1840.

Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling, is a wonderful blend of humor tinged with tragedy and is based on the life of the author's sister. The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, La., where all the ladies who are "anybody" gather to have their hair done and find out what's going on in each other's lives. Rosie Einkauf (Southern Fried Murder) plays Truvy Jones, hairdresser extraordinaire and true romantic. She's got lots of fodder for her romantic daydreams with Shelby Eatenton (the prettiest girl in town) about to marry a "good ole boy." Paula Good (Father of the Bride) plays bride-to-be Shelby, a spunky diabetic who risks all for happiness and love. Roxane Gray (Mame) is her worried mother and local social leader, M'Lynn Eatenton. Dixie Tucker (Cemetery Club) is the town's curmudgeon, Ouiser Boudreaux, who's been in a bad mood for 40 years. Janet Wise (Cinderella) plays Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, Truvy's new assistant who isn't really sure if she's married or not. Marylyn Munsterman (Gypsy) completes the ensemble cast as Clairee Belcher, an eccentric millionaire and widow.

This is a new collaboration for both Port Arthur Little Theatre and The Garden Terrace Tea Room, and board President Phillip Gray welcomes the new venue for dinner theater. Assisting director Mike Hayes are Ida Steele, Janice Terrell, Jean Heubach, Donnie Belt, Walter Tucker, David Tallant and the Over-The-Hill Gang. Make your reservations now!

PALT Wraps Up A Christmas Story

"You'll shoot your eye out." The classic answer that hundreds of mothers have given their sons when asked for a BB gun. Ralphie Parker has heard it, too, but a Red Ryder 200-Shot Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle is all he wants for Christmas and he has a master plan to get it. His quest for the best provides the plot for PALT's next Main Stage production of A Christmas Story, adapted by Philip Grecian and based on the motion picture of the same name written by humorist and master storyteller Jean Shepherd with Leigh Brown and Bob Clark.

Brent Rozelle, a newcomer to Port Arthur Little Theatre, plays grown-up Ralph whose reminiscences take us back to a time of Flit guns, radio serials, The Lone Ranger and department store Santas. Anthony Holland (Peter Pan) is young Ralphie, constant in his quest for the Red Ryder BB gun. Newcomer Donna Wade and Phillip Gray (Father of the Bride) play his vigilant mother and his contest-entering dad, aka "The Old Man." Carter Holland (Peter Pan) has some real-life experience to draw on to play his role as Ralphie's little brother, Randy.

Alex Rozell debuts as Flick, Ralphie's friend and classmate, with Nicholas Fong (Mame) as cohort Schwartz. Jazmyn Kinder and Elissa Monk are Esther Jane and Helen, the girls of the group, and Sam Covington plays Scut Farkas, the local bully. Scut's sidekick is played by John Ryan Capello (Bye, Bye Birdie). Kelly Wade, Laurel Morgan, Hannah Gray (Peter Pan), Cierra Frederick (Cinderella), Dallas Gray (Cinderella) and Caleb Covington will play other school kids. Rounding out the cast are Gale Walker (Cinderella) as Miss Shields, Carl Heubach (Hello, Dolly!) as Santa, Sean McBride (How to Succeed in Business...) as the Radio Announcer, Tricia Morgan as the Goldblatt PA Voice and Roger Covington (Murder at the Howard Johnson's) as the Tree Lot Owner, Delivery Man and Neighbor.

Mallory Harwood and Ann Holland are co-directing this Christmas gift to the PALT membership with Phillip Gray producing. The show dates are Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees at 2:30 on Dec. 9 and 16. The theater is located at 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. in Port Arthur. Ticket prices are $10 for adults with a $2 discount for seniors over 65 and students. For reservations, call 724-1840. We hope you'll join us for this family holiday presentation.

A Christmas Story to Benefit UBM

Port Arthur Little Theatre will conduct a community fundraiser during the run of the holiday offering, A Christmas Story. The board is asking all theater attendees to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item to be donated to the United Board of Missions in Port Arthur. Each person making a donation will receive a free concession item of candy or drink to show our appreciation in helping us make a difference in our local community.

Audition Call!

Director Gale Walker will hold auditions for the adult comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Dec. 17, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. at the PALT Playhouse. The comedy calls for five men and two women and requires singing and dancing. Four women will be cast as courtesans, dancers with no lines. An additional three people will be cast as Proteans, a comic relief group that portrays various characters throughout the play. Due to the suggestive nature of the comedy, only teens 16 and older should try out. Adults of all ages are welcome. Show dates are Feb. 22-24, March 1-3 and March 8-10.

Lamar Stages Joseph

Keith Cockrell and Lamar State College-Port Arthur will present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Nov. 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2:30 p.m. The play will be held at the Lamar Theater on Lakeshore Drive in Port Arthur. for more information, call Lamar State College-Port Arthur at 984-6111.

SETAC Grant Thanks

Port Arthur Little Theatre would like to thank the Southeast Texas Arts Council for helping meet its expenses with a grant. The money enabled PALT to purchase a clavinova and do some building improvements as well as double the production budgets for last season's shows. We are very appreciative and glad that SETAC supports the arts in our area.

A belated thank you goes to Gingiss Formalwear for their donation last season of tuxedos, pants, shirts and accessories. They have already been featured in several PALT productions. Thank you, Gingiss, for expanding our costume department. And thanks, too, to everyone who has donated clothing and props for our departments. It's a big help. If anyone has anything to donate, please call 722-7732 or 982-6223 and leave a message.

Cast Your Vote

Attending the next two plays at Port Arthur Little Theatre will not only give you an evening of live entertainment but also a chance to determine what you will see next season. A ballot will be included in the programs for A Christmas Story and Forum with a list of plays being considered for next season. You will have a chance to cast your vote for what you'd like to see on the PALT stage. So plan to make your preferences known when you attend PALT's next two productions.