Panola College Theatre to present ‘Dearly Departed’
The Panola College Drama Department will present Dearly Departed, written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones and produced by special permission from Dramatists Playservices Inc., as its annual fall dinner theatre and dessert matinee production on Sept. 24, 25, and 26. The dinner theatre performances will take place on Sept. 24 and 25, with dinner being served from 5:30 p.m. to 6:40 p.m., and the show beginning at 7 p.m. The dessert matinee performance will take place on Sept. 26, with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Dearly Departed is a comedy that is set in the backwoods of the Bible Belt. The beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the south are rarely tidy, but always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for the funeral of their father, the Turpins’ array of other problems continually overshadow the solemn occasion. Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn to their friends and neighbors for comfort, an eccentric community of misfits who manage to pill together and help each other through their hours of need.
Dinner will be a fried chicken meal, served with mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, green beans, and banana pudding, and a choice of coffee, tea, or water. The dessert matinee will be a choice between a variety of pies and cakes, and a choice of coffee, tea, or water.
Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, Sept. 14 at panola.booktix.com. Tickets for the dinner theatre performances are $40.00 for adults, and $30.00 for senior citizens, high school students, and those younger. Tickets for the dessert matinee performance are $20.00 for adults, and $12.00 for senior citizens, high school students, and those younger. The show will also be livestreamed on broadwayondemand.com, and streaming tickets are $35.00.
The cast of Dearly Departed includes: Raynelle, Sarolyn Musick of Gary; Delightful, Allie Endsley of Huntington; Bud, Riley Morgan of Broaddus; Royce, Omar Rios of Garrison; Aunt Marguerite, Talaya Jones of Mansfield, La.; Lucille, Leah Simmons of Nacogdoches; Ray-Bud, Maverick Jackson of Cushing; Suzzane, Emily Wheeler of Etoile; Junior, Dawson Windham of Shelbyville; Rev. Hooker, Jacob Phillips of Mt. Enterprise; Veda, Alexsandra Fabian of Timpson; Norval, Seth Sanders of Milam; Nadine, Abigail McCalister of Rusk; Clyde, Caleb Ridgeway of Shelbyville; Juanita, Carli Morton of Nacogdoches; Joy of Life Singer, Gerardo Salgado of Tatum; Joy of Life Singer, Kaleb Ward of Rusk; Joy of Life Singer (Chorus), Leland Parker of Nacogdoches; Joy of Life Singer (Chorus), Mark Essery of Gary; and Joy of Life Singer, Shelton Ballard of Gary.
Assistant Director, Nicholas McCalister; Tech Director, Caden Worley; Stage Manager, Eric Dominquez; Costume Design, Laura Eddings; Property Masters, Sydney Smith and Mackenzie Fitzgerald; Light Tech, Donovan Williams; Assistant Stage Manager, Julien Lawrence; Hair and Makeup, Chelsey Caldwell and Tony Jeter; Stage Designer, Ashley Harkness; Set Construction, Jase Fair and Jermaine Leonard; Scenic Arts, Katy Chance.