Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre at Harding University
celebrates its 27th anniversary of community theatre this year with
rivalry, drop-dead humor and a little music.
Tickets go on sale May 11 for a lineup of comedies that includes
“God’s Man in Texas” by David Rambo June 4-7, 12-13; “Dearly Departed” by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones June 25-28, July 3-4; and
“Nunsense” by Dan Goggin July 16-19, 24-25.
“God’s Man in Texas” revolves around 81-year-old retiring pastor
Philip Gottschall and his young successor, Jerry Mears, at one of
America’s largest evangelical churches. A search committee forms at
the Houston mega church, and Mears auditions for the job as a guest
preacher in the pulpit. A funny and touching story, it’s sure to reach
young and old.
Somewhere below the Mason-Dixon Line, in the backwoods of the Bible
Belt, the patriarch of the Turpin family keels over dead in “Dearly
Departed.” The struggle to get him buried involves the whole Turpin
clan, including the not-so-grieving widow who wants to engrave “Mean
and Surly” on his tombstone. It’s a drop-dead funny tale!
In “Nunsense” the Little Sisters of Hoboken Convent discover that
their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52
of the sisters with tainted soup. The convent is in dire need of funds
and can only afford to bury 48 of the sisters. While the remaining
four are hidden away in the freezer, the convent puts on a variety
show to raise money. It’s a miracle of a musical!
Each performance runs six nights in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center
on campus with a buffet-style dinner at 6:30 and the show at 7:30.
Individual tickets are $22, and season tickets are $50.
To purchase tickets, contact the box office at 501-279-4580 weekdays
between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre is open for everyone to audition and
attend. Auditions will be Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m. in the Ulrey
Performing Arts Center. For more information, contact Steve Frye at
501-827-1944.
