Palestine Community Theatre (PCT) will have an additional show to end this 2017-2018 Season, the world premier of Pretty, Texas, a comedy written and directed by area natives, Dana Goolsby and Gerry Goodwin. With auditions back in March, the cast has been working hard to put this production together for audiences on May 11, 12, and 13 at the Historic Texas Theatre in downtown Palestine, 213 W. Crawford.
Pretty, Texas is a fast-paced Southern-fried comedy set behind the Pine Curtain. You see, the Murphy women (Wilma Jean, Peggy, Gertie, and Scarlett) face a big weekend in Pretty. It’s time for the Possum Festival, and Peggy’s daughter, Scarlett, is vying for the crown, while her other daughter, Gertie, is determined to marry Bobby Ray, the local taxidermist, on the same day. With a wedding in the works, everyone is riled up about the Murphy Woman Curse, and it’s up to Peggy to make sure the weekend goes off without a hitch.
First on the agenda is keeping the curse a secret from Gertie’s fiancé, followed by dress fittings at the local dress and hardware store, then the final Possum Pageant rehearsal. While everyone is busy preparing for the big weekend, things get a little sticky, the curse “secret” slips, and a sudden funeral spices things up, but old friends and family come to the rescue and prove to be the ties that bind. Toss in some Spanx, forty pounds of barbecue, and all the Southern humor you can stand, and you have arrived in Pretty, Texas!
PCT is working toward becoming as pretty on the outside as on the inside by remodeling the front doors and ticket area to more appropriately match the style and décor of the lobby and auditorium, and Goolsby and Goodwin are donating the proceeds from this premier production of their play to assist in the completion of that project. Both Goolsby and Goodwin, have participated in PCT productions in different capacities throughout the past several years and are huge supporters of the Arts in East Texas.
The customary complimentary reception will be Friday, May 11, at 6:30 PM prior to curtain at 7:30 PM. Along with the usual fare, a local brewery, Wirsthaus Brew Brothers, will be serving new craft beer flavors FREE during the reception. Tickets for the show, which are $15 for adults and $10 for students ages 4 to 18, can be purchased at the door, online at www.thetexastheater.com, or locally at the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Center, Blake Furniture, and Discount Pools.
Saturday’s curtain time is 7:30 PM, while Sunday’s is 2:00 PM.
For ticket questions, please contact PCT through their website listed above or by email at historic.texas.theatre@gmail.com. Questions about the play and its publication can be sent to Goolsby and Goodwin at goolsbyandgoodwin@gmail.com.
(Picture are courtesy of Dana Goolsby)
