Arts Center to produce 'An Evening of Culture'

Comedic play to open in November

The South Arkansas Arts Center Theatre Committee recently announced the cast for an upcoming production marking the first of SAAC's 55th theatrical season.

A comedic spoof of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," "An Evening of Culture — Faith County," is slated to appear on the stage of the Calloway Theater Nov. 9-10 and 15-17.

"An Evening of Culture" was written by Arkansan Mark Landon Smith, who currently serves as Executive Artistic Director of Arts Live Theatre in Fayetteville.

Considered to be "nonstop laughter from beginning to end," the play centers around the fictional Mineola Council for Cultural Recognition working diligently to mount a production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in the gymnasium of the Mineola Magnet Middle School, but life keeps getting in the way.

Even if the cast doesn’t quite have their lines memorized, the set isn’t quite finished, and a dog keeps barking offstage, they are still determined to give it a go.

Cast members for the production include Felice Scott as Violet Farkle, the director of “Romeo and Juliet” in the play. Cherie Bright appears as Mildred Carson, the middle-aged lead playing a very youthful Juliet. Local pig farmer and inexpert set builder Delbert Fink is played by Rhett Davis, with Bob Stephenson as his brother Dilbert. Brooklyn Alexander is in the role of Faye McFaye, the flirty A&P checker who plays the role of the nurse in “Romeo and Juliet.” The Reverend Rupert Barns, who appears in a number of roles, will be performed by Clay Callaway. Hannah Hopson is cast as Naomi Carson, Mildred’s best friend, who plays Juliet’s mother, with Bill Meyer as her husband, Luther, who plays Benvolio. The role of Romeo is acted by Austin Orell in the role of Bubba Bedford, the owner of Bubba’s Gas ‘n Go.

“An Evening of Culture” is sponsored by Bancorp South and Teague Auto Group. For more information about this production, call the SAAC box office at 870-862-5474 or visit saac-arts.org.

The play will be performed in the Calloway Theatre of the South Arkansas Arts Center, located at 110 E. Fifth St.

Special to the News-Times Ensemble: The cast of "An Evening of Culture — Faith County: Romeo and Juliet" — (left) Clay Callaway, Austin Orell, Bill Meyer, (center) Rhett Davis, Bob Stephenson, (right) Felice Scott, Cherie Bright, Brooklyn Alexander and Hannah Hopson — will appear in the production at the Arts Center Nov. 9-10 and 15-17.