Carrollwood Players Wants Audience to Eat Up THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR

Carrollwood Players Theatre brings the Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones, & Nicholas Hope Southern-fried comedy RED VELVET CAKE WAR to stage on February 10. With more twists and turns than a Busch Gardens roller coaster, RED VELVET CAKE WAR layer outlandish, head-shaking situations on top of one another.

Director Stephan Bielawski said, "The audience should expect a hilarious train-wreck that they get to gawk at, laugh at, and just maybe identify with," said director Stephan Bielawski. "I want them to walk away feeling happy and entertained."

The three Verdeen cousins-Gaynelle, Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette-could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion to celebrate Grandpa Verdeen's 90th birthday - the hottest day in July with incorrigible relatives, smack dab in the middle of tornado season. Stir in a skeptical court-appointed psychologist come to evaluate Gaynelle's sanity, a neighborhood busybody, an amorous one-eyed suitor, an outrageous sheriff, and a competition against Lamerle Verdeen to bake the best Red Velvet Cake or lose the family home and you have the recipe for disaster.

Featuring a cast of 12, many first-timers on stage at Carrollwood Players, the talented ensemble gets the opportunity to play members of a "white trash jamboree," as one character calls it.

Stephan encouraged his actors to play the broad comedy for all it's worth.

"This is an exaggerated chaotic view of extended family relationships, a knee-slapping look at what family will do for one another," said producer Deb Kelley. "Being able to produce for this amazing director, cast and crew and see performances of this caliber, is, pardon the pun, icing on the cake."

Carrollwood Players is located at 4333 Gunn Hwy. LIE, CHEAT, AND GENUFLECT runs from February 10 through March 4 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are $23, or $20 for students, seniors, and military.

Advance tickets can be purchased https://carrollwood-players-theatre.ticketleap.com/the-red-velvet-cake-war/ with no service fee. For group reservations for parties of 10 or more, email groups@carrollwoodplayers.org. For the best seating, lowest prices, and exclusive privileges, Carrollwood Players invites guests to become season ticket holders. Learn more at www.carrollwoodplayers.org.

CAST:
Kym Welch - Elsa Dowdall
Tynan Pruitt - Peaches Verdeen Belrose
Ann Lehman - Lamerle Verdeen Minshew­
Tracy Crews - Cee Cee Windham/ Mama Doll Hagris
Leanne Fergusen - Bisty Hargis
Larry Weglarz - Newt Blaylock
Benjamin Gregory - Purvis Verdeen
Tamara Klein - Gaynelle Verdeen Bodeen
Susan Dearden - Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen
Daniel Allmond - Aubrey Verdeen
Marc Blander - Sherriff Grover Lout