Chaffin's Barn stages two 'home-grown' holiday season offerings this year

Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre offers up two home-grown productions for the holiday season, with Martha Wilkinson's It's A Wonderful Wife, running November 18 through December 31 on the mainstage of the venerable dinner theater, and John Chaffin's The Late, Late Show in residence on the Backstage at the Barn stage November 23-December 31.

In Wilkinson's comedy, inspired by the iconic holiday film It's A Wonderful Life, Gary Hailey feels the first stirrings of the "seven-year itch" while married to his high school sweetheart. When Gary finds out his first love is returning to Lefforded Falls, Gary wonders "what if?" With the help of an angel in training, Gary finds out just how different his life might have been with a different wife.

The show is directed by Charles Burr, artistic director of Tibbit's SummerTheatre in Coldwater, Michigan. Burr is a veteran of several productions at Chaffin's Barn throughout the years, and according to Wilkinson he "has a keen eye for comedy making him the perfect match for this heartwarming holiday comedy."

Burr's cast for the show includes: Ben Dawson (last seen in Squabbles), Warren Gore (last seen in Barefoot in the Park), Daniel Hackman ( a new face to Chaffin's recently seen in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's REPaloud series in the staged reading of Take Me Out), Jenny Norris-Light ( last seen Christmas Belles and Cinderella 8.0), Johnny Peppers ( last seen in Funny Money) Jennifer Richmond (last seen in Squabbles) and Tammie Whited (last seen in The Butler Done It).

It's a Wonderful Wife will be presented on the mainstage, Tuesday through Saturday evenings. The buffet is served from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m. Two Thursday senior matinees are scheduled for December 2 and 9, with the house opening at 11 a.m., with curtain at noon. A Special Wednesday Senior Matinee is set for December 15. Senior matinees are $19 (bring your own lunch) or you may order Chaffin's boxed lunch when you make your reservations for an additional $8.50.

Two Sunday matinees are slated for November 21 and December 5, with the buffet served from noon to 1:30 p.m., and curtain at 2 p.m.

Running in the Backstage at the Barn Theatre is John Chaffin's The Late Late Show: "Its Christmas Eve and this late night cable access talk show has a guest roster full of 'glazed hams' and 'holiday turkeys.'"

"This heaping helping of laughs presented almost entirely in the style of improv makes for a fulfilling, guilt free midnight snack," Wilkinson explains.

The show is directed by Wilkinson (last seen in Rear Widow), and her cast includes: Nate Eppler (last seen in Rear Widow), Amanda Lamb (last seen in Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming), Jenny Noel (last seen in Funny Money), Dietz Osborne (last seen in Squabbles) B.J. Rowell (last seen in Rear Widow) and Mary Jo Kilzer Weaver as the "Stage Manager."

Reservations are required for both shows; call (615) 646-9977 to book your spot. Ticket prices for all evening shows (Tuesday through Saturday) and Sunday Matinee are $50 for each adult, with students (13-18) $40 dinner/show, $30 for children 12 and under (prices include dinner, show and tax.

Clockwise from left: Jennifer Richmond, Warren Gore, Jenny Norris-Light and Daniel Hackman star in Run for Your Wife at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre