Carl Hiaasen's 'Lucky You' - World Premiere OnStage

The Key West Players begin their exciting 2006/07 season with the World Premiere of Carl Hiaasen's Lucky You, a rollicking stage adaptation of Hiaasen's best-selling comic novel. Lucky You has been adapted by London director, Matthew Francis, and University of South Florida/Tampa Theatre Professor, Denis Calandra.  The two are also the guest directors, guiding a cast of nine local and imported actors through one of Hiaasen's best comic capers. According to the New York Times, "Lucky You is witty, colorful and entertaining!" The play opens on December 20^th and runs Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm until January 13, 2007.

Lucky You begins in the fictional town of Grange, Florida with its Road-Stain Jesus and Weeping Madonna "miracles." Grange is also where JoLayne Lucks wins a $28 million Florida lottery, hoping to save a pristine piece of land from development. However, the other winning ticket belongs to Bodean Gazzer and his raunchy side-kick, Chub, who believe they are entitled to the whole jackpot. After stealing JoLayne's ticket, the two setup an underground militia to protect themselves from a NATO invasion. JoLayne enlists Tom Krome, an investigative journalist, to help her retrieve her winning ticket. A wild chase ensues as JoLayne and Tom pursue the two heavily-armed psychopaths, their dim-bulb young recruit and a hostage (a Hooter's waitress) across a trail of mayhem and hilarity.

Author Carl Hiaasen is one of the most successful contemporary novelists of our time. His astute observations of the comically bizarre life in the Sunshine State have earned him an international audience. Highly prolific, his novels have been published in 30 languages. The London Observer called him " America 's finest satirical novelist." Beginning his career as a reporter with The Miami Herald in 1985, he has been writing columns that have outraged just about everyone in South Florida, including major politicians, law officials and even his own bosses. A resident of the Florida Keys, his latest novel Nature Girl has just been published to excellent reviews. 

 

In 2003, Francis and Calandra teamed up to adapt one of Mr. Hiaasen's novels, eventually deciding on Lucky You, seeing the potential it possessed for the stage. After a workshop at USF/Tampa, the creators performed a staged reading for Mr. Hiaasen in his home. Although protective of his work, Hiaasen was very impressed with the adaptation, giving his full blessing to the creative team to proceed with a production. The Key West Players are proud to be the first to present this high-octane romp. 

 

Director Matthew Francis was the Artistic Director of London's Greenwich Theatre for eight years, garnering rave reviews for his thriving, popular theatre. He has directed at the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain and the Chichester Festival Theatre, as well as productions in London's West End. He has also published adaptations of A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield through Samuel French. 

 

Co-director, Denis Calandra is currently the Chair of the theatre department of the University of South Florida/Tampa. His original play with music, Cuban Bread, has had several successful incarnations. He is the authorized American translator of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's plays, including The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Together they have also adapted Charles Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop.

 

The nine actors who create the world of Lucky You include Equity actor Cherelle Cargill (JoLayne), who recently appeared in the Off-Broadway success, Nickel and Dimed. A graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts, she's also been seen in A Piece of My Heart, For Colored Girls and The Miracle Worker. Derek Milman (Bode/Sinclair) is also an Equity actor, whose credits include Cats Talk Back (Fringe/Williamstown), Spring Awakening (Prospect Theater Company), Communist Dracula Pageant (Soho Rep), as well as many regional, film and tv credits.  Erik Fabregat (Chub/Art) is from Miami and is a company member of the MadCat Theatre, where he has performed in Mr. Marmalade and soon will appear in Animals and Plants. Mike McCabe (Tom Krome) has appeared locally in the title role of Pippin and will play Lt. Cable in Island Opera's upcoming South Pacific. David Black (Demencio/Moffitt) has appeared in Fully Committed, Pot Shots, Forum, Whoop-Dee-Doo! and will be Lockstock in the upcoming Urinetown, the Musical. Jeff Hayes (Shiner/Champ) is a senior at the University of South Florida where he majors in Theatre Performance, and has appeared in Oldtimer's Game, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage, and Romeo and Juliet. Claire Carroll (Mary Andrea/Shiner's Ma) made a splash in last year's Lettice and Lovage, as well as Mother's Gift. She will play Rita in the upcoming Educating Rita in the spring. Jennifer Cohen (Amber) has appeared in Pippin, Equus, The Maiden's Prayer, Lemon Cookie and Spike Heels. Valerie Carr (Trish/Katie) was in the inaugural class of the famed North Carolina School for the Arts and was recently seen in Cinderella as the Fairy Godmother and in The Garbage People.

 

The set design for Lucky You will be created and overseen by the Waterfront's technical director/designer Mike Boyer. The rest of the design team will be imported from USF/Tampa: Costumes by William Brewer; Lighting by Beau Edwardson; Special Effects by Jeff Boe and a score composed by Paul Reller. Joanna Strange will act as guest stage manager for the production.

 

Tickets are $30 (opening night tickets are $35) and can be reserved by calling the box office at 305-294-5015 or at www.waterfrontplayhouse.com.  The opening night of December 20^th will include a gala post-performance reception to meet the cast held in the sculpture garden in front of the theatre. Sponsored through the generosity of Bunnie Smith, the party will be catered by Great Events. Also, call the box office about locals special.

 

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