Photo Flash: Cancer, Coffins, Death and Doublewides Combine For Big Laughs in 'The Big Woop'
James Hardy, who served as a producer on more than forty Bob Hope television specials (including the iconic USO shows) offered patrons a unique staged reading experienced of a new production entitled, "The Big Woop."
Among the guests in attendance were Ruta Lee, Kate Linder, Erin Murphy, Carolyn Hennesy, Jerry Mathers, George Chakiris and more on October 10 at The Hudson Theater in Hollywood."The Big Woop" is a dark comedy dealing with cancer, coffins, death and doublewides. This original script is a comedic, character driven dramedy that takes a highly unorthodox look at aging, family, and confronting one's own mortality. The story takes place in a mobile home retirement village outside of Phoenix AZ. The story follows the control freak manager of the retirement village, Delores, as she "crafts up" her own coffin, in an attempt to interpret and place order upon the chaos of her recently diagnosed illness. Forced to ask for help, she connects (and re-connects) with the colorful characters of her adopted family in the retirement community, and even more humorously, with her actual relatives. "The play is the antithesis of morbidity," says Mr. Hardy. Playwright, Judy Heneghan's, quirky, yet down-to-earth script confronts the hang-ups and fears we have surrounding the concepts of love, life, & death, and ultimately comes away asking the question..."What's the big woop?!"
Production members - Top: Judy Heneghan (Author), Lori J. Quinn (Director) and Jim Hardy (Producer) Bottom: Michael Halpin, Katharine Kimball, David Fields, April Audia, Wayne Wilderson and Elena Campbell-Martinez
Kate Linder, Judy Heneghan (Author), Jerry Mathers, Lori J. Quinn (Director) and Jim Hardy (Producer)
Carolyn Hennesy, Jim Hardy and Erin Murphy
Jim Hardy (Producer) and Ruta Lee
Cast - Michael Halpin, Katharine Kimball, April Audia, Elena Campbell-Martinez, David Fields and Wayne Wilderson
Katharine Kimball (Windy) and Elena Campbell-Martinez (Delores)
Katharine Kimball (Windy), April Audia (Genevieve) and Wayne Wilderson (Jeeter)
David Fields (Dutch) and Michael Halpin (Dwight)
April Audia (Genevieve) and Elena Campbell-Martinez (Delores)
|
Next to Normal Phantasma Arts (7/17-7/25) |
|
After the Blast The Broadwater Second Stage (8/05-8/13) |
|
Catch Me If You Can Colony Theatre (9/17-10/18) |
|
E=MC² Einstein The Musical Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center (7/03-7/26) |
|
Emily Skinner: In Concert Feinstein's at the Nikko (8/14-8/15) |
|
Fool for Love Santa Monica Playhouse (7/23-7/26) |
|
Gershwin and the Golden Age Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) (10/11-10/11) |
|
Closing Costs Gil Cates Theater (3/31-5/02) |
|
Ni Mi Madre Diversionary Theatre (8/13-9/06) |
|
Edgar Arceneaux and Frank Lawson, Place Is The Space The Nimoy (8/29-8/29) |