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?!"

Under the direction of Lori J Quinn with stage manager Savannah Brown, the staged reading was offered by special arrangement with James Hardy Productions and Alhambra Pictures and a cast that included the talents of Elena Campbell-Martinez (Delores), April Audia (Gen), Katharine Kimball (Windy), Wayne Wilderson (Jeeter), and David Garfield (Dutch).

Photo Credits: Bill Dow

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)

Ruta Lee and George Chakiris

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)

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