Drilling Company Presents HOME OF THE GREAT PECAN 1/20-2/6
By: Charlie Piane
The Drilling Company Brings Texas to NYC: premieres "Home of the Great Pecan" -
Hilarious new play from longtime collaborator The Drilling Company, known for its short play projects and downtown Shakespeare in the PArking Lot, now in its 11th season, will premiere a hilarious new comedy from longtime collabortator Stephen Bittrich. Opening January 20th and running until February 6th, Thursday - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., at The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street on the third floor, between Amsterdam and Broadway, just 1 block south of the 1 train at 79th Street. The play is set in Bittrich's small hometown of Segin, Texas, following the misadventures of Tammy Lynn Schneider and her attempts to get her longtime boyfriend to the altar while battling a a bevy of suspected other women, aliens from outerspace and a local Reverend, more interested in his secretary than sanctity. Starring as the Reverend is Ballymaster, Scott Baker, known for his real life antics in the Coney Island Freak Show (he holds the Guinness World Book of Records mark of longest "bally" talking for more than six hours without pause) and recently featured for his #1 turn as Santa Clause, Baker appears here as the ne'er do well minister trying to persuade his followers to give. Hamilton Clancy, founder and artistic director of TDC who directs this premiere cites the plays relevance to current times. "Immigration is a conversation everyone is having nowadays. This comedy hopefully starts the conversation in a different way." Also appearing with Baker are Drilling Company veterans Veronica Cruz, Dan Teachout, Dave Marantz, Bill Green, Roberto DeFelice, Amanda Dillard, Amanda C. Fuller, Jarad Benn, Steve Sherman, BranDon Reilly and Victoria Campbell. Newcomer Jessi Blue Gormezano (The Seceretaries, revival with Project Theatre) leads the way as Tammy Lynn. Bittrich, now in his tenth year of assoication with TDC, the playwright, has been a project Green Light finalist as well as published by Smith and KrauseJennifer Varbalow (sets and Miriam Crowe (lights) lead the design team, bot h veteran designers with The Drilling Company. Performances run Thursday - Saturday at 8p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from January 20 - February 6th at The Drilling Company Theatre , 236 West 78th Street , 3rd floor between Amsterdam and Broadway just one block from the 1 trrain at 79th street. For reservations online go to Smarttix.com, or call 212-873-9050, or e-mail drillingcompany@aol.com. More info go to www.drillingcompany.org. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students
