Trustus Theatre Kicks Off Its 25th Anniversary Season With Columbia Comedy Classic THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD

After a quarter of a century, Trustus Theatre is celebrating “25 Fabulous Years” with a season comprised of hit musicals, Columbia’s favorite Trustus shows, uproarious comedies, and some challenging premieres and new works. Trustus will kick off its 25th Anniversary season with the return of Paul Rudnick’s hilarious comedy The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told September 11th at 8:00pm.

When Artistic Director Jim Thigpen set out to decide what show would start this exciting watermark season he felt that The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told was an obvious choice. “First of all, it is very, very funny,” said Thigpen. “The director and most of the cast from the original production are still in town, so we knew this show had a chance to grow even more from the last successful production.”

The first Trustus production of The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told was in 2002. Columbia audiences piled into Trustus Theatre that year to enjoy a raucous comedy that put an unexpected spin on the Old Testament of the Bible. According to Playwright Paul Rudnick, in the beginning God (or our stage manager representing God) created Adam and Steve, who in turn created shampoo and conditioner…in one. God also created Jane and Mabel, who invented the wheel and clothing with pockets. Rudnick has recast the Bible as The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, a gay-centric creation story that plumbs the mythological depths of our most cherished stereotypes. Adam and Steve are two hunky men who are born wearing jockstraps, which they lose when they’re bumped from the Garden of Eden.

The hilarity never stops flowing from the famously productive and skewed-view mind of Rudnick, author of the hit Trustus show Jeffrey and popular movies such as In and Out and Addams Family Values. The first act views the Old Testament through this surprising and engaging lens. As co-architects of civilization, finicky Adam teaches butch Jane the finer points of laundry. “We do not grab and bunch,” he admonishes, “we fluff and fold!” When everyone crams onto the ark to escape the flood, Jane and Mabel learn about non-monogamy from a cat named Fluffy and a pig named Babe. On dry land again, the original foursome from the Garden of Eden discover a peculiar race of human beings who describe the appalling practice of procreation where man and woman have sexual relations.

Act two skips ahead to a Christmas Eve party in contemporary Chelsea. Adam has decorated the apartment with every conceivable piece of Xmas kitsch he can find. Steve is ill, and Jane is expecting a baby. Modern day Mabel has arranged for her and Jane to be married at the party by a handicapped lesbian rabbi with a cable-access TV show and a hotline (1-900-SHEBREW). With such a shocking beginning, one can only imagine that the climax will be very unexpected as the show progresses.

Director Dewey Scott Wiley is returning to the helm to orchestrate this high energy show which verges on sketch comedy at times. Wiley is joined by returning cast members Jason Stokes (The Rocky Horror Show, The Full Monty) as Adam, Paul Kaufmann (Dangerous Liaisons, I Am My Own Wife) as Steve, Robin Gottlieb (Evita, Reefer Madness, The Musical) as Mabel, Elena Martinez Vidal (The Sweet Abyss, Sordid Lives) as the Stage Manager, and Hunter Boyle (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Evita) who will be portraying many characters including a gay Egyptian pharaoh. The returning cast will be joined by many talented and familiar faces from the Columbia stage that will be having their first experience with this piece. Playing Jane, Mabel’s butch girlfriend, will be Becky Hunter (The Little Dog Laughed). Portraying various hilarious roles in the show will be Vicky Saye Henderson (Elephant’s Graveyard, Rabbit Hole), Ellen Rodillo Fowler (Dr. Fish), and Toby Taylor. 

Trustus Theatre is excited to kick off their 25th Anniversary Season with this comedy that had Columbia audiences cheering and laughing in 2002. “I really wanted to start our 25th season with some outrageous Trustus comedy,” said Artistic Director Jim Thigpen. “This play is also leading into our first Black Box show of the year, Mr. Charles, Currently of Palm Beach also by Paul Rudnick. Gerald Floyd is playing that role, so with both of these shows back to back we’re going to be laughing quite a bit around here!” Certainly audiences won’t want to miss this hilarious show and the talented cast and crew that are bringing it to the Trustus Main Stage. 

Trustus Theatre kicks off its 25th Season with The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told on September 11th, at 8:00pm. Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. The main stage entrance is located on the Publix side of the building.

For more information call the box offIce Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season info.

Photo by Jason Steelman

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