Neil Simon’s

ASTONISHING  Classic Comedy!!!

BILOXI BLUES

April 5 & 6 at 730PM
April 7 at 2PM
April 12 & 13 at 730PM
April 14 at 2PM

Reservation line opens March 29 and answers 24 hours a day at 601.428.0140

Directed by Rick Youngblood

Neil Simon, America’s favorite comedy writer, capped his long career with the three-play “Eugene Trilogy” that was basically the true story of his own life. Last year, we presented the first one, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, where his alter ego, Eugene Jerome, deals with his own coming-of-age in 1930s Brooklyn.

BILOXI BLUES continues the story as we follow Eugene in 1943, when he gets drafted into the Army during World War II, and then heads off to boot camp in the muggy swamps of steamy Mississippi. Eugene and his fellow privates have to deal with a strange, but hard-as-nails platoon leader, and we see that Eugene has to grow up very very quickly.

The highlight of the recruits’ time in Biloxi is their weekend leave when they get to hit the town for USO dances with hopes to find some female entertainment.

Even though the three plays are a continuing story, it’s not necessary at all to have seen the first play to enjoy this one. As one critic said, “It stands alone as some of Simon’s very best writing.” And another NYC critic professed that “Absolutely no one can spin a comic line like Mr. Simon.”

The original 1985 NYC production swept up at awards season, winning the Tony Award, the Critics Circle and the Drama Desk awards for Best Play that year. A 1988 film version starred Matthew Broderick reprising his Broadway role of Eugene, and Christopher Walken as the tough sergeant.

It’s a moving, but always funny drama-comedy. Not entertaining for the little ones, but great for older teens and adults.

Martin Charnin, Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan’s

ASTOUNDING Family Favorite

ANNIE, JR

May 30 & 31 at 730PM
June 1 at both 2pm and 730pm
June 2 at 2pm

Reservation line opens May 23 and answers 24 hours a day at 601.428.0140

Directed by Rebecca Green

We’ve presented the full stage musical ANNIE a few times, but this will be our very first production of ANNIE, JR. It’s based on the hit comic strip, Little Orphan Annie – and tells the story of a little redhead kid filled with pluck and positivity – along with the tough billionaire Oliver Warbucks, mean ol’ orphan matron, Miss Hannigan, a lovable mutt called Sandy, and a cast of 100 kids!

Set in the depression era of the 1930s, when some “good news” was something everyone needed a little taste of, Annie taught everyone that “the sun’ll come out, tomorrow – bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun!”

Written by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, when the show opened in NYC in 1977. It’s continually been one of the most produced stage shows across the world every year.

Three movie versions over the years have featured Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters and Aileen Quinn (in 1982, getting two Oscar nominations), then Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenoweth and Andrea McArdle (in 1999, winning two Emmy Awards), and most recently, in 2014, a third movie version that starred Jamie Foxx, Bobby Cannavale, Cameron Diaz and Quvenzhane Wallis, and received two Golden Globe nominations.

Our annual summer Kids’ Camp production features a week of workshops and rehearsals for the 100 kids that starts May 23rd, wrapping up the following weekend with some memorable performances where these little actors will move us all to laughter and tears as they sing their hearts out!!!