Jonesborough Repertory Theatre would like to announce a FREE readers theatre performance of Beth Henley’s, Crimes of the Heart. Joy and dispute abound in this rip-roaring southern comedy. Many are familiar with the great 1986 film starring Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, and Sam Shepard. You know… the story where the three sisters reunite after the youngest has just shot her husband..... Not ringing a bell? It’s the one where the oldest sister, Lenny (the “old” maid) stays home to take care of Old Grandaddy; the middle sister, Meg (the one with a “loose reputation”) has come home after running off to become a famous singer/actor, finding only men, men and more men; and then there’s baby sister, Babe, who has shot her husband after he ran off her younger lover.
What is readers theatre? It’s theatre performed “on book”. Scripts are used and actors read in full character of the role they are playing. Readers theatre is a great opportunity to see new and old scripts performed in a less formal, but highly professional atmosphere. “JRT Readers Theatre has been formed by a group of talented actors who just want to ‘play’ around by breathing life into wonderful scripts that have gone unread or are collecting dust on our bookshelves,” says Kathleen Buttolph, JRT Artistic Director. Readers theatre gives a chance for actors and audiences to be introduced to new characters and see shows that go unnoticed or just need to be brought back to life.”
This readers theatre cast stars Holly Bible as Lenny MaGrath, Cindy Frazier as Babe MaGrath, Janette Gaines as Chick “the stick” Boyle, Mike Lilly as Doc Porter and Barnette Lloyd, and Nancy Hope Major as Meg MaGrath. There will be two readers theatre performances of Crimes of the Heart on Friday and Saturday, April 18th and 19th at 7pm.
You won’t want to miss this reading. One critic states about, Crimes of the Heart, “We all have crimes of the heart.....sad, true, and blissful....at times... Taking place in the south, we follow the story of a family's relationship and how they are dealing with their sister shooting her husband. With the strong female cast we can't help but to feel their pain through their emotions, relationship with each other, and how they deal with life... There are many lessons to learn and one of the most important is you can't turn your back on your family, even when you run away they will be there for you…..the honesty is great... A true classic!! When family gathers....everything comes out.”
Upcoming events at JRT include Acting Class registration on April 22, 3:30pm–6pm; Transformative Theatre class presentation on April 25 at 7pm; the Tennessee premier of the new hit comedy The Dixie Swim Club to be performed May 23–June 8; and The Original Broadway SWING! to be performed July 17–July 27.
There is no need to make a reservation for Crimes of the Heart. Just come on over to Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, located at 125 ˝ West Main Street, Jonesborough. For more information volunteering or finding out about what’s going on at JRT, call us at 423-791-4440 or go to our website at www.jonesboroughtheatre.com.