Media Release
Town & Gown Theatre is proud to present the fourth production of its 67th season, The Savannah Sipping Society, a contemporary comedy by popular playwrights Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.
Get ready for some Southern charm and a whole lot of fun and laughter as three very different women, all at a crossroad in their lives, are drawn to each other by fate – and an impromptu happy hour! The trio – Randa, Dot and Marlafaye – meet a fourth woman, Jinx, who becomes their life coach, and she encourages them to try new adventures, in a bid to get their lives out of the rut, all with hilarious results. The story takes a poignant turn when the teacher becomes the student.
The Savannah Sipping Society is being directed by Paul Weber, a 20-year veteran at Town & Gown. This is his fourth James-Hope-Wooten (JHW) play for the theatre company, having previously directed Dixie Swim Club, Mama Won’t Fly, and Always a Bridesmaid. “I like the JHW plays that have strong female characters; characters that are real and not caricatures. You can easily relate to these characters. I believe that is why JHW plays are audience favorites,” says Weber.
The director adds that The Savannah Sipping Society particularly, “is really good story of life, love, and friendships. The characters are relatable because they are very much like people and/or relatives you know.” For instance, Randa is the career-driven perfectionist and workaholic, who never had time for anything or anyone else before she lost her job. Dot, recently widowed, meanwhile, is a sweet and endearing woman, the ‘favorite aunt’ character-type, who always had big plans for her golden years. Marlafaye, who recently went through a nasty divorce, is an outgoing, wise-cracking, good ol’ gal from Texas. Jinx, on the other hand, is a live-wire type, but empathic enough to motivate others to move on with the lives, in spite of the setbacks.
The cast of The Savannah Sipping Society comprises a mix of Town & Gown veterans and new talents. “I was surprised at the number of people that auditioned for the roles. A lot of very talented actors were not cast simply because there weren’t enough roles available,” says Weber.
Cindy Sheets, a Town & Gown veteran of many productions, plays flamboyant Marlafaye. Brandy Gofourth and Marie Abraham-Robinson enact the roles of Dot and Randa, respectively. They have had a few small roles in past Town & Gown productions. Newcomer Tina Shideler plays Jinx. All four main cast members are from the Stillwater and Perkins areas.
The Savannah Sipping Society is a contemporary comedy, recommended for ages 13 and older. It will run for eight performances, from April 12 – 15 and April 19 – 22, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 9, 11 a.m. and can be reserved by calling the box office at (405) 372 9122 or purchasing online tickets at www.townandgown.org. Ticket prices are Adult: $14; Students: $12 and Seniors: $12 (available for Sunday matinees only). For more information about The Savannah Sipping Society, visit www.townandgown.org or find us on Facebook.
