Absolutely Honest

by Michael Messmer

Sept. 16 - Oct. 22 at 8pm Fri. and Sat. nights; Sun. matinees on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 at 2pm

About the Show: This is a fast-paced bedroom farce, complete with lots of doors, hanky-panky, and enough misunderstandings to keep the laughs rolling. Four people try to sort out their relationship problems which stem from the fact that they have not been Absolutely Honest with one another.

Being absolutely honest can get you in a lot of trouble...a lesson Chris is learning the hard way as his wife, Liz, is divorcing him after he told her about a one-night, drunken fling with Marcy (a fellow worker). But, after a night together in his new apartment that reminds them both of how much they care for each other, Liz is ready to reconsider. Then she discovers a pair of shoes that are not hers…

Chris and his problems with a bad back, lights that go off at the wrong time, and people who struggle with making decisions are just a few of the complications that make this comedy a wild romp and a hilarious look at what happens with being Absolutely Honest.

Watch a Video Clip of Absolutely Honest

Video Notes: Marcy arrives and wants him to explain to her boyfriend, Rock, what happened between them and identifies the shoes as hers, Chris has to find a way to prove himself to Liz. But being absolutely honest is the last thing he's ready to try now. Adding to the tension, Rock (who is an unlikely looking physical fitness trainer) keeps showing up wondering why Marcy is at Chris' apartment. His plan is simply to make sure Chris stays away from Marcy...by beating him up.

Things get more complicated as Marcy, who thinks Rock is the hottest, most exciting man she's ever known and doesn't want to lose him, uses romantic encounters in Chris' apartment to divert Rock's questions. Unaware of what his apartment is being used for, Chris ends up in bed with Marcy. When Liz arrives to get her briefcase, then Rock returns to find Chris with Marcy...things start to get even wilder.

Lights that go out at critical moments, various struggles about who is going to do what to Chris and his problems with a bad back are just a few more of the complications that make this comedy a wild romp and a hilarious look at what happens when being Absolutely Honest.

Characters--
CHRIS: male; late 20's to late 30's, a slob and a romantic.
LIZ: female; same age range, fighting her romantic inclination.
MARCY: female; a bit older, hot-blooded and assertive.
ROCK: male;same age range as Marcy; shorter than Marcy.

Wise Guise

by Michael Messmer, Director: Dean Shellenberger

Nov. 4 - Dec. 17 at 8pm on Fri. and Sat. nights, except December 2 & 3; Sun. matinees on Nov. 13 and 27 at 2pm

About the Show: Jeff is a financial analyst whose wealth has brought him no satisfaction. In fact, the closer he got to marrying into a wealthy family, the more unhappy he became. His fiancée (Tiffany) dumped him with the warning that he’d better get his head straight. He’s come to see the wiseman of the mountain in hope of finding, if not the meaning of life, at least a clue as to why he’s on this quest. The wiseman (Fred) is nothing like anyone’s idea of a guru. He’s sarcastic, likes the good things in life, has his own stock portfolio and has some very weird ways of looking at the world. Fred’s new protégé (Angela) seems to find Jeff a soul-mate which leads to a passionate encounter just as Tiffany shows up to save Jeff from joining what she thinks might be a cult. Aided (and frequently challenged) by his new protégé (who is also a popular psychologist) Fred puts Jeff through an ordeal that that would put Dr. Phil to shame, as he seeks what is really important in his life.

Watch a Video Clip of Wise Guise

Video Notes: Jeff is a financial analyst whose wealth brings him no satisfaction. But when he seeks answers from a wiseman, who is unlike any guru ever, gets more than he expected.

Although he'd always wondered if there was more to life, it became too much as he was about to marry into the wealthy family of his boss. His fiancé (Tiffany) dumped him with the warning that he'd better get his head straight. So he's come to see the wiseman of the mountain in hope of finding, if not the meaning of life, at least a clue as to why he's on this quest.

The wiseman (Fred) is sarcastic, likes the good things in life, has his own stock portfolio and has some very weird ways of looking at the world. His new protégé (Angela) seems to find Jeff a soul-mate which leads to a passionate encounter just as Tiffany shows up to save Jeff from joining what she thinks might be a cult.

Aided (and frequently, challenged) by his new protégé (who is also a popular psychologist) Fred puts Jeff through an ordeal that leads Jeff to understand what is really important in his life. Sides are switched frequently and major philosophical systems are assaulted as often as the characters assault each other.

Characters--
ANGELA: female, 30's-40's; psychologist seeking answers and playing games.
FRED; male, late-40's to early-50's; the wiseman, provocative and pushy
JEFF: male, 30's; financial analyst, seeking the meaning of life
TIFFANY: female, late-20's to early-30's; wealthy and determined

Oatmeal and Kisses

by Murray Schisgal, Directed by Blake Flores

Jan. 13, 2012-Feb. 25, Mat: Jan. 22 & Feb. 5
(Produced with permission of Dramatist Play Service, Inc.)

About the Show: Schneider is a dynamo, living life to the fullest. But, with age, there have been consequences. A short stay in the hospital because of a heart attack has reminded him of his mortality. Although it has made him concerned about what might become of Roxanne, his much younger wife, he has forgotten that he agreed to get help in changing his life-style. When the specialist arrives from the hospital things start to get complicated. Peter is a physical fitness doctor who lives with his patients for several weeks while he gets them to change their diet and other risky habits. At first Schneider objects to this plan but after Roxanne uses some charm and threats, he agrees. But Schneider has another motive in mind. Later, after Schneider has become a health-nut, it appears that he has been trying to get Peter to marry Roxanne...and the doctor is certainly enamored of her by this point. But, at last, it is Roxanne who gets exactly what she wants.

Soap Solution

by Michael Messmer

Mar. 9, 2012-Apr. 21, Mat: Mar. 18 & Apr. 1

About the Show: Larry King thinks he’s washed up as a writer. His wife recently left him in an attempt to shake him out of his depression. Now he’s gone to a mountain cabin for a few weeks of peace and quiet and crossword puzzles. His wife, however, has other plans for him. She’s hired some actors who’ve done bit parts on several soap operas. Her plan is for them to get him caught up in a crazy story they have concocted based on their experiences in the soaps. Keeping him confused is their objective and they seem to succeed for a while with situations that range from a potential suicide to a potential sexual orgy. Just when the wife thinks they’ve succeeded in rattling his cage, he turns the tables on them and (with a little help from the actors) convinces his wife that her plan may have gone awry.

Watch a Video Clip of Soap Solution

Video Notes: Larry thinks he's washed up as a writer. His wife (Sarah) left him in an attempt to shake him out of his depression. Now she's got another, more outrageous plan.

He's gone to a mountain cabin for a few weeks of peace and quiet and crossword puzzles. Sarah, however, has hired some actors (Gwen, Jeff, Marsha) who've done bit parts on several soap operas. Her plan is for them to get him caught up in a crazy story they have concocted based on their experiences in the soaps.

Keeping him confused is their objective and they seem to succeed for a while with situations that range from a potential suicide to a potential sexual romp. Just when the wife thinks they've succeeded in rattling his cage, he turns the tables on them and (with a little help from the actors) convinces his wife that her plan may have gone awry.

Characters--
LARRY: male, late 40's to 50's; frustrated, naive writer
JEFF: male; late 20's to mid-30's, soap opera actor
GWEN: female; same age range, also works in soaps
MARSHA: female; same age range, also works in soaps
SARAH: Larry's wife, the "schemer"

Legends!

by James Kirkwood, directed by Blake Flores

May 4, 2012-June 16, 8 PM - - Sunday Mat: May 13 & 27, 2 PM
(Produced with permission of Samuel French, Inc.)

About the Show: Theatrical producer Martin needs a couple of famous stars in order to get backing for his new show. He thinks he can get former movie legends Leatrice Monsée and Sylvia Glenn. Both need the work...for income and ego. They have agreed to meet at the apartment of a mutual friend who is out of town. Only problem is...they hate each other. Sparks start flying almost immediately. And then things start to get out of hand after the ladies eat some brownies that the maid has prepared for her own party... apparently made with some special ingredients. After a fight, in which not only the gloves come off...but so do the wigs, and a cop is called to investigate the disturbance...a truce emerges. They are both still fiercely competitive...but with a measure of understanding and respect.