Performance Date: 2/23/2010, 7:30 pm
FUT in the Hat’s next show a real ‘Winner’
Alex McCuaig
amccuaig@medicinehatnews.com
It might be February and the flowerbeds are still covered in snow but award season is in full bloom with the fruit of the coveted Academy Awards waiting to be picked. And with that timely segue, FUT in the Hat theater group is presenting “And The Winner Is,” a Mitch Albom play about one man’s attempt to secure himself an Oscar.
Albom is best known for his book and subsequent play, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” along with his work as a sports journalist for the Detroit Free Press.
This will be the last of the four Barenaked Theatre plays performed by the company at the Prickly Pear Cafe and FUT artistic director Karen Cunningham expects it to be a sold-out show.
Directed by FUT president Julie Tracey and starring well-known local thespians Grant Bray and Jim Rissling, the play will be a stripped-down version performed in its essence with actors reading lines.
“There are no costumes or sets, it’s just a readers theatre style,” said Cunningham.
“It’s an opportunity for us to do more. A (regular) show takes three months, (each) readers theatre takes us three rehearsals.” But that’s not to say quality suffers with good crowds filling up the cozy confines of the Prickly Pear.
“We’ve found that venue has been really pleasant for the audience because they can sit back and relax and have something to eat or drink a fancy coffee,” said Cunningham. “But it’s limited seating so you have to get there early.” She added the group’s show is just an addition to a long and distinguished history of live theatre in the city. “There have been theatre groups in the
city going back to the founding of Medicine Hat — it has always been here.”
This is the 10th year for the theatre group formed in response to the need for a company dedicated to non-musical performances. Over the past decade the group has performed such plays as “The Vagina Monologues” and” Tommy Douglas: The Arrows of Desire.”
The one-night only show is on Feb. 23 beginning at 7 p.m. The regular Prickly Pear opening hours will be extend past the usual 4 p.m. closing until the end of the play. Tickets are $5 available exclusively at the door.
Alex McCuaig
amccuaig@medicinehatnews.com
It might be February and the flowerbeds are still covered in snow but award season is in full bloom with the fruit of the coveted Academy Awards waiting to be picked. And with that timely segue, FUT in the Hat theater group is presenting “And The Winner Is,” a Mitch Albom play about one man’s attempt to secure himself an Oscar.
Albom is best known for his book and subsequent play, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” along with his work as a sports journalist for the Detroit Free Press.
This will be the last of the four Barenaked Theatre plays performed by the company at the Prickly Pear Cafe and FUT artistic director Karen Cunningham expects it to be a sold-out show.
Directed by FUT president Julie Tracey and starring well-known local thespians Grant Bray and Jim Rissling, the play will be a stripped-down version performed in its essence with actors reading lines.
“There are no costumes or sets, it’s just a readers theatre style,” said Cunningham.
“It’s an opportunity for us to do more. A (regular) show takes three months, (each) readers theatre takes us three rehearsals.” But that’s not to say quality suffers with good crowds filling up the cozy confines of the Prickly Pear.
“We’ve found that venue has been really pleasant for the audience because they can sit back and relax and have something to eat or drink a fancy coffee,” said Cunningham. “But it’s limited seating so you have to get there early.” She added the group’s show is just an addition to a long and distinguished history of live theatre in the city. “There have been theatre groups in the
city going back to the founding of Medicine Hat — it has always been here.”
This is the 10th year for the theatre group formed in response to the need for a company dedicated to non-musical performances. Over the past decade the group has performed such plays as “The Vagina Monologues” and” Tommy Douglas: The Arrows of Desire.”
The one-night only show is on Feb. 23 beginning at 7 p.m. The regular Prickly Pear opening hours will be extend past the usual 4 p.m. closing until the end of the play. Tickets are $5 available exclusively at the door.
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