Starlight Dinner Theatre to present the WORLD PREMIERE of a new play
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten
Synopsis:
This deliriously funny new Jones Hope Wooten comedy (Futrelle sister trilogy, The Hallelujah Girls and The Red Velvet Cake War) is all about that four letter word: L-O-V-E. Under a full moon on this unpredictable night of romance, these four rollicking tales take you on an around-the-globe journey of unexpected and hilarious twists and turns: A slick, successful used car-selling Romeo (Michael Hays) in Dallas believes he's answering Cupid's call, only to realize too late he's wandered into a life-changing trap set by three fed-up 'Juliets' (Susan Chmurynsky, Susan DeRosa, Angela Dill). In Manhattan, a man (Chris Klaver) tries to battle his way out of a mid-life crisis with an ill-advised and elaborate marriage proposal. Unfortunately, it all goes wildly off track when his caterer passes out (Angela Dill), a singing telegram girl (Sarah Hauck) arrives and breaks into sobs rather than song, his ex-wife (Tarwyn Rouse) saunters in wearing nothing but a bathrobe and a cowering super hero (Jason Carlen) inches nervously across his twelfth floor window ledge. In a rooftop London bistro, sparks fly when two strangers (Elizabeth Todd, Bob Murrell) surprisingly start to connect, only to be thwarted by a hyperactive American tourist (Rachel Mender) who's determined to be the center of attention and the unpredictable antics of an ancient waitress (Connie Curran-Oesterle) who wields a wicked sousaphone. And finally The Hallelujah Girls, a group of fun-loving gals from Georgia (Janet Anderson, Leann Dethlefsen, Carol Ferris, Linda Granger, Jan Ross), say aloha to their wild sides as they accidentally crash a Hawaiian honeymoon in progress. By the time the evening is over and the moon works its magic, love will conquer all and your sides will ache from laughter!
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Performance Schedule:
Friday, October 11th: OPENING NIGHT
Pre-Glow at 5:30pm (Add'l Reservations Required) Candle-lit Dinner at 6:30pm World Premiere Performance at 7:30pm Saturday, October 12th: Candle-lit Dinner at 6:30pm Encore Performance at 7:30pm Friday, October 18th: Candle-lit Dinner at 6:30pm Encore Performance at 7:30pm Saturday, October 19th: Candle-lit Dinner at 6:30pm Encore Performance at 7:30pm VIP Event: GLOW & SHOWYou are cordially invited to the World Premiere Opening Night on October 11th, 2013, of Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
Schedule: 5:30 pm - 6 :15 pm Pre "Glow" in the Library with the playwrights (see below), cast and crew. Punch and light hors d'oeuvres. Photo ops. 6:15 pm - 6:30 pm Tour of backstage 6:30 pm - Dinner at our prime tables 7:30 pm - Prepare to laugh and enjoy the "Show" 10:00 pm - After "Glow" reception at Houlihan's in the Lansing Mall. Question and Answer period with the playwrights, cast and crew, a drawing for free tickets to future shows, photo ops, hors d'oeuvres & one house beer/wine ticket. Complete Package Details: $70 per person (no senior discounts) Includes the above and a signed program by the authors. VIP Reservations: For VIP tickets, contact our office at (517) 243-6040. Discount available for Punch Pass holders. |
About the Authors:
Jessie Jones co-authored the Off-Broadway
Southern-fried funeral comedy, Dearly
Departed, which has become a perennial theatre favorite across the US and
around the world. She also co-wrote its hit feature film adaptation, Kingdom
Come, which was released by Fox Searchlight Films and starred LL Cool J and
Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg. Jessie is one of the most produced female
playwrights in America
today.
Nicholas Hope, winner of the Texas New Playwrights' Award, was Director of Casting for Theatre Communications Group in NY, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and ABC Television in NY and Los Angeles. With Jessie Jones, he wrote for the Emmy-winning Disney television series Teacher's Pet, starring Tony Award winner, Nathan Lane. Together with Jessie Jones and Jamie Wooten, Nicholas wrote for USA, WB, UPN, SYFY, Nickelodeon and Fox.
Jamie Wooten was a writer and producer for many seasons of the television series The Golden Girls, where he won the Writers Guild of America award. He co-created the CBS series, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, starring Oscar winner Eileen Heckart and Tony winners Judith Ivey and Harriet Harris. He was the executive producer of the Fox comedy, The Crew, NBC's For Your Love and UPN's Half & Half. A Billboard Award-winning songwriter, Jamie has written tunes for television and film.
Nicholas Hope, winner of the Texas New Playwrights' Award, was Director of Casting for Theatre Communications Group in NY, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and ABC Television in NY and Los Angeles. With Jessie Jones, he wrote for the Emmy-winning Disney television series Teacher's Pet, starring Tony Award winner, Nathan Lane. Together with Jessie Jones and Jamie Wooten, Nicholas wrote for USA, WB, UPN, SYFY, Nickelodeon and Fox.
Jamie Wooten was a writer and producer for many seasons of the television series The Golden Girls, where he won the Writers Guild of America award. He co-created the CBS series, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, starring Oscar winner Eileen Heckart and Tony winners Judith Ivey and Harriet Harris. He was the executive producer of the Fox comedy, The Crew, NBC's For Your Love and UPN's Half & Half. A Billboard Award-winning songwriter, Jamie has written tunes for television and film.
Starlight to premiere comedy trio's newest work in 2013!
Nick, Linda, Jessie & Jamie in Asheville, NC
DELTA TOWNSHIP, MI -- Three of the most popularly produced living playwrights in the United States have tapped Starlight Dinner Theatre to be the home of their next world premiere.
Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten (www.joneshopewooten.com) have had more than 1,800 productions and 12,000 performances of their jointly-written comedies. Next season they will premiere the latest in the series of the Jones, Hope and Wooten comedies at Starlight.
Artistic Director Linda Granger has developed a working relationship with the playwrights through the Delta Township dinner theater performing their other works such as “Dearly Beloved,” “Christmas Belles,” “The Hallelujah Girls” and “Southern Hospitality.” Starlight will be opening one of their comedies, May 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2012, “The Red Velvet Cake War.”
Granger met the playwrights in 2008 when they were touring Michigan theaters. Starlight Theater hosted a picnic supper for them.
“During the evening we began to sense the passion with which Linda approaches theatrical productions and were impressed by the dedication of her loyal company members,” said Jones. “As the years have passed, we’ve marveled at her keen sense of detail and creativity as we’ve poured over the production photos from her shows she faithfully sends us. And we’ve been utterly delighted by Linda’s support of our work—she’s staged almost every comedy we’ve written and we’re tremendously grateful.”
The title has yet to be announced, but Starlight Dinner Theater will include it as their opening show of Season 9 in October 2013.
“We are thrilled with the prospect of a JONES HOPE WOOTEN World Premiere at the fabulous Starlight Dinner Theatre in Lansing in 2013,” Jones said. Meanwhile, Starlight opens “The Red Velvet Cake Wars” to keep their faithful audiences up to date on the latest happenings with the three Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas (just down the road from Fayro) whose love and warring will keep audiences in stitches.
Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten (www.joneshopewooten.com) have had more than 1,800 productions and 12,000 performances of their jointly-written comedies. Next season they will premiere the latest in the series of the Jones, Hope and Wooten comedies at Starlight.
Artistic Director Linda Granger has developed a working relationship with the playwrights through the Delta Township dinner theater performing their other works such as “Dearly Beloved,” “Christmas Belles,” “The Hallelujah Girls” and “Southern Hospitality.” Starlight will be opening one of their comedies, May 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2012, “The Red Velvet Cake War.”
Granger met the playwrights in 2008 when they were touring Michigan theaters. Starlight Theater hosted a picnic supper for them.
“During the evening we began to sense the passion with which Linda approaches theatrical productions and were impressed by the dedication of her loyal company members,” said Jones. “As the years have passed, we’ve marveled at her keen sense of detail and creativity as we’ve poured over the production photos from her shows she faithfully sends us. And we’ve been utterly delighted by Linda’s support of our work—she’s staged almost every comedy we’ve written and we’re tremendously grateful.”
The title has yet to be announced, but Starlight Dinner Theater will include it as their opening show of Season 9 in October 2013.
“We are thrilled with the prospect of a JONES HOPE WOOTEN World Premiere at the fabulous Starlight Dinner Theatre in Lansing in 2013,” Jones said. Meanwhile, Starlight opens “The Red Velvet Cake Wars” to keep their faithful audiences up to date on the latest happenings with the three Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas (just down the road from Fayro) whose love and warring will keep audiences in stitches.
