The first Town & Gown show of 2020 opens February 6th with a production of the brand-new play from the Jones, Hope, Wooten playwriting team, “Deliver Us From Mama.” Audiences may recall the smash hit “Mama Won’t Fly” from Town & Gown’s 2014-2015 season, a prequel to the latest adventure featuring Mama and her unpredictably zany family. Director Paul Weber also helmed that show and has brought other Jones, Hope, Wooten comedies to the Town & Gown stage over the past several years, including audience favorites “Always A Bridesmaid,” “Dixie Swim Club,” and “The Savannah Sipping Society.” When asked why he jumped at the chance to be one of the first theaters to produce their new play, Weber explained, “When we did ‘Mama Won’t Fly’ five years ago, it became an audience favorite, with many sold-out performances. With its quirky characters and improbable situations, ‘Deliver Us From Mama’ is every bit as funny and should be just as popular.”
Patrons will be excited to see a cast filled with Town & Gown veterans, along with a couple of new faces. Longtime Town & Gown performer Linda Thrasher reprises her role as the title character of Mama, while her bickering adult children Savannah and Walker are portrayed by Bonnie Cain-Wood and Timothy Cole. Cain-Wood and Cole have both appeared in numerous Town & Gown productions as well and are excited to be back on the T&G stage. Additional cast members include Renae Perry, Kimberly Harrison, Pamela Fortney, and Russ Hopper – all familiar faces who are sure to delight audiences with their portrayals of the lovably goofy characters Mama and her fellow travelers meet on their wild, strange trip.
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huck Lester and Peter Hounslow round out the ensemble cast in their debut performances at Town & Gown. Lester first became interested in theater as a high school student in Perry, Oklahoma, where his favorite role was Og the Leprechaun in “Finian’s Rainbow.” He went on to perform in over a dozen productions of the OSU Theatre Department. Hounslow is relatively new to the Stillwater area, having arrived within the last year. The arc of his acting story started in college as well, but included a lengthy intermission while he pursued a career in sales and management. He became involved in film production several years ago, and a move to Atlanta in 2017 saw him revive his acting ambitions with professional classes and roles in independent and student films. Town and Gown is thrilled to welcome both gentlemen into its family of volunteers.
“Deliver Us From Mama” will run for eight performances, from February 6th to 9th and 13th to 16th. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, February 3rd and can be obtained by calling the box office at (405) 372-9122 or visiting the theatre’s Web site at www.townandgown.org. Tickets prices are $14 for adults, $12 for students, and $12 for seniors attending either Sunday matinee.
