Irving Awards January 17

The Annual Irving Awards will be January 17, 2008 at the Courtyard at Nicks. Three shows will be competing for the coveted Irving Awards: The Last Night of Ballyhoo, All the Great Books (abridged) and Providence.

The 2009 Irving Awards will pay tribute to the music from the musical Mama Mia.

For information, please contact 457-3330 or Debi Crawford at 457-2156


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Season Tickets Now on Sale

Season Tickets for the 2009 season are now on sale.

A single ticket is $20 and entitles you to reserved seating at all three regular season shows and a ticket to the 2010 Irving Awards. A Patron membership is $75 and entitles you to 4 tickets and 2 Irving Award invitations. An Angel membership is $125 and you received 6 tickets and 4 Irving Awards tickets. All Patrons and Angel membership receive their names on the 2009 program.

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Providence • Nov 2-9

What began as an exercise in non-linear narrative writing is now a full-length play, currently being prepared for showing as this season’s final production at the Eunice Players’ Theatre. “Providence”, written by Cody Daigle of Scott, LA, infuses a present day storyline with flashbacks that reveal events occurring in the months leading up to the opening scenes of the play. Jody L. Powell, director of the play, assists the audience in shifting through time by lighting changes, set arrangement, and seamless scene changes.

The story begins and ends with two couples in an airport, with an individual from each couple on the verge of a new beginning. Their futures are uncertain as they take risks that may change their relationships with those closest to them. Unlike traditional plays where the first few scenes are used to set up the plot, this play delivers the main event early on, while the rest of the story has the characters living with the effects.

Having seen a reading of “Providence”, Powell knew it was a play she wanted to stage one day. “I’ve admired Cody’s work for years and am delighted to share his work with others. It’s a rare opportunity to direct a script written by someone with his talent from this area.” Daigle is pleased to see the play being produced by the Eunice institution. “It’s an honor that my work was chosen when there are so many other options,” he stated.

Daigle’s work is well written, with conversations between the characters so real and honest, that it was chosen by Maeutic TheatreWorks, an off-Broadway company in New York City, to be a part of their 2008 season. The show ran for a month in February and received positive reviews. Byrne Harrison of Stage Buzz Review called it a “a beautiful and touching work of art not to be missed”.

Laurie Lawson, critic for a theatre based website, noted the use of sophisticated and sharp humor to reveal the development of an unexpected, emerging friendship between two men. Their conversations are underscored by the meaning of “providence” as it becomes more than just a destination when the word is capitalized.

This marks the third play Daigle has had produced in New York City, including “Life/Play” at the International Fringe Festival in 2007, and “The Last Night of the World” in 2006. His works have also been produced in Lafayette over the past several years.

On the heels of the show’s New York success, Powell assembled a cast of experienced actors she knew would deliver the range of emotions these multi-faceted characters have to display. Andre Andrepont, Angelle Bellard, Gabe Ortego, and Bonnie Pitre fulfill their duties admirably following weeks of character exploration and development that will leave audiences pondering the similarities between the life experiences they share with the characters.

The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Monday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include November 5, 6, and 8 at 7:00 p.m., and the play will close with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Season ticket holders should call 866-856-3653 to make reservations. Individuals without season tickets can purchase tickets by calling Louis Wright's Store at 337-457-3330. Tickets are $10; dinner (steak, sides, dessert) plus ticket is $25. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.

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Providence • Nov. 2-9, 2008

Rehearsals are underway at the Eunice Players' Theatre for “Providence”, the final production of the season. This two-act play written by local playwright, Cody Daigle, was produced off-off-Broadway earlier this year and was deemed a critical success. Jody L. Powell, director of the show, is proud to announce an outstanding cast, composed of theater veterans and returning favorites.

The play involves Neil and Jo, a married couple undergoing stressful times, and Mark and Sara, two friends at a crossroads as one prepares to start a new phase of life at the other’s insistence. An unexpected life-changing event brings the two men together to form a new friendship based on shared emotions. The story is beautifully told through a blending of current events and personal flashbacks.

Playing the role of Neil is Andre Andrepont of Opelousas. Although Andre is most active at Opelousas Little Theatre, his most notable role having been Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”, he previously amused audiences on the EPT stage as Nick in “Over the River and Through the Woods”.

Appearing as Jo, Angelle Bellard has recently been playing on various stages in Acadiana including Abbeville and Lafayette. Eunice audiences may remember her roles Cherie in “Bus Stop” and Nicki in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940”.

Joining the cast as Mark, Gabe Ortego is fast becoming a Eunice staple as he was cast earlier this year as Joe in “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” and last year as Motel in “Fiddler on the Roof”. Gabe has many credits from Opelousas Little Theatre, including director of “Monky Business” and “The Last Five Years”.

Bonnie Pitre returns to the EPT stage as Sara, after having appeared in “Woman” and “The Sound of Music”, and running the lighting for “If the Shoe Fits”.

The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Monday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Other performances dates include November 5, 6, and 8 at 7:00 p.m., and the play will close with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Season ticket holders should call 866-856-3653 to make reservations. Individuals without season tickets can purchase tickets by calling Louis Wright's Store at 337-457-3330.

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All the Great Books (abridged) • Sept 13-20

Kevin Courville, Van Reed and Kevin Miller star in All the Great Books (abridged). Tickets on sale now. Scroll down for ticket information.

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All the Great Books (abridged) • Sept. 13-20

Dr. Kevin Miller, Kevin Courville and Van Reed hit the stage to present "All the Great Books (abridged)" by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor at the Eunice Players' Theatre. Directed by Debi L. Crawford, this is the second show of the theatre's 39th season.

The two-act comedy re-educates the audience on their literary knowledge of the world's greatest classics. Who needs The Illiad and The Odyssey when there's The Idiodyssey? The classic, Little Women, is boring until the coach explains it as a play-by-play football diagram. Why should anyone read Charles Dickens' novels when it's presented as a soap opera? No need to read the 1500 page War and Peace when it can be reduced to a 10 minute dramatic presentation. This fast-paced comedy will leave you laughing in the aisles.

Show dates are:
Saturday, September 13 at 7:00
Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 (matinee)
Monday, September 15 at 6:00 - Dinner Theatre*
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00
Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00
Thursday, September 18 at 7:00
Friday, September 19 - NO SHOW
Saturday, September 20 at 7:00

All seats are $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Louis Wright's Store at 337-457-3330 (Monday through Friday 9:00 to 5:00) or 337-457-2156 Monday through Saturday. All tickets must be paid in advance by check only; no credit cards accepted. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice.

*Dinner is served at 6:00 at Nick's Restaurant next door to the theatre. The show starts in the theatre at 7:00. The menu is steak with appropriate side dishes; dessert is served at intermission. Ticket price is $15 in addition to the $10 for the price of the show.

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