Rehearsals are underway at the Eunice Players' Theatre for The Subject Was Roses, the second production of the 41st season. Gabe Ortego, director of the two-act play by Frank D. Gilroy, is proud to announce an outstanding cast composed of theater veterans and an exceptional newcomer.
The play centers on John and Nettie Cleary, and their son, Timmy, a young man returning home from World War II. As the family drama unfolds, marital strains between John and Nettie become apparent, and Timmy provides the tension-relieving humor in his attempts to smooth the waters over his parents' turbulent relationship. The Broadway play and subsequent movie had outstanding success with critics and the public alike and they won many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Academy Awards for the actors, and the Tony Award for Best Play. The Subject Was Roses was previously presented by Eunice Player’s Theatre in 1971 in the second season.
Playing the role of John is Dr. Kevin Miller. An EPT board member and winner of several Irving Awards, Kevin has shown his penchant for comedic and dramatic acting in roles in Greater Tuna, All the Great Books (abridged), Misery, and Never Get Smart With an Angel. He’s eager to show audiences that even though John Cleary has a rough exterior, the man has an interior struggle to repair relationships he’s neglected over the years. Kevin is a member of Acadiana Repertory Theatre (ART), a professional theatre company in Lafayette.
Also a member of ART and an EPT board member, Jody L. Powell portrays Nettie, a woman who is overprotective of her son and hurt by her husband’s misdeeds, yet still manages to achieve emotional growth. Powell is no stranger to the EPT stage, having most recently been seen in The Last Night of Ballyhoo for which she won the Best Actress Irving Award. Other acting roles include Myra in Deathtrap and Dr. Livingston in Agnes of God. She is also known for directing To Kill a Mockingbird, Always…Patsy Cline, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and this season’s opener, What the Bellhop Saw.
Joining the cast as Timmy is Christian M. Richard. A home school graduate, Christian is a freshman at LSU-E studying architecture. Although this is his first play on stage he did run the light board for EPT’s summer show, Humpty Dumpty is Missing. Christian is an artist with talent in drawing, painting, and playing the bass guitar and the ukulele. Christian has also done sketch work at religious retreats.
The show will open with a matinee on Sunday, October 3 at 2:00 p.m. Dinner theatre is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Nick's on Second St., with the performance immediately following. Remaining performances dates include October 6-10, with evening performances at 7:00 p.m. and the Sunday performance at 2:00 p.m. Season ticket holders should call 866-856-3653 to make reservations. Those without season tickets can purchase tickets by going to David Ltd. Hair Salon at 204 S. Second St., Eunice, or by calling 337-546-0163 or 337-457-2156 where Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Tickets are $10; dinner (steak, sides, dessert) plus ticket is $25. The theatre is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. Season ticket packages are still available. Check out Eunice Players' Theatre on Facebook.
Jody Powell and Kevin Miller
Jody Powell and Christian Richard
Kevin Miller, Jody Powell, and Christian Richard
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