The Miss Firecracker Contest
by Beth Henley
Directed by Mark Richardson
April 27-30, 2017
The place is the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott (known locally as “Miss Hot Tamale") is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The unexpected arrival of her cousin Elain, a former Miss Firecracker winner, (who has walked out on her rich but boring husband and her two small children) complicates matters a bit, as does the repeated threat of Elain’s eccentric brother, Delmount, (recently released from a mental institution) to sell the family homestead and decamp for New Orleans. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named Popeye (who is hopelessly smitten by Delmount) and several other cheerfully nutty characters, Carnelle perseveres—leading to a denouement of unparalleled hilarity, compassion and moving lyricism as all concerned finally escape their unhappy pasts and turn hopefully toward what must surely be a better future.
Cast
Carnelle Scott - Mary-Elizabeth Moore Popeye Jackson - Abbey Jones Elain Rutledge - Tina Smith Delmount Williams - Scotty Kennedy Mac Sam - Jerry Self Tessy Mahoney - Hannah Jackson Crew Mark Richardson - Director Ethan Ray - Stage Manager Todd Hardin - Set Design/Construction Scotty Kennedy - Set Design/Construction Carol Rogers - Set Design/Construction Mark Richardson - Lighting and Sound JC Weeks - Lighting and Sound Scotty Kennedy - Lighting and Sound Beth Hammock - Ticket Coordinator |