Tehachapi Community Theatre & Beekay Theatre

Tehachapi Community Theatre (TCT) presents “Nuts” as its third show in the beautiful BeeKay Theatre. Written by Tom Topor, “Nuts” is a courtroom drama that was a Broadway hit. It has been called the best courtroom melodrama since “Witness for the Prosecution” and “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.” The play was also brought to life in the film version in 1987, with Richard Dreyfuss, Barbra Streisand,Maureen Stapleton and Eli Wallach.

The story is set in a courtroom in New York’s Bellevue Hospital and is about a high-priced call girl, Claudia, in jail for killing a violent “client”. The court appointed psychiatrist and an aggressive prosecutor claim she is unfit to stand trial, therefore she must be sent to an insane asylum. Fighting for her life, Claudia’s goal is to prove she isn’t “nuts” which would allow her to stand trial for manslaughter.

Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the BeeKay Theatre, 110 S. Green Street, on June 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27. Additionally, a Sunday matinee is scheduled for June 14 at 2:00 p.m. and a Thursday evening performance on June 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale at The Apple Shed, Old Towne Nursery, Johnny’s Take n’ Bake and Tehachapi Art Center. Ticket prices for Friday and Saturday nights are $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. Ticket prices for the Thursday night performance and the Sunday matinee are $9.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before show time.

Please note: Due to strong language and subject matter, “Nuts” is for Mature Audiences Only.

Directing the show for TCT is Annette Kirby. Annette previously directed theNeil Simon hit, “Barefoot in the Park” and has acted in “Steel Magnolias,” “Same Time Next Year,” “Mornings at Seven,” “The Gingerbread Lady,” “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “A Christmas Carol.”

The cast includes the talents of Heather Ringle, David Reed, Brian Terpstra, Cynthia Hynes, Royce Cox, Walter ‘Hop’ Buck, Jackie Lawlor, Cindy Latham,Daniel Franco and Rick Gould.

Heather Ringle was last seen as Nancy in “Oliver!” and performed in “Sweeney Todd.” David Reed has directed “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Private Lives” and “Sweeney Todd” and was one of the ‘angels’ in “My Three Angels” and played the part of John Brook in “Little Women.”

Brian Terpstra has directed many TCT plays and has been seen in “Pygmalion,” “Mousetrap,” “Educating Rita,” “Mornings at Seven,” “Cocktails with Mimi,” “Gingerbread Lady,” “Not the Wizard of Oz,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “Same Time Next Year” and “War of the Worlds.”

Cynthia Hynes credits include Marmee in “Little Women” and “Sweeney Todd.” Royce Cox has been seen in “Daddy’s Dyin’, Whose Got the Will?,” “On Golden Pond,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Kingfisher,” “Mornings At Seven” and “My Three Angels.”

Jackie Lawlor’s credits include “Sweeney Todd,” “Caught In The Net,” “Cocktails with Mimi,” “Daddy’s Dyin’, Whose Got the Will?,” “War of the Worlds,” “Love Letters,” and “Cemetery Club.”

Rick Gould recently had his acting debut for TCT in “Catfish Moon.” Walter ‘Hop’ Buck was seen in “War of the Worlds,” Cindy Latham stage managed “Oliver!” and this is Daniel Franco’s TCT debut.

This is a story about 3 men in their mid 40’s who have been best friends, oh, for as long as any of them remember.  But there is trouble in this trio of easy going southern men.  And it is up to Curley and his sister Betty so save the life long fellowship they have all shared in.
It has come out the Gordon is dating (in his mind) Betty, and this is really upseting to Frog.
Betty suggests a fishing trip for the 3 men, like they used to do.  They all go and during their time together, they relive the good times, as well as the bad times and realize that nothing can really break up this trio.  Thru joy and pain, Gordon and Frog put asside their problems and become even closer than before.
This play began on April 17, 2009 and will run for 3 weekends.
For more information, contact TCT Hotline at 822-4037 and leave a message for Kenny.

I stopped by the other night at the BeeKay and got to watch a rehersal of a couple scenes.

This is a great play. It is fun, it has action, and has romance, and is all about friendship, love, relationships…and all and all is fun.

The characters are a riot and the acting is great. These people are incredeble with the amount of time and energy they spend putting it all together, and it is not just the actors, but the director, stage manager, sound person, lighting, and all the other people that make it happen. The amount of work that goes into making this play happen is unbeliveable.

Don’t miss seeing this show. Much better than watching TV.

Sam White

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Catfish Moon is very funny! Don’t miss it!

Lauren Alexander

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I’ve seen Catfish Moon once already….

First, I want to say I have been to many community theatres, and never have I been to one as beautiful as the Beekay Theatre thanks to the vision of David Reed.  The theater was also well staffed, full of volunteers to help us in everyway imaginable.  Karl Schuck (President of Beekay Theater) greeted everyone at the door as they entered the theater.  Ushers helped us find our seats. Monica Nadon (director of Oliver), and Kenny Chugg (member at large) shook hands and talked to many in the audience.  There was staff on hand selling refreshments at the intermission, attending the ticket booth and doing tech checks.  Everyone was treated like royalty by these wonderful volunteers who made a visit to the Beekay feel like the event of the year.  Oh, wait, this play may very well be the event of the year!

While entering the Beekay, you could hear the audience’s awe as they gazed upon a magnificent background on stage thanks to no other than David Reed and creative scenic artist Susan Hill and Cindy Latham, the stage manager.  As if the work and detail that went into the design of the stage and the props (Barbara Meehan) and wonderful costumes by Paula Madrid, Vicki Hoffman, and Vanessa Beazel weren’t enough…   The sound and high tech lighting of the stage are as professional as it gets thanks to Doug Jockinsen who designed the electrical system at the Beekay, and the lighting crew Michael Gossage and Dallas Baranosky.  Kenny Chugg and Barbara Meehan did the follow spot lighting and spotted me on my way to the bathroom, but that is another story for another blog…

I have met a few of the Actors that performed in Oliver, the wonderfully talented Guy Martin (Mr. Bumble) and his wife Debbie (Widow Corney), Alex Zonn (Fagin) and Lauren Alexander (the Strawberry Seller and Third Woman).  It came as no surprise to me that these actors would portray their characters well.  Most of the cast I didn’t know.  All the actors did a fantastic job bringing their charactors to life.

However, I do want to mention a few actors that caught my eyes especially.

Sarah Mace-Rodon who portrayed Artful Dodger perfectly, in fact I told her she would be a star some day on my way out of the theater.   Heather Ringle (Nancy) has an awesome voice, her singing and acting was supurb,  Sydney Carroll (Rose Seller) another fantastic singer who stands out in my mind. The truth is, the entire cast did well and I hope to see them all in future plays here in Tehachapi.

We should be very proud of ourselves in Tehachapi for it is we who made the TCT/Beekay Theatre possible with our donations, volunteer work, talent, and participation as an audience.   If you have supported the TCT or the Beekay Theatre in anyway…  Please take a bow… I applaud you.

Sparks