Tribune staff reports
Jackson County Community Theatre will present the holiday comedy “Fruitcakes” by Julian Wiles at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Royal Off-the-Square Theatre, 121 W. Walnut St., Brownstown.
It also will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 at the same location.
In keeping with the tradition of the last few seasons, the winter show will be a Christmas-themed family affair for both cast and audiences. The cast list includes adults and children with many of them making their participation a family adventure.
Mix together a giant batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chickenpox epidemic, two southern spinsters, an estranged old man, a lost cat named Tutti Frutti and a Christmas hog named Buster and you’ve got the recipe for a fun-filled and touching evening of holiday cheer.
Into this bucolic world comes Jamie, a kid who has run away from home as far as his money will take him. At first, he thinks this town’s inhabitants are “nuttier than fruitcakes,” but soon, he comes to admire, appreciate and even adore this nutty little town. A moving story of alienation, understanding and reconciliation, “Fruitcakes” provides audiences with a heaping of holiday warmth and Christmas cheer.
The show is directed by John Rohlfing, Katie Rohlfing is assistant director and Karen Browning is production manager. Joe Bradley, Joe Reynolds and Joel McGill constructed the set. Landon Whitson and Stacey Osborne are the backstage crew.
Cast members are Barb Bruce and Lisa Burrell as Miss Alice and Miss Sarah, the fruitcake ladies; Michelle Elkins as Betty Jane, director of the annual Christmas pageant; and Morgan Henry as Jamie, the runaway.
Other residents of the town (with varying degrees of nuttiness) are played by Catherine Horton, Steve Deweese, Bryce Osborne, Evan Rohlfing, Toby Calhoun, Gabriella Parisi, Max Maschino, Landon Whitson and Reece Osborne.
Children in the town’s Christmas pageant are Brinna Sharp as Mary, Jake Bohn as Joseph, Stephanie Sunderman and Addison Otte as the sheep, Maggie Calhoun and Cali Ann Fox as the angels, James Hodge and Scout Bohn as shepherds and wise men, Sullivan Dick as the innkeeper, Rylen Osborne as a wise man and Addisyn Osborne as the narrator.
Tickets are on sale at Family Drug in Brownstown or Artistic Impressions in Seymour or online at jcct.org. All seats are reserved.
The 2018-19 season is presented with assistance of a grant from the partnership of Columbus Area Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.
Remaining shows of the season are “9 to 5, The Musical,” JCCT’s annual dinner theater at The Pines Evergreen Room, Feb. 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23; “Half & Half,” April 28 and 29, May 3 and 4 at Royal Off-the-Square Theatre; and the Jackson County Young Artists’ production of “Little Women,” Jan. 25, 26 and 27 at the Royal Off-the-Square Theatre.
JCCT welcomes newcomers to become involved in its productions. No experience is necessary.
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For information, visit jcct.org.
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