'Mame' Opens At Palm Canyon Theatre

PALM DESERT, CA - From Palm Canyon Theatre: Mame, starring Se Layne and Morgana Corelli, will take the stage at Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) December 1-17. Layne will play the eccentric Mame Dennis who is entrusted with the care of her 10-year-old nephew, Patrick, played by Ben Van Dijk. Mame leads an artsy, bohemian, intellectual lifestyle with best friend Vera Charles, played by Corelli, always at-the-ready with martini in hand. Rather than have the new family member alter her free-spirited lifestyle, Auntie Mame teaches Patrick how to live each day to the fullest.

The musical follows the story of the 1955 novel “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis as well as the 1956 Broadway play, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee and the 1958 film. Lawrence and Lee also wrote the musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1966. The show portrays how Mame and Patrick influence each other through the years. Audiences watch Patrick grow up, with the older Patrick played by Scott Clinkscales. The PCT production is directed and choreographed by Stephanie Eley. Eley was in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls and My One and Only, and performed in the national and international tours of A Chorus Line from 1977-1980.

Steven Smith will direct the production’s music with well-known songs, written by Broadway great and former Palm Springs resident Jerry Herman, including “My Best Girl,” “Bosom Buddies,” and “We Need a Little Christmas.” Derik Shopinski is the show’s costume designer. The production’s scenic design is by Allan Jensen. Lighting designs are by J.W. Layne, co-artistic director of PCT.

Se Layne shares the role of PCT’s co-artistic director with her brother J.W., who founded PCT with his family in 1997. Mame is the fourth show of 13 in PCT’s 2017-2018 schedule. Additional company members inMame include Rob Weidert (Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside), Ben Reece (M. Lindsay Woolsey), Jeffrey Fergson (Dwight Babcock), Elizabeth Schmelling (Agnes Gooch), Adrian Fernando Vera (Ito), Kelli Perches (Sally Cato), Jasmine Shaffer (Madame Branislowski), Nick Wass (Junior Babcock), Bianca Stoker (Gloria Upson), Chandra Smith (Pegeen Ryan), Mat Tucker (Gregor), as well as additional ensemble members.

Mame opens at the Palm Canyon Theatre on Friday, December 1, and runs through Sunday, December 17 (No show on December 2). Show times are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $32-$36. Student tickets are $15, with valid ID; student tickets must be purchased at the Box Office.

For tickets or more information, call the Palm Canyon Theatre Box Office at 760-323-5123 or order online: PalmCanyonTheatre.org. The Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Alejo Road and Palm Canyon Drive. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Paul Hayashi