Easley Foothills Playhouse 2012-2013 Season Offers Something for All

The Easley Foothills Playhouse is preparing to kick off its 2012-2013 season and the slate of shows is sure to offer something for everyone.

“We have a really good mix this year,” said Playhouse Office Manager Pam Kelley. “We have some comedies, some musicals, some dramas.”

The first show of the season is the musical “Once Upon A Mattress”

“Everyone who is in it is having so much fun in rehearsals,” Kelley said.

Director Steve Schultz says that “Mattress” has the funniest opening three minutes of any show that he's ever seen, according to Kelley.

Kelley saw the show when it was performed at Easley High School.

“It was really, really good,” Kelley said. “I'm excited about it being on our stage.”

The show is based on the story of the Princess and the Pea and features characters such as Princess Winifred, Prince Dauntless the Drab and Lady Larken.

Kelley said parents may not want to take their “little, little kids” to see it.

“It's a little bit more of an adult twist on the story,” she said. “But that shouldn't scare anybody away from seeing it – It's really funny.”

“Once Upon a Mattress” will be performed August 24 – September 9. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm.

Just in time for Halloween, the Playhouse will present “The Haunting.” While some may be familiar with the 1963 classic horror movie of the same name, or its dreadful 1999 remake, this play is a completely different story, once based on the works of Charles Dickens.

A young book dealer is hired to catalogue a library housed in ancient and crumbling mansion. As the young man sets to his work, he discovers rare and antiquated books – and a terrifying secret.

The show will be directed by Maury Reed. Check back with Easley Patch for audition dates.

“It's a great show,” Kelley said. “It's got some really good special effects. I read it and I remember thinking 'This is going to be really creepy,'”

The show isn't a blood-soaked one but will have chills perfect for October and Halloween.

“It's creepy and spooky, not gory,” Kelley said.

“The Haunting” will be performed Oct 19-28. The show will start at 8pm on Friday October 19 and Saturday October 20. On October 26 and 27^th the show will be performed at special midnight shows. Sunday matinees begin at 3pm.

This year's Christmas show is “Gold, Frankincense, Christmas Tree Ornaments and Myrrh.”

“We're really excited about it,” Kelley said. “It's a really good story. It's a mix of comedy and drama.”

The play is based on both traditional Christmas stories and more modern ones and tells a story about how the Christmas message can be buried in materialism and commercialism.

“There's some fun stuff in there on the surface and there's the biblical story that runs beyond Jesus' birth and foreshadows the crucifixion and the resurrection,” Kelley said. “I think people, especially in this area, will really enjoy it.”

The play will feature a minimalistic set and costumes.

“I think it helps not to have all that extraneous stuff,” Kelley said. “You really pay attention to the story.”

“Gold, Frankincense, Christmas Tree Ornaments and Myrrh” will be performed December 7-16^th. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8pm, Sunday matinees at 3pm.

The next show is “The 39 Steps” based on the Alfred Hitchcock movie.

In the play, a man who thinks his life is boring is soon off an adventure involving spies, murder and a mystery – just what are The 39 Steps?

Although the play features more than 150 characters, the cast is much, much smaller.

“The cast will change characters on a dime, the set will change on a dime,” Kelley said. “It has four actors but multiple characters – many, many characters. It's definitely a comedy. It's really funny. I'm really excited about us doing it.”

“The 39 Steps” is slated for Feb 8-17^th.

The playhouse's next show will feature a cast of talented young people from the area.

“Seussical, Jr.” is a musical featuring many classic Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant and The Cat in the Hat.

“I hear the music is really good,” Kelley said. “We're doing the 'Junior' version – the cast has to be 18 and under. 18 year-olds must still be in high school. The Junior show has pretty much everything that the regular version has.

“This is one show this season that more kids can take part in,” Kelley said.

The 2012-2013 season will conclude with “See How They Run,” a play Foothills Playhouse president Maurice Reed, who will direct this show, has wanted to bring to the Easley stage for years.

“Maurice does a really good job with the kind of play. It's a farce,” Kelley said “Our audience will really love it.”

The revolves around the wacky characters dwelling an English vicarage, including an American actor and actress, a cockney maid who has seen too many movies, and a number of clergymen, including one who is really an escaped prisoner in disguise.

Click here for Easley Foothills Playhouse ticket information.