Laurel Little Theatre continues its 61st season with the Southern comedy “THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO.” Performances over the next two weekends are February 11-12 & 18-19 at 730pm and one Sunday matinee on February 20 at 2pm.
The LLT reservation line is now open and answers 24hrs a day at 601.428.0140.
Written by the same author as “DRIVING MISS DAISY,” the play is set in 1939 Atlanta during the world premiere of “GONE WITH THE WIND,” but the really big event coming up for some families is the annual Ballyhoo Ball – a country club cotillion where the ladies ‘coming of age’ are presented to the eligible bachelors.
The play premiered in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympics Arts Festival, and then moved on to Broadway for a successful two year run.
It got 10 major nominations for the Pulitzer Prize and Tony, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards, winning the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play. A New York Times review said that it recalls a vintage episode of “DESIGNING WOMEN,” the TV sitcom.
The show is under the direction of LLT alumni Rick Youngblood. Youngblood is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Jones College. He’s directed and acted in many LLT productions over the last two decades.
Assistant Director Jason Dedwylder is the Academic Dean at Jones College and has been volunteering at LLT for several years.
The small cast features LLT alumni Jackson Corley, Scottie Corley, Carole Goza, Jody Ridgeway, Tommy Smith Jr and Katelyn Welch, along with newcomer Michaela Lin.
The cast has over a hundred shows in their past credits, and they come from Laurel, Hattiesburg, Ellisville, Eucutta, Richton and Bay Springs
Make reservations in advance at 601.428.0140 and then the ticket purchase or membership punch is done at the door when you attend your performance. Send any questions to LLTLaurelMS@aol.com.
Also happening this week, Mississippi Magazine’s annual BEST OF MISSISSIPPI poll is open for voting through February 14th.
The nominations were picked over the last month and Laurel Little Theatre has just been announced as a Top Ten Venue nominee for activities in the state. There are also 35 other nominees from Laurel for dining, shopping and events.
You can vote for your favorites before February 14th at www.mismag.com/best-of-mississippi/
submitted by
Wess Hughes
for the LLT Board of Directors