Depot Theater

The Skin of our Teeth
1990-10-17 - 1990-11-10
The main characters of the play are George and Maggie Antrobus, their two children, Henry and Gladys, and Sabina, who appears as the family’s maid in the first and third acts, and as a beauty queen temptress in the second act. The play’s action takes place in a modern setting, but is full of anachronisms reaching back to prehistoric times. The characters’ roles as archetypes are emphasized by their identification with Biblical and classical personalities. While the Antrobus family remains constant throughout the play, the three acts do not form a continuous narrative. The first act takes place during an impending ice age, in the second act takes place on the boardwalk and the family circumstances have changed as George becomes president of the Fraternal Order of Mammals (apparent references to Sodom and Gommorah but also to the Roaring Twenties) and the end of the world approaches a second time; the third act opens with Maggie and Gladys emerging from a bunker at the end of a seven-year-long war. An additional layer of stylistic complexity is added by the occasional interruption of the narrative scene by actors directly addressing the audience. For instance, in the first scene, the actress playing Sabina reveals her misgivings to the audience about the play, in the second act she refuses to say lines in the play and tells the spectators things that cause a woman in the audience to run from the theatre sobbing, and, in the third act, the “stage manager” of the play interrupts to announce that several actors have taken ill.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 17 – November 10, 1990
CAST: Announcer/Professor/Conveener/Defeated Official/Broadcast Official – Ken Pervenanze, Sabina – Michelle Drenth, Mr. Fitzpatrick – Doug Austen, Mrs. Antrobus – Jeanette Magouirk, Dinosaur – Haley Ross, Mammoth – Robin Magouirk, Telegraph Boy/Conveener – Jared Adams, Gladys – Joy Adams, Henry – Jason Hart, Mr. Antrobus – Kelly Carroll, Doctor/Conveener – Michael Hall, Judge/Conveener – Barry Metcalf, Miss E. Muse/Boardwalk Resident/Hester – Joanne Welchel, Miss T. Muse/Conveenette/Ivy – Jill AUsten, Miss M. Muse/Conveenette – Kara Lay, Fortune Teller – Sarah Simpson, Mr. Tremayne – Mike Hanseon, Fred Bailey – Keith Reimer
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager – Mike Hanseon, Light Board Operator/Set Design – Lyn Yost, Sound Design/Set Design – Keith Reimer, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez, Costume Design – Joanne Welchel, Dee Miller, Jean Lantis, Set Design – Rich Sternadori, Greg Smith, Darleen Clifton Smith, Claudia Finley, Jim Brown, Greg White, Curtis Crosley, Courtney Simpson, Michelle Drenth, Sarah Simpson, Chris Pyle, Barry Metcalf
MENU: Coleslaw salad, grilled pork chops, baked beans scalloped potatoes, bread, pumpkin tarts. Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb Aistrup, Darleen Smith, Becky Matticks, Millie White, Stacy Cross, Pat King, Claudia Finley, members of the Company.

Angry Housewives
1990-04-12 - 1990-04-18
When four housewives are desperately seeking a change in their lives, what do they do? In the old days they used to get together and it was called kaffee-klatsch, in the 80’s they turn their lives around by forming a hard rock band and entering a talent contest! Angry Housewives was a big, fun splash of four bored women who broke out of their everyday drill with surprising results and hidden talents. This hilarious musical comedy, originally produced in Seattle, has developed a cult following with its witty lyrics, over-the-top costumes, and non-stop musical theater fun. And don’t forget to “Eat Your Friggin’ Cornflakes!”
PERFORMANCE DATES: April 12-18, 1990
CAST: Tim (a teenager) – Tim Archer, Bev (his mother) – Mischel Miller, Wendi – Susan O’Connor, Jetta – Frankie Smith, Carol – Karen Warshaw, Larry (Jetta’s husband – Greg Smith, Wallace (Wendi’s boyfriend) – Greg White, Lewd Fingers (punk club owner) – Rick Matticks
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Mary Beth Riegel, Assistant Stage Manager – Roger Maas, Set Design – Jim Johnson, Greg Smith, Tim Riekenberg, Scott Miller, Greg White, Chris Welchel, Deana Reimer, Deena Reimer, Tyson Reimer, Darleen Clifton Smith, Claudia Finley, Jim Brown, Sarah Simpson, Courtney Simpson, Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez, Sound Design/Set Design – Keith Reimer, Light Board Operator/Set Design – Lyn Yost
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb Aistrup, Darleen Smith, Ellen Ellis, Milly White, Rogene Jenkinson, Chris Adams.

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery
1990-02-15 - 1990-03-03
What do you get when you take five women with nothing better to do than put on a show, combine that with murder mystery, and add in an over-abundance of errors and missed cues? You get a play that required five of the company’s seasoned veterans to put on a show that looked like an accident but was just a series improvisations rehearsed to make it look like they screwed up. This production was dedicated to anyone who ever said – “Golly, let’s put on a show!” And this group of actresses lived up to the company’s reputation and never forgot “the show must go on!”
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 15 – March 3, 1990.
CAST: Mrs. Reece/Clarissa Rook (Lady Bishop’s sister)/Regine (the French maid)/Patricia Bishop (Lady Bishop’/s niece)/Letitia Bishop (Lady Bishop’s sister)/Mr. Goodbody (a solicitor) – Sarah Simpson, Thelma/Daphne Bishop (Lady Bishop’s daughter)/Rose Bishop (Lady Bishop’s spinster aunt) – Deana Reimer, Felicity/Pawn (the butler)/Col. King (Lady Bishop’s brother-in-law) – Jana Ross, Audrey/Lady Doreen Bishop (a widow)/Joan Bishop (Lady Bishop’s cousin)/Violet Bishop (Lady Bishop’s spinster aunt)/Mrs. King (Col. King’s wife) – Jeanette Magouirk, Sylvia/Inspector O’Reilly – Mary Beth Riegel
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Master – Jill Austen, Technical Director/Set Design – Lyn Yost, Sound Design/Set Design – Keith Reimer, Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson, Joanne Welchel, Jean Lantis, Set Design – Jim Johnson, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley
MENU: Farndale tea sandwiches, sweet and sour chicken, rice a ala Reece, oriental mixed vegetables, Thelma’s tea rolls, Lady Bishop’s favorite dessert. Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb Aistrup, Darleen Smith, Becky Matticks, Ellen Ellis, volunteers of the Depot Theater.

Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends
1990-01-11 - 1990-01-27
Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends explored issues of blind faith and organized religion through the characters of Reverend Eddie and Brother Lawrence, survivors of an apocalypse who have taken shelter in their church. As Reverend Eddie prepares his final sermon, his grip on reality and his faith are challenged by the unseen presence of the Illuminati. The action of the play takes place in The Church of the Holy Station, an edifice done in garage grunge at some unspecified time and place. There are hints that Rev. Eddie and Brother Lawrence may be the two final survivors of a sort of Armageddon. But the audience becomes part of the play, being drawn in as Rev. Eddie’s congregation, and they are often pulled into the action. Therefore, the oblique comments about a nerve gas attack killing off the entire congregation seem a bit odd and difficult to relate to Reverend Eddie’s fear that the Illuminati are about to take over the world.
PERFORMANCE DATES: January 11-27, 1990
CAST: Rev. Eddie – Jim Johnson and Bro. Lawrence – Ken Dean
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager/Properties Master – Roger Maas, Assistant Stage Manager – Bill Thomas, Sound Design/Light Design – Mike Nelson, Technical Director/Set Design – Lyn Yost, Sound Board Operator/Light Board Operator/Set Design – Keith Reimer, Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson, Set Design – Greg Smith, Jim Brown, Emily Ogle, KC Trauer
MENU: French onion soup, baked meatballs in mushroom sauce, carrots, scalloped potatoes, French bread, butterscotch torte. Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb Aistrup, Darleen Smith, Sara McFarland, Becky Matticks, Ellen Ellis, volunteers of the Depot Theater.

Charlie Sent Me
1989-10-26 - 1989-11-11
It was an unpublished musical written especially for radio that was found in a record bin in New York City. The authors agreed that the Museum Repertory Company should perform it.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 26 – November 11, 1989
CAST: Daisy Durant – Karen Warshaw, Myrna – Amy Reinert, Marshall Heatherington Asbury – Ken Dean, Skeets – Kent Ross, Harrison Heatherington Asbury – Kyle Hager, Charlie LaRok – Jim Johnson, Chauncey – Roger Maas, The Whoopee Girls – Tami Greenberg, Joy Jenkins, Sherry Polkinghorn, Deana Reimer, Frankie Smith
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Music Director – Don Steele, Assistant Music Director – Doug Austen, Percussion – Becky Matticks, Banjo – Sara McFarland, Violin – Mark Choti, Alto Saxophone – Chris Welchel, Clarinet – Joanne Welchel, Trombone – Bill Thomas
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Sound Effects Man – Keith Reimer, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez, Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson, Spot Operator – Tyson Reimer, Set Design – Darleen Clifton Smith and Claudia Finley, Light Board Operator – Lyn Yost
MENU: Autumn apple salad, roast beef, mashed potatos & gravy, green beans, pound cake with blueberry sauce

Greater Tuna
1989-04-13 - 1989-04-29
This play is set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas, the “third-smallest” town in the state. It is at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes but also a withering satire of same. The play is notable in that three men play the entire cast of over twenty eccentric characters of both genders and various ages.
PERFORMANCE DATES: April 13-29, 1989
CAST: Thurston Wheelis/Petey Fisk/Stanley Bumiller/Charlene Bumiller/Phinas Blye/Vera Carp/Hank Bumiller – Greg Smith, Arles Struvie/Bertha Bumiller/Leonard Childres/Pearl Burras/Rev. Spikes – Kent Ross, Ronnie/Didi Snavely/Harold Dean Lattimer/Elmer Watkins/Jody Bumiller/Chad Hartford/Yippy/R.R. Snavely/Coach Raymond Chassie/Sheriff Givens – Ken Dean
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Director – Mary Beth Riegel, Technical Director – Lyn Yost, Sound Design/Set Design – Jim Johnson, “Jingles R Us” – Kelly Carooll, Karen Warshaw, Rick Matticks, Becky Matticks, Sound Board Operator/Slide Operator – Keith Reimer, Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson and Rhoberta Wegner, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez, Set Design – Lyn Yost, Keith Reimer, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley
MENU: Tossed salad, grilled steak, baked potato, corn, Texas toast, lemon tart. Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley, Becky Matticks, Ellen Ellis, Sara McFarland, Millly White, cast of Greater Tuna.

Steel Magnolias
1989-02-07 - 1989-02-19
The action centers around Truvy’s beauty parlor and some women who regularly gather there. The drama begins on the morning of Shelby’s wedding to Jackson and covers events over the next three years, including Shelby’s decision to have a child despite having diabetes and the complications that result from the decision. We also get a glimpse of the unlikely friendship between Clairee and Ouiser; Annelle’s transformation from a shy, anxious newcomer in town, to a partying woman, then to a religious fundamentalist; and Truvy’s relationships with the men in her family. Although the main storyline involves Shelby, her mother, and Shelby’s medical battles, the underlying group-friendship among all six women is prominent throughout the drama.
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 7 – 19, 1989
CAST: Truvy – Mary Beth Riegel, Annelle – Jill AUsten, Clairee – Carolyn Johnson, Shelby – Mischel Miller, M’Lynn – Frankie Smith, Ouiser – Sarah Simpson
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager – Sara McFarland, Technical Director – Lyn Yost, Sound Design – KC Trauer, Costume Design – Jean Lantis, Set Design – Lyn Yost, KC Trauer, Keith Reimer, Jim Johnson
MENU: Relish plate, smother pork chops, scalloped potatoes, vegetable, bread with butter, red velvet cake. Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley, Becky Matticks, Ellen Ellis.

Olympus On My Mind
1988-10-13 - 1988-10-29
This musical comedy spoof about the mythical god Jupiter relates the story of his transformation from a “wild and crazy god” into a deity of love and compassion. The setting is ancient Greece in the city of Thebes. The Chorus introduces itself with “Welcome to Greece” and Jupiter arrives, weary of life on Mount Olympus, and determined to have an affair with a beautiful mortal woman, the virtuous Alcmene, wife of General Amphitryon who has been away fighting the Spartans. Jupiter, with some help from his son Mercury, disguises himself as Amphitryon and has a romantic involvement with Alcmene. The following day, Amphitryon returns, singing of what a wonderful welcome he is expecting from his wife. When she does see him, the confusion begins.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 13-29, 1988
CAST: Jupiter (Ruler of the Univers) – Kelly Carroll, Mercury (His son) – KC Trauer, General Amphytrion – George Spelvin, Sosia (Slave to Amphytrion) – Ken Dean, Alcmene (Amphytrion’s wife) – Sara McFarland, Charis (Alcmene’s handmaidern) – Deana Reimer, Delores – Karen Warshaw, Tom – Jim Johnson, Dick – Roger Maas, Horace – Greg Smith, Maxine – Jana Ross, Laverne – Jill Austen, Floris – Amy Reinert
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Music Director/Piano – Kent Ross, Keyboard – Doug Austen, Percussion – Rick Matticks
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Keith Reimer and Mary Beth Riegel, Set Design – Lyn Yost, Keith Reimer, KC Trauer, Cliff Clifton,Carleen Clifton Smith, Claudia Finley, Costume Design -Carolyn Johnson, Naomi Fenton, Jana Ross, Jim Johnson, Light Board Operator – Lyn Yost
MENU: Greek egg and lemon soup, baked chicken and dressing, green beans, roll with butter, apple cobbler. Catering provided by: Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley, Carolyn Smith, Becky Matticks, Barry Metcalf.

The Foreigner
1988-02-18 - 1988-02-28
The scene is set in a resort-style fishing lodge in rural Georgia. This comedy revolves around two of its guests, Charlie Baker and Englishman Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur. Charlie is so pathologically shy that he is unable to speak. As way of explanation, Froggy claims his companion is the native of an exotic country who did not understand a word of English. Before long, Charlie finds himself privy to assorted secrets and scandals freely discussed in front of him by the other visitors. These include a spoiled but introspective heiress and Southern belle Catherine Simms and the man to whom she is somewhat reluctantly engaged (and pregnant by) the Reverend David Lee, a seemingly humble preacher with a dark underside. Her younger brother, Ellard, a chubby and somewhat “slow” boy (often thought of as a young Forrest Gump) was a simpleton who tried to teach Charlie how to speak English. Owen Musser, the racist county property inspector, planned to oust property owner Betty Meeks and convert the lodge into a meeting place for the Ku Klux Klan.
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 18 – 28, 1988
CAST: S/Sgt. Froggy LeSueur – Jim Johnson, Charlie Baker – Kelly Carroll, Betty Meeks – Carolyn Johnson, Rev. David Marshall Lee – Ricky Matticks, Catherine Simms – Jill Austen, Ellard Simms – KC Trauer, Owen Musser – Greg Smith
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager/Set Design – Doug Austen, Technical Director/Set Design – Lyn Yost, Costume Design – Dee Miller, Set Design – KC Trauer, Jim Johnson, Barry Metcalf, Jill Austen
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley, Beckty Matticks, Kim Masters, cast of The Foreigner.

Baby
1987-10-22 - 1987-11-01
Baby was a musical with a book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. The plot focused on three couples—each newly expecting a child, and each with different but familiar reactions. Liz and Danny were university juniors who had just moved in together. Athletic Pam and her husband, Nick, a sports instructor, had some trouble conceiving. Arlene, already the mother of three grown daughters, is unsure of what to do, contemplating abortion while her husband Alan is thrilled with the thought of a new baby. Throughout the show, these characters experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, the desperate lows and the comic highs, that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 22 – November 1, 1987
CAST: Danny – Brett Reinert, Lizzie – Julie Stapleton, Arlene – Frankie Smith, Alan – Jim Johnson, Pam – Karen Warshaw, Nick – Kelly Carroll, Nurse/2nd Lady – Jill Austen, Doctor/Dean Webber – Ken Dean, Prof. Weiss – Jim Keldsen, Mr. Hart – Roger Maas, 1st Lady – Deana Reimer, 3rd Lady – Mischel Raney
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Music Director/Keyboard – Kent Ross, Keyboard – Doug Austen, Percussion – Ricky A. Matticks
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Jill Austen, Stage Manager/Set Design/Properties Master – KC Trauer, Set Design/Light Board Operator – Lyn Yost, Set Deisgn – Roger Maas, Barry Metcalf, Sound Design – Mike Nelson, Darleen Smith, Claudia Finley, Costume Design – Dee Miller and Carolyn Johnson
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Darleen SMith, Becky Matticks.

Noises Off
1987-02-26 - 1987-03-08
In his plot for Noises Off, Michael Frayn played on the concept of a play within a play, in this case a parodically dreadful sex comedy titled Nothing On—the type of play in which young girls run about in their underwear, old men drop their trousers, and many doors continually open and shut. Nothing On is set in “a delightful 16th-century posset mil” that has been converted to a modern dwelling for which renters are solicited; the fictional playwright is appropriately named Robin Housemonger. Each of the three acts of Noises Off contains a performance of the first act of Nothing On. Act One is set at the dress rehearsal, the night before opening at the (fictional) Grand Theatre in Weston-super-Mare, with the cast still fumbling with entrances and exits, missed cues, misspoken lines, and bothersome props, most notably several plates of sardines. Then the entire set was rotated to show the backstage area for Act Two. Act Two portrays a Wednesday matinee performance one month later, at the (again fictional) Theatre Royal in Ashton-under-Lyne. In this act, the play is seen from backstage, providing a view that reveals the deteriorating personal relationships among the cast that have led to offstage shenanigans and onstage bedlam. The set is then rotated back for the onstage side for Act Three. In Act Three, we see a performance near the end of the ten-week run, at the (still fictional) Municipal Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees, when personal friction has continued to increase and everyone is bored and anxious to be done with the play. The actors attempt to cover up a series of mishaps but only compound the problems and draw attention to the bungling performance. Much of the comedy emerges from the subtle variations in each version as off-stage chaos affects on-stage performance, with a great deal of slapstick. The contrast between players’ on-stage and off-stage personalities is also a source of comic dissonance.
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 26 – March 8, 1987
CAST: Dotty Otley – Karen Warshaw, Lloyd Dallas – Ken Dean, Garry Lejeune – Kelly Carroll, Brooke Ashton – Mischel Raney, Poppy Norton Taylor – Jill Austen, Frederick Fellowes – Kent Ross, Belinda Blair – Sara McFarland, Tim Allgood – Greg Smith, Selsdon Mowbray – Jim Johnson
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Autssen, Set Design/Light Design – Lyn Yost, Properties Master/Costume Design – Carolyn Johnson and Anita Adams, Dialogue Coach – Lise O’Neal
MENU: Catering provided by F;aye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Woodall, Deb White, Carolyn Friess, Mary Nemec, Robert Scott.

Little Shop of Horrors
1986-10-30 - 1986-11-09
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 30 – November 9, 1986
CAST: Chiffon – Jill Austen, Crystal – Julie Stapleton, Ronnette – Kim Hager, Van Della – Deborah Eades, Mushnik – Jim Johnson, Audrey – Mischel Raney, Seymour – Brian Richardson, Orin – Greg Smith, Everybody Else – Ken Dean, Audrey II Voice – Dean Freeman, Audrey II Manipulation – Richard Guillen
CREW: Director/Choreographer – Don Steele

A Day in Hollywood - A Night in the Ukraine
1986-02-20 - 1986-03-02
This musical comedy was essentially two independent one-act plays, with a book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh and music by Frank Lazarus. Additionally, songs by other composers were incorporated into the score. The first act – A Day in Hollywood, is a revue of classic Hollywood songs of the 1930s performed by singers and dancers representing ushers from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, (the lobby even had concrete slabs with the cast & crews feet & handprints!). The second act – A Night in the Ukraine, is loosely based on Anton Chekhov’s one-act play The Bear, and was presented in the style of a Marx Brothers movie.
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 20 – March 2, 1986
CAST: A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD: Ushers – Brian Richardson, Roberta Scott, Mischel Raney, Greg Smith, Karen Warshaw, Jill Austen, Tania Hopkins, Jana Ross, A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE: Samovar (Groucho) A Moscow Lawyer – Greg Smith, Carlo (Chico) The Italian Footman – Brian Richardson, Gino (Harpo) The Gardner – Karen Warshaw, Mrs. Pavlenko – Roberta Scott, Nina (Her daughter) – Mischel Raney, Constantine (A Coachman) – Ken Dean, Olga (The Cook) – Jana Ross, Sascha (A Maid) – Jill Austen, Masha (A Maid) – Tania Hopkins
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Music Director – Kent Ross, Piano – Sara McFarland, Percussion – Dean Freeman
CREW: Director/Choreographer – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Properties Master/Light Design – Lyn Yost, Costume Design – Jana Ross, Jill Austen, Tania Hopkins, Set Design – McFarland Inc, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Barbara Wilburn, Kathy Hensley.

A Long Branch Christmas '85
1985-12-01
A celebration of the season.
PERFORMANCE DATES: December 1985
CAST and CREW: Doug Austen, Jill Austen, Heather Birney, Amy Brax, Gordon Day, Ken Dean, Tod Demuth, Theresa Eades, Dean Freeman, connie Hudnett, Stephanie McMullough, Sara McFarland, Barry Metcalf, Ray Mettling

The House of Blue Leaves
1985-10-24 - 1985-11-03
This play is set in Sunnyside, Queens in 1965, on the day Pope Paul VI visited New York City. This dark comedy featured a zookeeper who dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter, his wife Bananas, their son – a GI headed for Vietnam, a trio of nuns, Artie’s friend – Billy Einhorn, Artie’s girlfriend – Bunny Flingus, and Billy’s girlfriend & Hollywood starlet – Corinna Stroller. Artie, a songwriter with little talent, performs unsuccessfully at the El Dorado Bar & Grill and returns to his cramped apartment in Queens. While protesting that he is “too old to be a young talent” – he calls his friend Billy and finagles an invitation to Hollywood where he thought he could be more successful.
Elated by his good fortune, Artie invites his girlfriend Bunny and his wife Bananas to join him in his curbside seats for the Pope’s motorcade. Unbeknownst to all, while they are away, their AWOL son returns to the apartment with plans to assassinate the Pope. The plot is interrupted when Artie returns to the apartment with starlet – Corinna. Artie attempts an impromptu audition with Corinna but is interrupted by the entrance of three nuns unable to see the motorcade and wanting to see it on TV. Corinna announces that she has two tickets to the Pope’s Mass at Yankee Stadium. In the pandemonium that ensures, Ronnie’s bomb goes off. In the aftermath, Billy arrives from Hollywood to mourn the explosion. Artie takes advantage of the sad circumstances with a desperate move to realize his own dreams. However, life unfolds with unexpected results for each character and Artie ultimately finds himself confined to his apartment with Bananas and one final decision to make.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 24 -November 3, 1985
CAST: Artie Shaughnessy – Kent Ross, Ronnie Shaughnessy – Brian Richardson, Bunny Flingus – Roberta Scott, Bananas Shaughnessy – Karen Warshaw, Corrinna Stroller – Callie Lyons, Billy Einhorn -Greg Smith, Head Nun – Jana Ross, Little Nun – Tania Hopkins, Third Nun – Jill Austen, Policeman – Ken Dean, The White Man – Lyn Yost
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Master – Lyn Yost, SOund Design – Dean Freeman, Costume Design – Jana Ross, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent and Brona Love.

Dames at Sea
1985-02-22 - 1985-03-02
Dames at Sea, an Off Broadway hit that brought stardom to Bernadette Peters, the play was a campy show based on the nostalgia of Hollywood musicals of the 1930’s. The story focuses on big-time New York City, into which sweet little Ruby from faraway Hometown, U.S.A. has come to make it big on Broadway. Who should she chance to meet but another boy from Hometown, U.S.A.: Dick, a sailor, who also has ambitions as a songwriter. Ruby begins in the chorus, and by the end of the day, in true Hollywood fashion, Dick saves her doomed Broadway show with a smash tune, as Ruby becomes a star on the deck of a battleship.
PERFORMANCE DATES: February 22 – March 2, 1985
CAST: Hennessey – Greg SMith, Mona Kent – Karen Warshaw, Joan – Mischel Raney, Ruby – Candi Pyle, Dick – Brian Richardson, Lucky – Don Pfister, The Captain – Greg Smith, Dancers – Jana Ross, Jill AUsten, Theresa Eades, Cyndi Hudnett
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Music Director – Kent Ross, Piano – Sara McFarland, Percussion – Dean Freeman
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager – Lyn Yost, Properties Master/Light Design – Amy Brax, Costume Design – Jana Ross, Hazel Imel, cast of Dames at Sea, Set Design – Darleen Clifton Smith, Slide Operator – Gretta McFarland, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez
MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent, Darleen Clifton Smith, Brona Love, Millie White, ELizabeth Rindt, Twyla Taylor

A Long Branch Christmas '84
1984-12-06 - 1984-12-09
A celebration of the season in song and dance.
PERFORMANCE DATES: December 6-9, 1984
CAST: Jill Austen, Doug Austen, Kim Blattner, Stacy Bamgardner, Amy Brax, Teresa Buchanan, Deborah Eades, Tania Hopkins, Doug Kramer, Callie Lyons, Sara McFarland, Candi Pyle, Mischel Raney, Brian Richardson, Jana Ross, Kent Ross, Roberta Scott, Greg Smith, Julie Stapleton, Brenton Surgenor, Lyn Yost
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Dance Captain – Jana Ross

Count Dracula
1984-10-27 - 1984-11-03
In this performance at the Dodge City Old House Saloon Boot Hill Museum, Count Dracula by playwright Ted Tiller was reworked from Bram Stoker’s classic story of the suave vampire, updating the setting to 1930’s England, and adding comedic elements.
PERFORMANCE DATES: October 27-November 3, 1984
CAST: Sybil Seward – Amy Brax, Hennessey – Doug Austen, Dr. Arthur Seward – Ray Mettling, Renfield – Kent Ross, Wesley – Lyn Yost, Jonathan Harker – Brian Richardson, Mina – Sara McFarland, Count Dracula – Greg Smith, Henrich Van Helsing – Tod Demuth
ORCHESTRA/BAND: Sara McFarland, Gretta McFarland, Pat McFarland, Wiley McFarland
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Assistant to the Director – Doug Austen, Stage Manager – Julie Kirby, Costume Design – Jana Ross, Hair/Make up – Connie Hudnett, Sound Design -Sara McFarland, Gretta McFarland, Pat McFarland, Wiley McFarland
MENU: Catering parovided by Faye Trent, Brona Love, Crystal Reynolds, Jana Ross, Jill Austen.

Sundance/The Drunkards Wife
1984-03-08 - 1984-03-11
Did you know, the Dodge City Depot Theater Company started out as the Boot Hill Museum Repertory Company back in March of 1984? The first dinner theater production consisted of two one act plays one presented in the Old House Saloon Boot Hill Museum. Sundance was a good example of a new form of play referred to as “serio-comedy” which used comedy to deal with serious themes while retaining all the depth of a dramatic piece. The Drunkard’s Wife was a pure melodrama that the audience could get involved in and react to the actors as they spoke directly to the audience.
PERFORMANCE DATES: March 8-11, 1984
CAST: SUNDANCE: Hickock – Dean Freeman, Jesse – Greg Smith, Barkeep – Ken Dean, The Kid – Ray Mettling, Sundahce – Tod Demuth, THE DRUNKARD’S WIFE: Mrs. Fernway (An Elderly Widow Woman) – Connie Hudnett, Millie Bottoms (Her long-suffering Daughter) – Theresa Eades, Sir Eustace Makepeace (A Base, Cold-Hearted Villain) – Tod Demuth, Willie Bottoms (A Drunken Husband) – Kent Ross, Dancers – Stephanie McCullough, Starla Trease, Tonia Hopkins, Shannon Teufel
CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Choreographer – Jana Ross and Jill Austen

The Long Branch Variety Show '83
1983-08-01
A Long Branch Variety Show celebrating the ‘Wild West’ and Dodge City.
PERFORMANCE DATES: 1983
CAST and CREW: Connie Hudnett, Greg Smith, Ray Mettling, Amy Brax, Ken Dean, Tod Demuth, Walt Hudnett, Doug Kramer, Sara McFarland, Don Pfister, Candi Pyle, Mischel Raney, Brian Richardson, Jana Ross, Christie Walder, Stage Manager – Doug Austen
MUSICIANS: Doc. the piano player, Kent Ross, Tod Demuth, Dean Freeman, Shane Johnson
DANCERS: Jerri Anglin, Jill Austen, Missy Brown, Theresa Eades, Michelle Gabel, Tonia Hopkins, Staphanie McCullough, Starla Trease, Kelly McElhinney, Gwen Melson, Jana Ross, Katrina Salem, Janet Stukenholtz, Tanza Taylor, Shannon Taufel
GUNFIGHTERS: Jess Cunningham, Tod Demuth, Darrell Dodge, Dean Freeman, Walt Hudnett, Shane Johnson, Chad Kirk, Randy Traylor, Mark Mahieu, Ray Mettling, Don Pfister, Brian Richardson, Troy Robinson, Greg Smith, John Stella
