Well, the Pet Plays are almost upon us and doggone it, we think they are the cat’s pajamas! We’ve been busy as beavers over here and inquiring minds reminded us that we’ve been a little bird-brained, since we haven’t put anything up on the blog about the plays, our playwrights, or our wonderful directors and actors…and we all know what curiosity did to the cat. Now hold your horses – because before I get your goat with all of these terrible pet puns (I mean, I don’t want to sleep with the fishes…) – we wanted to introduce you to all of the monkeyshines whose plays we are producing. As they say, birds of a feather flock together, and with these playwrights on board, we have a very talented bunch! I bet their moms are as proud as peacocks…
Here’s our stable of theatrical awesomeness:
The Racing Turtles – written by Tiffany Antone (Prescott, AZ)
Directed by Tiffany Antone, with Brianna Bond and Tyler Bond
Four vignettes spread over the first act follow racing turtles Bump (Tyler Bond) and Snickers (Brianna Bond) as they inch their way to the finish line in a heart-stopping no-holds-barred thrill ride at 0.02 mph! Who will win bragging rights (and a bowl full of lettuce) and who will just end up with a beak full of dust?
Higher Up – written by Annette Lee (Los Angeles, CA)
Directed by Bruce Lanning, with Allie Kate Elliott, Ben Frye, Sean Jeralds, Bruce Thomson, and Jeff Whitham
In the dog-eat-dog world of the Yard, Toi (Sean Jeralds) runs things with his second in command Charlie (Jeff Whitham) and their enticing personal assistant Fifi (Allie Kate Elliott) under the less than watchful eye of the Man (Ben Frye). But when the Higher Ups send in Buster (Bruce Thomson), the winds of change start blowing and the battle to figure out who is top dog begins!
Ladies Boy – written by Jennie Webb (Los Angeles, CA)
Directed by Rob White, with R. White
A Woman with Love to Spare (R. White) confides in the audience her fretful tale of taking her “big” boy to the vet. In this “slight comedy about healing weighty wounds,” we see how one woman deals with hearing the “O” word.
The Usual Housepets – written by Alex Gabaldon (Prescott, AZ)
Directed by Tiffany Antone, with Carissa Bond, Sean Jeralds, and Marnie Uhl
Newspapers have been destroyed. Potted plants are dead. And when Abby the cat (Marnie Uhl) plans to pin the day’s destruction on Roddie the lovable mutt (Sean Jeralds), Cakky (Carissa Bond), a parrot with a bent wing, hatches a plan to unravel this unusual mystery facing the usual housepets in the Henderson home.
The Race – written by Greg Romero (Philadelphia, PA)
Directed by and starring Cason Murphy
Turk (Cason Murphy) is in the midst of a dream come true – running for first place in the 4th Annual Backyard Pet Race! But when din-din comes calling, Turk faces a choice for the ages: a belly full of glory or a belly full of kibble?
Lazarus – written by Zoë Mason (Prescott, AZ)
Directed by Cason Murphy, with Allie Kate Elliott and Robert Milligan
Callie (Allie Kate Elliott) and Sam (Robert Milligan) are in trouble – the beta fish they shared has gone belly up, and their relationship is following suit. And yet they just can’t seem to flush it. As they try to unravel exactly why their pet passed, Callie and Sam also start to plunge toward some of the deeper questions.
The Cat Sat on the Mat, The Dog Jogged Over a Log, …And the People, and It Has to End in Tears – written by Jen Huszcza (Los Angeles, CA)
Directed by Tiffany Antone, with Sal Castricone, Sean Jeralds, Marnie Uhl, and Annabelle Veatch
In this quartet of “scenelets,” we examine jealousy, joy, love, and loss from four very different perspectives within a “typical” suburban family.
Just Another Mourning – written by Charissa Menefee (Prescott, AZ)
Directed by Rob White, with Marnie Uhl and Elaine Woods
During a routine morning at the community dog park, Essie (Marnie Uhl) comforts Vera (Elaine Woods) upon hearing some sad news about Vera’s faithful companion, Buddy.
Even If He Became a Boy – written by Ian Derk (Prescott, AZ)
Directed by Clint Slay, with Tyler Bond, Annabelle Veatch, and Elaine Woods
When Suzy (Annabelle Veatch) was little, she prayed for a cat under any condition – even if he became a boy. Now that she’s a teenager, and her cat Norman (Tyler Bond) is too, things are complicated…and Suzy’s suspicious mom (Elaine Woods) is determined to find out what’s going on up in Suzy’s room.
Clicking His Claws on the Hardwood Floor – written by John Weagly (Chicago, IL)
Directed by Clint Slay, with Kate Hawkes
Donna (Kate Hawkes) recounts how she has been hearing a dog walking around her apartment – and while she doesn’t own a dog and can’t seem to find what’s making the noise, Donna explains why she isn’t afraid.
The Inside Pet – written by Emily Pearlman (Ottawa, ON, Canada)
Directed by Bruce Lanning, with Allie Kate Elliot
A Woman (Allie Kate Elliott) pushes the boundaries of pet ownership when she confesses she has a tapeworm. A haiku-writing tapeworm named Warren. If that doesn’t entice you, we don’t know what will…
So, what are you waiting for? A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush – get your tickets to the Pet Plays Festival HERE, because starting tomorrow night, we are going to laugh ourselves til the cows come home! Proceeds are support all of the fine work that the Yavapai Humane Society is doing on behalf of four-legged, feathered, and fishy friends here in Yavapai County! So, we’ll see you at First Congregational Church (216 East Gurley in Prescott) this weekend…that is, unless you’re a chicken!
