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THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR Photos

The Red Velvet Cake War, a Southern Comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, & Jamie Wooten, will be presented by the Catskill Community Players at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester NY, in conjunction with a special theatre dinner at the Worcester Inn across the street, on Friday, June 7th, and Saturday, June 8th at 8:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinée on Sunday June 9^th followed by dinner.

The Story:

Cousins Peaches, Jimmie, and Gaynelle are planning a Verdeen family reunion, in Sweetgum, Texas. If the eccentric relatives & a family scandal aren’t enough to throw the plans off track, tornado season will surely spin things out of control. The play takes its name from the plot’s high-stakes wager over who bakes the best red velvet cake.

Playing the three cousins are Kristin Sloth as the frazzled Gaynelle, Abbey Koutnik as the saucy Peaches (also a make-up artist for a mortuary!), and Diane Stammel as the “rough around the edges” Jimmie. Also featured are Sue Pearson as the prisspot Aunt LaMerle; Scott West as the love-struck Newt; Linda Reese as the psychologist, Elsa; Dr. Ben Friedell as Aubrey, the patriarch of the family; and Laurie Wehmeyer as the nosy neighbor, Bitsy. In double roles are Diana Friedell playing Cee Cee, a sassy TV hostess, as well as Mama Doll; and Whitsun Koutnik playing both Sheriff Lout and Purvis Verdeen).

Gary Koutnik, actor and retired educator, of Oneonta, is directing the production, with stage management from Kyra Wehmeyer of Jefferson.

Tickets for Dinner plus the Show are $35 for Adults, $30 Seniors, & $20 for students under 10; or for just the show, $15 Adults, $10 Srs. & Students. Reservations & Tickets may be obtained in advance at the Worcester Inn, or by calling the Worcester Inn at 397-8500. Home-baked refreshments will be available by the Worcester Women’s Club.

Catskill Players presents their Spring play, “Bull in a China Shop,” a comedy by C. B. Gilford, directed by Gary Koutnik, on May 18th & 19th at 8:00 pm and a Sunday matinee on May 20th at 2:00pm at the South Kortright Central School Stage.

The play was originally a short story in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and later adapted for an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” in the 1950’s. Six ladies ‘of a certain age,’ live together and have a crush on a police detective, played by Dr. Ben Friedell, who lives across the street. The ladies, (played by Abbey Koutnik, Diane Stammel, Rebecca Maeder, Sue Pearson, Laurie Wehmeyer and Diana Friedell), plot to draw him in to their clutches by attracting his professional attention; unfortunately, he’s a homicide detective! What lengths will they go to, to get the dashing policeman to pay a visit to their home? His sarcastic sidekick, Kramer, played by Stamford High School student, Adrianna Baughman, sees through the ladies’ ploys & begins to solve the mystery. But when a younger female reporter shows up (played by Christine Juliano), and forces them to share his attention, the ladies need to step up their game…

The cast is rounded out with Howard Hannum, playing the fingerprint specialist. Reggie Brunson is the set designer and builder, with Abbey Koutnik heading up the interior design of the Boarding House, Diane Geerkin designing the Costumes, and Kyra Wehmeyer as the Stage Manager. Lighting Design by Dave Peake, Sound Design by Daniel Chien, & Georgia Protsko, an SKCS Student is Lighting Operator. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for Students/Seniors. For further information go to blog.catskillplayers.org or find Catskill Community Players on Facebook. Advance tickets available at Eighth Note in Oneonta 607) 432-0344, and at Delhi Paint and Paper (746-2293), and at the door. Reservations call: 607-433-2089.

Catskill Community Players announces auditions for its spring play, Bull in a China Shop, by C. B. Gilford, directed by Gary Koutnik.

It’s a comedy about six ladies ‘of a certain age,’ who live together and lust after a young(er) police detective who lives across the street. They plot to draw him in to their clutches by attracting his professional attention; unfortunately, he’s a homicide detective. Believe it or not, hilarity ensues as one lady after another is found stretched out on the sofa, felled by poison, ready – with her still-breathing colleagues – to welcome the dashing policeman to their home. But when a younger female reporter shows up, and forces them to share his attention, the ladies need to step up their game…

There are, obviously, quite a number of wonderful women’s parts (one or two a little shorter than the others…), as well as the detective. There are a number of parts that could be male or female, including the detective’s sarcastic partner. We’re looking forward to having a great time creating a very funny play full of rich characterizations.

Auditions: When:
Sunday, March 18, 2:00PM – 5:00PM
Tuesday, March 20, 7:00PM – 9:00PM
You do not need to come to both auditions
No prepared pieces necessary

Auditions: Where:
South Kortright Central School auditorium (directly across the hall from the main entrance)
From Oneonta: Take State Rt. 23 to Stamford, turn right at the light onto Rt. 10; go about six miles and start looking for the school on your left after passing through Hobart.
From Delhi: Take Rt. 10 north out of town about 14 miles; school is on your right.

Performances:
Friday and Saturday evenings, May 18 & 19; Sunday matinee, May 20 at South Kortright Central School.
We’re working on a plan that would add another weekend at the Worcester Wieting Theater, possibly a dinner theater, as has been done before.

Worcester Inn
Special Theatre Dinner

~ Menu Choices ~

Main Dish:
Lamb Chops
Lemon Pepper or Garlic Butter Haddock
Stuffed Chicken
NY Strip Steak
Lemon Pepper Tofu
Center cut Bacon-wrapped Pork Chops

Veggies: glazed carrots, broccoli, or green beans almondine

Sides: Baked potatoes, Potatoes au gratin, or rice

~ COFFEE AND DESSERT INCLUDED ~

Bar and Tips Separate

The Catskill Community Players present The Real Inspector Hound, a one-act comedy by Tom Stoppard, at the Wieting Theatre in Worcester, on Friday, November 18th, Saturday, November 19th at 8:00 pm, preceded by a pre-show Dinner offered at the Worcester Inn, and Sunday November 20th at 2:00 p.m., with a post-show dinner at the Inn. This one-act play, actually a play within a play, revolves around two theatre critics, played by Gary Koutnik and Charlie Reiman, who are watching a play which is a send-up of a classic “whodunit”. A dead body is found at Muldoon Manor in Essex, the radio announces a madman is on the loose, and soon Inspector Hound (played by Dr. Ben Friedell) shows up at the scene of the crime. But is he the real Inspector Hound?

Diana Friedell is directing and producing the play and comments, “this is the funniest show I’ve ever directed, and this will be the 2nd time I’ve directed it- last time was in 1987, also at the Wieting Theatre.” Several actors are reprising the exact same role they played in 1987, including Dr. Friedell as “Inspector Hound”, Gary Koutnik as the critic, “Birdboot,” Sam Goodyear as the Radio voice, and Abbey Koutnik as “Lady Cynthia Muldoon”. Rounding out the cast are Scott West, reprising his role as “Simon”, the mysterious stranger, Charlie Reiman as “Moon”, Alyssa Christman playing Miss Drudge, the maid, Cassandra Miller as “Felicity Cunningham”, and Joe Mungavin, playing Magnus Muldoon.

There are six menu choices for dinner, being offered by Chef Jack at the Worcester Inn, Dinner price includes dessert and salad; bar and gratuities not included.

To reserve your Dinner & Theatre ($35 adults, $30 students/Seniors) or to see the play alone ($15 adults; $10 students, seniors) call the Worcester Inn, call 397-8500. For further information, or menu details find Catskill Players on Facebook or on the web at: http://blog.catskillplayers.org/ or CALL Diana at 607-433-2089.