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'Dearly Departed' Begins Friday

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From Left: Rhonda Nelson as Delightful, Linda Wells-Grosman as Raynelle and Jet Hansen as Reverend Hooker rehearse during a scene in Dearly Departed at Highlands Little Theatre on Monday in Sebring.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: June 4, 2008

SEBRING — The laughs start just after the curtain goes up when "Daddy Bud" kicks the bucket in "Dearly Departed," Highlands Little Theatre's newest comedy.

But this show is a little different from other Little Theatre plays – non-actor guests will grace the stage.
Opening night is Friday, June 6, with 12 notable residents taking their turn – for different performances – to die as Daddy Bud.

Mayor George Hensley and Carl Cool, former county administrator, will both perish beneath the footlights.

Linda Wells-Grosman (Raynelle) plays the widow of the recently departed Daddy Bud and shares the stage alone with the Daddy Buds.

"It will be fun, especially for me, because I don't know what's going to happen, and that's when you have to be on your toes," said Wells-Grosman. "The Daddy-Buds can just sit there, or respond. It will be interesting to see what we get out of people."

Director Denise Miriani laughed when she asked: "Who wouldn't want to see a politician die?"
"It's a fun way for local dignitaries who have supported this theater for so long to get a taste of stage work in their busy, busy lives," said Miriani.

Several actors and crew members referred to the play as red neck or Southern-fried comedy at Monday night's dress rehearsal.

"Dearly Departed" was written by David Bettrell and Jesse Jones.

The play deals with family relationships, a well-known theme, according to Marshall McGuigan (Junior).
"(The audience) will see themselves on stage or will know someone on stage," said McGuigan. "Everyone is certainly related to someone in this play."

With a minimalist set, the character-driven play has a universal theme and is similar to a series of "Saturday Night Live" sketches, said Miriani.

"No one on this planet doesn't have a family," said Miriani.

Alan Grosman is married to Wells-Grosman when not wearing the greasepaint and plays her son Ray-Bud on stage. He enjoys working with the sparse, vignette-type set.

"As an actor, you use your imagination, and the audience is called upon to use their imagination to create the atmosphere," said Grosman. "Everyone has a personal response ... every actor comes from a different place."

The actors talked about keeping dialogue funny and fresh after 120 hours of rehearsals and several performances.

"It might be our 900th time doing it, but it's always the first time for the audience," said Brook Shaffer (Lucille). "Our characters have morphed and grown. I really have a sense of who Lucille is."

McGuigan said director Miriani let the cast members fine tune the roles of their characters.
"You try each situation a little bit differently," said McGuigan, "until you get the one that sounds funniest."

Gloria Coffey has a role in the play and is producing a HLT production for the first time.
"Sometimes the delivery changes," said Coffey. "This cracks you up."

The dates, times and prices (some performances include meals) for "Dearly Departed" are:
Friday, June 6, 8 p.m., $40/$15 ; Saturday, June 7, 8 p.m., $40/$15; Sunday, June 8, 2:30 p.m., $20/$15; Wednesday, June 11, 8 p.m., $15; Friday, June 13, 8 p.m., $40/$15; Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m.; $40/$15; Sunday, June 15, 2:30 p.m., $20/$15; Tuesday June 17, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, June 18, 8 p.m. $15; Friday, June 20, 8 p.m., $40/$15; Saturday June 21, 8 p.m.,$40/$15; Sunday June 22, 2:30 p.m., $20/$15

Highlands Little Theatre is located in the Altvater Cultural Center, 356 W. Center Av. in Sebring.

For information, call 863-382-2525, or go to the Web site at www.highlandslittletheatre.org.

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