​For Immediate Release

June 22, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre presents family-friendly melodrama July 20 - 22

Cottage Grove, OR — The residents of Fruitdale must summon up their best flapjack flippers to fight against the dastardly Dr. Jeklyanne Slyde, in Cottage Theatre's 2018 summer melodrama. There’s a Pirate in the Pantry . . . OR The Flapjacks Are About to Flip is a old-fashioned melodrama written especially for Cottage Theatre by local playwright Keith Kessler. The family-friendly production will run for three performances on July 20, 21, and 22 at Cottage Theatre, during Cottage Grove's annual Bohemia Mining Days Festival.

This year's melodrama takes place in Fruitdale, where the mighty Redd Ferret, with her Captain Scarlet O’Haira, has sailed up the Row River just in time for the Annual Fruitdale Flapjack Festival. All of the town’s best flapjack flippers are getting ready to compete. But Dr. Jekylanne Slyde, the orneriest old coot in Fruitdale, has her eyes on the golden treasure aboard the Redd Ferret, and she aims to get it all for herself. 

There’s a Pirate in the Pantry...OR The Flapjacks Are About to Flip features 25 young actors from Cottage Theatre's summer melodrama camp.  This show is appropriate for all ages and includes plenty of audience participation (in the form of booing and hissing and cheering) as well as an old-fashioned sing-along. In keeping with classic melodrama tradition, "Olios" (silly jokes which have nothing to do with the story) will also be performed. There will also be a pre-show performance showcasing some of the music and dance techniques taught during the two-week summer camp.
 
This year's melodrama is directed by Marian Dempsey, with music direction by Catricia Mayhue, and choreography by Madeleine Sisson. The cast includes Laurel Ames, Anya Bartlog, Lafe Bennett, Shyla Browning, Kira Carver, Alexis Christie, Hailey Cook, Bela Dedrick, Aiden Dickinson, Abigail Earlywine, AJ Earlywine, Madisyn Froom, Bryce Johnson, James Kelly, Hannah Mathis, Connor Mayhue, Eliana Piltz, Audrie Sager, Grace Sisson, Nate Steinburg, Lillie Stepp, Noe Valley, Hayes Valley, Maia Wilhour, and Piper Youngmayr.
 
Performances are Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 at 7:00 pm; and Sunday, July 22 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $7 for all ages and all seating is reserved. Advance purchase is recommended.

Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and one hour before performances. 
  

### 

For Immediate Release


June 8, 2018

Contact:
Susan Goes, Executive Director, 541-942-8001


Cottage Theatre welcomes visiting playwright June 25

Cottage Grove, OR — On Monday, June 25 at 6:00 pm, Cottage Theatre is hosting a special "Meet the Playwright" event in preparation for a world premiere production later this summer.

In August, Cottage Theatre will stage the world premiere of Treehouse by Alabama playwright Joe Musso. The theatre is one of just six theatres in the nation selected to produce one of the winning scripts of the American Association of Community Theatre’s 2018 NewPlayFest. Musso's Treehouse was selected as a winner from a pool of 300 script submissions.

Thanks to a grant from the Lane County Cultural Coalition, Musso will travel to Oregon in June to work with the cast of Treehouse. In conjunction with this visit, the theatre is holding a "Meet the Playwright" event to introduce Musso and his work to the community.

The informal hour-long event will include a welcome reception, a Question & Answer session with the playwright, and a presentation of Musso's 10-minute comedy The Rollercoaster of Love. The short play is directed by Alan Beck and features actors Kory Weimer and Nicole Trobaugh. "This is a unique opportunity for people to meet an accomplished playwright and learn more about the craft of bringing a story to life on the stage," comments Cottage Theatre Executive Director Susan Goes. "We are very excited that Joe Musso is willing to travel from Birmingham to share his work with our community."

The "Meet the Playwright" event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited so tickets are required. Tickets to June 25 event are available at www.cottagetheatre.org or by calling 541-942-8001. 


###