7/20/2018
PRESS RELEASE
ARK VALLEY PLAYERS TO PRESENT “LEADING LADIES” COMEDY AUGUST 2, 3, AND 4
Ark Valley Players will present the comedy “Leading Ladies” by Ken Ludwig at August 2, 3, and 4 at the historic Burford Theatre in downtown Arkansas City.
Following a dismal performance in front of the Moose Lodge in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, down-and-out Shakespearean actors Leo Clark and Jack Gable devise a hair brained get-rich-quick scheme.
After seeing a newspaper article about an ailing local woman, Florence Snider, desperate to find her long-lost sister’s children, Max and Steve, who moved away to England as children, the men are eager to be cut in on the woman’s $3 million estate. Leo and Jack lay the framework for a plan — only to surprisingly discover that the old woman is not looking for nephews, but nieces Maxine and Stephanie.
The hilarity in playwright Ken Ludwig’s comedy begins when — undeterred — Leo and Jack quickly alter their plan and appear as the newly found nieces. The con gets even more complicated when Leo falls for Florence’s niece, Meg, who is the rightful heir to the estate. The fact that Meg is engaged to the local philanthropist adds to the mayhem.
Dejon Ewing directs. Along with Dr. David Ross as Leo Clark and Brad Beeson as Jack Gable, the cast is rounded out with Michelle Zakharov as Meg; David Andreas as the fussy man she’s engaged to marry; Piper Leigh as Audrey, a roller-skating waitress; Addam Porter as Audrey’s not-so-bright boyfriend; Kevin Bennett as gregarious Doc; and Donna Prichard as the elderly Aunt Florence.
“AVP is thrilled to present our first full-scale production at the Burford,” said Michelle Zakharov, AVP Board President. “After many hours of work, this talented cast, under the direction of Dejon Ewing, will blow audiences away.”
“This play is just plain fun,” she adds. “We’ve had many hilarious moments during rehearsals that brought the cast and crew to tears, laughing so hard. Men dressing as women in ridiculous-looking costumes have had the cast trying to keep straight faces during the rehearsal process. Just because of how outlandish the characters look.”
“We have a really great cast, and they’re enjoying each other as a group, which is making our first production such fun for everyone. It’s just an old-fashioned farce that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” says Zakharov. “It truly is a blast and it’s our hope that the audience will have the same kind of fun we’ve had during the creation process.”
Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, August 2-4, and there will be a special dinner and show option available on Saturday, August 4. Tickets are $12 for the show; $25 for dinner show combo, and are available online at arkvalleyplayers.com/box-office/, AVP’s official box office at Schmidt Jewelers 620-442-3045, or by calling the Burford Theatre at 620-442-5895. The Burford Theatre will host a cash bar at all performances.