Here at the Canyon Theatre Guild, we thought you all might like to begin your new year with a smile – and we always aim to please! Our main stage production is Red Velvet Cake Wars, a riotously funny Southern-fried comedy, featuring the quirky Verdeen cousins… who picked a bad time to throw their family reunion.
The first is a woman on the brink of a massive mental breakdown, the second a man-crazy, mortuary cosmetologist and de facto widow (her husband drove off in an 18 wheeler years ago and hasn’t been heard from since), and the third is a tough, scowling, unibrowed tomboy. Their outrageous antics have delighted local gossips in the small town of Sweetgum and the eyes of Texas are upon them, as their self-righteous Aunt LaMerle is quick to point out. They face an uphill battle as a parade of wildly eccentric Verdeens gather on the hottest day of July, smack-dab in the middle of Texas tornado season. As this fast-paced romp barrels toward its uproarious climax, you’ll wish your own family reunions were this much fun! Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. on January 30, 31; February 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 28, Sunday at 2 p.m. on February 8, 22, March 1.
On our family stage, the midnight clock is counting down the hours before the curtain goes up on Cinderella… The Panto. This interactive, magical production, written and directed by Jackie Mellor Guin, is a perfect treat for the entire family and will have you laughing in the aisles! This is the classic story of Cinderella, her bossy, ugly step sisters, an evil wicked stepmother, a handsome Prince Charming and a few other assorted characters — all with a bit of a big, huge twist! You see, the tradition of British pantomime or ‘panto’ has deep roots, drawing on the 15th and 16th century traditions of Commedia del Arte for an assortment of stock characters and customs that many Americans are not familiar with. There’s an MC who compels the audience to sing and the best friend, who may also be the prince. The ugly stepsisters are played by men (think Mrs. Doubtfire…) and by the time the dancing mice leave the stage after the ghost enters and before the black light scene, we all hope the mistake-prone fairy godmother will get Cinderella’s Ballroom gown right… before it floats off the stage. Enjoy this exhilarating show full of catchy songs, lavish costumes and laugh-out-loud routines in the Panto version of the age-old tale. Performances are Saturdays, January 31, February 7, 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. and Sundays on February 1, 8, 22 at 6 p.m. and Feb 15 at 2 p.m.