Hilarious, Heart-warming Comedy
SALADO, TEXAS (April 23, 2010) – Michael Russell’s comedy “Countergirls,” directed by Tony Blackman, has its Texas premiere at the Silver Spur Theatre (108 Royal St.) in historic Downtown Salado on Friday, April 30, and runs weekends through May 22.
Set at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Clarksville, TN, “Countergirls” is a hilarious and heart-warming story that will have audiences laughing well into the night. The story focuses on the lives of five lunch counter employees and their burgeoning and diminishing dreams.
“When counter manager Lib Stallsworth channels Tammy Wynette into a metal spatula, you know that you are going to experience a laugh-filled, emotional and satisfying evening of entertainment,” said Grainger Esch, Executive Director and Co-founder of the seven-year-old professional venue.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturday matinees. Admission prices are $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, military personnel and students with ID; and $8 for children ages 12 and under for the evening shows. For the matinee, $10 for adults; $8 for all others. Group rates are available. For reservations, call the box office at 254-947-3456.For directions or more play info, visit www.SaladoSilverSpurTheaer.com.
“The show may remind some viewers of the film and play ‘Steel Magnolias’ or the TV series ‘Alice,’ Esch noted. “But this tightly-bonded cast delivers a fresh look at life and its attendant foibles.”
The cast includes KD Sperling (as Betty Ruth), Douglas Mackie (Donnie Ray), Una Forgy (Lynette), Sharon Smith (Lib) and Alexa Doggett (Janita).
Sperling is in her third show at Salado, having played Annelle in “Steel Magnolias” and directed “Bell, Book and Candle.” KD, who attended the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in California, also appears in Austin shows. She works in Round Rock.
Smith makes her debut at the Silver Spur, having performed in many shows at the Georgetown Palace and the Temple Civic theatres, including "Harvey," "Annie," "Man of La Mancha," "South Pacific," "Dearly Beloved" and many others. She teaches Dyslexia/Reading Intervention at Georgetown High School.
Techie-turned-actor Mackie has been involved in theatre since age of 10, appearing in a Table Rock Theatre production. An “accidental” summer acting camp in high school helped hook him on acting. Doug competed in UIL competition and appeared in “Salado Legends,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Comedy of Errors” at Table Rock and three times in the Spur Summer Melodramas.
Mackie, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in December with degrees in Theatre Arts and Communications from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has been busy performing with Salado’s Living Room Theatre. He’s also a technical assistant at Temple Civic Theatre.
Forgy, a retired school teacher residing in Belton, has been performing for more that 40 years, appearing in such favorites as “Gypsy,” “Lettuce and Lovage,” “She Loves Me,” “Dearly Departed,” as Ouiser in “Steel Magnolias” and Miss Mona in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This is her first show in Salado. She has directed numerous plays.
Doggett, a senior at Star Charter School, is performing in her first show at the Spur, but is no stranger to CenTex stages: "Connect" with Abby Productions; "A Little Night Music" at the Georgetown Palace; Alice in "Alice!" with Chaotic Theatre Company; "Evil Dead: The Musical" at Salvage-Vanguard Theatre in Austin, "Little Shop of Horrors" with Summer Stock Austin; "Cats" with Vive Les Arts and "High School Musical" at ZACH Theatre.
She dances with Austin Conservatory of the Arts, sings at Austin Lyric Opera and next year will pursue a fine arts degree in musical theatre – her chosen career.
The Silver Spur Theater, a first-class venue built in the historic Sanford and Guest Granary & Feed Co. building, is now in its seventh professional season. The Spur strives to revive a bygone era of family entertainment, offering a trademark blend of live vaudeville acts, live music, stage plays and classic cinema. Weddings, reunions, business conferences, concerts, field trips, dances and even customized private shows also are held at the Spur. Catering is available from the renowned Stagecoach Inn and other nearby restaurants.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS:
Grainger Esch, Co-founder & Executive Director, Salado Silver Spur Theater, 254-947-3456; Cell: 254-493-7960; Grainger@saladosilverspur.com
Preston F. Kirk, APR, Kirk Public Relations, Austin (Spicewood) TX, 830-693-4447; kirk@tstar.net
