Sedalia, Missouri – Sept. 22, 2020 – The State Fair Community College Theatre Arts program will present the comedy “Dearly Departed” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15-17 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 in Stauffacher Theatre on the Sedalia campus.
This play, set in a remote area of the southern Bible Belt, is about the dysfunctional Turpin family who experience the unexpected death of Bud, husband of Raynelle, father of Ray-Bud and Delightful, grandfather of Junior, brother of Marguerite, and uncle to Royce. As family members prepare and come together for Bud’s funeral, problems and mishaps arise causing Ray-Bud to say to his long-suffering wife, Lucille, “When I die, don’t tell nobody. Just bury me in the backyard and tell everybody I left you.” However, with help and comfort from an eccentric community of friends and neighbors, the Turpins pull together and help each other through their time of need, and finally, the funeral.
“Dearly Departed,” written by actor, comedian and playwright David Bottrell and actor Jessie Jones, premiered in 1991 in New Haven, Connecticut, followed by an Off-Broadway production at Second Stage in New York City. It went on to win six Drama-League Awards and has become popular among leading theatres. Tim Wells, SFCC faculty, is the director.
Admission is free; however, donations will be accepted at the door. Seating is first come, first served and limited to about 60 per show to allow for social distancing. Masks are required. For special accommodations, email Ryan Mahannah, Theatre Arts program coordinator, at rmahannah@sfccmo.edu.
Cast
Raynelle – Sara Hensel, Provencal, Louisiana
Ray-Bud – Ben Brewer, Strafford
Lucille – Jenna Speer, Coffeyville, Kansas
Junior – Aren Goodwin, Warrensburg
Suzanne – Annie Henson, Clever
Marguerite – Kennedy Keele, Sedalia
Royce – Max Anderson, Huntsville
Nadine, Delightful – Brianna Harlow, Warrensburg
Reverend Hooker – Quincy Wilson, Oak Grove
Juanita – Kylie Grant, Nixa
Production Staff
Assistant Director – Torrie Shelly, Warrensburg
Light Board Operator – Allie Frantz, California, Missouri
Costume Construction and Crew – Frantz; Faith Ehlers, Otterville
Props and Run Crew – Emily Gray, California, Missouri
Sound Designer – Allison Hayes, Macon
House Manager – Taylor Ireland, California Missouri
Sound Board Operator – Walker Schotte, Versailles
Make-up and Hair – Shelly, Frantz, Ireland
Scenery Construction/Painting – Gray; Kya Kampe, Warrensburg; Walker Schotte, Versailles; Taylor Winfrey, Marshall; Max Anderson, Huntsville
