Community Theatre Tackles “The Play That Goes Wrong”

Fayette County Community Theatre (FCCT) will open the 2022 season with the hilarious comedy, a play within a play, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. “This production is one of our most ambitious yet,” said Melissa Weltner of her 10th directorial project. “It’s so full of gags and slapstick hilarity that everyone should probably see all three showings! You don’t want to miss something because you were laughing so much!”

Broadway’s funniest and longest running play is about a small theater company staging a production of a 1920s-style murder mystery. When the curtain goes up, everything quickly goes from bad to so much worse!

The cast of eight reunites familiar FCCT faces Ellen Hardin, Sarah Greene, Ashley Dalhart, Brandon Theut, Scott Toensing, and Jakob Cone playing various roles, and Blake Harbers playing a role and co-directing/stage managing. The sole newcomer to FCCT, Ryan Gabriel, has a theatre background and is glad to be back onstage with this ensemble cast. The backstage and technical crew includes FCCT df 1 3/23/2022 8:58:51 PM alum Juan Zuniga, Kathy Toensing, Brent Lowe, Casey Boening, and Ben Madison, who are joined by newcomer Blake Cunningham.

A “character” all on its own, the set for this production has been a colossal undertaking. Kenny Couch, FCCT alum and Executive Director of Fayette County Habitat for Humanity has been on set assisting Weltner, Harbers, and the rest of the cast and crew with specifics of the design and construction. The team has put in a lot of workdays to complete the complicated set in time for the production. “Safety is our #1 concern,” said Harbers, “and with his experience with film and sets as well as his Habitat background, Kenny has been an asset to our team. The whole cast and crew plus some additional volunteers have come together and made this crazy idea a reality.”

FCCT is excited to return to the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on the grounds of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center and hopes to entertain the largest audience yet! The play falls on the same weekend as TCHCC’s annual MayFest, so it’s the perfect weekend to get out and enjoy MayFest during the day, and then head over to the amphitheater for the show! Showtimes are Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. Opening Night is Friday, May 13.

There is also a special VIP event with wine and heavy appetizers Friday at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by Bodega Wine Market, Blue Mule Winery and Rohan Meadery. Music provided by Julie Bouchard. Tickets on sale now at www.faycotheatre.com, or at the FCCT Box Office at 120 S. Washington St., La Grange, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m - 3 p.m.