Community Theatre Tackles a Classic Novel in a Historic Venue

“The Great Gatsby” to be Performed Nov. 4-6 at Fair Pavilion

Rehearsals are well underway as the Fayette County Community Theatre (FCCT) prepares for the upcoming production of The Great Gatsby. This classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is adapted for the stage by Simon Levy and the story has been enjoyed by generations going back 100 years. Many students are assigned to read the novel in high school and many people have seen at least one of several Gatsby movies. It’s a story of excess, wealth, love and the American dream in the Jazz Age, the 1920s.

The story is told by Nick Carraway, played by West Point’s Guy Hardin, and it goes like this: Jay Gatsby, (Kyle Hartmann), is trying to recapture the past to reunite with his love, Daisy Buchanan, (Melanie Lira). It’s not so easy. Daisy has married Tom Buchanan (Brandon Theut), who also happens to be having an affair with Myrtle Wilson (Melissa Weltner). Myrtle is married to George Wilson (Brent Lowe). As this unfolds, Nick is also beginning to court Daisy’s friend Jordan Baker (Bryssa Rios). The cast is completed with additional characters Meyer Wolfsheim (Tara Lowe), Mr. and Mrs. McKee (Kat Johnson and Tiffany Denham) and Mrs. Michaelis (Kristen Holub), and dancers/extras Will and Kendra Martin, Laura Elliott, and Jamie Lee Manning.

“The story is definitely the point of the play, and it has some dark themes in it,” said show Co-Director Ellen Hardin, “but the music, the dancing and the Roaring 20s atmosphere is going to be so fun!”

Set and Technical Lead Kenny Couch and Choreographer and Stage Manager Julie Couch have been working with dancers and crew to make it all run smoothly. Crew members include Abigail Hamborsky on costumes, Harper Henneke and Mark Mikulin on lights and sound, make-up and hair artists Casey Boening and Brenna Davis, and set artist Katherine Perales. All the actors, dancers and extras also assist with set changes. With 21 set changes, it’s all hands on deck.

FCCT often utilizes the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on the grounds of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (TCHCC), but this fall elected to move indoors to the Pavilion Hall (aka Round Up Hall) just next door. “In this play, there are many elements that require a darkened room for lighting effects,” said Kenny Couch. “With a daytime Sunday performance, we didn’t want to lose those aspects.”

Another consideration factoring into the decision was, of course, the weather. “Last year’s Of Mice and Men was a pretty chilly night,” said FCCT Executive Director and show Co-Director Heather Barthelme. “We invite our audience to dress up for the occasion, wear flapper dresses and other 1920s fanfare if they so choose, so we wanted to at least keep them out of possible wind and/or rain. It’s going to be an incredible production!”

Tickets for all three performances, November 4-6, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., may be purchased online by visiting the website at www.faycotheatre. com or at the FCCT Box Office and Studio at 120 S. Washington Street in La Grange.