Alpha Players’ 57th Season Opens September 25 with ‘Oliver Twist’

Post author:independentnws
Post published:June 29, 2015
Post category:Florissant
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The Alpha Players’ 57^th season mixes classic theatre and new works filled with music and comedy. In addition to announcing the upcoming season’s shows, The Alpha Players have also announced that their evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Janet Maneikis, President of The Alpha Players, explained, “We have seen a lot of groups going to the earlier start time and it seems to make sense for our audience and actors.” The earlier start time will allow most people to be home by 10 p.m.

The musical Oliver! opens the season September 25 and is based on the Charles Dickens classic novel “Oliver Twist.” The large cast carries the audience through the drama and heartache of the orphan Oliver as he finds himself surrounded by a gang of young pickpockets led by the conniving Fagin. The Florissant Civic Center theatre will ring with tunes such as “Food, Glorious Flood,” “Consider Yourself” and “Who Will Buy?”

In January, David Lindsay-Abaire’s semi-autobiographical play Good People. Unlike some of his other plays, Good People is a lightly comedic look at his Boston neighborhood. The play tells the story of Margie Walsh, who recently lost her job at the Dollar Store and goes looking for an old ex-boyfriend to ask for employment. Instead she finds herself in the ‘burbs, in the home of a doctor and out of her element, facing the question, “Is opportunity granted or earned?” Nominated for a 2011 Tony Award for Best Play, Good People affectionately explores the “haves” and “have nots.” “This will be a great reason to get out of the house at the end of January!” said Director Laura Kracht.

The final show debuts in May and is David Bottrell and Jessie Jones’ outrageous comedy Dearly Departed. “I usually don’t laugh out loud when I read a script, but this one had me doing just that. It reminded me of the skits on the old Carol Burnett Show” commented director Tanya Burns. This show visits the Baptist backwoods of the Bible belt and the beleaguered Turpin family as they prepare for their father’s funeral. Nothing is ever easy with some families and Bud’s funeral is no exception.

Season tickets are now on sale. A ticket to all three shows is $38 for an adult and $34 for a senior/student, 25% less than individually purchased tickets. Tickets may be ordered by calling 314-258-3018 or 314-921-5678.