Today 
Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 2:51PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Mill Town Players Executive Director Will Ragland discusses how COVID-19 is effecting his troupe as well as other local theater in this interview with the Anderson Observer.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:51PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The Market Theatre in Anderson lost much of its previous season as well as its current season due to issues from the coronavirus.
Director Drew Whitley dissusses the impact of the closings and adjustments the theater is making in this interview with the Anderson Observer.
Friday, January 24, 2020 at 5:28PM By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer
As any stage actor will tell you, the real intrigue and wackiest escapades in the theater often happen offstage, behind the scenes.
The same, perhaps, is true of the movies.
Rod McClendon (Ben Hecht), left, and Chris White (Victor Fleming) are featured in The Mill Town Players’ production of “Moonlight and Magnolias,” continuing through Feb. 2. Photo Credit: Escobar Photography.
For evidence of the latter, we offer “Moonlight and Magnolias,” Ron Hutchinson’s rambunctious 2005 comedy about the making of “Gone With the Wind.”
Director Noah Taylor has given Hutchinson’s play a zesty, delightful staging at Pelzer’s Mill Town Players.
The plot follows the real behind-the-scenes story: In Febuary,1939, legendary producer David O. Selznick corralled film director Victor Fleming and screenwriter Ben Hecht and brought them to his office. The filming of “Gone With the Wind” had begun five weeks before, but the script was a mess.
Locking the doors, Selznick and his two companions completely reworked the script over five days, working day and night. Selznick would let the trio eat only bananas and peanuts – energy food.
Hutchinson’s play gleefully reimagines what took place in that room. Much of the humor emerges from the fact that Hecht has not read Margaret Mitchell’s novel, on which the film is based, so Selznick and Fleming act out scenes from the book, taking on all characters – white and black, young and old, male and female.
Under tremendous pressure to fix the script – the film is losing $50,000 a day – the three men soon begin to go a little crazy.
Tempers comically flare up. At one point, all three engage in a Three Stooges-like slap-fest. Sleep-deprived and cabin-fevered, the men continue to hammer away at the script. Will they finish it before they collapse completely?
Hutchinson’s play is mostly blithe and giddy, although there are hints of the troubled world outside Selznick’s office – specifically, growing fascism and anti-Semitism in Europe.
And there’s trouble at home as well. Hecht, a writer with a keen social conscience, points out that the wealthy and powerful Selznick is still not welcome in some neighborhoods and country clubs because he’s Jewish.
Hecht also worries about the negative depiction of blacks in “Gone With the Wind” and wants Selznick to direct more relevant and impactful films at a time of social upheaval.
Selznick, ever the savvy businessman, replies, “You’ve got to give them (the audience) what they want, not what’s good for them.”
It’s the eternal art-versus-pop-culture debate in a nutshell.
Taylor and assistant director Drew Whitley offer a clear, robust staging, replete with abundant physical humor.
The play spotlights a nimble, four-person cast.
Bruce Meahl, a veteran Upstate actor, is a driven, commanding Selznick.
Chris White, who happens to be a film director himself, plays Fleming with the right air of swagger and self-importance.
Rod McClendon, another longtime actor in the Upstate, is excellent as the wise-cracking and high-minded Hecht.
Nancy Burkard is the soul of efficiency as Selznick’s long-suffering – though humorously passive aggressive -- secretary Miss Poppenghul.
Will Ragland designed Selznick’s tasteful executive office. Stacey Hawks is responsible for the fine period costumes.
This ebullient production of “Moonlight and Magnolias” continues at the Mill Town Players through Feb. 2. For tickets, call 864-947-8000 or see the website milltownplayers.org.
Paul Hyde, a longtime Upstate journalist, writes about the arts for the Anderson Observer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.
Friday, December 20, 2019 at 9:15AM By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer
“A Smoky Mountain Christmas” is a terrific, toe-tapping holiday treat.
L to R: Alexandria Bagwell, Riley Fincher-Foster, Julia Glenn, Kelly Davis. Photo: Escobar Photography
Produced by the Mill Town Players, this up-tempo country and bluegrass revue is a mighty fine way to cozy up to the Christmas spirit.
Against the backdrop of Will Ragland’s warm, inviting log cabin set, nine talented singers offer more than two dozen Yuletide songs - some traditional, some more modern.
It’s as if a big, generous family has welcomed us, the audience, into their home for a feast of music, appetizers, main courses and lots of desserts.
The great seven-member onstage band (let’s hear it for live music in local theaters!) makes a wonderful production even more irresistible.
Director/choreographer Kimberlee Ferreira offers a vision of Christmas that is all about family, joy and good will. Sorry, Elvis, we’ll not have a blue Christmas if this cast has anything to say about it.
As in all Ferreira’s productions, this one exhibits a high degree of pep and polish. Take, for instance, a sequence of three songs in Act 1 – “Up on the Housetop,” “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” and “Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas.” The energy and exuberance are dynamite.
“A Smoky Mountain Christmas” is truly an ensemble show with each cast member getting a moment to shine in the spotlight.
Kelly Davis’ 100-watt smile seems to have increased to 110 watts for this production. Davis really knows how to sell a song.
Julia Glenn and Alexandria Bagwell apply soaring vocals to several appealing tunes, while Tom Dyar and Brian Glenn bring warm country accents to their numbers.
And Drew Kenyon offers a suave “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
Three young people round out the cast. Riley Fincher-Foster is a petite powerhouse on such songs as “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” What a talent! Hiram Means makes a big impression on a couple of numbers as well. Zeke Means, the youngest of the cast, has a strong stage presence and is another bright talent to keep an eye on.
Tricia Dyar is responsible for the vibrant musical preparation. Mckelvie Wilder (on the keyboard) leads the band. Kayla Wells (fiddle), Charles Wood (banjo), Luke Johnson (mandolin) and Austin Finley (guitar) offer flavorful solos. Russ Chapman (bass) and Robert Johnson (drums) provide a solid musical foundation.
No surprise, this family-friendly show has been filling the Pelzer Auditorium for the past two weeks. Only one weekend of performances remains. Don’t miss it!
For tickets to “A Smoky Mountain Christmas,” call 864-947-8000 or visit www.milltownplayers.org.
Paul Hyde, a longtime Upstate journalist, writes about the arts for the Anderson Observer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.
Monday, November 18, 2019 at 4:02PM Observer Reports
The Market Theatre Company was recently a big winner in the Community Theatre Festival at the 53rd Annual South Carolina Theatre Association Annual Convention, taking home nine awards for the play "The 39 Steps."
The Market Theatre team traveled to Francis Marion University in Florence to peform the play. The theatre received the following awards: Drew Whitley, Best Director; Savvy Thompson, Best Actor; Matt Groves, Best Actor; Alex Bennett, Best Supporting Actor; Kaithley Fuller, Best Costume Design; Cameron Woodson; Best Scenic Design; Stehanie Ibbotson, Best Sound Design; John Keenan; Best Lighting Design; as well as the State Award and the Best Ensemble Award.
As the State Winner, "The 39 Steps" will go on to participate in the regional community theatre festival at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Louisville, against productions from 10 other states in February 2020.