ABOUT THE SHOW
Our 51st Season and Our 245th Production!
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Buck Creek Player and Director Mel DeVito are thrilled to announce their upcoming production of THE SAVANNAH SIPPIN' SOCIETY by J. Jones, N. Hope, and J. Wooten
In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. Randa, a perfectionist and workaholic, is struggling to cope with a surprise career derailment that, unfortunately, reveals that she has no life and no idea how to get one. Dot, still reeling from her husband’s recent demise and the loss of their plans for an idyllic retirement, faces the unsettling prospect of starting a new life from scratch—and all alone. Earthy and boisterous Marlafaye, a good ol’ Texas gal, has blasted into Savannah in the wake of losing her tom-cattin’ husband to a twenty-three-year-old dental hygienist. The strength of her desire to establish a new life is equaled only by her desire to wreak a righteous revenge on her ex. Also new to town, Jinx, a spunky ball of fire, offers her services as a much-needed life coach for these women. However, blinded by her determination and efforts to get their lives on track, she over-looks the fact that she’s the one most in need of sage advice. Over the course of six months, filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, these middle-aged women successfully bond and find the confidence to jumpstart their new lives. Together, they discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment—and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends. So, raise your glass to these strong Southern women and their fierce embrace of life and say “Cheers!” to this joyful and surprisingly touching Jones, Hope, Wooten comedy! |
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Inc. (www.dramatists.com)
Parental Guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children under age 13.
Performance Dates & Times
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Friday February 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM |
Friday, February 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM |
CAST OF CHARACTERS
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SETTING
Savannah, Georgia. The present.
HELP SUPPORT THIS PRODUCTION
Tickets only cover a portion of the costs to produce this show.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Coming Soon
GEORGEANNA TEIPEN
GEORGEANNA TEIPEN (Miranda “Randa” Covington) is thrilled to be back on the Buck Creek stage with this fabulous cast! Georgie, as her friends call her, just finished directing the Christmas Cabaret here at BCP over the holidays. This was Georgie’s first time directing and she also wrote the show. She is so proud of the production and grateful for having had that experience. Georgie’s first love for theater, however, is being on the stage having last been seen as Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods this past summer. In her professional life, Georgie serves the citizens of the State of Indiana as a Deputy Attorney General in the
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of The Office of the Indiana Attorney General. This one is for Jeremy, Miranda, Schuyler, Ryan, Ayesha, and Leona----I love all of you with all my heart. Our family is everything to me, and with each other, none of us is ever alone!!!! xoxoxoxoxo!
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of The Office of the Indiana Attorney General. This one is for Jeremy, Miranda, Schuyler, Ryan, Ayesha, and Leona----I love all of you with all my heart. Our family is everything to me, and with each other, none of us is ever alone!!!! xoxoxoxoxo!
BETH POPPLEWELL
BETH POPPLEWELL (Dot Haigler) is excited to be returning to the Buck Creek Stage once again. Previous roles at BCP include ARE YOU BEING SERVED, OVER MY DEAD BODY, and ROSIE THE RIVETER. She has recently appeared in productions with other theater companies including The Belfry (FATHER OF THE BRIDE) Epilogue Theater ( THE HALLELUJAH GIRLS) and Our Town Players (FOUR OLD BROADS). Beth wishes to thank Mel and Anna, and the entire cast and crew, for this wonderful experience. Thank you for supporting community theater. Enjoy the show!
NANCY LAUDEMAN
NANCY LAUDEMAN (Marlafaye) is excited to be back on the Buck Creek stage where she was last seen as a vocalist in the Christmas Cabaret. She has also appeared as Mary in THE VULTURES, Aunt Queenie in BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, Sedalia in ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID and as Willa Wild in THE WILD WOMEN OF WINEDALE (Epilogue Players). In Fort Wayne Nancy appeared in SISTER ACT (Sr. Mary Patrick), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Carole Strong), A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL (Mrs. Fezziwig), LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Madame Renaud), and ASSASSINS (Emma Goldman/Bystander). Northwest Indiana credits include THE KING & I (Anna), INTO THE WOODS (The Baker’s Wife - NIETF Best Actress in a Musical nomination), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Charlotte - NIETF Best Featured Actress in a Musical award), and NUNSENSE (Sr. Mary Amnesia - NIETF Best Featured Actress in a Musical award). By day, Nancy is a Title I reading teacher. When not at work or on stage, she enjoys reading, singing, and spending time with her husband and family. Nancy would like to thank her husband, Rich, for his constant love and support.
GLORIA BRAY
GLORIA BRAY (Jinx Jenkins) Being a member of the Savannah Sipping Society is an absolute joy! I’m thrilled to be back on stage at BCP, where I’ve had the privilege of playing some unforgettable roles, including Dolly Gallagher Levi in The Matchmaker and Ruthie in Making God Laugh. Working behind the scenes on several productions at this theater has been equally rewarding. A heartfelt thank you to everyone supporting this production and the vibrant community theater scene in Indianapolis!
COPYRIGHT LAWS PROHIBIT ALL UNAUTHORIZED PHOTOGRAPHY,
AUDIO, OR VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION.
PRODUCTION STAFF & CREW
MEL DEVITO
MEL DEVITO (Director) is having a lot of fun as director for this delightfully warm and funny show. She has worn multiple hats for a myriad of BCP shows, having just served as producer for the Christmas Cabaret. Mel will be back in the director's chair this fall, bringing an insightful, whimsical twist to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - you won't want to miss that!
When not at the theater, Mel works as a home care respiratory therapist. In her spare time she loves to craft and sew, hang out with her granddaughters, go camping and to go drag racing with her husband, Rick.
She wants to thank this incredible cast of wonderful women, it's been an absolute joy to work with you!
ANNA SPACK
ANNA SPACK (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be back at Buck Creek in a different type of role after most recently appearing in BCP's Into the Woods. She has been involved in numerous Kokomo theatre organizations and enjoyed getting her feet wet here in Indy as Miss Brahms with BCP's production of ARE YOU BEING SERVED? and as Gillian Holroyd in BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE. Her favorite roles include Catherine/Helene Shaw/Paula in WHO AM I THIS TIME AND OTHER CONUNDRUMS OF LOVE, Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, Tuptim in THE KING AND I, Vivienne in LEGALLY BLONDE and Co-directing WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. In her free time, Anna enjoys game and movie nights with friends and family, karaoke nights, visiting local breweries and wineries. Thank you to my family and friends for all of your support and patience with the busyness and breakdowns during shows.
TIFFANY D. WILSON
TIFFANY D. WILSON (Costume Coordinator) has been involved in numerous shows with Buck Creek Players since 2012. Her costuming credits include A DIFFERENT JOURNEY with the Phoenix Theatre and the University of Indianapolis, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN with the Civic Theatre, and last year’s BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE here at Buck Creek. She received an Encore Award for Best Costumes for BLYTHE SPIRIT with Shelby County Players. Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theatre from Franklin College and a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University. She serves as the Franklin Branch Manager for the Johnson County Public Library. She also works part-time for PAX (Program of Academic Exchange), placing wonderful exchange students with amazing host families. But most of all, Tiffany loves sharing every single day with her amazing partner, Tony Brazelton.
RICH LAUDEMAN
RICH LAUDEMAN (Scenic Designer/Technical Director) is delighted to work again with Mel and BCP, following his designs for ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID and BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE. Rich holds a BA in Theater Design and Production from Western Michigan University and completed MFA coursework in Scenography at Purdue West Lafayette. Over the past four-plus decades, Rich has contributed scenic and/or lighting design for numerous productions including PEER GYNT, THE LION IN WINTER, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Carriage House Theater (CHT), Indiana University at Kokomo), MY THREE ANGELS, MORNING’S AT SEVEN, THE HOT L BALTIMORE, HELLO, DOLLY!, GREASE (Kokomo Civic Theater), and FOOL FOR LOVE (Purdue West Lafayette). His design work also includes JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center, Purdue), DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP?, QUILTERS, GUYS AND DOLLS, THE PAJAMA GAME, SOUTH PACIFIC, and LITTLE WOMEN (Calumet Region theaters), and MY THREE ANGELS here in Indianapolis (Epilogue Players). One of his personal career highlights was working with Resident Playwright Larry Shue and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater on the world premiere of THE NERD. Rich’s Director credits include THE FANTASTICKS (CHT) and an original musical theater journey, THEN ‘TIL NOW: MUSICAL THEATER REFLECTS AMERICA (Tri-Town Players). Over the years, Rich has also performed numerous musical and non-musical roles. Rich spent many years in arts management for IU Kokomo (Director, Havens Auditorium) and arts organizations in the Calumet Region, later moving into IT Service & Support Management. He currently works as an IT Project Manager. Rich looks forward to continuing his involvement in theater wherever he and his wife, Nancy, find themselves. As always, he appreciates the unrelenting support of Nancy, Laura, Diana, Chance, and all those who’ve joined him on this journey.
SUSANNE BUSH
SUSANNE BUSH (Scenic Artist) is thrilled to be working with Buck Creek Players again! Susanne's second home is at the theatre. Some of her favorite shows she's been a part of are A FEW GOOD MEN, NOISES OFF, MORNING AFTER GRACE, and WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. She most recently won Encore Awards for her set decoration in INTO THE WOODS, LIZZIE BORDEN, and THE GAME'S AFOOT. Susanne homeschools her two younger children, while her oldest is now off at college. She also loves to run and owns her own clothing resale business. She hopes you enjoy the show!
MATT SPURLOCK
SCOUT DUNLEVY (Stage Crew/Light Designer)(He/They) returns for their fourth show with Buck Creek Players. When not working on shows here, he is spending his time as the Operations Assistant at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre. In their free time, Scout works conventions, writes, and does aerial arts. He is looking forward to their future endeavors in the theatre world. Scout would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support.
MATT SPURLOCK
MATT SPURLOCK (Sound Designer)
CLANCE LaTURNER
CLANCE LaTURNER (Stage Manager) loves her turns on stage, as she has in numerous shows here at BCP – most recently as an Emcee for recent THE CHRISTMAS CABARET – as well as for the Candlelight Theater at the President Benjamin Harrison Home and Oaklandon Civic Theatre. She also delights in working crew, enjoying the camaraderie that the created family becomes for each particular show. Clance’s acting chops began with various church drama ministries across Indiana, and served as Drama Director for Christ Community Church in Greenwood. Driven by a deep curiosity, Clance is constantly learning through her professional work in voiceovers, video production, and manuscript editing. She intentionally invests her life in people and especially enjoys sharing a meal with folks (breakfast, anyone?). As a chaplain who officiates weddings and funerals, Clance is incredibly thankful to God for His intimate grace, mercy, and love that guides her life. She’s thankful, too, for her husband, Jon, who generously allows her to live the life to which she feels called. Their felines Cricket, Dutchess, and Raven bring them endless joy and entertainment.Thank you for being with us today – I trust you will enjoy the show!
BCP is a non-profit organization
Please consider supporting our efforts to ensure live theater in Franklin Township
SPECIAL THANKS
- Special thanks to Donny Stephens and Jess Kendall for use of the patio furniture.
- Special thanks to Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre for use of lighting cables
- Special thanks to Dan Denniston, Susanne Bush, and Scout Dunlevy for help with set construction.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JESSE JONES. NICHOLAS HOPE, and JAMIE WOOTEN
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Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, collectively known as JONES HOPE WOOTEN, enjoy the reputation of being three of the most popular and widely-produced playwrights in the United States. They specialize in writing laugh-out-loud comedies and creating vivid strong roles for women. Because of their commitment to and support of local theatres across the nation, they've built a following with legions of loyal fans and have been dubbed "America's Playwrights."
Between them, they've written classic television, hit movies, Off Broadway comedy and their plays are published by Dramatists Play Service and TRW Plays – Theatrical Rights Worldwide. Thousands of productions of their comedies - including their perennially-popular THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY, DEARLY BELOVED, CHRISTMAS BELLES, THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID and many more - have entertained millions of theatre-goers across America, as well as in Canada, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, England, Taiwan, France, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Scotland, Belgium, Panama, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Ecuador and Kenya. Jessie Jones co-authored the Off-Broadway comedy, DEARLY DEPARTED and its hit feature film adaptation, Kingdom Come, released by Fox Searchlight Films. Her short stories have been published in literary journals and she has written scripts with projects at ABC, Lifetime, WB, TNT, Paramount and an animated series for Walt Disney Productions. Nicholas Hope, winner of the Texas New Playwrights' Award, was Director of Casting for Theatre Communications Group in New York, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and ABC Television in New York and Los Angeles. With Jessie Jones, he wrote for the Emmy-winning Disney television series Teacher's Pet. Together with Jones and Wooten, Nicholas wrote for USA, WB, UPN, SYFY, Nickelodeon and Fox. Jamie Wooten was a writer and producer for many seasons of the classic television series The Golden Girls, where he won the Writers Guild of America award. He co-created the CBS series, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, and was the executive producer of the Fox comedy, The Crew, NBC's For Your Love and UPN's Half & Half. A Billboard Award-winning songwriter, Jamie has written tunes for television and film. Between them, Jessie, Nicholas and Jamie have written for an astonishingly diverse roster of performers, including Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Betty White, Jack Black, Debbie Reynolds, LL Cool J, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Tyne Daly, Bea Arthur, Louie Anderson, Taraji P. Henson, George Burns, RuPaul, Dolly Parton and many, many more. |
Buck Creek Players is a proud member and supporter of:
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