Sumrall Community Theatre New Presentation is Nunsense!!

SUMMARY

Southern Fried Funeral introduces the loving yet dysfunctional Frye Family and their quirky friends from New Edinboro, Mississippi. After Dewey Frye suddenly dies, the next three days bring out the best and worst in his family. Matriarch Dorothy has to contend with sudden widowhood, while faced with church-committee harpy Ozella Meeks sticking her nose in the family business. Meanwhile Dorothy’s snake-in-the-grass brother-in-law makes a grab for her property, as her two grown daughters relive their childhood rivalry.

Meet the Cast

Casey Key

Director

CASEY KEY (Director) is making his directing debut, after he Assistant Directed SCT’s recent production of To Kill A Mockingbird. Prior to, he was seen in their musical, White Christmas as Bob Wallace. Additional credits include Mississippi College’s Les Miserables as ensemble. With Stage 2 of Meridian, he was seen as Rusty Charlie in Guys and Dolls, Ben Weatherstaff in The Secret Garden, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Christopher Wren in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Grateful for the unwavering support of family and friends.

Blakeney Welch

Assistant Director/Stage Manager/Properties Manager

BLAKENEY WELCH (Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Properties Manager) is thrilled to be back with Sumrall Community Theater after being their stage manager, and assistant to sound design in their sold out production of To Kill A Mockingbird this past summer! She spends her free time reading, writing, singing, acting, and memorizing musical theatre songs. She would love to thank her amazing family and friends for their encouragement and support!

Debbie Kennedy

DEBBIE KENNEDY (Dorothy Frye/Momma) was first seen onstage portraying the iconic role of Mlynn Eatenton in SCT’s 2022 hit production of Steel Magnolias. Debbie has been a nurse for 38 years, and currently works as an RN at LAW Surgical Center in Hattiesburg, MS. She and her husband, Mike, are blessed with two adult children; Mycah, Rushton, and daughter-in-law, Natalie. Debbie and Mike recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and enjoy traveling and attending concerts. Her other hobbies/passions include, developing as a stained glass artist, working with plants, and loving on her two schnauzers and one kitty. She’d like to dedicate this show to her husband: “To Mike, thank you for 35 great years and here’s to all the adventures to come!”

Becca Hill

BECCA HILL (Harlene Juniper Frye) is back onstage after a 25 year hiatus from theater! She began her college career as a theater major and has always had a love for the arts! Credits include: Chick Boyle in Crimes of the Heart, and Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago. Becca auditioned as a tribute to her late son, Jakob Hill, and the many conversations they had about Becca stepping back onstage—prior to his passing on August 1 of this year. Theater was a shared love that Becca and her son both had, him being a senior, actively involved in Sumrall High School’s theater program. This performance is dedicated to his memory. “I am forever grateful to the entire cast, my friends, family, and the Sumrall community for their encouragement, love, and continued support in my journey!”

Galia Mixon

GALIA MIXON (Samantha Jo Frye-Fette) is humbled to work with this stellar cast! She most recently made her professional/regional show debut in New Stage Theatre’s Noises Off as Poppy Norton-Taylor u/s. Past credits with SCT include, Mayella Violet Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird, Martha “Megaphone” Watson in White Christmas, Abbey Brewster in Arsenic & Old Lace, and Annelle Desoto-Dupuey in Steel Magnolias. Other credits include Snug/Moth in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Father Leonato in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, (HCT). She’s performed in masterclasses with the playwrights of Anne And Emmett, as Anne Frank, (William Carey University), and Three Sister’s Brontë, as Emily Brontë (University of Southern Mississippi). With the Conservatory of Annie Moses, she’s originated roles at Off-Broadway’s Jamison Theatre, including Barista/Narrator in Curriculum of Life, feat. Emmy Nominee: Annie Dupre, and Old Mother Hopkins in the Nat’l Tour cast of Tom Sawyer, feat. Grammy Winner: Josh Turner. With roots in bluegrass & gospel, she been a repeating soloist in concerts at the Grand Ole Opry, The Country Music Hall of Fame, & the City Winery: Nashville featuring the Annie Moses Band, Josh Turner, and Selah’s Todd Smith among others. Much love to Casey, the cast, and creative team! @galiabackstage

Josiah Shoemake

JOSIAH SHOEMAKE (Dewey Jr. Frye/ Dewdrop) is the oldest of four siblings, who enjoys doing fun skits for his youth group at his church! This is his first show, and is having a blast playing this fun role! He enjoys taking computers apart and seeing how they work, and he plays on the football team for Sumrall middle school. He’s excited for his family, and friends to enjoy all his hard work!

Michael Smithers

Michael Smithers (Uncle Dub) has had a diverse background in theater from stagehand to assistant director but is very excited to return to the stage. Michael started acting at Delta State University as Howie in Our Town, Rynfield in Dracula, the bartender in The Drunkard. He continued his passion with Canton Players playing several parts in Greater Tuna including Aunt Pearl, Multiple roles in The Dining Room, and Ellard in The Foreigner . He made his director debut as assistant director of Crimes of the Heart. Michael relocated to Sumrall 3 years ago and joined the board Sumrall Little Theater 2 years ago. He would like to thank his community, friends and family for all their love and support and looks forward to entertaining them all.

Bobbie Lou Barber

BOBBIE LOU BARBER (Fairy June) a veteran of the stage, is thrilled to bring her talents from Missouri to Mississippi. She is delighted to be a part of Sumrall Community Theater; “Casey is a super director, with and outstanding cast!” She has played many roles with Mississippi’s award winning: Legacy Actors Theater Experience Company. In Missouri, she has starred in Weekend Comedy, If The Shoe Fits, Faith County, Always a Bridesmaid, the Hallelujah Girls, and Catholic School Girls. She has reprised the role of Honey Raye-Futrelle in Dashing Through the Snow, Christmas Bells, Dearly Beloved, and Southern Hospitality. Her role as Honey Raye has been compared to Rue McClanahan’s “Blanche” from The Golden Girls. This will be the second time performing with her husband, Michael Barber (Benny Charles). She retired from teaching high school but is still a college professor. She enjoys quilting, reading books, going to the beach, and playing with her “fur babies,” Truman Fritz and Winston Hamilton. She is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Grove.

Katie Bread

KATIE BEARD (Martha Ann) is in her first show with Sumrall Community Theater as the sassy and sarcastic best friend of the widow, Dorothy Frye. She's the mother of 2 sons and the grandmother to a 3 yr old little boy. She is a licensed electrologist, and has a private practice in Jackson. She enjoys playing with her grandson, shopping, and cooking. Other credits include: Dust and Angels, The Garden of Eden: Revisited, and Durang, Durang: 5 one act plays!

David Williamson

DAVID WILLIAMSON (Atticus Van Leer) is excited to return to the stage for Sumrall Community Theater. He first appeared in SCT's first ever production, Smoke On The Mountains, and its sequel the following year: A Sander’s Family Christmas as Pastor Oglethorpe. He portrayed one of the Firemen, in the SCT production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and assisted backstage in A Charlie Brown Christmas. He then portrayed Mr. Gibbs, in SCT’s thriller, Arsenic & Old Lace, and was most recently seen as the kind Sheriff Heck Tate, in their most recent production To Kill A Mockingbird.

He is extremely grateful for the support of his loving wife, Mona, and her patience in allowing an old grumpy man to act young and goofy.

Romans 8: 38-39

Carter Campbell

CARTER CAMPBELL (Beecham Beaureguard Leffette) is excited to extend his list of shows with SCT! Carter made his SCT debut portraying the villain, Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, and returned to Choreograph their musical; White Christmas. He has been on stage since age 7, and is currently a high school senior, apart of the Sumrall High Drama Club. With them; he has portrayed Father, in The Giver, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka: The Musical, Beast in Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, and following this show, will portray Dallas, in The Outsiders.

April Tindall

APRIL TINDAL (Ozella Meeks) is in her second show with Sumrall Community Theater, her first being this summer’s sold out production of To Kill A Mockingbird as the neighborhood gossip, Stephanie Crawford. She is thrilled to join this cast as the coveted “Chairwoman of the SonShine Committee!” She holds an Associates degree in nursing from Hinds Community College, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications, and Theater Performance with Mississippi College. Currently, she works full-time at Hattiesburg Clinic, as a Chronic Care Nurse in Quality Management. In her free time, she enjoys: spending time with her family, friends and loves to spoil her two nieces! Hobbies include: taking care of her five rescue dogs, cinema, puzzles, April’s roots are in Flora Ms, but she has lived in Hattiesburg since 2012. Other credits include: Steel Magnolias as Ouiser Boudreaux, Harvey, Dearly Departed, Dixie Swim Club, The 39 Steps, Dashing Through The Snow, The Boys Next Door, and Macbeth Did It!

Michael Barber

MICHAEL S. BARBER (Benny Charles) resides in Oak Grove, Mississippi with his wife in real life Bobbie Lou (Fairy June). He moved here from Missouri two years ago, for the mild winters and southern hospitality! He has acted with his wife, in the play: Faith County, where he played her onstage boyfriend, and received a big slap across the face, (she enjoyed that!) Now he only acts with Bobbie Lou. He looks forward to acting with Sumrall Community Theater alongside the terrific actors, and director, Casey. He is a HUGE Kansas City Chiefs fan, likely the only one in the area! “Go my Mahomes! The Super Bowl is coming, with another, and another…”

Southern Fried Funeral Cast Hard at Work!

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