Hell in a Handbag Season Tickets 2023-24
Tue Aug 22, 2023 6:00 PM - Tue Oct 31, 2023 10:30 PM CDT
Description
Hell in a Handbag Productions Announces 22nd Season of World Premieres:
The Golden Girls Save Xmas
The Lost Episodes Parody Series
By Artistic Director David Cerda
Blanche accidentally incapacitates Santa Claus on the night before Christmas! Can the girls save the holidays in time for all the children of the world to get their toys on Christmas morning?
Join Dorothy (David Cerda*), Rose (Ed Jones*), Blanche (Grant Drager*) and Sophia (Ryan Oates*) in a very merry Miami romp, that combines Handbag’s signature biting humor with a heart as big as a cheesecake.
POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical
By Tyler Anthony Smith
Directed by Stephanie Shaw
Music Direction by Andrew Milliken
It’s 1979 in dangerous, smoky, glorious New York City. Our story’s red-headed protagonist Li’l Orphan Arnie (Dakota Hughes) is fleeing from the guardianship of a sex-starved, meth-cooking madwoman (Sydney Genco*). Out on the streets, they befriend a slinky dancing cat who leads them to a magical manhole, transporting them back in time to Paris, France in 1815. Trading in one poverty-plagued lifestyle for another, Arnie gives up the desire to find their parents and joins forces with a gang of pick-pocketing prostitutes, led by the mysterious Fagin (David Cerda*).
Life becomes even more dire when Mama Moneybags (Brittney Brown), a corrupt Republican from the future, takes it upon herself to put Fagin’s troupe out of work. Thankfully, there’s a bounty of colorful, destitute characters to help save the day, such as the tuberculosis-ridden Pantene (Caitlin Jackson*), a feral Beggar Woman (Elizabeth Lesinski*) and Nance, the classic hooker with a heart of gold (Tyler Anthony Smith*). Will the sun come out tomorrow? Do you hear the people sing? Will we be changing all of the lyrics to avoid being sued? Yes!
Scary Town
By Artistic Director David Cerda
Devin Bunny lives in a storybook town. Seriously, it’s a town that is straight out of a children's book where everything is picture perfect.
Everybody is happy, all the resident animals wear clothing and talk, and they don’t eat each other! Devin lives with his mom and dad and his 237 (at last count) snowy white siblings in Merry Town, where lessons are learned, and the denizens routinely break out in song. Everybody is happy all of the time – except for Devin. Devin notices things. Devin asks questions that Mama Bunny seems to ignore, like – "Why am I the only brown bunny in a family of snow rabbits?"
A combination of your favorite illustrated story books Our Town and Peyton Place, and the playwright's own life, Scary Town is about growing up in a lie and living happily ever after.
Handbag will also continue to present readings and entertainment scattered throughout the season including its newly established Pride readings in June of 2024.
*Denotes Handbag ensemble member
Hell in a Handbag’s 22nd Season of World Premieres:
November 2023
The Golden Girls Save Xmas: A Lost Episodes Parody
By Artistic Director David Cerda*
Featuring ensemble members David Cerda*, Grant Drager*, Ed Jones and Ryan Oates*, Danne W. Taylor* and Robert Williams*. Additional casting to be announced.
Location to be announced.
Spring 2024
POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical
By ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith*
Directed by Stephanie Shaw
Music Director Andrew Milliken
Featuring ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Elizabeth Lesinski* and Tyler Anthony Smith* with Matty Bettencourt, Brittney Brown, Taylor Dalton, Dakota Hughes, Miguel Long, Patrick O'Keefe and Shane Roberie.
Location to be announced.
Summer 2024
Scary Town
By Artistic Director David Cerda
Featuring ensemble members Ed Jones*, Tyler Anthony Smith* and Danne W. Taylor* Additional casting to be announced.
at The Clutch, 4335 N. Western Ave., Chicago
About Hell in a Handbag Productions
Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.