"Laughing Stock Resembles" the Lofte

Crazy auditions. Ego-driven rehearsals. Leading men looking for love. Open night shows where everything goes wrong. All of these things occur in the Lofte's next production, "Laughing Stock," but they happen on a pretty regular basis at the Lofte too. It seems like this script was written by theater veterans for theater veterans and anyone who has ever wondered, "What exactly goes on behind that stage door?"

The Lofte Community Theatre would like to announce its final regular-season show for the 2008 will open on Friday, October 17. "Laughing Stock" by Charles Morey takes the audience members behind the scenes to witness the hysterical goings-on of a small barn theater. (Hmmm, a barn theater? Another Lofte similarity!) The acting company finds itself wrestling with impossible odds as they try to offer a theater season including, "Hamlet," "Dracula," and "Charley's Aunt." ("Charley's Aunt" kicked off the Lofte's season. This script was written about us!) As in any good Lofte farce, once the mayhem starts, it just keeps getting faster and crazier until the characters are at a loss and the audience is doubled over with laughter. This one is sure to have you wiping the tears from your eyes and gasping for breath.

Cast members include Kevin Colbert and Bob Pinkerton of Weeping Water; Melinda mead and Joshua Smith of Plattsmouth; Jamion Biesterfeld of Louisville; Roland Kelley of Otoe; Tim Sorensen of Elmwood; Brenna Jean Thompson and James Michaelson of Lincoln; Virginia Howe Kincaid of Elkhorn; Rob Carrera of Bellevue; Mary Kathryn Nagle and Shari Hoelker of Omaha .

Performances run Oct. 17-19, 24-26, 30-31 and Nov. 1-2. Curtain times are at 7:30pm except for Sundays which are 2pm matinees. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the Lofte Box Office at (402)234-2553 or online at www.Lofte.com.


Cast Members clockwise from Left: Tim Sorensen, Roland Kelley, Mary Kathryn Nagle, James Michaelson, Jamion Biesterfeld, Melinda Meade, Bob Pinkerton, Virginia Howe Kincaid, Brenna Jean Thompson, Shari Hoelker, Kevin Colbert, Rob Carrera and Joshua Smith.


"Alas! Poor Yorick!" Kevin Colbert contemplates the future of The Playhouse in a scene from "Laughing Stock."