"Glorious!", A Glittering Comedy, Opens July 21 at Playmakers.
The Playmakers of Grove OK will produce "Glorious!", a comedy by Peter Quilter, July 21 through August 4, 2024. It is based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, the New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst singing voices in history.
It runs for eight performances, from July 21 through August 4, 2024, on Thursdays, Fridays & one Saturday evening (Aug 3rd) at 7:30 pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm.
The play is not a musical. Rather it is a comedy with music and singing. It's about an extraordinary woman who had the guts to follow her dream, and managed to entertain a lot of people along the way (Cole Porter and other notaries among them). She found the real world 'over rated' and 'living on a cloud' far more enjoyable.
Anne Midgetter, a former music critic of the Washington Post, wrote this about Mrs. Jenkins: "She walks onstage, bejeweled and powdered and resplendent. She does not have to be beautiful; she is larger than life. In the few yards from the wings to center stage, she conveys her authority in her measured gait, her regal posture, her richly patterned gown, and becomes the repository of our hopes, our expectations, our projections. Then she opens her mouth. And--brays".
Nancy Flowers, a Playmakers' actress in four productions and musical director for seventeen productions, takes the leading role. She is an excellent singer off stage working hard to sing badly onstage, all for the laughter it brings. Others in this ensemble cast are three newcomers: Justin Eskew in the role of the accompanist, Cosme McMoon. Dorothy, Florence's ditsy friend is played by Terri David. And Concha Tripppensee, takes the role of Maria, the non-English speaking Spanish maid. The common law partner, St.Clair Byfield is played by veteran actor, Stan Starts. Sara Kaufman, actress in six Playmakers' productions plus Readers' Theatre shows, plays Mrs.. Verrinder-Gedge, who is not a fan of Florence's singing.
If you don't know the history of Florence Foster Jenkins, just search the internet with her name. The Playmakers' production is the very funny Broadway play, not the more dramatic movie version.
Major credit cards are accepted for seating: $15 for adults and $8 for students, lower elementary through high school. This guide is based on the appropriateness for that age level and the capability of the student to understand the content of the production. This is a guideline only, not a rule. Young children, 5 years of age and under, are only admitted to special productions for them.
There are no paper tickets. Just make reservations for seating by leaving a message at 918 786 8950, or by emailing: [email protected]. Please include any necessary special seating and the names of people in your group who will be paying for their individual sea