First play of 49th season ‘A Comedy of Tenors’ opens March 14

Rehearsals are underway as the Eunice Players’ Theatre opens its 49th season with “A Comedy of Tenors”, a two-act comedy by Ken Ludwig. This non-musical play set in a hotel suite features four tenors, three girlfriends, two wives, and one very stressed out opera manager, who create runaway chaos, mistaken identities, and madcap delight.
Directed by Jody L. Powell, the cast features stage veterans and newcomers alike.
Leading the pack is Mike Bourgeois as Tito Mirelli, the hot-blooded Italian opera superstar. Mike honed his acting skills at Opelousas Little Theatre where he was featured in “Shrek, The Musical”, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “August: Osage County”.
Playing Tito’s equally hot-blooded Italian wife, Maria, is Angie LaCalle McBride. Angie has been active with EPT for 28 years, going back to her EPT stage debut “Grease”, and continuing through other shows including “Camelot”, “Always…Patsy Cline”, and shows she directed, “Hope For The Best” and “Schoolhouse Rock Live!”. She has also performed at Opelousas Little Theatre in “August: Osage County” and “Don’t Dress For Dinner”.
Vincent P. Barras returns to Eunice Players’ Theatre to portray Henry Saunders, the opera manager who has created the first historic Three Tenors show, for which everything goes hilariously wrong. While Vincent has performed and directed on stages all across Acadiana, EPT play goers will remember him from “Tuesdays With Morrie”, “Other Desert Cities”, “A Nice Family Gathering”, and “On Golden Pond”.
Saunders’ harried assistant-turned opera singer, Max, is played by Wil Rougeau, who just won the Best Supporting Actor Irving Award for his work in last season’s “Play On!”. He was also seen in “Black Coffee” at EPT and he co-directed last summer’s children’s workshop, “Law and Order – Fairy Tale Unit”.
Thomas Hebert is making his debut as Carlo Nucci, Tito’s opera nemesis but he is no stranger to the stage. Acting since age 9, he has appeared in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, and “Hairspray”, among many others.
Making her stage debut as Mimi, Tito and Maria’s daughter, is Nicole Roy. Although she is a newcomer, she brings lots of enthusiasm, energy, and natural acting talent to the role.
Rounding out the cast as Tatiana Racon, a Russian soprano, is Jeanne Eddins. Jeanne has been with Eunice Player’s Theatre since “Grease” in 1993 and has appeared in more recent musicals including “Camelot” and “Honky Tonk Angels”. She was also seen in “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Southern Belles” in Crowley.
Evening performances will be held March 14, 16, and 21-24 with curtain at 7 p.m. A matinee will be held Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at Ruby’s on Second St., with the performance immediately following. All seats are $15; dinner is an additional $20. Tickets will be available soon.
Season tickets are now available from any board member or at David’s Hair Salon at 204 S. Second St.; the season ticket is $30, which allows the bearer entrance to Eunice Players’ Theatre’s three season shows, the ability to make seating reservations, an invitation to the Irving Awards, and a ballot for the awards. Patron and angel packages are also available.
The theater is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. More information can be found on Eunice Player’s Theatre’s Facebook page.