Stage Right Presents: Christmas Belles
As I reminisce on the events leading to Stage Right’s original production, Christmas Belles, I recall we began with seven people and a handful of season ticket holders who were mostly our friends and family. Today, in its 15th season, Stage Right has almost 1,000 season ticket holders, a record for our theatre company. So, I dedicate this performance to you, our faithful patrons. Without you, none of this would be possible.
Several of our cast members in this production of Christmas Belles, by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, were in the initial 2008 production. Melody Montez, who plays Rhonda Lynn, is an original cast member. Rhonda Lynn owns the Dairy Dog and has recently moved to Fayro. Melody has been a dedicated member of Stage Right, serving on the board of directors, performing in many shows, as well as directing and serving on the tech team. Melody played Savanah Honeycutt, a key role in the world premiere production of Jones, Hope and Wooten’s Mama Won’t Fly. She recently directed Clue, Much Ado About Nothing and The Dinner Party.
Another original cast member, Katt Gilcrease will be recreating his role as Dub Dubberly, the long-suffering part-time Santa and husband of Frankie. Dub and Frankie are stressed due to a surprise pregnancy just as their older twins are entering adulthood. Katt has served on the board of directors of Stage Right as well as being instrumental in founding the Jim Bingham Summer Camp. He has been involved as a director and actor in many of our productions. Maria Sirgo created the role of Frankie Dubberly in our original production. Suffering a difficult pregnancy and tolerating the sometimes out of control behavior of her sisters, she resorts to communing with her deceased mother. Maria is known for her impeccable comedic timing and is an asset to any production. She performed in Blythe Spirit, Harvey and The Diary of Anne Frank with Stage Right.
Amy Sowers originated the role of Honey Raye Futrelle. Honey Raye owns Wynette’s Dinette City in Fayro, Texas. She is on a mission to improve her reputation by directing the Christmas show at The Tabernacle of the Lamb. She intends on adding a little razzle dazzle to update the traditional program which has not changed in 27 years. Amy had been in numerous Stage Right productions including The Dinner Party, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Musical, Rumors and Mama Won’t Fly. She currently serves as the president of the board of Stage Right and is a founding member of Stage Right.
Honey Raye’s nemesis is Miss Geneva Musgrave who had directed the Christmas program for the last 27 years at the Tabernacle of the Lamb. She can’t believe the deacons would allow Honey Raye to direct this show and she is not giving in easily. Marilyn Moore portrays Geneva in this production. She is well known to Stage Right audiences. She has been involved in Conroe community theatre since 1989. She has played the Psychic in Who Dunnit? written by Tina and Manny Cafeo twice. Her first role was the reporter in Damn Yankees directed by the legendary Grace Thompson and later played Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy directed by Jim Walker, another beloved director for the Crighton Players.
Other newcomers to our Fayro family include Hallie Teague playing Gina Jo Dubberly, the daughter of Dub and Frankie. She was last seen at Yvette in Clue, played Hero in Much Ado About Nothing and Brigette in Who Dunnit? Gina Jo is worried about her mother and decides to put her life on hold to help with the new babies. Ian Montez plays Justin Waverly, the interim pastor at the Tabernacle of the Lamb. He loves Gina Jo and doesn’t understand why she is avoiding him. Ian grew up on the Crighton Stage. He was last seen as Wadsworth in Clue. He has also portrayed Claudio in Much Ado about Nothing and Sir Lancelot in Spamalot. Matthew Johnson undertakes the role of Raynerd Chisum, a well-loved member of the Fayro community. He takes his red wagon with him wherever he goes, and he knows the Christmas Story by heart. He is sincere and tries to please everyone. Matthew recently served as stage manager for Clue and performed in Spamalot and served as assistant director for Much Ado About Nothing
Jennifer Marshall and Allen Dorris performed in our last production of Christmas Belles and will be recreating their roles for this production. Jennifer plays Twink Futrelle, sister of Honey Raye and Frankie. Currently, Twink is in jail accused of arson. She is under the watchful eye of Sheriff John Curtis Buntner, played by Allen. Twink was jilted by her boyfriend of sixteen years and she is out for revenge. Jennifer has performed in Murder on the Orient Express, The Addams Family and Dixie Swim Club. Allen is also a familiar face at the Crighton Theatre and performed in Rumors and On Golden Pond and many other productions. Wendy Albright joined our Fayro family in our prior production as snooty Patsy Price, the woman the Futrelle sisters love to hate. Wendy has been involved in the Jim Bingham Summer Camp at the Crighton Theatre and was last seen onstage in Noises Off at the Owen Theatre.
Our director is Jennifer Bowlin. She first performed with Stage Right in Who Dunnit? and has participated in many other aspects of our theatre company. She is currently serving on the board of directors. She was the assistant director of Clue and served on the technical crew of The Little Mermaid, Rent and The Drowsy Chaperone. She portrayed Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing. Thank you, Jennifer, for corralling this cast of crazy characters!
Visit our lobby and learn about our highlighted charitable organization for this show, Who Rescued Who, an animal rescue organization. There will be ornaments and other items to purchase to support this cause. Henrietta will be there in costume to greet you.
Christmas Belles will be onstage from
December 1-December 17, 2023
at the historic Crighton Theatre, 234 N. Main, Conroe, TX
Tickets are available at stage-right.org or by calling the box office at (936)441-7469. Do not be fooled by second market ticket sales online. Stage Right tickets should never cost more that $30.00 with a small fee if purchased online.
Funded in part by a grant from the City of Conroe