When your mid-summer days become too hot, or too ordinary, or too boring, make your way to Coligny Theatre for some laughs with residents of the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Starke, Florida, live and in person onstage.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” is scheduled for every weekend in July, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 5-28. The comedy musical is the third production by the nonprofit Sea Glass Stage Company in their new home in Coligny Plaza.
“We wanted to bring a light-hearted comedy to Sea Glass Stage,” said director Alex Clark, who is a founding member of the organization. “When we were talking about a fun musical for our summer play, this was our first choice.”
“It’s hilarious!” said Mark Erickson, also a founding member, who plays Norbert in the musical. “We think audiences are going to really love this show. It’s so outrageous, it just makes people laugh.”
The musical, which ran Off-Broadway in 2005 and was on a national tour in 2008, tells the convoluted story of high school sweethearts Jeannie (played by Margaret Crenshaw) and Norbert (Mark Erickson). Their marriage is on the rocks, Jeannie is afraid to step outside the trailer, and Norbert is tempted to step outside the relationship.
The three resident gossips can’t resist sharing the latest trailer park news. Whatever her duties might be, park manager Betty (Marisa Martucci), holder of the master keys and fanner of flames, finds plenty of time to chat with Lin (Allison Manning) and Pickles (Meagan Berger), both of whom have their own issues. Occasionally, the park princess (Mia Hlywa) shows up to add to the fun.
Along comes an exotic dancer, Pippi (Candice Skingley), who just wants a cheap place to hide out from her marker-sniffing ex-boyfriend.
Meanwhile, boyfriend Duke (Justin Stone), who might not realize she considers him an “ex,” has tracked down Pippi Armadillo Acres. His appearance on the scene causes all sorts of anxiety, not the least of which is a shoot-out with the residents and the resolution of an old mystery.
This production was choreographed by Dawn Rosa Miller, owner of Bluffton School of Dance. She has choreographed numerous theatre shows in the area and has won awards for her work.
Music director is Anna Marie Kuether, director of music and worship arts at Church of the Palms in Okatie. She also was a choral music teacher at H.E. McCracken Middle School in Bluffton.
Tickets are $35 each and are available at sgstage.org/tickets. Reduced rates will be considered for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit sgstage.org, email staff@sgstage.org, or call (843) 212-4172.
Sea Glass Stage Company, formed in late 2023, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
