LOGAN – The Lyric Repertory Company’s thus-far impressive season will continue with the debut of Into the Breeches by playwright George Brant on Friday, July 8.
Set during World War II, all of the men are off at war, including the leading players of the Oberon Play House.
The theater has already announced a challenging season of Shakespeare, including a production of Henry V. Should the theater cancel its schedule or press on?
Enter a group of wildly determined and passionate – albeit inexperienced – women who are determined to keep the theater’s doors open.
The show has parallels to our own recent experience during the coronavirus pandemic and inventively explores whether the “show must go on” when things are blackest.
Into the Breeches is also topical, in that it also highlights the evolving roles of men and women against the backdrop of one the greatest gender revolutions of all time.
The play is directed by Adrianne Moore and will star a collection of Lyric veterans and newcomers.
From the recent production of Freaky Friday, Equity actor Lacy J. Dunn will appear as Celeste Fielding. The talented Ms. Dunn has previously starred in Wait Until Dark, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Noises Off, Ton of Money and The Musical of Musicals: the Musical.
Mia Gatherum returns as June Bennett. She also appears in the Lyric’s ongoing production of Freaky Friday. Ms. Getherum has previously appeared in Utah State University productions of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and Getting Near to Baby; also in Newsies at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Local favorite Kelly McGaw plays Grace Richards. Ms. McGaw appeared in a string of comedy roles in previous Lyric productions of Noises Off, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, You Can’t take It With You and Singin’ in the Rain as well as this season’s run of Freaky Friday.
Mitzi Mecham will play Winifred Snow, adding to her previous Lyric show credits in Sense and Sensibility, Steel Magnolias and The Dresser.
Equity actor Chris Klinger will appear as Ellisworth Snow. His previous Lyric credits include Noises off, Wait Until Dark, Tons of Money, Big River and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, among others.
Newcomers in the Into the Breeches cast include Blake Brundy, Kat Lee and McKenna Walwyn.
Ms. Lee appears in the ongoing Lyric production of Freaky Friday and delivered an impressive performance as Rose in Fences last weekend.
Brundy and Ms. Walwyn are in the cast of Freaky Friday and have previously appeared in USU productions, including Julius Caesar, The Moors, 9 to 5, Civic and Humanities for Non-Majors and She Kills Monsters. Brundy has also appeared in 2021 productions of Peter Pan and Becoming a Bona Fide Bad Guy at Pickleville Playhouse.
The award-winning playwright Brant earned his master of fine art from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas in Austin. He is also a member of the Dramatists Guild.
His previous plays include Grounded; Elephant’s Graveyard; The Mourners’ Bench; Salvage; Three Voyages of the Lobotomobil;, Grizzly Mama; Any Other Name; Defiant; Dark Room; Miracle: A Tragedy; Good on Paper; Ashes; NOK; The Lonesome Hoboes; One Hand Clapping; The Royal Historian of Oz; Lovely Letters; Three Men in a Boat; Borglum: The Mount Rushmore Musical; Tights on a Wire; and Night of the Mime.
Evening performances of Into the Breeches are slated for July 8, 9, 20, 23, 27 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Caine Lyric Theatre on Center Street in downtown Logan.
Matinees are also slated for July 8 and 16 at 1 p.m.