If there's patron saint of laughing in the face of hard economic times it's Mame Dennis, aka "Auntie Mame," the larger-than-life central figure in the award-winning musical Mame, scheduled to run at the Willows Theatre in Concord, November 17-December 28, 2008. The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. (in the Willows Shopping Center), Concord, CA 94520.
The Willows Theatre production of Mame, with book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, is directed by Richard Elliott, with Scarlett Hepworth in the title role. Musical direction is by Tim Hanson and choreography by Dan Uroff.
The Willows Theatre presents the award-winning musical Mame,Nov. 17-Dec. 28, 2008, at the Willows mainstage in Concord. Ms. Hepworth is an accomplished actress both in and outside of musical theater. She won a Shellie Award for Best Actress in 2006 for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in Wit at Lafayette's Town Hall Theatre. She was twice named to a "10 Best" list for the title role in Driving Miss Daisy at Crossroads Theatre and Major Stone in Happy End with Women's Will.
She has appeared at the Willows Theatre as AbiGail Adams in 1776, Therese Yelverton in John Muir's Mountain Days, and Baroness Elsa Schrader in The Sound of Music. She also was seen in the title role in Mother Courage at Berkeley Repertory Theater. Ms. Hepworth gives private vocal lessons at her studio in Oakland, where she specializes in musical theater.
The Willows Theatre production will feature Ms. Hepworth as Mame, Cynthia Rogers Baggott as Vera, Katie Anderson as Agnes Gooch, Kal Berns as Beauregard, Shane Hooker as the Younger Patrick, John Walbolt as the Older Patrick, and Ron Pickett as Mr. Upson. The complete cast is as follows:
Complete Cast for the Willows Theatre production of Mame
Scarlett Hepworth Mame
Katie Anderson Agnes Gooch
Cynthia Rogers Baggott Vera Charles
Kal Berns Beauregard
Karen-Meredith Wolf Pegeen/Sally
Jennifer Kosta Cousin Fan
Lynne Chapman Mother Burnside/Mrs. Upson
Safia Benyahia Gloria
James Gee Ito
Kevin Copps Mr. Babcock
Mario Rizzo Messenger
Drew Fowler Uncle Jeff
Shane Hooker Younger Patrick
John Walbolt Older Patrick
Ron Pickett Mr. Upson
Ryan Geraghty Junior Babcock
The musical is filled with memorable songs, including "Open a New Window," "We Need a Little Christmas," "If He Walked Into My Life," "My Best Girl," and of course the title song, "Mame."
Ticket and Schedule Information
Tickets to Mame are $30-$40 with discounts for students (6-18), seniors (65+), groups (10+), and Preview performances. To purchase tickets call (925) 798-1300 or visit the Willows Theatre web site at www.willowstheatre.org. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. next to REI in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord, across the street from the Concord Hilton and one block east of the Willow Pass Road exit off Highway 680.
The Willows Theatre Company Daytime Box Office is located at 636 Ward Street in Martinez, in the lobby of the Campbell Theatre. Beginning September 22nd, the Daytime Box Office will observe new hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12-6 pm.
