Off To The Races

With fall musical "Derby Girls," Tin Building Theatre cast delivers show full of song, dance and laughs; tickets available for show on Oct. 18 & 19 at the Bosque Arts Center

CLIFTON – Southern belles Wynona, Jessie Lee, Vivian, Georgia and Twyla Faye from Willachoochee, Georgia thought they were in for a treat when their dear friend Milli invited them to attend the Kentucky Derby with her. The horse races on Churchill Downs after all is the biggest day in horse racing. They soon realize they’re not staying in a hotel, but at an Arabian-style bazaar campsite.

It might be called “glamping,” but an outdoor privy and battling mosquitos is never glamorous, no matter how romantic a night under the stars in the woods might seem. Not the traditional Mint Juleps, but Twyla Faye’s new signature Mint Julius might help to smooth over the flustered ladies’ initial disappointments.

A little bit of song, a little bit of dance, a little bit of romance, a little bit of rivalry, a whole lot of witty dialogue and lots of laughter sums up the Tin Building Theatre’s fall performance of “Derby Girls,” which premiered last weekend at the Bosque Arts Center in Clifton with a dinner show on Friday and the popular Sunday matinee.

“The first two performances were awesome,” director Debbi Rollins said. “The response from attendees was overwhelming excitement. They expressed a sincere joy from the musical. One lady said after the play she actually didn't think about anything else for the duration of the play.”

The play gives the TBT cast the chance to show off their singing and dancing skills as well as their acting skills. Especially in the songs including most of the cast, the stronger voices supported the actors with less singing experience to lovely harmonies.

You don't want to miss the classic sing-a-long songs – like Ain’t He Sweet, By the Light of the Silvery Moon and Pretty Baby sprinkled throughout the play with the vaudeville-style dancing, or the laugh-out-loud hilarity throughout the show.

There are still tickets on sale for the two remaining shows on Fri., Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and a dinner show on Sat. Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $45, and regular tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased online at bosqueartscenter.org or by contacting the Bosque Arts Center at (254) 675-3724.

Alicia Lane Dutton’s comedy play and musical follows the ladies from lugging bags and hat boxes into the woods, dressing up in sequined gowns and fascinating fascinators for the Fillies Derby Ball, to being Pretty in Pink for the Lilies for the Fillies/Kentucky Oaks run and finally exchanging fascinators for fancy hats entering a Karaoke contest and to view the Race of the Roses from the cheap seats in the infield – dodging mud wrestlers and keg standers.

All the while, they are exchanging Southern colloquialisms like “Instead of a muffin top I’m gonna have a six-tiered wedding cake,” “She’s been wound up tighter than the girdle on a Baptist minister’s wife at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast,” and “This Mint Julius has me more relaxed than a cat napping on a warm truck hood.”

The audience is sure to recognize some beloved stage veterans as well as newcomers to the TBT stage, as well as discover some beautiful voices in the mix. The cast began practice at the end of August. Normally, they practice three times a week, however mastering the songs and the dance choreography required several extra practices just for that purpose.

Usually part of the cast or assistant director, Rollins in her directional debut led the cast to an amazing performance, enjoyed by all attending the musical.

“It has been an exhilarating, spirited, collaborative and just downright fun experience,” Rollins said of her directional debut, which she considers a success because of the combination between a great story and an amazing cast and crew.”

The multi-talented cast produced all of the song and dance routines as a team.

“With the talented and expert cast and crew we had, we felt we couldn't miss,” Rollins said. “Everyone worked together and pulled double duty in many cases. This was a true team effort between all of us. I was blessed to b apart of such an amazing production.”

According to Rollins, “Derby Girls” playwright Alicia Dutton – who traveled from her home in North Carolina to attend the opening night – was blown away by the set, costumes, decorations, fun props and the ability of the cast.

“Each character was so well delineated and developed, so distinct,” Dutton said. “The choreography was spot on, there was no blocking on stage. It was incredible. As for the props, they had so many fun details that I never thought of, like Georgia’s beer funnel over her shoulder and Beau’s jacket over Jessie Lee’s shoulder when they come back from the ball.”

Of the different times Dutton has seen her comedy play/musical performed, she felt this one made her especially proud. And during intermission and after the show, people kept coming up to her stating “this is so fun.”

“I’m enjoying the evening a lot,” said Bosque County Treasurer Pam Browning, who shared a table up front with family and friends. “The play is really cute and entertaining. I’m so glad I came.”

At another table, a group of 30-somethings, first-timers to the BAC came to support their friend, Danielle , who plays Twyla Fay in the musical.

“We’re really enjoying the show, and are so glad we came,” Kyndall Crowder and Halie Richman said. “We love the costumes and the singing and are having some good laughs.”

Belinda Honea plays Milli, a retired nurse hoping to increase the number of followers to her blog – the reason she wanted to go to the race of races in the first place and to write about “glamping.” Honea has shared her musical talents through her work, church and community most of her life, and starred in several TBT musicals in the past. This experience showed in the way she owned her role’s different aspects, being the glue of the story.

Jessie Lee, played by Kassidy Cardona is Milli’s musical theater student daughter. In this major musical role, Cardona enchanted the audience with her acting, singing and dancing. A postal clerk by day, and musical theatre student Cardona loves all things theatre. Besides fueling her passing with the TBT, she is a mainstay coach and choreographer for the Clifton Elementary School’s annual fifth grade musical.

“Derby Girls” co-director Michael Richardson very believingly plays Beau, allegedly the Derby bugler, Jessie Lee’s very sweet, but not completely honest love interest. Studying Film and Television at Texas State Technical College, Richardson is lover of all things theatre since Kindergarten. He has tackled many roles on the TBT stage, often with his mother Connie Terry.

A regular on the TBT stage, bank manager Terry struts her stuff in “Derby Girls” as Georgia, the independently wealthy Atlanta Braves player widow. Still reeling from her husband’s untimely demise by killer fast ball, the glamping experience with her dear friends Georgia helps her let go a little, and regain some joy in life.

While Danielle Ybarra might be a new edition to the TBT stage, she very naturally brought Twyla Fay to life with her talented performance. With singing experience ranging from church cantatas, high school and college choirs, as well as the country music scene, Ybarra’s voice truly shone in “Derby Girls.”

The owner of a faltering ice salon the Tastee Freeze, she hopes her luck is about to change at the race track. She bets all her winnings from the Fascinator Contest and her life savings on a 50-one long shot filly named Miss Patch. A thing to know is that only three fillies have ever won the Kentucky Derby – Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980, and Winning Colors in 1988.

Linda Lowrance plays Wynona, who owns the “Til Death Do Us Part” wedding venue and cemetery. Stuck in a rut regarding her marriage, she has filed for divorce, and she hopes to retire and live life a little again. Lowrance has been part of TBT productions, acting, co-directing and helping with behind-the-scenes activities and as a board member for over three decades.

TBT board President Don Boysen exchanges the board room gavel to totally and unrecognizably transform into Jackson – Wynona’s soon to be ex-husband. Boysen can also often be found in the theatre’s light/sound booth and helping building sets.

The cast is rounded off with super-conservative “retired from teaching those hellions” teacher Vivian, played by the ever-exuberant Jo Grelle. Cat-loving lady Vivian is the common denominator in a fatally flawed love life but with some help from her friends, and after a coquettish dance, is willing to “get back on the market.”

Without giving away too much, since we all love a happy ending, everybody – in one way or another – cuts loose from playing it safe, gambles and wins big on long shots.