When Whitfield County residents Tom Brown and David Crawford staged an abbreviated version of their musical comedy at Dalton Little Theatre in 2003, they would not have predicted the journey that Fat Shirley’s would take.
“We were just writing songs humorous songs together and having fun,” says co-writer Mr. Crawford, “Tom and I just kind of stumbled into the Trailer Park Opera, constructing a plot line around a few songs.” Encouraged by local actress and theater enthusiast Lori McDaniel, Mr., Brown and Mr. Crawford developed the idea into a two act musical.
In 2005, the show returned to the DLT stage in its two act version and since then the show has been staged at numerous theaters throughout the Southeast as well as in the United Kingdom, including the Redgrave Theatre in Bristol, the Stroud Theatre Festival, The Tabard Theatre in London, and the Bath Theatre Festival. In the U. K., the musical has had sell out performances at many venues and has developed a cult-like following with audience members often turning up in costume.
This year, Fat Shirley’s: A Trailer Park Opera will have a two week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival beginning Aug. 10 by the Bristol U.K. theatre group – Three Chords Company. “We are excited about the Trailer Park Opera being produced there,” says Mr. Brown. “It is the largest arts festival in the world, with 3000 events that draws people from all over the world. It is not something that we ever would have envisioned.”
Though on hiatus since 2008 in the U.S., Fat Shirley will be coming to life again on July 31 on the stage of the Mountain Arts Community Center atop Signal Mountain. Directed by Josh Ruben, the show features a live bluegrass band and leaves audiences laughing long after the curtain closes.
Mr. Ruben is a professional actor and producer with over 25 years’ experience in the business. He has performed all over the country and was on faculty as a teaching artist with the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta for over a decade. In Chattanooga, he has performed with the Oak Street Playhouse, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, and Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State.
“This is a fast, funny show with a lot charm. The MACC is a wonderful performance space and audiences will love the blue-collar comedy mixed with great, original music.” says Mr. Ruben.
The Fat Shirley's cast will feature both veteran actors and newcomers. The cast includes April Aronson, Keith Aronson, Lauren Buckner, Tom Brown, Robert Cyphers, Ken Dryden, Nancy Dryden, Jean Goins, Beth Jolley, Janice Kelley, Mike Kolbas, Debora Orban, Robbie Mathis, Doug May, Ken Orban, Kristin Sharp, Luke Sharp, and Georgia Blythe Sharp.
The MACC production has a slight twist. The performances will feature special guests during each show. Radio personality “Styckman” of US101 will play Shirley on opening night July 31. Aug. 1 will feature Channel 9 News Reporter Beth Neuhoff, the former Baylor Headmaster Dr. Herbert Barks will make an appearance at the Aug. 2 matinee, the special guest for Aug. 6 will be vocalist Trish Wileman, Genimar Holland will fill the role on Aug. 7, and producer Rabbit Zilke of NPR Affiliate WUTC 88.1 will be on stage for the final performance on Aug. 8.
Performances are scheduled for July 31, August 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 at the Mountain Arts Community Center, 809 Kentucky Ave. in Signal Mountain. The first guitar chord of the show will be strummed at 7 p.m., except for the Aug. 2 Sunday matinee performance, which will begin at 2 p.m. For additional information, visit http://fatshirleys.com/ or call 423-886-1959.