New Dawn Opens Southern Comedy This Weekend

Duluth’s New Dawn Theater Company this weekend opens its summer production of  “Seeing Stars in Dixie,” a southern comedy based around the filming of the 1950s movie “Raintree County,” a Civil War romance starring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Eva Marie Saint.

The play is set in 1956 when Hollywood’s brightest stars arrive in Natchez, MS, to film the movie. There’s a lot of excitement among the regulars at Clemmie's, a Natchez tea room, about the stars being in town and the opportunity for a small role in the movie. Competition for the movie part brings out the best and worst in the play’s memorable characters. There’s some romance in the play, too, as Clemmie, the widowed proprietor, has a secret admirer.

The movie was actually filmed in Natchez and at other locations in the South including Kentucky and Tennessee.

Written by Ron Osborne, “Seeing Stars in Dixie” is being directed by Sherry Ingbritsen, president and artistic director of New Dawn Theater Company. "'Seeing Stars in Dixie' is a wonderfully funny comedy that takes us back to the gentility of the South in the 50s with a few tweaks added in for spice,” Ingbritsen said.

“Audiences are in for a treat as this tea room engages in idle gossip, stardom, friendship, jealousy, and more. ‘Stars’ provides us all the opportunity to dream and wonder would happen "if." It allows us the chance to know that if we just become open to putting ourselves out there and trying something out of our comfort zone, that we can find our true selves and make our dreams come true.”

The production is appropriate for all ages, but parents with children under 12 should be aware of some underlying subtleties, she said.

Performance dates are Aug. 11-14, 18-21, and 25-28. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris has a cameo role in the play the first weekend.

The cast includes Sharon Cagle, Lesley Davis, Theresa Kelly, Kari Hefner, Chuck Mason, Jo Craig, Michelle Saarela, Beth Luman, and Tess Luman. Catherine Barrow is serving as stage manager.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students. Season tickets are also available. Call the box office at 678-887-5015 or visit the website at www.newdawntheatercompany.com for more information

New Dawn Theater Company is located at 3087 Main St. Parking is available directly in front of the theater, across the street, behind Boudreaux's Cajun Market & Cafe or down Main Street by the Duluth Festival Center.