"Last Of The Red Hot Mamas" Extended At Bucks County Playhouse

NEW HOPE BOROUGH, PA — The Bucks County Playhouse has announced an extra performance of the world premiere musical, “Last of the Red Hot Mamas,” and has released a video preview of the show available by clicking here

The show, which opened with previews on June 28, was scheduled to end on July 27. It will now end with an additional show on July 28 at 1:30 p.m.

“Last of the Red Hot Mamas” is the second production in the Playhouse’s 2024 season.

The musical is the 11th world premiere production at the theater since it reopened in 2012. It is part of Playhouse’s commitment to developing new work. The show features direction and choreography by Shea Sullivan and a book by Susan Ecker, Harrison David Rivers and Lloyd Ecker.

In 1973, while they were students at Ithaca College, Susan Denner (now Ecker) and Lloyd Ecker went on a first date to a Bette Midler concert. The couple quickly fell in love—with both each other and the "Divine Miss M." Midler's hilarious ‘Soph’ jokes piqued their curiosity about their origin — the pioneering vaudeville performer Sophie Tucker — leading the duo to publish a fictional memoir, “I Am Sophie Tucker,” and create a well-regarded documentary, “The Outrageous Sophie Tucker.”

A big new musical is the next step in Ecker’s 50-plus year fascination with the saucy, sassy comedienne — Sophie Tucker. To bring their dream to life, the Ecker’s joined forces with Sullivan, and award-winning playwright, Harrison David Rivers.

Before Mae West, Bette Midler or Queen Latifah, there was Sophie Tucker. With the help of two former Harlem headliners, Tucker rose from the deli counter to become a full-fledged star in her own right. Tucker was known for performing son s, including "After You’re Gone", “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” and "Some of These Days.” The musical will feature these songs, along with other classics of their time — delivered with lots of tap dancing, and a big dose of Sophie’s groundbreaking, sassy humor.

Ryann Redmond (Broadway’s first female Olaf in “Disney’s Frozen” and most recently “Once Upon a One More Time”) performs the role of Sophie Tucker alongside Rheaume Crenshaw (Broadway’s “Shucked,” “Groundhog Day,” “Caroline or Change”) as Mollie Elkins, DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Tour of “A Wonderful World,” and Encore’s “The Tap Dance Kid”) as Bojangles Robinson and Stephanie Gibson (BCP’s “The Rocky Horror Show” and “National Pastime” and Broadway’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) as Nora Bayes.

“Last of the Red Hot Mamas” officially opened Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. Starting with the 2024 season, the show times have changed – with performances beginning 30 minutes earlier than in 2023. All evening performances now all begin at 7:30 pm, with all matinees now performed at 1:30 pm. “Last of the Red Hot Mamas” plays Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm with matinees on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm. Tickets
start at $39. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Student rush tickets are also available at all performances, based on availability.

For full details, and to purchase tickets, visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street, New Hope.