Courtney Wisely promises an entertaining evening for those who attend the upcoming Spotlight Community Theatre Acting Troupe Showcase featuring three half-hour comedies.
Performances will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 20-21, at the Festus Middle School Multipurpose Room, 1717 W. Main St. Doors open at 6 p.m.
“Come for a comedy-filled night for you and everyone,” said Wisely, the organization’s founder and executive director. “I would say all ages will enjoy it. It’s a fun-filled night for the whole family.”
The nonprofit group’s younger Youth Troupe (ages 8-14) will perform “Masterclasses,” directed by Lucky Perry, and the older Youth Troupe (ages 14-17) will put on “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Fifth Period,” directed by Eric Haynes. The Adult Troupe will perform “Town Council,” directed by Wisely.
Wisely said tickets are being sold online for $15 for the entire evening at spotlightjeffco.ludus.com or at the door. Tickets for any of the three individual shows may be purchased at the door on a space-available basis.
“Tickets for $5 per (show segment) may be available at the door, but only if the performance is not sold out that night,” she said.
Wisely said a staggering number of prospective actors auditioned for the shows.
“Over 90 people from Festus and surrounding cities showed up to audition,” she said. “There are 54 parts total.
“I wish we could have cast every single person, but we just didn’t expect that many people to show up and there were only so many parts to go around.”
In 2022, Wisely started Spotlight Community Theatre, which is based in Festus but has members from all around Jefferson County and beyond. Members include not only actors, but people who work behind the scenes, as well as those who sell tickets and raise money for the organization.
“Spotlight continues to grow with 332 people currently signed up,” she said. “They are excited for what the year holds and all the new faces that will join Spotlight’s mission to bring arts and arts education to Jefferson County.”
In addition to Wisely, Spotlight’s Board of Directors includes Perry, Haynes, Samantha Roberson, Karen LaPlant, Renee Packard, Lynn Siebert, Debbie Anderson, Justine Ruble, Molly Labitsky, Sandi Sheppard and Wendy Norman.
For more information, visit spotlightjeffco.org or the Spotlight Community Theatre-JeffCo page on Facebook.