Texas Border Business
The Pharr Community Theater celebrates its 9th year with a production of William Inge’s “Come Back, Little Sheba”. The domestic drama focuses on a middle-aged couple’s life as it becomes disrupted by a college-aged boarder.
“This story, set in the late 1950s in a sprawling Pittsburg suburb has been on my wish list to direct for nearly a dozen years,” said Pedro Garcia, artistic director and co-founder for the Pharr Community Theater.
Garcia briefly watched the 1952 film adaptation as a child and rediscovered it later as a teenager and adult, captivated by its themes and characters.
“One of the reasons I wanted to direct the play, once I became a more experienced director, was due to the challenge it brings for actors”, added Garcia.
Casting the female lead of Lola Delaney required an actress that would be able to capture gravitas. Garcia turned to recurring Pharr Theater talent, Daniela Ramos, who auditioned for the part. “She takes big risks as an actor. In the role of Lola, she grabs and grabs in her naïve, yet talkative manner and digs, divulges and discovers all at the same time. It’s not an easy role to play, but Daniela is convincing in her manic depressive yet sweet air.”
As for the role of Doc, Lola’s husband, Garcia turned to Abel Gonzalez, “He too is promising as the suave brute having to portray an aloof, nostalgic character who suddenly bursts at the seams grasping for a throat to squeeze,” said Garcia.
“It’s a dysfunctional family to say the least,” said Gonzalez, when discussing the role and his preparation to play Doc.
“The script is so well written that it’s reinvigorating hearing these words over and over again in rehearsals,” concluded Garcia. “Storytellers can learn from Inge’s style.” The play is supported by an ensemble cast of characters including newcomers to the Pharr Community Theater, Princie Martinez, who plays Marie, a college student and temporary boarder at the Delaney’s home; Victor Farias plays her temporary love interest, Turk and Ann Westerman plays Mrs. Coffman, the neighbor. Veteran community theater actress, Armandina Sesin, also a legitimate library director by day for the City of San Juan, TX, returns in a cameo as the mail delivery woman.
There are a total of 11 local actors in the play and 6 crew members, including Costume Designer/UTRGV graduate, Larissa Almanza, who during rehearsals of the play was accepted to the Master of Fine Arts Program in Costume Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I am so grateful to the Pharr Community Theater for several costume designing opportunities in the last two years and to my Alma mater UTRGV, added Almanza. Other crew members include, stage manager, David Daniel Hernandez, set designer, Valerie Villarreal, light designer, Gabrielle Lopez and props master Anna Danielle.
“Come Back, Little Sheba” plays from April 20, 2017 through April 30, 2017 at the Pharr Community Theater, 213 W Newcombe Ave. Pharr, TX and is made possible through licensing with Samuel French Inc/Dramatic Publishing Co. and with generous support from the City of Pharr, TX.
Performances will be held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 for senior citizens, military personnel or students with IDs. Tickets will be available starting one hour before each show at the box office.
Seating is limited to 55 persons per show. The show is rated equivalent to a PG-13 for mature themes and brief violence. For more information please call 956-600-9463.
