FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Naughty Austin's SORDID LIVES Opens September 16th Del Shore's Broad Texas Comedy Takes On Southern Family Values, and Gay Rights. After the runaway successes of PAGEANT, NOISES OFF! and DEBBIE DOES DALLAS, Naughty Austin's is proud to announce the opening of Del Shore's SORDID LIVES on Thursday, September 16 at 8 PM. The show stars five of Austin's strongest leading actresses: Edie Elkjer, Kathleen Lawson, Miriam Yucht Rubin, Toni Smith and Sharon Elmore. The shows will run Thursdays through Saturdays until October 16th. All performances are at 8 PM. There is one benefit performance for OutYouth Austin, Wednesday September 29th at 8 PM, and Naughty Austin will be collecting for OutYouth through the entire run. "With strong quirky leading female characters, the play has the feel of STEEL MAGNOLIAS," says director and producer Blake Yelavich. "This time, we're presenting a comedy that is not punch-line heavy, but rather character strong – and those characters, people we all know and love from our own lives, is what causes us to laugh out-loud." "I grew up with these people. I'm sure that the audience will feel the same way, and that is what has caused this play to become so popular," says Arts On Real Office Manager Kat Dunnam. This highly-anticipated play has already begun to sell large numbers of tickets on-line and through the ticket offices. The plot begins simple enough. When the family matriarch, Peggy, dies, the whole family comes together to prepare for her funeral, and the sordid lives of this motley mix of characters begin to be exposed. For starters, Peggy was not your average grandmother. She was having an affair with married G. W. Nethercott and died in a seedy motel room when she tripped over his wooden legs and hit her head on the toilet. Peggy’s two daughters are constantly fighting, and this situation is no exception. Latrelle, the conservative southern belle, is in denial about how her mother died among other things. The trampy LaVonda is trying to get their brother, Brother Boy, out of a mental institution where he has been for over 20 years because he has a penchant for dressing up and performing as Tammy Wynette. The two sisters also can’t agree on whether their mother should be buried in her mink stole, complete with head and glass eyes, in over 100-degree weather. Playing referee to these women is Sissy, Peggy’s sister who tries to quit smoking at least once a week. LaVonda’s best friend, Noleta, is the wife of G.W., with whom LaVonda’s mother was having an affair. When Noleta finds out, she’s mad as hell and in true Thelma and Louise-style, decides to exact revenge on her two - timing husband. Later, two more oddities show up in this small Texas town for Peggy’s funeral. Bitsy Mae Harling is a trash-talking, ex-con, country singer who sings the film’s title song among others. Bitsy Mae had a mysteriously "deep" connection to Peggy that is only revealed at the film’s eleventh hour. In addition, Latrelle’s son Ty reluctantly returns to town, and in a touching coming out scene, he finally reveals his sexuality to his mother. Several unexpected plot twists and turns quickly follow, and this over-the-top familial mess ultimately adds up to one of the quirkiest and most enjoyable productions in Naughty Austin's history. The entire local cast consists of Austin theatre and film favorites: Edie Elkjer, Kathleen Lawson, Miriam Yucht Rubin, Sharon Elmore, Blythe Day, Ryan Jeanes, Greg Grosh, Danny Servetnick, Danny Wood, Toni Smith, Doug LaBelle and Jet Baker. SORDID LIVES is written by Del Shores, the author of "DADDY'S DYIN, WHO'S GOT THE WILL?" and was made into a independent movie of the same name by Regent Films in 2002. It starred Bonnie Bedelia, Delta Burke, Beau Bridges and Olivia Newton-John. The film was a long-running favorite at independent and gay/lesbian film festivals around the country, and became the longest running movie to play on one screen in Dallas, Texas. Tickets are $18 - 22 and are now available by phone (512.472.2787) or on the web at www.artsonreal.com, or www.naughtyaustin.com. Discounted group tickets are also available for groups of 8 or more by calling Kat Dunnam at 512.472.2787. Arts On Real is located off of MLK. (Take a left on Alexander just beforeRR tracks, and an immediate left on Real.) For more information, please see the websites at ww.naughtyaustin.com or www.artsonreal.com. CONTACT:Blake YelavichArts On Real Theater512.472.2787blake@artsonreal.com
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