Auburn Players Community Theatre presents the 1960’s comedy thriller, “Psycho Beach Party” by Charles Busch, directed by Virginia Fennessy. Performances will be held on October 8th, 9th, 10th at 8PM and 11th at 2PM at the Bisgrove Theater, Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. Tickets available at door or visit www.auburnplayers.org. General Admission $14, Students/Seniors $12. For Group Rates, call 315-702-7832.
The Auburn Players are proud to open its 55th Theater season with the Charles Busch camp classic, Psycho Beach Party, October 9 –12 at Cayuga Community College.
Set in Malibu, California in 1962, Psycho Beach Party follows tomboy Chicklet Forrest, in her desperate struggle to become part of the hip surf crowd. There are two things getting in her way – her over-protective mother and Chicklet’s unfortunate tendency towards split personalities. Among them is a black check out girl, an elderly radio talk show hostess, and a male model named Steve. Her most dangerous alter ego is a sexually voracious vixen named Ann Bowman who has nothing less than world domination on her mind.
Meanwhile, B-movie starlet, Bettina Barnes is running from her agent and the studios and has stumbled upon Malibu Beach as a perfect hiding place and inspiration for her to find a script that will redefine her career. To help her in her search, she has hired Chicklet’s best friend, Berdine as a personal assistant who has realized all is not well with Chicklet.
What happens next? Can Berdine pull Chicklet out of the psychological clutches of the sex-starved and sadistic Ann Bowman? Will surfer boy Star Cat’s three semesters of psychology classes prove useful to Chicklet? Will sexpot Marvel Ann ever grow her hair back? All we can tell you is, that if Alfred Hitchcock wrote “Gidget,” this is what it would look like!
Written by C
harles Busch, PSYCHO BEACH PARTY premiered Off-Broadway on July 20, 1987 at The Players Theatre in New York City. The play was directed by Kenneth Elliott and featured Charles Busch in drag in the role of Chicklet. The Associated Press called the play, “Fiendishly funny! Zany!” while the New York Times raved that PSYCHO BEACH PARTY was truly “Gidget goes berserk!” In January 2000, the film version of PSYCHO BEACH PARTY also penned by Charles Busch premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
This production is directed by Virginia Fennessy, who also serves as costume designer. She has assembled a fun, eclectic cast.
Leading the ensemble is Kristin Bridges starring as Chicklet Forrest, the wannabe surfer. Anna Post stars along side her as the movie star-on-the-lam, Bettina Barnes. The cast also features a roster of audience favorites: Marcus Brumberger as The Great Kanaka, Johnny Exner as Star Cat, Mark Sidor as Yo-Yo, Tristan Nolan as Provoloney, Jennifer Derbyshire as Mrs. Forrest, Tracey Bachta as Berdine, Meghan Clary as Marvel Ann, Jacklyn Emmons as Dee Dee, and Ted Brill as Nicky.
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