Turn the game Clue into a play and you have the masterfully entertaining “Murder's in the Heir”! The basic plot is that an eccentric billionaire gathered his heirs together to tell them that he is changing his will and they will not receive near as much money. Unsurprisingly, he is found dead later that night, and the investigation ensues. Almost every character in this hilarious mystery has the weapon, opportunity and motive to commit the unseen murder. And it's up to the audience to decide who actually did it !Sponsors are Lighthouse Storage, Farm Bureau Federation, and Franklin Business & Professional Women.
The cast is as follows: Simon Starkweather-Roger Eldridge Fiona Starkweather- Laura Schueler Jordon Starkweather -John Garrett Paula Thompson -Jennifer Hendi Simon Starkweather III -Ryan Mayhall Lois Van Zandt-Lacey Steele Rufus Jones-Leland Minosky Bensonhurst- Ardie Baxter Mrs. Trent -Brownie Bennett Minerva Walker -Nick Cook Nancy Pollard -Kyndrah Shoulders Miss Withers -Dixie Buesching Kathy Collins -Breanna Posey Mike Davis -Trent Ranburger Gene Culprpper -Chad Drake YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN DEAD
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The F-S Arts Council’s successful Youth Theatre Production of Disney’s “The Descendants” was performed on March 17,18 19, 2023 at the historic Goodnight Auditorium in Franklin, Kentucky. Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney's Descendants: The Musical is a brand-new musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films!
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The Franklin–Simpson Community Arts Council......reliving history with "Having Our Say...the Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years". Starring, NANCY UHLS as 103-year-old Sadie Delany and MAXINE CARTER as 101-year-old Bessie Delany, this play is based on a true story about sisters, who take us on a remarkable journey through the last hundred years of our nation's history, recounting a fascinating series of events and anecdotes drawn from their rich family history and careers as pioneering African-American professionals.
Sarah Louise (Sadie) and Dr. Annie Elizabeth (Bessie) extend an invitation for you to come and visit them in their home. They will enjoy sharing with you their experiences that have spanned over a century. They will tell it like it was; giving an historically accurate, nonfiction account of the trials and tribulations they faced during their century of life. Some are good; some are sad; some will just warm your heart, but always told with wit and wisdom. Sadie and Bessie are daughters of Henry Beard Delany and Nannie James Logan. Henry was born into slavery and was just 7 years old when the Civil War ended. He was very fortunate in the fact that he had been taught to read and write at his young age. After the war, he was able to attend school, and in 1881, Rev. Owen Thackera, funded a scholarship that allowed Henry to attend St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He studied theology, music and other subjects, and eventually became the first African-American to be elected Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US. He met, and eventually married, Miss Logan, they stayed in Raleigh, worked and taught at the College, where he became the Vice Principal. They raised ten children who all went on to achieve advance degrees and became successful professionals. Sadie followed in her parent’s footsteps and became an educator. She moved to New York City where she attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, then transferred to Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1920 and a master's of education in 1925 She became the first African-American to teach domestic science on the high school level in New York City. After graduating from St Augustine’s College, Bessie followed her sister to New York. There she also attended Columbia University and earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1923. She was the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York State. The Delany sisters lived together in Harlem, New York for many years, eventually moving to the Bronx while it was still rural, and finally to Mt. Vernon, New York, where they bought a house with a garden on a quiet street. Neither ever married, and the two have lived together all of their lives. Their story is not simply African-American history or women's history, it is our history, told through the eyes of two unforgettable women as they look not only into the past, but also ahead into the twenty-first century. The play was directed by Barbara Shriver who directed "Raisin in the Sun", "Barefoot in the Park", and "Witness for the Prosecution”. The performances were held at the Roxy Theatre in Franklin on February 23, 24 & 25, 2018. . |
It’s not where you go….it’s who you meet along the way! Last summer in Franklin, we had the opportunity to meet lots of great characters. We met, a man without a brain, another without a heart, one scaredy cat, a conman, and two women fighting over a pair of shoes”. That’s right…..The Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council set off to see the Wizard as they produced the beloved classic musical, “THE WIZARD OF OZ”, under the direction of Jeff Moore with music direction by Elizabeth Cook. “The Wizard of Oz is the original American fairytale brought to life by way of a great American art form, musical theatre". Most everyone can recall seeing this famous movie during their childhood. The well-known score included some of the best loved songs in the American musical pantheon, such as “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” and “We’re Off To See The Wizard.” Our wonderful cast put on a fantastic show and we were even told it was the best musical that the F-S Arts council had ever produced!
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In the Spring of 2017, we held one of the most celebrated courtroom dramas of all time, "Witness for the Prosecution", at the Goodnight Auditorium in Franklin, KY on April 28th, 29th, & 30th. "The Witness for the Prosecution" is a short story and play by British author Agatha Christie. The story was initially published as "Traitor Hands" in 1925. In 1933, the story was published for the first time as "Witness for the Prosecution" and in 1948, was finally published in the United States.
When Leonard Vole, a poor, out of work, struggling inventor is arrested for the sensational murder of a lonely and wealthy widowed acquaintance, Emily French, the famous attorney, Wilfrid Robarts, agrees to appear on his behalf. The initial evidence is circumstantial but points to the charming Vole as the murderer. Despite being happily married to East German, Romaine Vole, he fostered the friendship with Miss French in the hopes that she would finance one of his many inventions. It does not help his case when it is learned that Miss French changed her will prior to her murder with Vole being the primary beneficiary of a very large estate. Leonard states that he knew nothing about the will. Romaine is apparently the only alibi Leonard has to his whereabouts at the time of the murder. The usual methods Robarts uses to test his clients' guilt or innocence leads to him believing that Vole is indeed innocent. As the trial progresses, the prosecution calls a surprise witness, one that could place a nail in the coffin of Robarts’ planned line of defense. As he gets deeper and deeper into the case, something doesn't quite sit right with him, although he doesn't know what it is. The primary questions become how far Robarts will go to obtain evidence to acquit Vole and if he will ever discover why he feels that there is something odd about the case. The "WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION" CAST was as follows: GARY WEILAGE as Leonard Vole; MORGAN COOK as Romaine ; CHAD DRAKE as Wilfred Robarts; LARRY GIBSON as Mayhew, another defense attorney; KATHY BAGWELL as Mrs. Carter, Robarts’ office manager; JANE LEWIS as Greta, his secretary; ROGER ELDRIDGE as Mr. Myers, the prosecuting attorney; MICKEY LEWIS, JR. as another Prosecution Attorney; BEN PHILLIPS as Judge Wainwright; DIXIE BUSCHING as Clerk of the Court; STEPHANIE DOWNEY as Janet Mackenzie, Emily French’s housekeeper; JOHN HERMANN as Detective Hearne; NANCY UHLS as Dr. Wyatt; DUTCH MARIS as Mr. Clegg; and BRITTANY BAGWELL as the Young Woman. This is a very diverse cast with a lot of theatre experience. The play was be directed by Barbara Shriver who has also directed Love Letters, Barefoot in the Park and A Raisin in the Sun for the F-S Arts Council. |
"LOVE LETTERS" , written by A. R. Gurney, was held February 10th, 11th & 12th at the Roxy Theatre in Franklin, Ky. Under the direction of Barbara Shriver, whom directed her 3rd play for the F-S Arts Council, the production starred Steve Thurmond as Andrew Mackepeace Ladd, III and Sherry Hall as Melissa Gardner. Steve is the Director of the Franklin-Simpson Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Brenda, is a father of three and a grandfather of ten. Sherry is a representative and advocate for Hospice. She is married to Mark Hall and has two children and two grandchildren.
The characters, Andrew (Andy) Ladd and Melissa Gardner, were both born to wealth and position, were childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence began with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continued to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of "good schools." While Andy is off at war, Melissa married; however, her attachment to Andy remained strong and she continued to keep in touch as he married, became a successful attorney, got involved in politics and, eventually, was elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbled in art and gigolos, drank more than she should, and became estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy did become involved in a brief affair, but it was really too late for both of them. However Andy's last letter, written to her mother after Melissa's untimely death, made it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years—physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers could have been. As the actors read the letters aloud, what was created was an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling pair of character studies in which what was implied was as revealing and meaningful as what was actually written down. |
The F-S Community Arts Council presented The Music Man in July, 2016 It was directed by Jeff Moore with Musical Direction by Eric Doades. This award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic is an all-American institution, thanks to is quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic. By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best and this family-friendly story was enjoyed tremendously by every generation in attendance.
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The F-S Community Arts Council presented the play Pearls of the Pacific, written by Franklin native, Debra J. Thornton in May, 2016. The play takes place from December 6, 1941 to September 2, 1945. It tells the story of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the years after, as it follows the lives of enlisted men, their wives, families and others serving our great country during World War II. The tone of the play is often somber, yet during difficult and challenging times of war, laughter and gaiety can sometimes be heard as lively jazz and big band music adds pep to their step and rhythm to their bunny hop. With the dawn of a new day, a new generation on America soil came of age, that of bonding together for the war effort. During that time, we learned first-hand, there is indeed strength in numbers!
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BAREFOOT IN THE PARKIn February 2016, the Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council started their 2016 season with the rib-tickling romantic comedy, Barefoot in the Park. The play is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon and was Simon's longest-running hit, and the tenth longest-running non-musical play in Broadway history. The play revolves around newlyweds, Paul and Corie Bratter played by Brett Kemble and Leigh Bayles. He's a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she's a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find-too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie's loopy mother, Ethel Banks played by Adria Groves, and they decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Victor Velasco played by Trent Ranburger. Then, everything that can go wrong, does. It also co-starred newcomer, Brian Hancock as Harry, the telephone man and William (Bill) Collins as the delivery man. The play combined love and laughs, is clever, hilarious and filled with witty one-liners.
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