As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and "Christmas Belles," a big Christmas production set in Texas, is coming to the Averitt Center for the Arts Dec. 8-11.
During part of it, the audience will learn that orange may just be the new red and green for at least one person in Fayro.
The Futrelle sisters are coming back to the Emma Kelly Theater, 33 E. Main St., with "Christmas Belles" (by Jones Hope Wooten). And this time around, they are wishing you a Texas Christmas!
Donna Hooley directs "Christmas Belles"
Director Donna Hooley gave the reason they wanted to do the show:
"This cast, crew, producer, and I have already enjoyed presenting two other plays in the Futrelle family trilogy, 'Dearly Beloved' (May 2021) and 'Southern Hospitality' (May 2022). They are so happy to be reunited again, and a Christmas show is the perfect way to wrap up this story of the Futrelle family in Fayro, Texas."
But, though it is a Christmas show, the Futrelles are not exactly in a festive mood. A cranky Frankie (played by Rachel Elkins) is weeks overdue with her second set of twins.
Rachel Elkins (Frankie) performs with her daughter
Rachel Elkins is Communications Officer for the Averitt Center and said her daughter, Tate Miller, plays her daughter in the play. They are both excited to be playing their roles.
Rachel said, “I have loved playing Frankie! Frankie is the most grounded of the sisters even though she is the youngest. The most fun part about playing Frankie is that she is always talking and venting to her Mama who has passed away.”
“I have played Frankie in all three plays. This one is special because Frankie is very pregnant (overdue with twins). My daughter (Tate Miller) and I have had a blast playing a mother daughter duo,” Rachel said.
She continued, “Her character (Gina Jo) is much ditsier than she is in real life. The play is about family, first and foremost, so it's been a great bonding experience for us. The whole cast is like family now!”
The plot thickens like Christmas pudding
Next, going on to the plot, Twink (Nichole Deal) is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash suffering Honey Raye (Julie Moody) is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb’s Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. Things are not looking good…especially when Frankie lets slip a family secret that has been carefully guarded for decades. However, in true Futrelle fashion, the feuding sisters find a way to pull together to present a Christmas program the citizens of Fayro will never forget.
Your favorite Christmas Belles will return
Your favorite characters are back: Raynerd Chisum (Alan Tyson), Gina Jo Dubberly (Tate Miller), Justin Waverly (Robert Cottle), John Curtis Buntner (Jamey Saunders), Dub Dubberly (Lee Walker), Patsy Price (Eileen Bayens), Rhonda Lynn Lampley (Christie McLendon) and Miss Geneva Musgrave (Pam Baggett). Whether you’re a longtime friend of the Futrelle family, or new to the Little Town of Fayro, you sure don’t want to miss this hilarious, southern-fried Holiday event.
Scroll down the Averitt Center for the Arts Facebook page to find some funny video snippets related to the production: https://www.facebook.com/averittcenter.
Rachel said they have been practicing since Oct. 17.
She said, “This is the third play in this series that we have done. We have had the same cast throughout. Everyone in the show has been in multiple shows at the Averitt Center…"
Tickets are $25. Times are as follows: Thursday, Dec. 8-Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. "Christmas Belles" is, as aforementioned, directed by Donna Hooley and sponsored by Queensborough National Bank and Trust.
People can get tickets the usual ways through the Averitt Center for the Arts website, by calling 912-212-2787, or coming in person to the box office.
For more information, see their Facebook event here.
