One of our club members, Johnette Russell (stage name Johnna Leigh), will be starring  in a one-night-only performance of A Southern Exposure  on  Saturday, May 11, 2013 – 8:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in historical downtown, Wylie, Texas.

First developed and produced by the Tony Award winning Barter Theatre for the 2011-2012 season,  A Southern Exposure , a comedy-drama, went on to productions from L.A. to Louisville with upcoming shows slated throughout the South. However, playwright, Kelley Kingston-Strayer, has restricted all theatrical productions in the Lone Star state until now. “Texas is my home,” she explained. “You want (creative) control of your own back forty. Know what I mean?”

Acclaimed Director and founding member of the Rockwall Community Playhouse, Darlene Singleton, was hand-picked by Kingston-Strayer to direct the all-female, 4 member cast.  Singleton, with well over 100 theatrical productions to her credit, is excited about the show. “I read a lot of scripts. It’s rare to find a new play that’s this good.”

The Honorable Mayor Eric Hogue will introduce the play and  the cast: Johnna Leigh, Deb Caperton Ballard, Abby Archibald McKinney and Stacy Kluttz .  All are veteran actors of the DFW area and will be on hand at 96◦ West Winery to sign autographs after the show.

For tickets go to www.damselflypublishers.com

* A percentage of the box office will benefit Wylie Christian Center and Equest, Wylie’s therapeutic horsemanship center for children with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee