RACINE, WISCONSIN, AUGUST 7, 2019: Over Our Head Players announces their 28th season of live theatre in Downtown Racine! The 2019-2020 season, presented at Sixth Street Theatre, features two original productions. In addition to the 16th annual Snowdance original comedy competition, the all-new KRINGLE ….. The Musical?, Part II: West of the I Side Story! will anchor the season. They will offer three additional full-length comedies. The season includes Chapatti, opening September 6, KRINGLE ….. The Musical?, Part II: West of the I Side Story! beginning November 15, the “2020 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival” next winter, Outside Mullingar in early spring, and The Roommate to close the season. Season brochures are available through the box office, (262) 632-6802, or on the website, www.overourheadplayers.org. All shows are at Sixth Street Theater, 318 Sixth Street, Downtown Racine. Performances are Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. KRINGLE and Snowdance will offer performances on Thursdays at 7:00.
Over Our Head Players opens their 28th season in September with Chapatti, a beautifully poignant new play by Galway playwright Christian O’Reilly. In this warm, gentle, very funny story about rediscovering love, romance is a distant memory for two lonely animal-lovers living in Dublin. When forlorn Dan and his dog Chapatti cross paths with the amiable Betty and her 19 cats, however, subtle sparks fly. They begin to rediscover the importance of human connection. Gracefully alternating between humorous Irish storytelling and soul-bearing dialogue, playwright O’Reilly crafts a wonderfully charming, yet funny and surprising tale. Chapatti runs three weekends, September 6 – 22.
Later this fall, OOHPs premieres KRINGLE ….. The Musical?, Part II: West of the I Side Story!, an original sketch comedy musical by Rich Smith and OOHP. In 2017, OOHPs debuted the original KRINGLE ….. The Musical?; this time, the local humor moves Out West – west of I-94, that is. The kringle-bending Yopanssan clan saga continues in the Land of the Union Grovers, accompanied by our take on some favorite pop melodies. Sure to feature many puns, sight gags, cheap jokes, and Racine references. KRINGLE ….. The Musical?, Part II: West of the I Side Story! plays November 15 – December 8, including one Thursday performance on December 5.
Over Our Head Players begins the new year with the “2020 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival,” the 16th-anniversary production of the 10-minute original comedy competition that just keeps growing. Entrants from throughout the community, the state, and the country are invited to submit original 10-minute plays to Racine’s very own Snowdance Comedy Festival. In prior years, hundreds of entries from coast-to-coast have been received, and even international entrants have made it to production. Judges will choose the best of the entrants to be produced. Then, in the ultimate interactive experience, the audience can vote on who should win the cash prize. Utah has Sundance, we have Snowdance! OOHPs notes that as these entries have not yet been received, the material could include stronger content for mature audiences. Snowdance perennially sells out, even with five full weekends of performances; OOHP presents Snowdance January 31 – March 1, 2020.
Next spring, Over Our Head Players presents a lyrical, yet biting, romantic comedy with Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley. The unlikely story of Anthony and Rosemary, two introverted farmers who haven’t got a clue when it comes to love. With the years slipping away, this eccentric pair will need to overcome a bitter land feud, family rivalries, and their own romantic fears to find happiness. Their journey is heartbreaking, funny, and ultimately wonderful. Full of dark humor and poetic prose, Outside Mullingar, runs March 27 – April 11, 2020, closing on a Saturday night.
OOHPs closes the season with The Roommate, Dark comedy about a comical mismatch by Jen Silverman. A powerful story of what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off, The Roommate could be described as Breaking Bad meets The Odd Couple. Sharon, a recently divorced housewife in Iowa, advertises for a roommate. Enter Robyn, a pot-smoking vegan lesbian scam artist from the Bronx. Their chance cohabitation sets their lives spinning. OOHPs cautions that while other season selections are approximately a PG-13 movie, The Roommate has slightly stronger content. The Roommate is offered May 15 – 31, 2020.
Managing Artistic Director Rich Smith describes the entire season as “Fresh.” Rich elaborates, “Part of the Over Our Head Players’ mission is to present new material, and we have more fresh, new offerings this season more than ever before.” Rich explains, “For example, production rights for Chapatti just became available! Chapatti is fresh, new, and unique: a play about pets, age, and lost love that had a highly recognized professional run. We are excited to bring this Irish love story to downtown Racine.”
He continues, “KRINGLE …..The Musical? Part II: West of the I Side Story! is the newest chapter the Yopanssan family saga. It’s the 1960’s, and the Yopanssans’ quest to popularize kringle faces detours due to the birth of Interstate 94 and the division of Racine county. Can the dairy farms west of the I supply the butter needed? How did the town of Dover really get its name? Is the Oleo mafia still in control? …and what about Sturtevant!?”
“Of course, 2020 brings another Snowdance, celebrating the newest short comedies. The comedy festival that made Racine famous is back for another competition! Playwright’s everywhere are sharpening their pens to create new short comedies for submission. OOHP continues to get as excited about Snowdance as we did our very first time – and we can’t wait to see what this season brings for our audience judges!”
“Our spring show, Outside Mullingar, is so new that the rights only just became available in May. Award-winning screenwriter and playwright John Patrick Shanley has earned high praise again for his latest stage offering. OOHPs is looking forward to going to Ireland a second time this season for this unpredictable Irish comedy. I know our audience will love this play.”
Finally, Rich notes that that production rights for The Roommate were also just released this year. “New playwright Jen Silverman won critical acclaim for this offbeat comedy at the Humana Festival of New American Plays. It’s so refreshing to read a play with such strong characters, brave storyline, and unconventional heroes. Although the material is a bit strong for some, our audience is going to enjoy this story of an unlikely couple finding friendship.”
Over Our Head Players season ticket packages are now on sale. A season ticket package with tickets to each of the five shows is $80. A “Lite” package is available with tickets to any four shows for $66. With a season ticket package, the subscriber selects their preferred performance date and time, and exchanges are available. Season ticket brochures are available on the website at www.overourheadplayers.org.
Individual tickets will go on sale September 1. Individual tickets are $20.00 on Fridays and Saturdays and $18 on Sundays for regular season shows. There are no additional handling fees; the individual show ticket price includes full service whether ordered online, by phone, or in person.
OOHPs has a Green Ticket policy: all reservations are held at the box office; no tickets are mailed. For reservations or information, please visit www.overourheadplayers.org or call the box office, (262)632-6802. All performances are at the Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street, Racine.
Over Our Head Players operates the Sixth Street Theatre in Downtown Racine. OOHPs is a non-profit organization of volunteer theatrical talent from throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. The mainstay of OOHP for 27 seasons has been contemporary comedy. Last season featured Theatre/Schmeatre, 3C, Leaving Iowa, and the 2019 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival. Past productions include sell-outs of their original The Cedar Chest Letters, It’s a Wonderful Lifeboat, The Underpants, Below the Belt, Fuddy Meers, The Gene Pool, Power Plays, Bathroom Humor, the Wisconsin premiere of Cheese Louise, and the original Still Haven’t Found….