A Company of Wayward Saints

The current poster display outside the BeeKay Theatre teases you with its circus theme and wacky character lineup and the tag line..."and now for something completely different!" Next up on TCT's lineup of great performances this season is George Herman's award-winning play A Company of Wayward Saints.

A Company of Wayward Saints' tells the story of a travelling troupe of actors/comedians who specialize in performing improvisational scenes – a human circus of comedy - to the delight of their audiences. However, we soon find that this particular cast of characters has been on the road together for waaaaay too long. Despite some very funny antics, there are problems in the troupe. Personal differences have arisen, and there is talk of breaking up. The central question becomes whether they can overcome their individual egos and function as a single unit to achieve the common goal of reaching home.

Wayward Saints' roots lie in the tradition of Commedia dell'Arte (also known as Italian comedy). Performed by professional travelling troupes throughout Italy in the 16th century, the unique talent of commedia players was to improvise comedy around a pre–established scenario, while portraying the same characters for each scenario. Music, dance, witty dialogue, and all kinds of chicanery contributed to the comic effects.

Director Shanan Harrell (Tenants, Red Velvet Cake War) exudes: "I fell in love with this play years ago. I felt it was a good fit for TCT, so I pitched it and am now beyond excited to see it come to life with this energetic and fearless cast: Jonathan Hall, Thaer Irvin, Spencer James, Doug Jockinsen, Garret Lawrence, Gary Mazzola, Monica Nadon, Ashley Rasmussen and Rebecca Wilson. With this all-star ensemble of TCT, I guarantee you will be relentlessly entertained - and with all due respect and reverence for the historical value of Commedia, I chose to update and customize the play for a broader appeal and to fit Tehachapi in particular. We've also added sprinklings of audience interaction with these nine kooky characters to mix it up a bit. We are blending the old and the new – after all, isn't comedy timeless?"

A big turnout is expected, so get your tickets early! A splendid time is guaranteed for all! This Wayward Company infiltrates the BeeKay Theatre on Feb. 7 and continues through Feb. 23. Tickets are available online at http://www.tctonstage.com as well as Tehachapi Furniture, Picture Perfect and Johnny's Take n' Bake.