Out Front Theatre Company Concludes 2017-18 Season With SORDID LIVES

Out Front Theatre Company is closing out a spectacular second season with Del Shores' Sordid Lives. Hitting the stage May 3-20, the theater's rendition of the classic comedy will reflect the current times and bring a new spin to the show with an all African American cast portraying the Sordid Lives family members for the first time in the show's history!

"When Out Front asked my permission to cast Sordid Lives diversely, I didn't just say 'yes,' I said 'hell yes,'" commented Playwright Del Shores. "I gave them my blessing, along with a couple of line changes and I cannot wait to see this production!"

When Peggy, a good Christian woman, hits her head on the sink and bleeds to death after tripping over her lover's wooden legs in a motel room, chaos erupts in Winters, Texas. Peggy's eccentric family must face their own demons while preparing for what could be an embarrassing funeral. Throughout its many incarnations, Sordid Lives has starred Leslie Jordan, Rue McClanahan, Olivia Newton John, Delta Burke, Beau Bridges and Caroline Rhea.

"This play, at its core, is about a family trying to learn how to love and co-exist with each other, which is a universal feeling in all types families," said Director Jacob Demlow. "This show has such a strong following that it would be impossible to reproduce what they did before us, so I wanted our production to be completely different. I spent time thinking about how we could do that then I thought about the city we live in. If you look around Atlanta, we are a beautiful and diverse city, and I wanted to showcase that diversity by having the family in Sordid Lives represent it."

Sordid Lives is directed by Jacob Demlow, Assistant Artistic Director and Director of Education for Out Front Theatre. The cast is comprised of Jason Jamal Ligon (Ty Williamson), Fracena Byrd (Sissy Hickey), Britny Horton (Latrelle Williamson), Brittani Minnieweather (LaVonda DuPree), T.K. Haile (Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram), Abby Holland (Bitsy Mae Harling), Lisa Boyd (Noleta Nethercott), Bert Lyons (G.W. Nethercott), Darrell Grant (Wardell "Bubba" Owens), Jordan Ford (Odell Owens & Rev. Barnes), Jessica Maguire (Dr. Eve Bolinger) and Wendy Melkonian (Juanita Bartlett). Completing the production team are Candy McIellan, assistant director; Alexander Squires, stage manager; Jay Reynolds, costume designer; Nick Battaglia, prop and set designer; and Charles Swift, lighting designer.

During the final weekend of Sordid Lives, Playwright Del Shores will host two special talk-back performances on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. In addition, he will present his new one-person show "Six Characters in Search of an Author" on Sunday, May 20. Tickets and information for all events can be found at outfronttheatre.com.

Performances run March 3-20, with shows on Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 for children, $20 for students and seniors and $25 for adults. Out Front Theatre Company is located at 999 Brady Ave., Ste. 10, Atlanta, Georgia 30318.

For tickets and more information please visit outfronttheatre.com.

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