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THE DIVINE SISTER and More Slated for Hell in a Handbag's 2016 Season
By: BWW News Desk Feb. 15, 2016
What could be better than kicking off summer with the Chicago premiere of THE DIVINE SISTER, the hilarious comic homage to almost every Hollywood nun story imaginable by the divine high priestess of camp Charles Busch? How about staging it in an actual church? Directed by Shade Murray (Pilgrim's Progress), the play will be performed at the lovely Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.
Halloween has always been a favorite time of year for Handbag audiences and we always give our audiences what they want - parody so dead-on it's frightening! The world premiere comedy SCOOBY DON'T follows the adventures of four adults - Scaggy, Fredd, Velva and Daffy - who wear the same clothes everyday while driving around in a van with their mentally impaired talking dog, 'solving mysteries.' Join Handbag this fall as Artistic Director David Cerda and director Derek Van Barham lampoon a cartoon classic, being performed at Mary's Attic above Hamburger Mary's.
No Christmas would be complete without a Handbag holiday show and keeping in the tradition of keeping it fresh, Handbag is premiering a new holiday show with an old friend. THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR stars Ed Jones as Rip Nelson, the embittered television has-been with a razor sharp timing and a monkey on his back. Tune the channel to "1982" for this world premiere by David Cerda, directed by Steve Love at Mary's Attic.
Due to popular demand, Handbag is also bringing back the frothy summer musical smash, BETTE, LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS, with Caitlin Jackson recreating Bette Midler's historic bathhouse concert in New York City. Directed by Christopher Pazdernik, Bette takes Boystown by storm at Stage 773.
Subscriptions for Hell in Handbag's 2016 Season are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org.
Hell in a Handbag Productions' 2016 line-up includes:
June 4 - July 10, 2016
THE DIVINE SISTER- Chicago Premiere!
By Charles Busch, Directed by Shade Murray
Featuring ensemble members David Cerda and Ed Jones
at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave., Chicago
Hell in a Handbag's season opener is a comic homage to nearly every nun movie to come out of of Hollywood. Lifiting from films like The Song of Bernadette, The Bells of St. Mary's, The Singing Nun and Agnes of God, THE DIVINE SISTER tells the story of St. Veronica's indomitable Mother Superior (David Cerda) who is determined to build a new school for her Pittsburgh convent. Along the way, she has to deal with a young postulant who is experiencing "visions," sexual hysteria among her nuns, a sensitive schoolboy in need of mentoring, a mysterious nun visiting from the Mother House in Berlin and a former suitor intent on luring her away from her vows. Funny, clever and even a little sweet, THE DIVINE SISTER springs from the mind of Charles Busch, creator of the camp the classics Die, Mommie, Die!, Psycho Beach Party and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.
August 12 - September 10, 2016 - Nine Performances Only!
BETTE, LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS
Featuring Caitlin Jackson as Bette Midler
Directed by Christopher Pazdernik, Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey
at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Handbag Diva and ensemble member Caitlin Jackson returns to pay tribute to the Divine Miss M's legendary cabaret act at the equally legendary Continental Bathhouse in New York City. This musical cabaret will feature fabulous songs, live music, hot men in strategically placed towels.
September 29 - November 4, 2016
SCOOBY DON'T - World Premiere!
By David Cerda Directed by Derek Van Barham
Featuring ensemble member Ed Jones
at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
When Velva's aunt needs help, the gang comes to the rescue! Velva never mentions that her aunt is multi-platinum recording artist and Oscar winner, Cher (ensemble member Ed Jones). Cher is also joined by Chaz Bono and Kris and Caitlyn Jenner for a whacky mixed-up adventure you won't forget - no matter how hard you try! SCOOBY DON'T is not only a parody of the classic Scooby Doo cartoon but also explores social and gender political correctness and inner and outer identity and appearances. The big mystery here is if Scooby and the gang can navigate social moors in this modern world.
November 20 - December 30, 2016
THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
By David Cerda, Directed by Steve Love
Featuring ensemble member Ed Jones
at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Hell in a Handbag's favorite bitter has-been comic genius returns! Audiences fell in love with Rip Nelson in our 2010 hit The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular - now he's back and ready to deck your halls in THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. It's 1982 and a newly sober Rip (ensemble member Ed Jones) manages to land another TV special after the death of his arch-rival, Paul Lynde. Rip is determined to get his career back on track but can he handle the stress of a network television special and stay sober? Luckily he's got help from a cavalcade of the hottest stars of 1982! Rip pulls every trick in the book to breathe some life in the dying variety series format and save his career but soon questions if his career is worth saving.
Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation.
Pictured: TJ Crawford, Caitlin Jackson and Will Wilhelm in Hell in a Handbag's BETTE, LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS, a musical tribute to the Divine Miss M's legendary NYC concert, directed and choreographed by Christopher Pazdernik with music direction by Jeremy Ramey. Photo by Rick Aguilar Studios.
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