Bethlehem Players Stages World Premiere of SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL for 3/12-3/20 Run

 

Nashville's playwriting duo of Nate Eppler and J. Dietz Osborne, who scored with Filthy Rich at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre last fall, have yet another world premiere production bowing this week. The pair's Southern Fried Funeral takes the stage at Franklin's Bethlehem United Methodist Church's Performing Arts Center on Friday night, continuing through March 20.

The production, the first world premiere from the Bethlehem Players, which celebrates its 13^th year of family entertainment with Southern Fried Funeral, according to Harry Robinson, BUMC music and arts director.

"Osborne and Eppler have developed a reputation for creating fresh comedies which are wildly popular with audiences at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre," Robinson said. "We are thrilled that after a decade of presenting annual productions to packed audiences of our own, the Bethlehem Players are branching out and taking on this hilarious new play Southern Fried Funderal which pays homage to popular stories like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes."

According to Osborne, Southern Fried Funeral follows the Frye family, "after the beloved patriarch dies, leaving mama with a broken-down family and a house she loves and is about to lose."

"There's tell that Dewy just maybe won last week's big jackpot," he explains. "Before you know it, family and neighbors are coming out of the woodwork to pay their respects and claim their share of the prize."
Southern-flavored comedy is a favorite genre for the playwriting team of Eppler and Osborne: "Rich, southern comedies are a favorite genre for my writing partner, Nate Eppler, and myself, after having appeared in plays like Dearly Beloved and Christmas Belles," Osborne said.

"The story of Southern Fired Funeral reflects universal experiences and funerals and weddings bring out the best, the worst and the funniest in people. I think audiences will really relate and enjoy taking a moment out of their busy lives for a laugh."

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 13^th year of staging productions in the Bethlehem Performing Arts Center at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 BethlehEm Loop Road, Franklin. The community theatre outreach program, called the congregation's answer to church softball, was founded in 1997 by Bethlehem UMC music and arts director Robinson. Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences The Sound of Music, Father of the Bride, The Music Man, Fiddler On The Roof, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Steel Magnolias, Arsenic and Old Lace, Meet Me in St. Louis, Neil Simon's Rumors and A Bad Year for Tomatoes.

Opening night on Friday, March 12, includes the chance for audience members to attend a post-show Patrons Party for $25 per person, including a show ticket and the party afterward which will feature a meet-and-greet with the complete cast and the playwrights.

Tickets are available for March 12-20 for show only and/or dinner on nights when applicable.Shows only are March 12-13 and March 19-20 at 7 p.m. A box lunch matinee is set for Sunday, March 14, at 12:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. show. Dinner shows are March 15, 16 and 18 with 4:30 p.m. dinner and 6 p.m. show, with food from Barbara's Restaurant. 

Show only ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Dinner and show ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for students. Parties of 10 or more persons paying with one check get a ten percent discount and may reserve their tickets at drama@bethlehemumc.com or by calling (615) 791-6456, ext. 2.

Kandace Christian, Debbie Robinson and Lisha Pope in Southern Fried Funeral

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