NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS Brings Laughs Hale Centre Theatre Stage

When No Time for Sergeants takes the stage it brings loads of laughs and nostalgia to Hale Centre Theatre. Regarded as the funniest comedy ever written about the U.S. Armed Forces, No Time for Sergeants is a comedy for and about the military men and women who served our nation in World War Two. The story revolves around Will Stockdale, a young naive country boy who is drafted into the to the U.S. Air Force. Taken by his fellow draftees as a bumpkin and a hillbilly, Will is quick to make friends as well as enemies with his gullible charm.

Stockdale befriends fellow enlistee Ben Whitledge, who dreams of not serving in the Air Force, but transferring to the Army Infantry. Together, they turn the Air Force upside down with their assorted antics in an effort to be transferred. Their hijinks don't escape the notice of their barracks sergeant, Orville King. Sgt. King is a career military man, who likes to keep his head down so as not to attract undue attention from the brass.

That's an impossible task, however, with Stockdale and Whitledge around. Their tomfoolery leads up to a prank so crazy and daring that it could jeopardize every one of their careers.

Josh Hunt plays the role of the clueless Will Stockdale in Hale's production of No Time for Sergeants. Hunt is a six-time ariZoni Award nominee, most recently for his performance in Heaven Can Wait at Hale Theatre. Eric Mitchell has the role of Ben Whitledge, while Raymond Barcelo portrays the long-suffering Sgt. King. Stage veteran Tom Endicott has a dual role as Will's father as well as appearing as General Bush. This is Endicott's sixth show at the Hale, most recently in Arsenic and Old Lace. Sergeants is directed by M. Seth Reines, who last staged Mark Twain's hilarious comedy Is He Dead? as well as the tragic The Diary of Anne Frank here at Hale, for which he won an ariZoni Award.

No Time for Sergeants is based on the book of the same title by Mac Hyman, who documented much of the action on his experiences in the Army Air Corps during World War Two. Ira Levin later adapted the book into a play for both television and the stage. Sergeants became tremendously successful on Broadway, running for 796 performances.

Be sure to buy your tickets now and and join our hapless heroes for an evening of hilarious yet heartwarming entertainment. Tickets are priced at $18 for children, $22 for students, and $30 for adults. Many of the shows are nearly sold out already, so call the Hale box office at 480-497-1181 to purchase yours today. You can also purchase online at www.HaleTheatreArizona.com.

Performances are staged every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as select Wednesdays, from April 6th through May 13th.

A gem of a theatre, the Hale is located at 50 West Page Avenue in Gilbert's Heritage District, across the street from the Gilbert Water Tower Park. Several restaurants and ample free parking are located nearby.

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