A Bundle of Trouble Roars into Hale Centre Theatre

Every audience member has a starring role in the chaotic family comedy, A Bundle of Trouble, set to run October 21 - December 1 at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City. Written by Nathan and Ruth Hale, the iconic founders of Hale Centre Theatre, the comedic play gives audiences an interactive experience with the main character, a brilliant, but unorganized inventor who is unceremoniously reunited with his estranged 5-year-old daughter for a three-week visit. Tickets to the hysterical production, that is the last play to appear in the West VAlley Theatre, are on sale now.

"This comedy has always been a family favorite," said Sally Dietlein, HCT executive producer. "We hope Utah will enjoy the laughs and heart that Ruth and Nathan Hale poured into this play. With our move to Sandy approaching, producing this particular play one more time on the West Valley stage will be a beautiful way to honor the legacy Nathan and Ruth have left behind."

A Bundle of Trouble was written 37 years ago by Nathan and Ruth Hale, the founders of Hale Centre Theatre and renowned playwrights. Since its debut in 1980, HCT has only produced the play one other time, in 2001. The play follows the story of Jeff Baker, an inventor and father whose orderly life crumbles when his precocious five-year-old daughter, Leelee comes to live with him. Jeff entertains and involves the crowd by breaking the fourth wall of theatre and going into the audience to high-five and have conversations with audience members. Jeff even goes so far as to have an audience member help him tie on an apron. Meanwhile, Leelee unravels his home, his work and his heart in this rib-tickling favorite.

"There's a saying in theatre, to never work with animals and children - this play has both so it really is a bundle of trouble," said Eric R. Jensen, actor and director. "I played Jeff Baker and helped update the play sixteen years ago at Hale, and for this production I get to reprise my role and direct. I've enjoyed the challenge of making more updates, adding more jokes and watching the adults and children act together."

The Hale's A Bundle of Trouble is single cast with Eric R. Jensen as Jeff. Other lead roles are double cast with Utah actors including: Morgan Renee Thompson and Olivia Dietlein (great-great-granddaughter to Nathan and Ruth Hale), as Leelee; and Shannon Ricks and Holly Anderson as Annette.

Mark Dietlein is producer of the play and Eric R. Jensen is the director. Jennifer Stapley Taylor is the set designer with Amanda Shaffer as costume designer and Trisha Ison as hair and make-up designer. Adam Flitton serves as the lighting designer and Dan Morgan serves as the sound designer for the play. Michelle Jensen is the properties designer with production assistance by Rachel Ballard Sanderson.

The Hale will present more than 40 consecutive performances of A Bundle of Trouble for the 2017 Mountain America Credit Union season of entertainment, currently at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City. Performance times are at 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Saturday matinees are at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. No children under the age of five are permitted in the theater. Ticket prices are a great value for this original production, at only $34 for adults and $18 for youth (K-12.)

For ticket information call 801-984-9000, go to www.hct.org, or visit the box office at 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive in West Valley City. For updates, contests and information on the current theater season, follow Hale Centre Theatre on Facebook.

In conjunction with the production, the HCT Applauds honoree for A Bundle of Trouble is NeighborWorks Salt Lake. The organization builds on the strengths of neighborhoods, creating opportunities through housing, resident leadership, youth and economic development.

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