GREENFIELD — It’s been nearly 40 years since “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” captivated movie audiences with a big screen collaboration that raised more than a few eyebrows, but garnered a Golden Globe nomination for best musical or comedy of the year.
The production is capturing attention once again, with the name up on the twinkling marquee at the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts in Greenfield, where the musical by the same name will hit the stage this weekend.
The Ricks-Weil Theatre Company has assembled a cast of more than 20 local and regional actors who are thrilled to bring the show to town.
Musical director Kathy Borgmann said the risque title hasn’t diminished the anticipation about the upcoming musical, which first hit Broadway in 1978, four years before the movie of the same name debuted.
“I’ve heard a lot of really positive things. People who are familiar with the movie are really excited about it,” said Borgmann.
The 1982 film starred Dolly Party as Miss Mona, the woman who oversees The Chicken Ranch, and Burt Reynolds as her love interest, the local sheriff who is pressured to close down the ranch.
“A lot of people are really intrigued by the story behind the title,” said Borgmann. “The story is about a bunch of women that are destitute who become like family. Miss Mona and Jewell are like mothers to the ladies,” she said.
The musical features mostly 1970s-style, old-school country music, with a few emotional “tear jerker” types of tunes that give the audience a glimpse into what is going on in the heart of the characters, said Borgmann.
“Seeing (local actress) Amy Studabaker perform ‘24 Hours of Lovin’” is reason enough to see the show. It’s terrific,” she said.
While several actors are from Hancock County, a few are from the greater Indianapolis area, including a few who are new to the Ricks stage.
Producer Beth Ray-Scott said the cast does a phenomenal job with a production that’s about so much more than the title lets on.
“It’s really about a family that’s losing a home,” said Ray-Scott, who founded the Ricks-Weil Theatre Company.
While the title is a bit more risque than the company’s past productions, she said the Broadway musical has stood the test of time.
“I’m glad we did, because it’s very different from a lot of things we’ve done in the past. It’s light-hearted and funny, with some really good singing and dancing, and it’s one of our director (Dan Scharbrough’s) favorite shows,” she said.
“To be honest it wasn’t our first pick,” said the producer, who wanted to do “Oklahoma” or “Chicago,” but couldn’t obtain the rights since those shows are currently touring in the United States.
Ray-Scott said she and the cast and crew are thrilled to be bringing live theater back to Greenfield after a long hiatus due to COVID. The production company performed “Little Shop of Horrors” last year at the Ricks and managed to cover costs, but it was a rough year, she said.
The producer said the actors “have been chomping at the bit” to return to the stage ever since.
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“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” takes to the stage this weekend and next at the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts, at 122 W. Main St. in downtown Greenfield.
Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. July 23-24 and July 30-31, plus 2 p.m. Aug. 1.
The production contains mature themes. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are $15 each, and can be purchased online at search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/ricksweiltheatrecompany/buy-tix?d=0&event=.
Tickets will also be sold at the door, while supplies last.
Information: Facebook.com/RicksWeilTheatreCompany
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