Southern Baptist Sissies

You Don’t Have to Be Any of These Three to Enjoy the Evening

Trustus Theatre mounts Del Shore’s “irreverent, butt kicking, Southern fried humor play,” Southern Baptist Sissies, directed by Chad Henderson, the young critically acclaimed director of 2007s Dog Sees God (voted Best Local Production by the readers of the Free Times)and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Southern Baptist Sissies is cathartic as well as being comical. It combines a "good old down home" farcical comedy with sparkling lines in the first act and becomes a more serious soul-searching drama in the second. The play investigates the enormous fear and guilt suffered by four clean cut, white young men whose lives are centered around the church. They soon discover that they sometimes have desires that are often considered "unnatural" and an abomination to their reactionary church and traditional family life.   

Infused with music and rhythm this production has been pumped up into a multi-media masterpiece. “Everything from a live feed onstage camera to various TV's and computer monitors will be used to enhance the production; providing a theatrical experience that will charge the audience's senses visually and sonically” said Director Henderson. Four days of pre-production were spent filming media clips in churches, a green screen studio, and even underwater. All of these pieces will provide the backdrop to this Texan television strewn world.  It is safe to say that there will be surprises around every corner, as Henderson and his design team have been re-imagining this script to create a dynamic performance that is filled with music, movement, and heart.

Playwright Del Shore is best most known for his series of Texas comedies and this play is his fifth installment. Born and raised in the Lone Star state, he is the son of a Southern Baptist preacher and has a brother who is a preacher. Shores was inspired to write this play after the Matthew Shepard murder. The playwright is also noted for his cult film Sordid Lives.

This all-star cast of Columbia’s favorite performers include, Monica Wyche as the good old Mother, Dewey Scott Wiley as Odette the proud alcoholic,  Gene Aimone as the fire and brimstone preacher and of course the beloved Gerald Floyd as the extremely entertaining Peanut.

Mark (Jonathan Jackson) serves as narrator as the play follows his life and that of three Baptist choir singing boyhood friends: T.J. (Brandon Martin), an all American straight shooting future preacher, Andrew (Nate Herring), who is questioning and prays about his sexuality and Benny (Sean Stephens) who seems to lean toward feminine pursuits rather then the manly sports of small town Texas. We follow their lives as they attempt to justify their own lifestyles with an embedded love of church and family.

Southern Baptist Sissies runs from May 9 through the 31. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. There will be 2 Sunday matinees including the May 18 IPWIC (I Pay What I Can) performance.

Prices are $17.50 on Thursdays, $20 on Fridays and Saturdays and $15 on Sunday. Trustus offers their student rush tickets at half price available 15 minutes prior to the desired show with a valid student id. Reservations are available by phone at 803.254.9732.

Southern Baptist Sissies is the 6th show in Trustus Theatre’s 23rd season. For more information regarding this show or the upcoming season, including season packages please contact Joe in the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays between 1-6 p.m. at 803.254.9732.