What do you do when you’ve just been fired as an Elvis impersonator, your wife is pregnant, the rent is due and the bills are piling up? Trade in the jumpsuit for a sparkly dress, lip-sync Shania and become the hottest drag act in the Southeast.
The Waterfront Playhouse will close its 2017-18 season with “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” by Matthew Lopez.
“I fell in love with this beautiful script the first time I read it,” said Director Danny Weathers. “It’s smart, hilarious, and full of heart. Plus the show has three of Key West’s favorite things: fabulous drag queens, great music and Christopher Peterson.”
The play begins when Eddie, the good-old-boy owner of Cleo’s (a dive bar), decides to make some changes, including nixing Casey’s Elvis act since it’s playing to only seven people a night. Enter Eddie’s cousin, Miss Tracy Mills, or Bobby when she’s not “working.” Tracy has big plans to turn the failing bar into a venue of fabulosity, featuring her and her friend, Rexy, with Casey as the hunky bartender.
One night when Rexy has had a few too many cosmos and passes out, Tracy and Eddie are desperate for a solution. Casey volunteers. After all, there are all those financial worries on his mind.
Casey is a natural and, with coaching from Miss Tracy, Casey becomes “Georgia McBride,” a country drag star who helps make the bar a success. Along the way, there are plenty of conflicts, like when Casey’s pregnant wife Jo finds out about his secret drag life. But a happy ending is inevitable.
Adding to the fun of the evening are full-blown drag numbers performed to the music of iconic ladies of show biz, disco, country rock – and French cabaret.
Christopher Peterson plays Miss Tracy Mills; New York actor Nate Janis plays Casey. Phillip Cole White performs the dual roles of Rexy and Jason. Simoné Elizabeth Bart plays Casey’s wife, Jo. John Reynolds plays the bar owner, Eddie.
‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’
May 2-26
Waterfront Playhouse
Tickets: www.waterfrontplayhouse.org or 305-294-5015.
