REVIEW OF POTUS AT THE RED BARN THEATER

by EB aka Ennid Berger | January 31, 2024

https://konklife.com/review-of-potus-at-the-red-barn.../

Photo by Roberta DePiero

POTUS or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive takes the stage at Key West’s historic Red Barn Theater from January 30 – February 24, 2024. First debuting with great reviews on Broadway in 2022, POTUS is an entertaining farce with an excellent ensemble cast including some of Key West’s best actors.

POTUS unfolds in a simple set of an unknown room in the White House (period wallpaper and wainscotting establish the scene). The show revolves around the inept, unnamed and philandering President of the US,. He remains an unseen presence whose unadmirable character and personality are implied by the ongoing chaotic farce.

The comedy sketches that structure the show are hilariously funny interactions among and between the seven women in the excellent cast. Outstanding performances all around, with extra kudos to Susannah Wells, playing Dusty the Dalliance with charm and pizzaz, to Annie Miners, cast as Bernadette, POTUS’ outrageous drug dealing sister, and to Lynn Casamayor as Margaret, POTUS’ first lady., who exudes a powerful presence. POTUS is LOL funny with one liners and comedic interactions from the outstanding cast that also includes George DiBroud as Harriet the chief of staff, Lauren Thompson as Jean the press secretary, Jessicca Kruel as Stephanie the secretary, and Fritzie Estimond as Chris the breast pumping journalist.

The Red Barn’s theatrical presentation of POTUS was directed with great timing and sensitivity by the Red Barn’s Joy Hawkins. It is fast and funny with a sprinkling of obscenity. The show was written by Serena Fillinger, a writer for TV’s The Morning Show. According to Fillinger,. “It’s a story that you could put in any institution, any office, many homes. It’s about systems of oppression and systems of injustice.” POTUS is political, to be sure, but also an absurdist look at a very insular, patriarchal, workplace run, in reality, by the women in the office who try to offset the fumbling and bumbling of the incompetent man who never appears.

PRESS RELEASE
For further information, call: Bob Bowersox at 302-540-6102

For Immediate Release

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Cast of POTUS: Fritzie Estimond, George diBraud, Annie Miners, Lynne Casamayor, Jessica Miano Kruel, Lauren Thompson, & Susannah Wells

NOTICE ABOUT POTUS: This very funny play has language that is irreverent, bawdy, racy, sexual, smutty and gleefully filthy.

The extraordinary songstress Christine Mild will make her long-awaited return to the Red Barn Theatre in Key West with her brand new show, “This One’s For The Girls: Women of Country Music”. The show will run for four nights only, January 17 through 20, at the Red Barn, 319 Duval Street.

Well-known for her wildly-popular production, “Always, Patsy Cline”, Mild will be expanding her repertoire to include the top hits of close to two dozen of country music’s most fabled female artists, running from the classics of the 50’s and 60’s through to the rock-tinged hitmakers of the modern era.

“It really grew out of the ‘Patsy’ shows,” Mild said. “I realized that all the women singers I was listening to are kind of her legacy…she was the blueprint that laid the groundwork for them to become the marquees and bring the glamour. And there’s no denying that each of the women I’m featuring in this new show has done just that.”

Mild will be offering a swath of music from some of the most successful female country artists in history, including, among many others, The Judds, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Tammy Wynette, Taylor Swift (yes, she was originally a country artist before crossing over), Martina McBride, Little Big Town, The High Women, Casey Musgraves, and of course, the incomparable Loretta Lynn.

“She was an inspiration,” Mild said. “She made me think about these singers and what they went through to get where they are. When you really listen to their songs, they’re filled with what those women think is important. The messages are as profound as the music.”

Mild will be weaving many of those stories into her show, an element that will make the evening much richer. “These women have always lifted each other up, and I think this show will do the same for the audience,” Mild said. “It will be toe-tapping, heartwarming, and inspiring, with songs you’ll all know.”

Mild will have a terrific band backing her up, with musical director Jim Rice on piano, Mike Emerson on guitar, Gary Rivenson on bass, and Gary McDonald on drums. “It’s a great band,” she said. “We’re going to have a blast.”

Tickets for “This One’s For The Girls: Women of Country Music” are available at redbarntheatre.com or 305-296-9911. It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased early, as Mild’s shows always sell out. Sponsored in part by Culture Builds Florida, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

PRESS RELEASE
For further information, call: Bob Bowersox at 302-540-6102

For Immediate Release

---

The extraordinary songstress Christine Mild will make her long-awaited return to the Red Barn Theatre in Key West with her brand new show, “This One’s For The Girls: Women of Country Music”. The show will run for four nights only, January 17 through 20, at the Red Barn, 319 Duval Street.

Well-known for her wildly-popular production, “Always, Patsy Cline”, Mild will be expanding her repertoire to include the top hits of close to two dozen of country music’s most fabled female artists, running from the classics of the 50’s and 60’s through to the rock-tinged hitmakers of the modern era.

“It really grew out of the ‘Patsy’ shows,” Mild said. “I realized that all the women singers I was listening to are kind of her legacy…she was the blueprint that laid the groundwork for them to become the marquees and bring the glamour. And there’s no denying that each of the women I’m featuring in this new show has done just that.”

Mild will be offering a swath of music from some of the most successful female country artists in history, including, among many others, The Judds, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Tammy Wynette, Taylor Swift (yes, she was originally a country artist before crossing over), Martina McBride, Little Big Town, The High Women, Casey Musgraves, and of course, the incomparable Loretta Lynn.

“She was an inspiration,” Mild said. “She made me think about these singers and what they went through to get where they are. When you really listen to their songs, they’re filled with what those women think is important. The messages are as profound as the music.”

Mild will be weaving many of those stories into her show, an element that will make the evening much richer. “These women have always lifted each other up, and I think this show will do the same for the audience,” Mild said. “It will be toe-tapping, heartwarming, and inspiring, with songs you’ll all know.”

Mild will have a terrific band backing her up, with musical director Jim Rice on piano, Mike Emerson on guitar, Gary Rivenson on bass, and Gary McDonald on drums. “It’s a great band,” she said. “We’re going to have a blast.”

Tickets for “This One’s For The Girls: Women of Country Music” are available at redbarntheatre.com or 305-296-9911. It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased early, as Mild’s shows always sell out. Sponsored in part by Culture Builds Florida, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

PRESS RELEASE
For further information, call: Bob Bowersox at 302-540-6102

For Immediate Release

---

Anywhere else but Key West, saying “Life’s a Drag” would be considered a bummer. But in Key West, it’s life as usual.

Some of Key West’s most popular entertainment are the drag shows that line Duval Street. The Drag Queens and Kings that perform there nightly are the heart and soul of our tiny island, whether entertaining, working community events and projects, or appearing at charitable events.

The Red Barn Theatre will be fully embracing and honoring this unique entertainment as they’ve chosen “Life’s A Drag!” as the theme for their annual fundraiser this year. The Barn’s party of the season will take place at The Oldest House, 322 Duval, on Sunday, January 14, from 6-9 pm. Tickets are $150 and include a cornucopia of food, drink, and over-the-top entertainment.

The always-popular QMitch will emcee a star-studded Drag show, produced by drag icon Elle Taylor, and featuring performances by Epiphany, Jessica Deveraux, Queen Mother, and Elle, and there are hints at a special star performer also dropping in.

There will be an open bar, a huge buffet catered by Destination Catering, a wine tasting provided by Breakthru Beverage, and a silent auction put together by Susie’s Estates.

An added bit of fun: the world-famous Bourbon Street Pub Red Shoe from the New Year’s celebration will also be there, and guests of the Gala will have the opportunity to have their picture taken sitting in the shoe.

Tickets are available at redbarntheatre.com, at the Barn’s box office at 319 Duval Street.

A TUNA CHRISTMAS RED BARN THEATER REVIEW

by Guy deBoar | December 21, 2023

https://konklife.com/a-tuna-christmas-red-barn-theater.../

Actors David Black & Brandon Beach in Red Barn’s A Tuna Christmas

The Red Barn Theater has once again gifted Key West and the Florida Keys with a rollicking holiday treat, “A Tuna Christmas.”

This comedic gem, penned by the brilliant trio Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, transports audiences to the whimsical universe of Tuna, Texas, where holiday cheer collides with the peculiarities of small-town life.

Set in the cozy, fictional town of Tuna, this play is a delightful sequel to the beloved “Greater Tuna.” From the outset, it’s clear that this production doesn’t pull any punches in delivering a flurry of fast-paced humor, witty repartee, and an ensemble of characters as diverse as the Texas landscape itself.

Directed with finesse by Michael Marrero, the seamless transitions and lightning-fast costume changes by David Black and Brandon Beach, who deftly juggle multiple roles and genders, keep the audience engaged in this madcap journey. Yet, beyond the laughter-inducing antics and the holiday setting, “A Tuna Christmas” invites us to peer into a funhouse mirror reflecting our own quirks and idiosyncrasies. It’s a testament to the universal appeal of small-town charm, where regardless of our current locales, the characters’ tales resonate with a familiarity that elicits laughter and nods of recognition from the audience.

The Red Barn’s presentation encapsulates the heart and soul of this play, intertwining uproarious comedy with moments that tug at heartstrings. The synergy between the actors, the ingenious set design by Gary McDonald, costume design by Gary R. Marion, and the evocative lighting by Jack McDonald elevates the storytelling to an immersive experience.

This production is more than a mere play; it’s a pleasant celebration that unites theatergoers in shared laughter and nostalgia. Its magnetic blend of humor and heartfelt moments has rightfully earned it a place as a perennial holiday favorite for many.

To the residents and visitors of the Keys, I would like to ask you to please secure your tickets to this uproarious spectacle. Join in the laughter, spread the word, and revel in the sheer delight of “A Tuna Christmas.” Your time at the Red Barn Theater promises not just laughter, but an unforgettable journey into the heart of comedic storytelling. Tickets: (https://redbarntheatre.com/tickets)