Wimberley Players close out 'Born Yesterday' & host fundraiser

Garson Kanin’s "Born Yesterday" will be closing on the Wimberley Players stage this weekend, giving audiences a last chance to enjoy this American comedy-drama. 

Meet Billie Dawn, a beautiful but artless ex-showgirl. For nine years she’s been junkman Harry Brock’s arm candy and mistress. She and Harry have just arrived in Washington, D.C. so that Harry can “buy” a congressman. It’s 1946, WWII is over, and Harry has made a fortune in scrap metal. But he wants the world’s leftover war debris and getting Senator Norval Hedges to help him do it has brought them to the seat of democracy. In Harry’s pocket is bitter, corrupt lawyer Ed Devery, who greases the wheels for all of Harry’s dealings, and Eddie, his brother and personal servant.

Unfortunately, Billie’s ignorance and lack of social grace is too much for D.C. society so Harry hires a tutor. Sent to interview Harry, Paul Verrall writes for The New Republic. An upright, thoughtful intellectual, he teaches Billie how to learn and challenges her to think in ways she’s never known. In the process of learning, Billie transcends her apathy and realizes the degree to which Harry is corrupt. She also discovers her own scruples and how using them can derail Harry’s plans.

An acclaimed 1950 film of the same name starring Judy Holliday, William Holden and Broderick Crawford, was nominated for five academy awards. Holliday won the Academy Award as well as two Golden Globe Awards for her portrayal of Billie. In 2012, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. 

The role of Billie Dawn is played by Elisabeth Anne Steigelman, recently seen in Wimbeley Players' productions of "Wait Until Dark" and "The Thirty-Nine Steps;" Harry Brock is played by Greg Hinojosa; Paul Verrall is played by Shawn Hardee; Ed Devry is played by George Kendall; Senator Hedges is played by Michael Nash; Mrs. Hedges is played by Melinda Ellisor; Eddie is played by Craig Higdon; the Assistant Manager is played by Dave Giminiani; Helen by Deborah Wilson; Manicurist and Bellhop by Kyra Headley; and Bootblack, Waiter and Bellhop by Karl Morton.

Wimberley Players' rendition of "Born Yesterday" is directed by Tracy Arnold with Executive Producer  Adam Witko and Producer Karen Rudy. "Born Yesterday" is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. 

The show will run Friday, Sept. 28 and Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Reserved Seating is $22, students tickets are $18 with ID. Tickets are available online at www.wimberleyplayers.org or by calling 512-847-0575. The Wimberley Playhouse is located on 450 Old Kyle Road.

The Wimberley Players will also be holding their annual fundraiser, entitled Under the Tuscan Moon this year on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Messina Inn, Wimberley’s own Mediterranean venue.

Gennaro’s Trattoria and event food chair Nancy Williams have planned an outstanding Italian-themed menu. There’ll be complimentary wine, a cash bar and musical entertainment by soprano Keeley Hooker.

“Our event is going to be unique, combining elegance and fun, and we wanted our live auction of just a few select items to be unique too,” Bob Smith, Wimberley Players vice president of development and chair of the event, said.

Auction items include:

• A one-of-a-kind dinner party, for up to 12 people, with internationally renowned singer songwriter and chef Michael Fracasso at Vintage Oaks Farm, 400 Limestone Lane. He’ll prepare a dinner and follow it with a private concert. 
• A walk-on role for one performance of the musical, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” slated for mid-summer at the Wimberley Playhouse.
• A memorable stay in Wimberley at one of three distinctive lodgings: a Tuscan-styled suite at Messina Inn; the “Hen House” cabin at Vintage Oaks Farm, or a privately owned, modernized “Dog House” down a country lane in Wimberley.

There will also be a few surprise items to be announced at the event

Messina Inn is located at 1000 Cypress Creek Lane. Tickets are $100 and are  available on Wimberley Players' website.