The Wimberley Players is putting on a production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Pictured are Amanda Shelton as the infamous Miss Mona and Andrea Hurell as Jewel, Miss Mona's confidant, along with the rest of the girls of the Chicken Ranch. Photos by Mary Rath
'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'
The iconic musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" opens on the Wimberley Players stage June 28 and runs through July 21, including two Thursday night performances July 11 and 18.
From a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, with music and lyrics by Carol Hall, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" was inspired by the real-life brothel called the Chicken Ranch in La Grange.
Set in the fictional town of Gilbert, Texas, in the late 1970s, the Ranch is run by Miss Mona, who has plenty of snap in her garters. She has an up close and personal friendship with the local lawman Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, whose predecessors have abided the establishment for more than 100 years. Trouble brews when Houston watchdog news commentator, Melvin P. Thorpe, sets out to expose the goings on at the Ranch. He’s slicker than a boiled onion and he’s got the power of the press behind him. A hissy fit of Texas proportions follows when cameramen capture the sheriff giving Thorpe an earful. Soon the commotion works its way from the citizens of Gilbert, to Mayor Poindexter, and Senator Wingwoah, and all the way to the Governor’s office. It’s a hootenanny of hilarity.
Miss Mona and Sheriff Dodd, played by Nicholas Bordovsky, have a long-standing relationship, Dodd does not interfere with her business and Miss Mona is a decent and law-abiding citizen in every respect but her line of work.
Opening in 1979, the play won Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World awards. Time Magazine declared it to be "A font of fun and friendliness, engagingly rich in regional nostalgia and spiced with delicate bawdry. The country and western score is a delight." A 1982 film of the same name directed by Colin Higgins starred Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Dom DeLuise, Charles Durning and Jim Neighbors. Durning was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. The film garnered several Golden Globe nominations.
The role of Miss Mona is performed by Amanda Shelton; Sheriff Dodd by Nicholas Bordovsky. Melvin P. Thorpe is played by WP alum David Bisett, and playing Governor Briscoe, is Robert Frazier. Meg Steiner is Doatsey Mae and Jewel is played by Andrea Hurell. The role of C.J. Scruggs is performed by Chris Martin and Guy Ben-Moshe performs as Mayor Poindexter and Senator J.T. Wingwoah. Mitchell Oden plays Edsel Mackey. Miss Mona’s girls are played by McKenna Segar, Alexandra Taylor, Sarah Manna, Kelly Martel, Hannah Jones, Caitlyn Martinez, Emily Sivilay and Cassie Pruski. Members of the ensemble include Anna Balan, Blake Latz, Chris Frey, Darcy Ramey, Denise Villareal, Elisa Nieto, Emit Quintero, Guy Ben-Moshe, Karl Morton, Mitchell Oden, Nate Nelson, Sidney Murray and Tyler Livingston.
The production is directed by Tracy Arnold and the Executive Producer is Adam Witko. Choreography is by Taylor Rainbolt. The is production was produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Performance will run from June 28 through July 21 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. with two Thursday night performances on July 11 and 18. Reserved seating is $30; Student tickets are $20 with an ID. Tickets are available at Wimberley Players' website or by calling 512-847-0575. The Wimberley Players is located at 450 Old Kyle Road.
