Father of the Bride
By Caroline Francke
Directed by James Malone
Epic Theatre is proud to present its second show, Caroline Francke’s Father of the Bride, March 20 and 21 in Voyager Hall on Epic’s Verona campus.
Father of the Bride, based on the novel by Edward Streeter, is the story of the chaos and comedy of a family’s preparations for their daughter’s wedding. Mr. Banks learns that his daughter Kay plans on marrying Buckley, a young man Mr. Banks can only remember as “a pair of shoulders”. Both Buckley and Kay insist on a small wedding, but almost as soon as the engagement is announced events begin to grow beyond their control. From a house filled to the brim with wedding presents, an ever-inflating guest list, high-strung assistants, short-tempered furniture movers and theatrical wedding planners, the young couple’s dream of a quiet, intimate affair quickly seems less plausible. Through it all, Mr. Banks watches with equal parts bemusement and dread, hoping he can give his daughter the wedding of her dreams…without destroying his life savings in the process!
James Malone makes his Madison-area directorial debut with Epic Theatre’s production of Father of the Bride. “I’m very pleased to be at the helm for this show, and to be working with such a talented and funny group of actors,” he said. “Father of the Bride is an American classic, a story enjoyed by several generations and one that we’re excited to bring to the Madison area. Though many people may be familiar with the film adaptations, whether it’s the Spencer Tracy or the Steve Martin version, Caroline Francke’s adaptation of Father of the Bride is in some ways significantly different than those works. Whether you’ve seen the films or not, Epic Theatre’s Father of the Bride is a fun, fast-paced show that has character and depth amidst the many laughs.”
The cast is comprised of employees working at Epic, the Madison-based EMR developer. Adam Bradshaw plays the title role, and Erin Schwartz is Kay, the bride. Anna Dziubla plays the ever-patient Mrs. Banks, and Zack Cueller and Nathan Ewings round out the Banks family as sons Ben and Tommy. Matt Lisiecki plays the part of Buckley, Kay’s beau. Many members of the cast are veterans of Epic Theatre’s previous production, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, and others are new faces you’re sure to see in future shows.
Father of the Bride opens on Friday, March 20 with a 7 pm show, and continues with two shows on Saturday, March 21 at 2 pm and 7 pm. The performances will be held in the Epicenter theatre on Epic’s campus in Verona, located at 1979 Milky Way. The show is appropriate for all ages. Father of the Bride is being presented free of charge.
Produced by Epic Theatre at Voyager Hall on the Epic Campus, 1979 Milky Way, Verona, WI 53593
Performances: March 20-21, 2009
Performance Times: 7 PM on Friday, March 20th, 2 PM & 7 PM on Saturday, March 21st
Free admission
For seating reservations, or any other questions about the show, please e-mail epictheatrecompany@gmail.com.
