Dinner theater comes to Cumberland County

Lifestyles

May 21, 2009

Anonymous The Crossville Chronicle Thu May 21, 2009, 08:15 PM CDT

DSquared Productions announces a first for the company. It is teaming up with Fat Chef Cafe (25 Peavine Plaza, approximately 4 miles north of l-40 exit 322 on the right toward Fairfield Glade) for a dinner theater presentation every Monday and Tuesday in June at 6 p.m.

Patty Payne, a DSquared company member, has been looking for a dinner theater production for some time and has found the ideal show to perform at the Fat Chef Cafe, owned by her brother, Jerry Payne. "Barbara's Blue Kitchen," a comedy with music by Lori Fischer, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics, takes place in a small diner in Watertown, TN one summer day from open to close.

Originally written as a tour de force for the author, DSquared's production of "Barbara's Blue Kitchen" will expand the cast to include some of their most talented performers. Rusty McClanahan will play Dickie Brian Hull, the wacky disc jockey at radio station WATR, "where all the songs are original and all the folks listening are one of a kind." His original country flavor songs and commercials include such titles as "Love is Slippery," "I Want My Kidney Back" and "God Allows U-turns."

There's Barbara Jean, played by Patty Payne, who owns her own diner and worries about her bald spot. Patty also plays Jeanette, her new inept waitress who only wants to sell Tupperware and has been Barbara Jean's pen pal since childhood; and Melissa, Barbara Jean's sister, mother of three boys whose husband recently left her.

Pat Kelly will play the roles of Tessie, a lovable senior citizen from the Happiness Home across the street, and Miss Morris, a nurse who is planning a trip to see the pyramids. Other diner characters include Tommy Lee, Melissa's 8-year-old son who has just been bitten by his dog Killer, and Lombardo, the Italian owner of Lombardo's Beauty Emporium who wants to be a country singer and is Barbara Jean's love interest. Both of these roles will be played by Dennis Donald.

Pat, Dennis and Patty will lend their voices to more songs including "Love Coming Through," "Blue Winged Butterfly," "Can You Hear Me?" and "Mom Doesn't Know It." The production will be directed by Patty Payne with musical direction by Rhonda Wallace.

Tickets for "Barbara's Blue Kitchen" are $25 which includes dinner, a choice of beverage, dessert, show, and tax (tip not included) and may be purchased only at the Fat Chef Cafe (456-8171). Reservations are required ‚Äî Patty or Alice Payne will be at the Fat Chef to take reservations Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Come be surprised by the fun and quirky characters of "Barbara's Blue Kitchen" every Monday and Tuesday in June at 6 p.m. at the Fat Chef Cafe on Peavine Road.

Text Only

Lifestyles

PH resident exhibits expressionistic abstracts at the Palace
When the Rev. Thomas Eckert was young, he felt the call of the ministry, and as an adult became a pastor in the United Church of Christ. It never occurred to him that in his retirement, he would be best known as an abstract artist.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
AROUND THE TOWN: Success is the best revenge
Broken hearts are never easy or fun. If they were, they wouldn’t be called “broken.”

February 9, 2012
Red Hatters invited to strut their stuff Feb. 16
The Red Hot Butterflies are inviting all Red Hat Clubs, their significant others and friends to a Strut Your Stuff party Feb. 16 at the Peavine Road House across from the pontoon boat factory.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Warm someone’s heart this Valentine’s Day
Want to warm someone’s heart this Valentine’s Day? A box of chocolates might do it. A bouquet of flowers might do it. How about a blood donation with the American Red Cross? Now, that’s guaranteed to warm someone’s heart.

February 7, 2012
127 SENIORS: Game day coming soon
The 127 South Seniors met Feb. 3 for bingo, coffee, sweets and conversation. Arlene Simmons called the numbers, and Quality Home Health furnished the gifts. Blood pressures were also taken by Quality Home Health.

February 7, 2012
Rorabaugh to speak to VIS Group
The next meeting for the Visually Impaired Support (VIS) group will be Feb. 9 at the the Bank of Crossville, 1251 N. Main St. from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The guest speaker for this meeting will be Joyce Rorabaugh from the Cumberland County Archives.

February 7, 2012
FAIR PARK: Gong Show is fun for everyone
Do you remember the Gong Show from the '70s? It was a bit off the wall even for that era. Our young population of today has never even heard of it! You can watch old shows on the internet.

February 6, 2012
PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Steve Boyce, Knoxville tenor, in concert Feb. 12
The Boyce family has been part of Pleasant Hill history since 1908. Honoring that long heritage and coupling it with local history, an event titled “A Love Affair with History” will headline the tenor virtuoso, Sephen Boyce, in concert Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Pleasant Hill Community Church, United Church of Christ.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Senior Health News: The bare facts on bones
Humans are born with 300 to 350 bones. As we mature some of our bones fuse together and an average adult ends up with 206 bones. More than half of the bones in our bodies are located in our hands and feet. Also, an adult human's bones account for 14 percent of their body weight.

February 6, 2012
Jobs for Life spring semester begins for Christian Women’s Job Corps
The Cumberland County Christian Women’s Job Corps (CCCWJC) is now taking enrollments for its Jobs for Life spring semester. This training program is open to any woman 18 years of age or older. Classes will begin Feb. 21 and continue through May 22.

February 6, 2012
More Lifestyles Headlines

Lifestyles

Search Results

Dinner theater comes to Cumberland County

Site Map

Contact Us