When a Man Plays a Woman

Tag : woman suit

When a woman wears a suit and a tie, the world is expected to takeher seriously. When a man puts on an evening dress and high heels,the world laughs out loud. It worked in Some Like It Hot andTootsie, and it definitely works in the new stage comedy LeadingLadies.

The Blowing Rock Stage Company will present Leading Ladies at theMariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock June27 through July 12. Tickets are on sale now.

Written by Ken Ludwig, Leading Ladies tells the tale of twodown-and-out Shakespearean actors who masquerade as the nieces of awealthy dying woman in order to salvage their theater careers. Likehis previous comedic romp Moon Over Buffalo, Ludwig’s playcontains all the farcical elements to keep the audience intriguedand in stitches.

The comedy follows English actors Jack and Leo as they strugglethrough the Moose Lodge circuit in America performing “Scenesfrom Shakespeare.” When they hear about an old lady in York,Penn., who is about to leave her fortune to a pair of long-lostEnglish nephews, they decide to play the parts. Unfortunately, thenephews of the story are really nieces.

“Leading Ladies harkens back to a more innocent time,”said director Gail Garrison. “Jack and Leo, our haplessheroes, are hilarious with their quick changes both in love and outof dresses. This madcap comedy, set in 1958, will bring back greatmemories to some of the audience and will provide delightfully newones to all.”

Leading Ladies stars Jim Ballard as Leo and Ben Corbett as Jack.Other actors in the play include Vicki Boyle and Stephen Ware.

Tickets & Times

Performances of Leading Ladies will be held at the Hayes PerformingArts Center in Blowing Rock at 8 p.m. on June 27 & 28, July 2,3, 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12. A special 6 p.m. showing will take placeon Friday, July 4th. Matinee performances at 2 p.m. will take placeon June 28 & 29, July 3, 5, 6, 10 & 12.

Tickets are $27 for adults and $14 for students and are availableby calling the Hayes Center Box Office at (828) 295-9627. Ticketsmay also be purchased online at www.hayescenter.org. Special grouprates are available.

Upcoming BRSC Shows

The Blowing Rock Stage Company’s 2008 summer season includesperformances of Peter Pan (July 18-Aug. 3), Neil Simon’sRumors (Aug. 15-24), and the Ginger Rogers musical biographyBackwards in High Heels (Aug. 29-Sept. 14). For more information,visit www.blowingrockstage.com.