Pioneer Playhouse finishes up its regular play season with Not From Around Here, a brand-new comedy set in a typical 1980s suburb where one family is keeping a secret that’s anything but typical.
“We love producing new work,” said Heather Henson, managing director of the theatre her father, Eben C. Henson, founded in 1949. “This show is fresh and funny, and it has a terrific twist that audiences will love.”
Not From Around Here, opening Tuesday, July 22, was written by the husband-wife duo of Jennifer Goff and Brian Scruggs. Goff is Associate Professor and Chair of the Theatre Program at Centre College while Scruggs is Associate Professor in Eastern Michigan University’s Entertainment, Design, and Technology program.
“Jen has been directing for us for several years,” Henson said. “She directed That Book Woman last summer, and she’s directed the popular “Southern Fried” plays. We love working with her, and so when she said she had written a play with her husband, we were excited to take a look.”
“We started writing this play based on a story prompt a few years ago, and actually had the Playhouse in mind as we wrote,” Goff said. “We’ve gotten to know the audiences pretty well, and the returning actors, so we felt pretty tuned in to what hits the funny bone here.”
Not From Around Here centers on two couples and their 18-year-old kids who have been neighbors for 10 years. They think they know everything there is to know about one another. The daughter and son have grown up together, they’ve fallen in love, they’re making future plans together, and then something totally unexpected happens that knocks everyone for a loop.
“The actors are having a blast rehearsing this show,” said Robby Henson, artistic director and also son of the founder. “There’s a lot of energy when you work on an original play and I think audiences will respond to that.”
Besides writing the play together, the Goff/Scruggs duo is also part of the team launching it. Goff stars as Carol, a neighbor with a killer lemon square recipe, and possibly something else up her sleeve, while Scruggs directs the show.
“We love being part of this Playhouse family so much,” said Goff, “and the fact that they are willing to take a chance on our play, and on us, it’s just about the coolest thing we can imagine! We are so excited to share it with audiences.”
The comedy also stars Mike De Pope as Goff’s husband and Gates Smyth as her son. The other suburban couple and their daughter is played by Jonny Maldonado, Julie McNamara, and Lainie Plunkett. Longtime Playhouse regular, Patricia Hammond, plays the sharply observant next-door neighbor.
Not From Around Here will run through August 9, Tuesdays through Saturdays, and will finish the regular play season at Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theatre. A final music extravaganza celebrating Elvis and Wanda Jackson will be August 14, 15, and 16.
Pioneer Playhouse is located at 840 Stanford Road, Danville, Kentucky. A home-cooked BBQ Dinner is available at 7 p.m., while the show begins at 8:30 p.m., except for the Elvis production, which starts at 8 p.m. Shows are outdoors in a historic amphitheater, and continue in light rain. If the weather is severe and the show cancelled, rain checks will be given.