AMY TUBBS/PULASKI NEWS Villain Crosby Willette, Villainess Talia Busche, Hero Hayden Witte, and Heroine Dahlia Maroszek rehearse a scene from the melodrama. (Amy Tubbs photo)
Pulaski High School theater students are busily preparing to present this year’s melodrama “Holder Posey, the Felonious Photographer” by Billy St. John on April 26-27 at 7 p.m. in the Ripley Performing Arts Center. The show runs about two hours and is appropriate for all ages.
The villain Holder Posey (played by Crosby Willette) and his assistant Candide Cameron (Talia Busche) have arrived in the little town of Holeinroad to rob the saloon’s vault. Town gossips Gilda Lillie (Morgan Miskulin) and Echo Chambers (Grace Duffrin) recount the story of how the hero Drew Deline (Hayden Witte) and his love Ida Claire Yawl (Dahlia Maroszek) stop the cruel attempt.
Other citizens of Holeinroad include Sheriff Freddy Katt (Cooper Witte), Deputy Deadeye (Travis Krause), Mayor Gullible (Aiden Winn), Doctor Bill (Leatrice Dyal), Nurse Cutter (Jossy Kelly), Pastor Pepper (Riley Mommaerts), Winnie Gallop (Ace Loehlein), Mother Sweetums (Evie Decker), Baby Boo-Boo (Parker Bastian), and townspeople (Mallory Bunnell and Paige Duffrin). The cast is completed by Betty Bottom-Dollar (Katherine Hurley) and the Golden Spittoon Saloon staff (Emma Ahlswede, Addison Guelig, Saige Wirtz, Olivia Krueger, and Jenna Trudell).
Cast members wrote original variety act skits to perform between scenes of the show. Some of the western-themed titles include Oregon Trail and Tumbleweed Auditions.
Stage crew members include Cori Adelman, Kyler Dillenberg, Joseph Hoffman, Libby Kelly, Charlie Lasecki, Brayden Pelot, Debra Rosenow, Devin Schlender, Savannah Shepherd, Miranda Sinkula, and Kolton White.
Senior Libby Kelly designed the sets.
The melodrama is directed by Amy Tubbs, assisted by Ryan Winn and student director Mia Moder.
New this year is reserved seating. The $8 tickets can be purchased online at pulaskihs.ludus.com or at the door.