If you’re looking for information about Auditions, dates and times, click here.

Actors and actresses that auditioned for a part in the play may be called back to read and act additional material to finalize the cast at this time.

CALL BACKS

Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Place: TBA

Darla Frye’s life is on the skids. Her mother is dead, her delusional, dog-catching boyfriend is only interested in her fried chicken, and her job stocking auto parts at the Big Mart Distribution Center is going nowhere fast. All this, combined with the fact that Darla’s father abandoned the family “twenty-six years ago next Wednesday”, has left her “fraught with deep-seated insecurities.” Then one night, on a dark deserted country road, a woman named Lucky Tibbs teaches Darla how to change a flat tire – and in doing so, change her life. Now Darla is on a quest to find her true “destiny”, a journey that takes her into the inner world of stock car racing and includes an unexpected friendship with a gay, black college professor, a head-on collision with a car battery, and a heavenly visit with the late Dale Earnhardt. It’s one helluva ride with a lot of “tradin’ paint” but Darla discovers that it’s the bump in the road that makes the trip worthwhile…

AUDITIONS

Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Place: TBA

Please download the audition form HERE. Fill it out and bring it with you to auditions. A short (less than one minute), prepared monologue is encouraged but not required. Bring headshots and resumes if you have them. No previous theatre or acting experience is required. For information about a script reading event for this play that is open to the public Click Here.

Setting: A small Appalachian town in southwest Virginia. The Present.

Set: a college classroom, the grandstand of The Speedway, The Pit Area of The Speedway and a common area that represents a racetrack, an old country road, a garage, and a hospital room, among other things.

Cast Size: 8 (Two women, six men – with doubling)

Halley Smoot – black male, late thirties, a gay college professor whose love for English literature in only surpassed by his passion for stock car racing. In fact, it is the “roar of the engines” that’s called him home to the hills he loves…

Darla Frye – a white, thirty-year old woman with “deep-seated insecurities” whose only talent consists of frying chicken for her boyfriend… or so she thinks, until a flat tire changes her destiny…

Coty Webb – Darla’s thirty-something boyfriend and a bit of a bully, Coty always dreamed of being a cop but due to “emotional problems” had to settle for the next best thing – Piney Gap Dog Catcher.

Lucky Tibbs – the pretty, thirty-something female crew chief for the Jett Racing Team. There’s nothing broken on a car that Lucky can’t fix. She’s not too bad with the human heart, either…

Skeeter Jett – a handsome, thirty-something stock car racer and Lucky’s husband. A good ol’ boy who loves what he does almost as much as he loves his wife…

Pierce Garbarino – stock car racer, thirties.

Tucker Forbush – stock car racer, thirties

Flagman – late thirties. If a stock car race were an orchestra, he’d be the conductor.

Jack – Halley’s lover. Handsome, late thirties, very “GQ”.

The Boss – early fifties, very corporate, the head of stock car racing’s governing body.

Football Player – left tackle for the Lebanon Badgers.

NOTE: The roles of Flagman, Jack, Football Player and The Boss are to be played by the same actor.

Darla Frye’s life is on the skids. Her mother is dead, her delusional, dog-catching boyfriend is only interested in her fried chicken, and her job stocking auto parts at the Big Mart Distribution Center is going nowhere fast. All this, combined with the fact that Darla’s father abandoned the family “twenty-six years ago next Wednesday”, has left her “fraught with deep-seated insecurities.” Then one night, on a dark deserted country road, a woman named Lucky Tibbs teaches Darla how to change a flat tire – and in doing so, change her life. Now Darla is on a quest to find her true “destiny”, a journey that takes her into the inner world of stock car racing and includes an unexpected friendship with a gay, black college professor, a head-on collision with a car battery, and a heavenly visit with the late Dale Earnhardt. It’s one helluva ride with a lot of “tradin’ paint” but Darla discovers that it’s the bump in the road that makes the trip worthwhile…

AUDITIONS

Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Place: TBA

Please download the audition form HERE. Fill it out and bring it with you to auditions. A short (less than one minute), prepared monologue is encouraged but not required. Bring headshots and resumes if you have them. No previous theatre or acting experience is required. For information about a script reading event for this play that is open to the public Click Here.

Setting: A small Appalachian town in southwest Virginia. The Present.

Set: a college classroom, the grandstand of The Speedway, The Pit Area of The Speedway and a common area that represents a racetrack, an old country road, a garage, and a hospital room, among other things.

Cast Size: 8 (Two women, six men – with doubling)

Halley Smoot – black male, late thirties, a gay college professor whose love for English literature in only surpassed by his passion for stock car racing. In fact, it is the “roar of the engines” that’s called him home to the hills he loves…

Darla Frye – a white, thirty-year old woman with “deep-seated insecurities” whose only talent consists of frying chicken for her boyfriend… or so she thinks, until a flat tire changes her destiny…

Coty Webb – Darla’s thirty-something boyfriend and a bit of a bully, Coty always dreamed of being a cop but due to “emotional problems” had to settle for the next best thing – Piney Gap Dog Catcher.

Lucky Tibbs – the pretty, thirty-something female crew chief for the Jett Racing Team. There’s nothing broken on a car that Lucky can’t fix. She’s not too bad with the human heart, either…

Skeeter Jett – a handsome, thirty-something stock car racer and Lucky’s husband. A good ol’ boy who loves what he does almost as much as he loves his wife…

Pierce Garbarino – stock car racer, thirties.

Tucker Forbush – stock car racer, thirties

Flagman – late thirties. If a stock car race were an orchestra, he’d be the conductor.

Jack – Halley’s lover. Handsome, late thirties, very “GQ”.

The Boss – early fifties, very corporate, the head of stock car racing’s governing body.

Football Player – left tackle for the Lebanon Badgers.

NOTE: The roles of Flagman, Jack, Football Player and The Boss are to be played by the same actor.

Tom Johnson will be directing The New Depot Players next production: Tradin’ Paint written by Catherine Bush. There will be a reading of the script for anyone interested in seeing what the play is about prior to auditions. If you’ve ever thought about acting on stage or just seeing what goes on at the black box BEFORE the shows are performed, here’s your chance!

Here’s a brief synopsis of the play:

Darla Frye’s life is on the skids. Her mother is dead, her delusional, dog-catching boyfriend is only interested in her fried chicken, and her job stocking auto parts at the Big Mart Distribution Center is going nowhere fast. All this, combined with the fact that Darla’s father abandoned the family “twenty-six years ago next Wednesday”, has left her “fraught with deep-seated insecurities.” Then one night, on a dark deserted country road, a woman named Lucky Tibbs teaches Darla how to change a flat tire – and in doing so, change her life. Now Darla is on a quest to find her true “destiny”, a journey that takes her into the inner world of stock car racing and includes an unexpected friendship with a gay, black college professor, a head-on collision with a car battery, and a heavenly visit with the late Dale Earnhardt. It’s one helluva ride with a lot of “tradin’ paint” but Darla discovers that it’s the bump in the road that makes the trip worthwhile…

DIRECTOR’S READING

Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Place: TBA

This director’s reading will be the final opportunity before auditions for Tom to hear the entire play to help him visualize how he wants the cast to look and sound. Come and watch this event which is open to the public. You’ll get to see and hear people reading parts and get an idea of what the play is all about and you can leave your stage fright at home.  There will be no “acting” required, just a good reading voice and it will be a fun time to get together and do something new. The reading will be video-taped for use during rehearsals, so please observe normal theatre ettiquette (no cell phones, texting, chatting, etc…)  if you attend.

Stick around afterward to ask questions and get more information about the upcoming auditions and mingle with the director and production crew, readers and other New Depot Players members that participate.

Setting: A small Appalachian town in southwest Virginia. The Present.

Set: a college classroom, the grandstand of The Speedway, The Pit Area of The Speedway and a common area that represents a racetrack, an old country road, a garage, and a hospital room, among other things.

Cast Size: 8 (Two women, six men – with doubling)

Halley Smoot – black, late thirties, a gay college professor whose love for English literature in only surpassed by his passion for stock car racing. In fact, it is the “roar of the engines” that’s called him home to the hills he loves…

Darla Frye – a white, thirty-year old woman with “deep-seated insecurities” whose only talent consists of frying chicken for her boyfriend… or so she thinks, until a flat tire changes her destiny…

Coty Webb – Darla’s thirty-something boyfriend and a bit of a bully, Coty always dreamed of being a cop but due to “emotional problems” had to settle for the next best thing – Piney Gap Dog Catcher.

Lucky Tibbs – the pretty, thirty-something crew chief for the Jett Racing Team. There’s nothing broken on a car that Lucky can’t fix. She’s not too bad with the human heart, either…

Skeeter Jett – a handsome, thirty-something stock car racer and Lucky’s husband. A good ol’ boy who loves what he does almost as much as he loves his wife…

Pierce Garbarino – stock car racer, thirties.

Tucker Forbush – stock car racer, thirties

Flagman – late thirties. If a stock car race were an orchestra, he’d be the conductor.

Jack – Halley’s lover. Handsome, late thirties, very “GQ”.

The Boss – early fifties, very corporate, the head of stock car racing’s governing body.

Football Player – left tackle for the Lebanon Badgers.

NOTE: The roles of Flagman, Jack, Football Player and The Boss are to be played by the same actor.

Back by Popular Demand!

Due to the run of NINE STRAIGHT SOLD-OUT SHOWS and the BUZZ around town from people that haven’t been able to see the show, we are officially announcing TWO extra shows of The Great American Trailer Park Musical this Friday and Saturday only, 8pm. Due to additional royalty costs ALL TICKETS WILL BE $20 GENERAL ADMISSION ONLY. No discounts for Students or Seniors.

There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres—and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil–loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband—the storms begin to brew…

The New Depot Players present: The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Written by David Nehls and based on the book by Betsy Kelso

Directed by Jay Tryall with Musical Direction by Jonathan Sparks

David Nehls (score) and Betsy Kelso (book and direction) have set their tuneful domestic melodrama in a North Florida trailer park, where having your baby kidnapped isn’t half as tragic as getting a bad perm. Both horrors have befallen Jeannie, who’s developed a severe case of agoraphobia and finds comfort spending her days lounging on the couch watching the guests on Oprah, Rickie and Montel prove that there are worse lives than hers. Her husband Norbert, frustrated with having a wife who won’t go further outside than as far as she can while keeping one hand on the door knob, has taken to spending his nights at the local strip club, where he becomes smitten with exotic dancer Pippi who, rather conveniently, has just moved into the trailer across the yard.

Pippi and Norbert discover a common bond when she vents out frustration about her profession. “Do you have any idea what it’s like”, she complains, “to make your living by collecting dollar bill after dollar bill after dollar bill?”

“Yes”, he replies, “I’m a toll collector.”

The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a fine example of mindless entertainment that doesn’t sacrifice good writing and an imaginative production. Some may call it a guilty pleasure, but if lovin’ The Great American Trailer Park Musical is bad, I don’t wanna be good.

Box Office opens 1 hour prior to start of show.  Doors open 1/2 hour prior to start of show.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (678) 374-3224.

The sell-out crowds have been challenging for the box office volunteers and adding a new ticketing process, while still a bit bumpy,  seems to be easing the process of checking in through a slick new iPhone app that even a 10 year old can operate, and she does.

People have been really understanding about the process because since we’re a volunteer organization and we all have day jobs, phone reservations go to one of our board members offices during the day. Ron Carley Accounting has been taking phone reservations for the run of the show and then they send us the info and we merge all the online sales and phone reservations together for the night. We even use a phone system that can forward to whomever is responsible for  taking phone calls at any particular time. All that technology and change has caused a few bumps, but we are trying very hard to learn from them quickly and make changes that will streamline the process.

The show is great, the cast is extremely talented, the band and the direction is spot-on and if you decide to come see the show, you better do it quick, because tickets are flying out the door like Norbert running next door to see his girlfriend… but you should come see for yourself. DON’T MISS THIS SHOW.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to The New Depot Players by credit card right here by clicking read more and filling out the information at the bottom of the page. The last line of our Mission Statement is, “We’re not just a theatre, we’re a neighbor.”  And just as neighbors of old used to ask to borrow a cup of sugar (does that happen anymore?), we’re asking our neighbors, you, to help us create something wonderful by providing some key ingredients.

By donating to The New Depot Players, you support our efforts to produce quality live theatre and offer opportunities for everyone in the community to be involved. We also support local charities and non-profit organizations, offer scholarships to aspiring students in the performing arts, and develop educational programming that teaches the many disciplines involved with producing theatre such as: Directing, Acting, Auditioning, Set Design, Lights and Sound, Stage Management, Costuming, Property Management, Promotions, Marketing, and more. Your tax-deductible donation helps us carry out our mission to involve every interested member of our community.

If you’d like to donate $500 and up for the season, or $50 and up for a specific performance, please visit our Sponsorship page to see what we offer you in return. If you’d like to donate your time and talents, please visit our Volunteer page and we’ll hook you up!

If you want to make a one-time monetary donation, just fill in the amount in the box below.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

If you’d like to give something more tangible and specific, check out our wish list of items we need on a continuing basis.  And if you’d like to donate one or more of these items, e-mail us at info@thenewdepotplayers.com.

Wish List
- Cordless drill(s)
- Gift cards to Ace Hardware
- Trash bags: 13 gallon and mongo, huge
- If you have something you think we might need: Please email us at info@thenewdepotplayers.com before you go throwing out a perfectly good prop, costume or rare Rembrandt.

Places, Everyone ~ There’s always a place for you.

Click on this link to learn more and/or view the application.
Rules and regulations are included.

The Love Triangle and the Villain
Jeannie Garstecki–Josie Burgin Lawson
Norbert Garestcki–Joe Cloer
Pippi–Kaylee Bugg
Duke–Charles Swartout

The “Girls”
Betty–Patty Maguire
Lin–Kristel Wunderlin
Pickles–Courtney Bozaich

The Ensemble
Candice Bates
Connie Davis
Jaten Dimsdale
Ashley Hampton
Solita Johnson
Wendell Scott
Ashley Thacker

The show will run from July 16th through July 31st each show is listed on the calendar as a separate event.

Tickets for opening night can be purchased by clicking HERE

You can see each show on the calendar by clicking HERE

Back by Popular Demand!

Due to the run of NINE STRAIGHT SOLD-OUT SHOWS and the BUZZ around town from people that haven’t been able to see the show, we are officially announcing TWO extra shows of The Great American Trailer Park Musical this Friday and Saturday only, 8pm. Due to additional royalty costs ALL TICKETS WILL BE $20 GENERAL ADMISSION ONLY. No discounts for Students or Seniors.

There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres—and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil–loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband—the storms begin to brew…

The New Depot Players present: The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Written by David Nehls and based on the book by Betsy Kelso

Directed by Jay Tryall with Musical Direction by Jonathan Sparks

David Nehls (score) and Betsy Kelso (book and direction) have set their tuneful domestic melodrama in a North Florida trailer park, where having your baby kidnapped isn’t half as tragic as getting a bad perm. Both horrors have befallen Jeannie, who’s developed a severe case of agoraphobia and finds comfort spending her days lounging on the couch watching the guests on Oprah, Rickie and Montel prove that there are worse lives than hers. Her husband Norbert, frustrated with having a wife who won’t go further outside than as far as she can while keeping one hand on the door knob, has taken to spending his nights at the local strip club, where he becomes smitten with exotic dancer Pippi who, rather conveniently, has just moved into the trailer across the yard.

Pippi and Norbert discover a common bond when she vents out frustration about her profession. “Do you have any idea what it’s like”, she complains, “to make your living by collecting dollar bill after dollar bill after dollar bill?”

“Yes”, he replies, “I’m a toll collector.”

The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a fine example of mindless entertainment that doesn’t sacrifice good writing and an imaginative production. Some may call it a guilty pleasure, but if lovin’ The Great American Trailer Park Musical is bad, I don’t wanna be good.

Box Office opens 1 hour prior to start of show.  Doors open 1/2 hour prior to start of show.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (678) 374-3224.