On Dec. 14, 1936, “You Can’t Take it With You” was performed for the first time at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. It would go on to be performed 838 times and win the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as undergo multiple revivals, the most recent by local performance group Theatre Tuscaloosa.
The play revolves around the straight-laced Kirby family and the free-spirited Sycamore family, who get pulled together by the love blossoming between their eldest children. It leads to nonstop chaos and hilarity, culminating in a lesson on how life should be lived.
This will be far from Theatre Tuscaloosa’s first performance of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play; they have done other award-winners such as “Doubt,” “Death of a Salesman,” “Lost in Yonkers” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.” However, the show’s director and producer Tina Turley said she selected this play specifically because she felt it was a good comedy that stands the test of time.
“[Directing the play] has been just delightful,” Turley said. “When I get to do a show like this that has that really deep-hearted message wrapped in laughter, it’s a really joyful experience for me.”
(See also “Bama students audition for Broadway“)
Glen Johnson, who plays Mr. De Pinna, said he finds his character enjoyable. However, no matter how much of a joy it is to perform, this play was far from easy, he said.
“We work hard in the theater,” Turley said. “I think people might be surprised at how many hours we put in. Comedy is very difficult.”
Despite the difficulty, a multitude of UA students and alumni are involved in the play, both behind the scenes and on stage. Six of the 17 roles, the play are filled by current UA students, including one of the lead roles of Alice Sycamore. Alumni fill five more roles, while also taking six of the 12 crew positions. Turley obtained her masters of fine arts degree in theater at the Capstone, and Johnson obtained a masters of library and information sciences degree at the University in 1982.
(See also “UATD presents dynamic ‘Blood Wedding’“)
The two dedicated alumni said they want to please the crowds with this show.
“I hope it will make people laugh,” Johnson said.
Turley said she shares this sentiment but also has another hope for the audience.
“I hope they’ll come, enjoy themselves and walk out sort of feeling positively about their experience in the theater, but also just stop and go, ‘Maybe I need to stop and smell the flowers a little more,’” Turley said.
“You Can’t Take it With You” premieres with a “pay what you can” final dress rehearsal tonight, with all proceeds benefiting the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund. Official shows will run from Friday to Sunday, April 13, with ticket prices ranging from $12-17. All shows will be held in the Bean-Brown Theatre at the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College.
(See also “‘Always, Patsy Cline’ coming to Bean-Brown“)
