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The Trip To Bountiful

By Horton Foote

Directed by Peter Hughes.

This is the poignant story of Mrs. Watts, an aging widow living with her son and daughter-in-law in a three-room flat in Houston, Texas. Fearing that her presence may be an imposition on others, and chafing under the rigid and selfish supervision of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Watts imagines that if she can get away and return to her old home in the town of Bountiful, she is sure to regain her strength, dignity and peace of mind. So she attempts to run away, and when she reaches a bus station on the last part of her short journey, she falls into the hands of a sheriff whom her son and daughter-in-law have put on her trail. The sheriff, a kindly fellow, allows her to complete the final stage of her journey, so she proceeds to Bountiful and makes a lonely pilgrimage to the scene of her hold home. Only too soon she learns that the friends of her youth have all died or scattered, and her home is no longer the spacious mansion of her memories, but a crumbling wreck. But she has the supreme satisfaction of plunging her hands into the strength-giving earth, and this leaves her with a sense of that strength and dignity which will give her the courage to survive. When her son and daughter-in-law appear on the scene to take her back to Houston, she consents to return quietly, secure in the knowledge that the remainder of her existence will be enriched as a result of her last contact with Bountiful.

Director's Notes

Thank you for joining us. We have had a most breathtaking journey bringing this production to life. If nothing else, I hope you are reminded that the peace we so often attach to the future, as well as to the past, exists in the beauty of this moment. The healing power of Now.

- Peter Hughes

Cast

Kerry Beebe Carrie Watts

Kerry Beebe has appeared with the Evergreen Players in Lion in Winter, Noises Off, All in the Timing and Haiku, for which she won the Best Actress award at the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition Festival in 1999. She works for Questar Market Resources, plays the cello and is a long distance runner. "Many thanks to the Players and especially to my beloved husband, Scott."

Davis Bennett Ticket Man

Davis Bennett lives on capitol hill in Denver and works downtown. In addition to his theater work in Evergreen, he has appeared onstage at The Theatre on Broadway, Littleton Town Hall, The Aurora Fox and The Denver Civic, among others. He finds that doing theater in Evergreen is well worth the drive because of the wonderful people involved in theatre up here and because of his need to get his "theater fix."

Mike Carrara Stage Manager

Michael Carrara has been a supporter of the arts his whole life. His involvement behind-the-scenes began with Lost in Yonkers as an upholsterer and set dresser. In addition to stage managing, he aspires to learn and participate in as many other facets of theatre as possible.

Shane Delavan Ludie Watts

Shane Delavan was most recently seen in Judevine for the Evergreen Players. You may also have seen him Evergreen Players productions of The Foreigner, La Cage aux folles, and All in the Timing. He also has performed in musicals throughout Denver-recently Into the Woods and A Chorus Line. Shane also enjoys singing with Opera Colorado and in various volunteer and semi-professional choral groups throughout Denver.

Molly Epstein Producer

Molly Epstein was the Administrator for the Evergreen Players from September 1998 to April 2001 and has been on its Board of Directors since that time. Molly currently is Marketing Associate for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and a volunteer with Mt. Evans Hospice in Evergreen. It looks like she has found her niche in the world of not-for-profits!

Fran Gibson Costume Design

Fran Gibson has assisted with costumes for Bye-Bye, Birdie, La Cage aux folles, A Thousand Clowns, Something's Afoot, Crimes of the Heart and The Boy Friend. By day, she works in her own business as a facial massage therapist and also substitute teaches at mountain schools.

Din Golden Jessie Mae Watts

Din Manobla is happy to be returning to the stage with the Evergreen Players. She was last seen as Grace in Judevine last year and won an All-State acting award for her performance at the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition festival. Other shows she has enjoyed working on here at Center/ Stage include All in the Timing, Bye-Bye, Birdie, Broadway Bound and Working. Din lives in Evergreen with her husband David and sons, Isaac and Wyatt.

Peter Hughes Director

Peter Hughes has worked at Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles Music Center Opera and Summer Repertory Theatre. Recent directing credits include The Secret Garden, Working, The Lion in Winter, Haiku, Steel Magnolias, All In The Timing, La Cage aux folles, I Hate Hamlet, Judevine, The Boy Friend, and Lend Me A Tenor. Peter will direct the Players' summer production of Cinderella. For the past two years Peter has been the Artist-in-Residence with the Players, an assignment which he will complete the end of February 2003.

Lisa Kraai Thelma

Lisa Kraai has done three productions with the Evergreen Players. You may recognize her from her performance as Annelle in Steel Magnolias and Laura Cate/Carol Hopper in Judevine. She just cannot pass up an opportunity to work with the talented Peter Hughes! In addition to EP, Lisa has worked with Main Street Players in Littleton. Some favorite credits include A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Dining Room, Eleemosynary and Lovers: Winners for which she won the Best Actress Award at nationals.

Steve Moody Sheriff

Steve Moody studied music and voice while growing up in the New Orleans area. He performed in numerous variety shows and music festivals during and beyond college. This is Steve's second production with the Evergreen Players, he was Percival Browne in last summer's production of The Boy Friend. Steve would especially like to thank Peter Hughes for the opportunities and encouragement he's given him during these two productions.

Renye Ress Producer

Renye Ress began working with the Players since 1999, when she proposed to organize and co-direct their summer drama camp. In 2001, she joined the Players' Board of Directors. This year she will chair the Players' Education committee, and design the set for Over the River and Through the Woods. This is her first show as producer. If you are reading this, she thinks she may have pulled it off!

Production Crew

Images from The Trip To Bountiful

Photography by Ellen Nelson and other volunteers.

Ludie (Shane Delavan) and Jessie Mae (Din Manobla) meet Thelma (Lisa Kraai) at the Houston Bus Station

Jessie Mae (Din Manobla) and Thelma (Lisa Kraai); "I hope you're lucky enough not to have to fool with any in-laws"

The Ticket Man (Davis Bennett) can't sell Mrs Watts (Kerry Beebe) a ticket to Bountiful; "...the book don't lie"

Ludie (Shane Delavan) and Mrs Watts (Kerry Beebe) reach Bountiful; "Now you're here, wouldn't you like to come inside, son, and look around?"

Cast & Crew of 'The Trip To Bountiful' at the Colorado Community Theater Coalition Festival in Littleton