Alliance for the Arts presents bittersweet comedy ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’
Performances are March 16 – 18 and 23 – 25 at 7:30 p.m. and March 26 at 2 p.m.
Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts is proud to present The Hatmaker’s Wife. First premiering Off-Broadway in 2013, this whimsical and poignant play based on a book by the same title, made its way down to our very own Fould’s Theatre.
The expression, “if these walls could talk,” comes true for a young woman who moves into an old home with her boyfriend. Expecting to be happy living together, the couple find it less than ideal and soon the woman hears a wall speaking to her and begins receiving notes. It appears the wall wants to help this couple by sharing the story of two former residents, a hatmaker and his wife. The hatmaker is upset about his long-suffering wife leaving him after decades of marriage as well as the loss of his favorite hat. But there’s a reason for this bizarre communication and stories about true love never get old.
This bittersweet comedy will have you believing in the possibility of transcending worlds where love and family will always remain the most important aspects of life. This sweet and surreal story bends time and space to redefine the idea of family, home, and true love itself.
The production is generously sponsored by Janet and Bruce Bunch.
Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members and available at ArtInLee.org or by calling the box office at 239-939-2787. Performances are March 16 – 18 and 23 – 25 at 7:30 p.m. and March 26 at 2 p.m.
About the Actors
Madelaine Weymouth (Voice) is a freelance actor and director in Southwest Florida. She has had starring roles at the Alliance for the Arts in The Cake and Baskerville, Botticelli in the Fire and Sex Tips For Straight Women From a Gay Man at the Lab Theater, and at the Studio Players in Nuts and Venus in Fur. She has directed The Parking Lot for Theater Conspiracy. Previously, she has directed The Thanksgiving Play, Trap, Five Times in One Night, The Wolves, and others for the Laboratory Theater of Florida. She has been named one of ArtSWFL’s 31 influential women in the Southwest Florida art scene in 2021, starred in 2020’s Critics Choice winner of the Lab Theater’s 24 Hour Screenwriting Contest, and directed the 2019 Audience Choice winner of the 24 Hour Playwriting Contest. She is thankful for Carmen, Bill, her castmates and crew, TJ, and her friends and family for their continual support.
Kendra Weaver (Voice of Wall) is delighted to be (sorta) back on the Theater Conspiracy stage. You last saw her play the role of “Goodman” in Men on Boats at Theater Conspiracy. She regularly appears as “Mom” and “Wife” in the new dramady Our Crazy Life, which also stars her hilarious husband and two rambunctious kids.
Jim Yarnes (Meckel) is celebrating his 43rd season on stage. He has done many shows with the Gulf Coast Opera Co., Broadway Palm, and Cape Coral’s Cultural Park Theatre. But Jim considers the Alliance for the Arts his home. His most recent show was John Patrick Shanley’s play Outside Mullingar. Jim would like to thank Bill Taylor and Carmen Crussard for the opportunity to work with such a talented cast in this wonderful Lauren Yee play. Special thanks to his wife Lyn for her love and support.
Also starring Joan Hailey (Hetchman’s wife), Scott Thompson (Hetchman), Bryan Dworkin (Golem), and Giuseppe Loduca (Gabe).
About the Director
Carmen Crussard has been directing in Southwest Florida for the past 10 years, but this is her first directing gig with Theatre Conspiracy, although she has been the Youth Theatre Director at Alliance for the Arts since 2012. The Hatmaker’s Wife is a beautiful and poignant story that is sure to move audiences with its authenticity and dazzle them with its whimsy. When Carmen is not directing community theater, she works full time as the Theater Director at Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts. She also continues to serve as the Youth Theater Director at Alliance for the Arts and is determined to shape the next generation of theater artists in Southwest Florida.
About Alliance for the Arts
The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook, Instagram or follow on Twitter.
Source: Alliance for the Arts