IF YOU GOWhat: "Luck of the Draw."When: 7:30 tonight, Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25; 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 26.Where: Chattanooga State C.C. Bond Humanities Theatre, 4501 Amnicola Highway.Admission: $10 for first show. $5 to see it again and $20 for all eight performances.Phone: 697-3246.
"Luck of the Draw," a completely improvised Broadway-style musical, opens tonight at Chattanooga State Community College.
Created and directed by Sherry Landrum, the production features the Chattanooga State Repertory Theatre, "a cast of fearless actors performing death-defying feats of improvisatory acumen."
Their improvisation is entirely audience-determined, so it's never the same show twice.
"The audience fills out cards before the show -- a line of dialogue, a song title, a location," Landrum said. "The actors use these cards at anytime in the first act. During intermission, the audience fills out a new set of cards based on what happened in the first act. The whole musical is created by the luck of the draw."
Actor Jeff Parker said he has performed in "Luck of the Draw" for several years.
"It's extreme improv. We're creating a musical on the spot. We're making up songs. It's fun. It's scary. It's like the new Wild Eagle roller coaster at Dollywood -- once it starts, there's no stopping. Audiences love it because they create the show with their input."
Other cast members are Amber Brown, Amy Henricks, Jessie Knowles, Ryan Laskowski, Savannah Mazda, Roman Penney and Justin Wahlne. The show features Rex Knowles on the keyboard, Marianna Allen as the emcee and Sarah Prince as the dealer.