'Royal Family' waits in the wings at Theatre Centre

February 4, 2016 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated February 5, 2016 at 5:28 a.m.

by Staff Report

A telegram from Tony Cavendish in Hollywood tells the family he's in trouble … again. From left are Fanny Cavendish, the family matriarch (played by Kitty Reel); Delia, the maid (Melissa Moon McCollum), Gwen Cavendish, the third-generation actor (Megan Cobb, peering over the shoulder); Kitty Cavendish, Broadway's leading lady (Kendra Gross); Kitty Dean, an actress (Tosha Kranz); and Herbert Dean, her husband and Fanny's brother (Mike Pala).
A telegram from Tony Cavendish in Hollywood tells the family he's in trouble … again. From left are Fanny Cavendish, the family matriarch (played by Kitty Reel); Delia, the maid (Melissa Moon McCollum), Gwen Cavendish, the third-generation actor (Megan Cobb, peering over the shoulder); Kitty Cavendish, Broadway's leading lady (Kendra Gross); Kitty Dean, an actress (Tosha Kranz); and Herbert Dean, her husband and Fanny's brother (Mike Pala).

If you go

› What: “The Royal Family.”› When: Friday, Feb. 5-Sunday, Feb. 21.› Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.› Admission: $25 and $12.50 ($30 opening night).› Phone: 423-267-8534.› Website: www.TheatreCentre.com.

Show times and special programming

› Friday, Feb. 5: 8 p.m., gala opening› Saturday, Feb. 6: 8 p.m.› Thursday, Feb. 11: 7 p.m., captioning for hearing-impaired› Friday, Feb. 12: 8 p.m., ghostlight talk-back› Saturday, Feb. 13: 8 p.m.› Sunday, Feb. 14: 2:30 p.m., Valentine’s Day celebration› Thursday, Feb. 18: 7 p.m.› Friday, Feb. 19: 8 p.m., Girls Night Out› Saturday, Feb. 20: 8 p.m.› Sunday, Feb. 21: 2:30 p.m.

Long before the Kardashians hit the airwaves, Americans had a love for celebrity. And on the Broadway stage, no one grabbed more headlines than the Barrymores, America's own royal family.

The story of John, Ethel and the rest of the Barrymores is parodied in "The Royal Family," a comedy by George Kaufman and Edna Ferber, opening Friday, Feb. 5, for a 10-show run through Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

In "The Royal Family," the Barrymores are thinly disguised as the Cavendish family - three generations of legendary American actors facing threats to the family name and reputation from Hollywood, unwanted suitors and marrying outside the family business. But matriarch Fanny Cavendish (played by Kitty Reel) rules the family with a combination of strength, wit, courage and a sharp tongue, proving that the show indeed, must (and will) go on.

Kendra Gross and Jim Eernisse play Fanny's children, Julie and Anthony. Tim Newland is Julie's new love interest, Gilbert Marshall. Mike Pala and Tosha Kranz are Fanny's brother and sister-in-law. Megan Cobb is Gwen, a third-generation Cavendish, who is engaged to Perry Stewart, played by Manny Clark. Carlton Thomas is the Cavendish family's longtime agent.

The cast also includes Forrest Rane DeFelice, David Howard, Katie Olsen, Hunter Finnegan and Melissa Moon McCollum. Brian Rogers serves as stage manager. Patrick Sweetman directs.

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