With back-stabbing Southern belle Ginger ready to take her part and unscrupulous reporter Billy ready to catch her in a snit, Stella Devine may not know what hit her.
To sort out what happens to the fictional aging star of the Popular Ritz Theatre, the DeKalb County Children’s Advocacy Center will present the comedy “Divine Stella Devine” as its 17th annual dinner-theater fundraiser beginning Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Fort Payne, Ala.
“It’s a good, clean Southern comedy,” said Elizabeth Wheatley, executive director of the center. “It’s silliness with a story behind it.”
The family-friendly play is written and directed by Eddie McPherson, a Fort Payne native who is a high school drama teacher at South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Ga. He also will be playing a small role in the play.
In the comedy, Stella and her fellow actors are preparing for the epic play “Civil War Darlin’s,” written by the theater’s playwright in residence, who has written starring roles for Stella for 20 years. Enter Ginger, who worships Stella but wants to steal Stella’s starring role. Eventually she lies and cons her way into Stella’s part.
IF YOU GO* What: “Divine Stella Devine.”* When: 6:30 p.m. CST Thursday-Feb. 12, Feb. 14 and Feb. 17-19.* Where: First United Methodist Church, 225 Gault Ave. North, Fort Payne, Ala.* Admission: $20.* Phone: 256-997-9700.
Along the way, the audience meets, among the 18 cast members, newspaper reporter Billy and his girlfriend, Loeta; the twins, Brad and Chad; bad toupee-laden Trevor, an equally bad actor who believes he is fighting the Civil War; a dimwitted stage beauty; and an overbearing stage mom.
Wheatley said the annual dinner theater is the center’s biggest fundraiser and typically clears $60,000.
“It helps us with a cash match for grants we write,” she said, “and for operating expenses that grants do not cover.”
The Children’s Advocacy Center is a nonprofit, social-services agency that serves children victimized by sexual abuse, as well as at-risk children and families.
The dinner will be served nightly by some 30 to 40 volunteers from Fort Payne area businesses, county government and schools.
“We like to say it’s good food and good fun for a good cause,” said Wheatley.