Newburgh company again is offering dinner theatre with 3 performances
NEWBURGH, Ind. – Nothing beats an evening of live entertainment, unless it’s an evening of live entertainment with food.
After a break because of COVID, Newburgh Community Theater, Limited, is bringing back dinner theatre with three performances of "Love, Sex and the IRS."
“This production is hilarious − really funny,” said Margaret Dennis, board member and producer of this fall’s show. “Despite the word ‘sex’ in the name, it’s pretty PG-13. Our director Leanne Germann is incredibly experienced. She’s originally from Newburgh but has lived in Florida for decades, acting and directing both professionally and in community theatre.”
The theatre company doesn’t have its own building, so locations change from show to show. In the past, most productions were held at Preservation Hall, but this year the venue is the American Legion Kapperman Post 44.
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The company operated as part of Historic Newburgh Inc. for a few years before becoming a separate entity.
“We basically just wanted to bring theatre to Newburgh,” Dennis said. “Evansville, Owensboro, and Princeton all have theatre, but Newburgh didn’t.”
It was in 2016, when the company began doing “not quite dinner theatre,” that they really found their niche.
“We discovered that people loved the concept of food and entertainment in one package,” Dennis said. “We were performing at Preservation Hall and they don’t have a full kitchen, so we had finger food like little quiches and mozzarella sticks. Then Archie and Clyde’s partnered with us for a few years and would bring in the food, and it started to be actual dinner theatre. There’s so much good theatre in the Tri-State, but nobody was serving food. Every time we do it, we sell out.”
The American Legion location is perfect for this, Dennis said, because the room is large with space for a big stage and tables to seat almost 130 people, there is a full bar, and the Legion provides popular catering on-site.
On the menu is hand-breaded fried chicken and parmesan-crusted baked chicken breast tenders, mashed potatoes, green beans, slaw and rolls with dessert. Vegetarian lasagna is available by pre-order. There will be a cash bar.
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“We thought about doing something other than fried chicken because we thought we shouldn’t have two chicken entrees, but everyone said ‘oh, the American Legion’s fried chicken is famous, it is so good!” Dennis said. “You can’t argue with what the public wants.”
The food will be served cafeteria-style with your choice of entrée. Tables are large rounds and there is general admission, so sit where you like.
The doors and bar will open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6 p.m., the show starts at 7 p.m. and dessert will be served during intermission. Tickets are $32.
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Intrigued? "Love, Sex and the IRS" is a 1979 comedy by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore. In it, Jon Trachtman and his (male) friend Leslie Arthur are out of work musicians and roommates. Jon has been filing taxes as a married couple to save money.
Then the Internal Revenue Service informs the “couple” they’re going to be investigated. Leslie must masquerades as a housewife, aided by Jon’s fiancée, Kate. Complicating matters further, Leslie and Kate are having an affair behind Jon’s back, Jon’s mother drops in unexpectedly to meet her son’s fiancée, and Leslie’s ex-girlfriend shows up demanding to know why Leslie has changed and won’t see her anymore.
IF YOU GO
What: Love, Sex and the I.R.S dinner theatre
When: Friday, Sept. 30 from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 from 6-9 p.m., and Sunday, Oct 2 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: American Legion Kapperman Post #44, 711 State Street Newburgh, Ind.
Price: $32.50
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Newburgh Community Theater offering dinner theatre at American Legion
