As families headed back to North Texas deeming a close to spring break, one group didn’t give a hoot! Regardless of the day, the WaterTower Theatre had something to crow about on Sunday, March 15.
The Addison-based theatre group hunkered down at Lynn and Allan McBee’s century-old home in Highland Park to break the news. They were going to have the world premiere of Donald Fowler’s Creep…the Very, Very Sad and Unfortunately True and Completely Fabricated Tale of Jack the Ripper (aka as Creep to its friends.
But before the announcement was made by WaterTower Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin, the McBee household filled to capacity with such WaterTower-loving types as Karol Omlor and Holly and Tom Mayer.
Host Allan took one guest for a tour of the basement, where the original owner had a “special place” to store his beverages during the Prohibition Era.
At 6:40, the show was on with Terry making the formal announcement that included the news that Philadelphia’s 11th Hour Theatre Company Associate Producer Kate Galvin would be directing the production.
Donald told hints and tidbits about the musical reading from cards assuring that he would stay on script. He admitted that the question of who was the ripper is not revealed. Rather the production focuses on the “harsh and inhumane condition of the period, an indifference toward children and a savage lifestyle [that] all conspired to create an environment conducive to violence and sexual deviance.”
After a couple of songs from the musical were performed, attorney Nick Even revealed that 30% of the $75,000 goal had been raised thanks to the likes of Frost Bank and Pinnacle. To meet the goal, a special fundraising campaign — the WaterTower Theatre 2015 Producers’ Circle — had been created that Nick is chairing.
He told of the plans benefiting those who hopped on board with financial assistance. One perk was the Producers’ Circle Gala Preview, a Sunday night dinner and first-ever-official performance on October 4 being orchestrated by Event Chair Barbara Daseke.