Special to the PRESS
On Sept. 1, 17 and 18, 2024, El Paseo Arts Foundation [EPAF] will present a second production of the “joyful and charming” comedy, The Savannah Sipping Society by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten.
In October, 2023, EPAF presented The Savannah Sipping Society on a stage in the courtyard at the 2500 building. According to EPAF, the show looked beautiful, under the stars, and the opening night audience loved it. But the following night, the sky opened up, and the rain poured down, canceling the second slated performance. In addition, one of the four women in the cast tested positive for COVID-19 on the morning after the first performance. Many of the people who saw the show on the opening night asked El Paseo Arts to bring it back, and that is exactly what EPAF has been done.
In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all facing personal crises, are drawn together. Over the course of six months, filled with laugher, hilarious misadventures and the occasional liquid refreshment, these women find the confidence to jumpstart their new lives.
The cast includes Tess Ficcaglia as Randa Covington, who lost a partnership at her architectural firm and then lost her job. DeeOnda Ahadi plays Texas native Marlafaye Mosley, whose husband has left her for a young dental hygienist. Lucinda Wierenga is Dot Haigler, whose husband passed away just when they were beginning a new life together as retirees. Alexandrea Bailey rounds out the cast in her role as Jinx Jenkins, a self-proclaimed life coach and beautician who challenges the group to take some risks and get their lives moving in a positive direction.
Connie E. Muñoz directed the 2023 production and did a “wonderful job of staging it for the courtyard,” according to EPAF. JoAnn Evans takes over the reins for this season’s show which moves to the group’s usual stage at the SPI Convention Center.
Evans is assisted by Sofia Ivanna and Lisa Morey. Veteran actress and director Julie Boughter is the stage manager for the production, assisted by Erin Pena. The two of them have their hands full with the
many costume changes and dozens of props that must be readied for the actresses. Mark Haggenmiller will run the lights which are important in this show, according to EPAF. A spotlight effect is used to allow each character to speak directly to the audience, to share deeper insights about their feelings with the audience and to help make transitions from one scene to the next. Chrissy Dijkman takes over on sound for the first time. Wayne Lippoldt is the tech director, assisted by Haggenmiller, Danny Dollar and Dave Boughter for construction. Julie Boughter, Pena and Ivanna will manage the décor. Tropical Home Furnishings has provided the “beautiful” patio furniture.
Tickets for the play are $30 per person and $25 per person for El Paseo Arts members. Tickets are available for purchase at SOS, the SPI Art Business Incubator, the Art Gallery in Lighthouse Square and online at
www.elpaseoarts.org.
“The Savannah Sipping Society is a charming story of four strong women. Their shared journey is full of laughter, and each of the four women are complex characters portrayed by four talented actresses. So, raise your glass to toast this hilarious and heartwarming play and enjoy an evening of laughter, friendship and Southern charm,” stated EPAF.