Rex Knowles, director of Theatre Programs

rex.knowles@chattanoogastate.edu

(423) 697-3246

The Chattanooga State Repertory Theatre brings back Luck of the Draw, Chattanooga’s only completely improvised Broadway musical, opening Friday August 12, 2011 and running for three weekends.

Created and directed by Sherry Landrum, Luck of the Draw features a cast of fearless actors performing death-defying feats of improvisatory acumen. At each performance the cast will create a new musical with input from the audience.

Director Landrum explains how the audience participates. “The audience fills out cards before the show – a line of dialogue, a song title, a location. The actors use these cards at anytime in the first act. During intermission, the audience fills out a new set of cards based on what happened in the first act. The whole musical is created by ‘The Luck of the Draw’.”

Jeff Parker, self-appointed spokesperson for the group, explains Luck of the Draw in terms we can all understand. “It’s Xtreme Improv. It’s to improv what Ultimate Fighter is to…I don’t know…something. It’s what Captain America would do if he weren’t so busy fighting crime. It’s EPB fiber optics internet connection on steroids. It’s Xfinity to the Xfinity power. In quantum physics, it’s the orbit that orbits the Bohr orbit. It’s to improv what string theory is to a yoyo. It’s the paradox of paradox. The context of context. The meaning of meaning. It’s what is is. Do we need any more examples? I got a million.”

The cast stars the Evel Knievels of improv Marianna Allen, Bobbi Burks, Amy Henricks, Sydney Hooper, Jessie Knowles, Malachi Nimmons, Jeffrey Benson Parker, Roman Penney, Ellen Poole, Justin Wahlne, and Hannah Wilson.

The cost to see this never seen before (or again) musical is $10. Returning patrons can see the show again for $5 – after all, it’s a new Broadway musical every performance. If you’re really into the show, $20 will admit you to all nine performances. Rex Knowles, who plays keyboard for the show, has this guarantee: “You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kiss your money good-bye.”