The Portland Civic Players
- Mar 1, 2018

Escanaba In Da Moonlight Opens March 9 - Fun, Food & Flannel!

The Portland Civic Players spring production Escanaba In Da Moonlight by Jeff Daniels opens this weekend, Friday, March 9! The comedy is set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Players are excited to have partnered with two local organizations for this show. $5 from each ticket sold will go to benefit Ionia County Relay for Life, and, the Friends of the Red Mill will be selling pasties at intermission. To round out the true Yooper experience, anyone who wears flannel to the show will have the chance to win a Yooper door prize!

The story unfolds as the Soady clan reunites for the opening day of deer season at the family’s Upper Peninsula camp. Thirty-four-year-old Reuben Soady (Rory Miller) brings with him the infamous reputation of being the oldest Soady in the history of the Soadys never to bag a buck. Adding to the hilarity are Reuben’s father Albert Soady (Richard Hans), his brother Remnar Soady (Christian Powell), and Jimmer Negamanee (Jeff Massey), with surprise visit from the DNR officer Ranger Tom T. Treado (Clay Ramsey) and Reuben’s wife Wolf Moon Dance Soady (Shelley Perry). In a hunting story to beat all hunting stories, Escanaba In Da Moonlight spins a hilarious tale as Reuben goes to any and all lengths to remove himself from the wrong end of the family record book. The play is directed by Dr. Roger Miller and assistant director Shelley Perry.

Performance dates are March 9-11 and 16-17. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm with the Sunday performance at 3:00pm at the Portland Playhouse 231 Maple Street, Portland. Tickets are available by calling 517.647.4041 or online at PortlandCivicPlayers.com.

Top photo is The Jimmer (Jeff Massey, center), describes one of his "encounters" while (from left to right) Albert Soady (Richard Hans), Ranger Tom (Clay Ramsey), Reuben Soady (Rory Miller), and Remnar Soady (Christian Powell) look on.