Get Yourself Up and Addams to ACTS Theatre in Lake Charles, Louisiana!

A dinner followed by playing a game seems like a normal situation when introducing families to each other. Yet, ther is nothing normal, when you're an Addams. Wednesday Addams (Abigail Clause) has met and fetl an instant attraction to Lucas Beineke (Jarod Cole Becton). Now she and Lucas have to deal with what their parents Gomez Addams (Joseph Comeaux), Morticia Addams (Katelyn "Liz" Bonnette), Mal Beineke (Trent Gaspard), and Alice Beineke (Alex Tyler) will think of each others' families. The entire tale is narrated by Uncle Fester (Jonah Alexander), who also has his own story.

With crazy Grandma Addams and her pet possum.

The rest of the well-known Addams family characters also join the cast. We get to see Wednesday lovingly torture Pugsley (Steven Jordan), Lurch (Jeff Johns) be the dutiful grunting butler, Cousin Itt (Erin Heath [who also plays the monster under the bed]) as the sweet hairy weird monster that the Addams can somehow understand, crazy Grandma Addams (Haileigh Miller) with all of her magic and potions, and even the disembodied hand, Thing (Kaylee Heath).

How does this attraction and family game night go? How does Uncle Fester's story fit in? You can find out by viewing the play on the ACTS stage.

The cast is rounded out with an ensemble of Addams family ancestors who are in a predicament of their own that gets them involved in Wednesdays' and Lucas's situation due to Uncle Fester. Joining the others are Bride Ancestor (Emma Brown), Puritan Ancestor (Andy Casanave), Air Hostess Ancestor (Lauryn Clark), Saloon Girl Ancestor (Catheryn Fredericks), Conquistador Ancestor (Gustavo Gutierrez), Disco Ancestor (Claire Hebert), Flapper Ancestor (Gianna Lewis), Cavewoman Ancestor (April Pettefer), Flower Girl Ancester (Angelika Salazar), Caveman Ancestor (K.C. Thompson), Soldier Ancestor (Ravyn Trahan), and Witch Ancestor (Kris Webster).

The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy wouldn't be a success if it weren't for the lights, music, costumes, and more.

The production is directed by Kathy Heath. The rest of the crew are Producers (Alex Tyler, Catherine Fredericks), Stage Manager (Zac Hammons), Assistant Stage Manager (Becca Holt), Music Director (Bryce Louviere), Choreographer (Kathy Heath), Stage Crew (Zac Hammons, Becca Holt, Landon Howell, Cast), Torture Rack & Drone Costume Creator (Kyle Brunner), Scenic Painting (Diane Flatt, Catheryn Fredericks, Angelika Salazar, Stacie Hebert, Claire Hebert, Kathy Heath, Becca Holt, Crystar Collins-Molitor, Daisy Fredericks, Elizabeth Morris), Master Electrician (Diki Jines), Lighting Design (Stan Morris), Lighting Execution (Allie Vidrine), Spotlights (Richard Dross, Jennie Stevens, Joshua Macer, Melissa Macer, Crystar Collins-Molitor, Dylan Conley), Microphone Management (Nico Edwards), Music & Projection Execution (Kathy Heath), Costumes (Alex Tyler, Daisy Fredericks, Kris Webster, Kathy Heath), Wig Styling & Makeup Plot (Alex Tyler), Prop Collection (Catheryn Fredericks, Alex Tyler, Kathy Heath, Kris Webster), Poster and Program Design (Kris Webster), Publicity (Kathy Heath, Catheryn Fredericks), Front of House (coordinated by Kris Webster), Reservations (Kris Webster, Markie Hebert, Kathy Heath), and Grouds Maintenance (Walt Kiser, Bobby Guillory, Kris Webster).

A notice of caution for those with sensitivities: a strobe light and a fog machine are used throughout the production. The production runs about three hours including the 15 minute intermission.

You have four more chances to catch this awesome production:

• Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 3pm.
• Friday, August 18, 2023 at 7:30pm.
• Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 7:30pm.
• Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 3pm.

" You can order tickets at The ACTS theatre Ovation Tix site.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students, and $10 for children 10 and under.

ACTS Theatre is located at 1 Reid Street in Lake Charles, Louisiana and can be contacted by visting The ACTS Theatre Facebook page. More information can be found by visiting The ACTS Theatre website.

ACTS Is Glowin', ACTS is Showin' . . . . Hello, Dolly!

A woman dressed in a fancy red dress decends a carpeted stairway and the famous "Hello" sung from E4 to G4 is heard while dancing waiters surround her. This is no other than Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, the person who meddles in everybody's business and even has an ulterior motive of her own. The role is expertly played by Sarah Broussard, a stage veteran. She is joined by a cast combined of stage veterans and those new to the stage to put on an excellent show at ACTS theatre in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Hello, Dolly! program and Sarah Broussard as Dolly Levi

Earlier, that very same set was used, but decorated completely differently, to be a feed store owned by Horace Vandergelder (Michael Ieyoub) who employed Cornelius Hackl (Kyle Brunner) and Barnaby Tucker (Parker Sonnier). The simple lighting is perfect for a show set in 1890s New York. And the choreography by Lauren Fontenot is amazing.

Other cast and crew include Cameron Guillory (Barnby Tucker on the 3rd weekend), Allison Schnake (Mrs. Irene Molloy), Becca Holt (Minnie Fay), Cameron Fultz (Ambrose Kemper), Crystar Collins-Molitor (Ermengarde), Kim Thibodeaux (Ernestina), Mark Herber (Rudolph Reisenweber), Jacob Voisin (Judge), Jenny Brunner (Music Director), Erioca Barrios (Ensemble), Meagan Clement (Ensemble), Julie Dyer (Ensemble), Olivia Kirland (Ensemble), Randilyn Lejeune (Ensemble), Trinitee Thibodeaux (Ensemble), John Paul Timpa (Ensemble), Ashley Vidrine (Ensemble), Veronica Welch (Ensemble), Kerry Wilson (Ensemble), Amanda Yellott (Ensemble), Walt Kiser (Director), Stan Morris (Lighting Design), Alloria Watson (Lighting Execution), Melissa Guillory (Dresser), and Caleb Roux (Microphone Management).

The production also wouldn't be possible without the following:

• Producers: Kyle Brunner, Kris Webster
• Stage Crew: Zac Hammons, Landon Howell, Anthony Wegria, Cast
• Set Design: "The Crew"
• Set Construction: Diki Jines, Gale Materne, Walt Kiser
• Scenic Painting: Diane Flatt, Lisa Sonnier
• Costumes: Anne Monlezun, Michael Ieyoub, Jenny Brunner, Fiore Lundja, Kris Webster, Veronice Welch, Sophia Thibodeaux
• Wigs: Dorothy, Abigail Petterfer, Sophia Thibodeaux
• Prop Collection: Katy Cole, Lisa Sonnier, Diane Flatt, Jenny Stephens, Kyle Brunner, Kris Webster

There are seven more chances to see this incredible show.

• Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 3pm
• Friday, June 16, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Sunday, June 18, 2023 at 3pm
• Friday, June 23, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 3pm

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students, and $10 for children. Tickets are available at the ACTS Theatre Ovation Tix Site.

ACTS Theatre is located at 1 Reid St, Lake Charles, LA 70601. ACTS Theatre can be contacted at (337) 433-2287.

I've been doing A LOT of healing - We'll be back to theatre content soon!

We'll be back to theatre content soon, but just to give y'all an update on what's been going on and why I've not even been able to write:

My body is doing A LOT of healing.

Back on October 18, 2021, I was found in an Altered Mental State in the hotel where I was staying. I was brought to Lake Charles Memorial. The doctors there put a leadless pacemaker in my heart (that's one that goes inside of your heart). I didn't really know this happened because they did not truly get my consent. They took advantage of me being in an altered mental state to get me to "sign" for them to do the operation. (Note: Don't trust Dr. Young or Dr. Thompson at Lake Charles Memorial, though I'd really not trust any of them there). The pacemaker was malfunctioning. Basically, every day that I was in the hospital after coming out of the Altered Mental State and out of ICU, I would tell the doctor assigned to me that my feet were vibrating and both doctors wouldn't believe me. Also, I was never assigned a cardiac team which is supposed to be done when you have any type of a heart operation, including a pacemaker. I got off of Norvasc, which had horrible side effects on me and also off of Protonix which closed my throat.

They also insisted that I was diabetic. I didn't think and purposely say it, but it came out of my mouth, "Are you sure I'm diabetic." So, after giving myself insulin for a few months, I finally got the doctor that I was seeing to take a look at all of my records of my blood sugar and what I ate and insulin injections and she said, "I don't think you're diabetic. Eat like normal and quit using all insulin products." I was so relieved that she tested my blood sugar two more times when I ate like I normally would and it was found that I'm not diabetic. Lantus was giving me really low blood pressure.

I had to write 30 letters about the pacemaker. One went to the doctor (really nurse practitioner) that I was seeing as she wouldn't listen to me, one went to my sister's former doctor who is really nice, and 28 went to cardiologists from Houston, TX to New Orleans, LA. I was contacted by one in Houston and scheduled to see another. Dr. Amish Dave put the pacemaker into OVO mode which is supposed to make it so it is just like a constant EKG. The pacemaker still made my feet and other body parts vibrate along with making a really weird feeling in my ears. I don't remember when it was that I finally switched local doctors, but I know that when I did, I still had the pacemaker (A Micra AV) and my doctor looked in my ears and asked why it was all brown and she couldn't see. I could only tell her that I didn't know. But, I do know the pacemaker was making my ears feel all funny like the canals had this weird lining all around the edges. I bet the pacemaker was making the wax line the edges of my ear canals with all of those vibrations.

Dr. Mihail Chelu turned the pacemaker off permently. It was supposed to be that way, anyway. However, the thing NEVER turned off. It kept vibrating. I finally got to see Dr. David Burkland who came into Lake Charles from Houston. He wasn't comfortable with doing the operation, but he told me who I needed to see! So, immediately after that appointment, I called to make an appointment with Dr. John Joseph Seger. I went to that appointment which seemed a bit strange, but it was only because it took quite a long time. Yet, that was also good that somebody was paying attention! I got an, "Okay, it can come out."

Between this appointment and the operation to get the pacemaker removed, things got much worse and I starting worrying. The pacemaker started really hurting in my chest. It had never been comfortable, but it was HURTING and SO PAINFUL. A medical/antiseptic smell was coming from my chest. I could easily smell it. Radar, my little service dog, could easily smell it, too. She was constantly poking her nose at my chest and letting me know that something was wrong. (It's not like she wasn't trying to tell me that something was wrong before that, because she definitely was, but I couldn't do anything other than what I had been doing as local doctors weren't listening to me and were even trying to make me feel guilty for their ignorance and negligence).

On June 22, 2022, the pacemaker was removed! I was SO HAPPY, though even after the anesthesia wore off, I had some major dizziness for awhile and my feet still had MAJOR tingling in them. I read about how it takes nerves a very long time to heal. Well, that pacemaker REALLY messed up my nerves. Even as I am writing this, my nerves still tingle. It's mostly the nerves in my feet, but the nerves in my ears still often have a funny feeling and sometimes the rest of the nerves in my body feel a bit odd, too. That usually stops once I'm up and moving around. I can tell my nerves have gotten much better, though. At first, my feet REALLY tingled. It was SO STRONG that it was very irritating. Then, about three months in, the tingling stopped being so strong all of the time, but it was still REALLY STRONG when I woke up in the mornings. My nerves would feel "blinky" or "buzzy" before calming down. Now, the tingling is mostly even throughout the day, and I can mostly just stand what is happening. However, I will be so glad once my nerves fully heal.

Oh, and the other thing that the pacemaker did was give me HORRIBLE brain fog! Like, I know that 2*9=18. Easy. It's very easy now. But, with the brain fog, my mind would do things like think, 2*8=7, even though I KNEW it was wrong. It was so hard to think and it was so hard to catch typos. Sure, I still make typos, but now, I catch them more often. Back with the pacemaker, I might see one of three after I had written something. Now, I tend to see them all after they happen, and my own typos still drive me crazy. It's good to have my brain back. It does its normal non-stop thinking stuff, which honestly, makes me quite happy. I like having my brain back.

Also, I broke my collarbone back in August 2021 and while the main part has healed, it still gets very sore. I read how it can actually take years for a collarbone to fully heal, and so far, it seems like that's what mine wants to do. Because of this, I actually sleep in a recliner that I have in this hotel room (the plan is to get a room and a bathroom in where I live so then I can actually start living in my house and I'll be SO GLAD when that happens!) Yes, this is because of the insurance company I had not paying the full amount for my house to be repaired after Hurricanes Laura and Delta.