THEATRE + COMEDY

The Ensemble Theatre brings the seventies back with laughter in its season comedy, Livin' Fat, by award winning playwright Judi Ann Mason, opening April 30, 2009, 7:30pm.

"The dialogue you hear was intentionally peppered with the hip lexicon of my generation," says Judi Ann Mason, Livin' Fat playwright. "The title, Livin' Fat, came from the hot, spicy language of '70s black cool."

Livin Fat introduces audiences to the Cooper family, whose money may be tight, but their affection for each other is limitless. Everything changes, however, when son David Lee, a college graduate forced by the economy to work as a bank janitor, interrupts a robbery. In their haste to get away the thieves drop a bundle of money, which David Lee picks up-it's $15,000. When the family finds out where the money came from, their scruples are tested, but they finally agree that the Lord works in mysterious ways and this time he's working for them.

"Things are so tense with our nations' economic climate, I knew the situation in which the Cooper family finds themselves would not only make us laugh, but spur our imagination to wonder," says Eileen J. Morris, Ensemble Artistic Director and Director of Livin' Fat. "Throw in the fact that this story takes place in the 70s, complete with bellbottoms, platform shoes, and the language of the times and you got one far out show with some real psychedelic vibes, you dig?"

Playwright Judi Ann Mason was the first person awarded the Norman Lear Award for comedy writing from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for her play, Livin' Fat, while attending Grambling State University. She later won the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award for A Star Ain't Nothin' But A Hole In Heaven. A few of her television, film, and other stage credits include: Good Times, Sanford and Son, A Different World, Beverly Hills, 90210; Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Motherland and the Emmy Award/CableACE Award nominated Sophie And The Moonhanger; and The Cornbread Man and Indigo Blues. She continues to teach playwriting for a number of universities such as the University of Florida, Gainsville, University of Louisville, and others.

Production Run: Apr. 25– May 24, 2009
Preview Dates: Apr. 25, 26 & 29
Opening Night: Apr. 30
Student Matinees: May 6, 13 & 20

Pictured: Frank Frazier, (detail) Colors & Symbols, 2007. Collection of the artist.