After more than a year and a half, The Lake Country Players are returning to the stage to share the magic of live theater once again! The delightful comedy “Southern Fried Funeral” will be presented Aug. 12,13,14 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Festival Hall in downtown Greensboro. Back are many favorite performers and some terrific newcomers as well. Tickets are $20 and are on sale now. Just go to lakecountryplayers.org to purchase. 

This production is special for a number of reasons. Not only is it the first LCP production since COVID restrictions were lifted, but it is also the first truly collaborative production between the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts (PAPA), and Lake Country Players (LCP). Dennis McClain and Sarah Daly Weir, veteran directors from PAPA are co-directing the show. 

“We have a number of talented actors from LCP and PAPA who are working together for the first time,” commented McClain. Weir added, “This has been a great experience. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate.” 

The story revolves around the Frye family of New Edinburgh, Miss. Family Patriarch, Dewey Frye has passed unexpectedly and the rest of his family is left to pick up the pieces — that is if they don’t kill each other first. Matriarch Dorothy has to contend with sudden widowhood as well as church-committee harpy Ozella Meeks sticking her nose in the family business, Dewey’s snake-in-the-grass brother Dub making a grab for her house, and grown daughters Harlene and Sammy Jo reliving their childhood rivalry. 

LCP Board Chair and Artistic Director Maureen Brower sums it up. 

“As difficult as 2020 was, I realized that I hadn’t taken the time to truly appreciate the many blessings in my life. This is why I believe ‘Southern Fried Funeral’ is the perfect production to celebrate our return to the stage. We all know the importance of family, friends and community but sometimes we take them for granted or we don’t realize what we have until they’re gone. The characters in SFF portray these ideals in a heartfelt way but are hilariously funny as southerners can often be. I hope you have as much fun watching SFF as we have performing this.” 

Go to lakecountryplayers.org for tickets, or call 762-233-0039 for assistance.