IN THE PRESS

by Teri Mathis, February 2026

Rosenberg, TX - After the August, 2025 fire gutted Cast Theatrical Company’s home of 35 years, this resilient group continues to provide exceptional entertainment to Fort Bend County. The current production is “Honky Tonk Hissy Fit”, written by Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones, and Nicholas Hope, running through Sunday, February 22. Doors open at 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:00 pm on Sundays.

Cast’s temporary home is located at 1117 First Street, in the former First Baptist Church (Highway 36 and Avenue I). There are plenty of safe parking spaces and easy access to the theater.

The small town of Doublewide, Texas is home to some (ahem) colorful residents, all of whom love their little world of straight-up Southern. Then along comes trouble in the person of Harper Channing, an outsider, superbly played by Elizabeth Ashley Walker. Her portrayal of Maddie in last year’s “Murder in the Wings” was spot-on, and her Baylor Theater chops are on splendid display in Hissy Fit. Elizabeth’s last-minute addition to the cast makes her performance all the more dazzling.

Speaking of dazzle, the magnificent Danielle Mari chews up the scenery with her star-turn as Caprice Crumpler, the town’s celebrity. Danielle has blessed Cast’s patrons with many thrilling performances and this role gives her a character with endless high-theater opportunities and she grabs on with a blingy vengeance; think ‘to the hilt’. Caprice’s daughter, Joveeta, played solidly by Sylvie Parris, turns out to be the adult in the room, making the momentous decision that could save the town from ruin. It’s fun to see her as Doublewide’s town mayor wearing a Texas Longhorn T-shirt on stage, in all its orangeness. 

Speaking of orange, Caitlyn Dethloff and Tom Rayder portray the would-be, finally happening couple, Georgia Dean and Nash. Their turn as carrots, dressed in head-to-toe orange, is memorable and hilarious. Caitlyn’s pivotal role in the play showcases her mastery of the craft. She is flawless. Tom’s Nash is handsome and believable as Georgia Dean’s ardent suitor, as we cheer on his efforts.

Caprice’s significant other, Haywood Sloggett, played by Bruce Peterson, must walk a fine line between stoic strength (to counter Caprice’s wild, big personality) and loving patience (to counter Caprice’s wild, big personality), which Bruce did amazingly well. Kudos to the man brave enough to don a strawberry outfit. And sing.

Is Honky Tonk Hissy Fit funny? Well, Betty Crocker on a stick, yes!  It is admittedly low-brow (in all honesty, not my favorite genre), but dang, it’s as if the writers knew exactly what their audience needed now. And did the costume managers channel Edith Head? Every costume was inspired!

Director Darin Mielke cast everyone perfectly (were they really acting?) so it may be redundant to say that one of our favorites, Stephanie Phillips grabbed us and never let go as Big Ethel Satterwhite. She had her way with Big Ethel and it is classic Stephanie. Big Ethel’s iron-willed goal that a Doublewide resident win the big dance contest provided one of the funniest elements of the entire play. 

Reagan Wrench, as Norwayne “Baby” Crumpler, with Big Ethel’s coaching, no doubt won the dance contest. Reagan, returning at long last to Cast’s stage and obviously a seasoned performer, won the hearts of the audience as he unforgettably danced his heart out, with remarkable abandon. 

Our beloved Tricia Yurcak, as Lark Barken, has done it again. A transplant to Doublewide from Oregon, Lark’s transformation from whacked-out vegan (no offense to our vegan patrons) to a raging coffee addict, Tricia delivers her delightfully nuanced performance worth watching every moment of every scene.

And as community theater seeks to offer the experience of performing and all that goes into staging a play, the role of the Unhappy Person is played charmingly by Miranda Bush. Well done! Daniel Giles, a Cast staple, provides the voiceover for Harley Dobbs as only Dan can.

Go see this play. It will lift your spirits and you’ll be talking about it, and chuckling, for days. The legion of behind-the-scenes workers include Karen Lasater as Assistant Director, Sally Thompson as Stage Manager, Owen, Ellen, Erica, Jim, Glen, Lita, Lizzie, Kate, Roger, Jamie, Alicia – the show couldn’t go on without you. Bravissimo!