UIL one-act plays to perform at dinner theater tonight

Izzy Cross, Staff Writer

The 20th annual Tomball STAGE dinner theater will take place tonight at 7 p.m.. Dinner theater is a time-honored tradition in which audiences have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal and see the year’s UIL productions.

This year’s dinner theater will feature both the competition play and the non-comp play: The Angelina Project and Steel Magnolias.

Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling centers around a group of six women in southern Louisiana, following their stories as the group of women grapple with issues that plague their own lives, learn to navigate relationships with family and with each other, and ultimately find themselves returning to the bond that holds them all together.

The Angelina Project by Frank Canino is about the cycle of violence and abuse that can become perpetuated in families. It follows the protagonist, Amelia, as she conducts research on Angelina Napolitano, a 1930’s Italian immigrant on trial for murder, and grapples with her own turbulent family life.

“It shows the obstacles a family has to go through,” said Jacob Pratt, who plays Hughie and Dr. Gimby. “It’s a great story of a family breaking from their past.”

The Angelina Project participated in the 2017 UIL One-Act Play Competition, and competed at the zone, district, and bi-district contests. Dinner theater will be their final performance.

“Being a part of this company has been an incredible experience,” said Lily Erickson, stage manager of The Angelina Project. “This is a show I will never forget.”

Both companies have been hard at work since early January, and are excited to share that work with their community on Monday.

Dinner will be served from 5:30-6:30 in the Lower Lobby, with the performances starting at 7. Dinner + Show tickets are $18, and can be purchased online at tomballstage.org.  Show only tickets can be purchased for $8 advance online, or $12 at the door.