TAP Stages Night of the Living Beauty Pageant

Stage moms, crazed contestants, crooked judges and gangsters are all part of the fun that ensues when the students of the Third Avenue Playhouse Summer Theater Camp Present Night of the Living Beauty Pageant. This high-energy spoof will be performed on July 10, 11 and 12 at Third Avenue Playhouse. The Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 pm with a Sunday matinee at 2 pm.

As the play begins, two hucksters, Joe Allen and Steve Bentley, decide to stage a Miss Junior Venus Beauty Pageant in order to attract sponsors and hundreds of high school lovelies who’ll pay a large entry fee to make them rich. Unfortunately, only seven girls enter, and there are no sponsors. To further complicate matters, theater owner Mrs. Hoopway tries to evict them, and Knuckles Skinner, a menacing thug, wants to harm them bodily. Our heroes spend most of their time either running or hiding in this good-natured farce filled with goofy characters. Amazingly, everything turns out okay.

Children between the ages of 9 and 14 auditioned to participate in this summer production, directed by Bill Bauernfeind and Renee Kujawski. As part of TAP’s theater day camp program, the group has been involved in all aspects of production including stage management, lighting and sound, set design and props. The camp is in its fifth year, and is sponsored by Baylake Bank and the Railbrook Foundation.

Tickets for Night of the Living Beauty Pageant are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are on sale at the theater box office, located at 239 North Third Avenue (box office hours are 10 am – 3 pm, Monday through Friday), by phone at 920.743.1760, or one hour prior to performances. Tickets are also available at Dancing Bear, 13 N. Third Avenue. For more information, visit http://www.thirdavenueplayhouse.com.