Lights! Curtain! Action! “Murder at the Howard Johnson,” a funny suspense play about a love triangle at the Howard Johnson Motor Inn is the title of this year’s Snowbird production at the South Baldwin Community Theatre (SBCT) in Gulf Shores. The show, directed by Rosemary Brown, features a cast of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach snowbirds who perform all of the work on the show, including preparations and acting. The play will be presented Feb. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students.
Each year, our winter visitors arrive at SBCT and begin painting sets, rehearsing, doing publicity and serving refreshments at shows. Proceeds from the snowbird shows benefit SBCT and have helped the theatre grow with the funds received and the work performed. Besides performing, the group picks a specific project to do that will help the community theatre in its endeavors. Past projects have included refurbishing the dressing rooms and making a passageway to backstage rooms.
Illinois Snowbird Club founder Dottie Pfeiffer started the snowbird show in 1997 after meeting several talented winter visitors in the area. She recruited Michigan native George Robson and the troupe was born. This year marks the 17th year for the annual show. Before returning home each spring, the group meets to select the next show, a director and a cast for the following year. Approximately 50 snowbirds are part of the theatre troupe. For more information, check our calendar or call 251-968-6721.