Dearly Departed

WHEN: August 8, 9, 15, and 16 @ 7:30pm; August 10 and 17 @ 2pm

WHERE: The MAC Black Box Theater | 645 W. Main Street, Merced

WHAT: A dysfunctional Southern family comes together to plan a funeral in this character-driven ensemble comedy. When the Turpin family patriarch Bud suddenly dies of a stroke, his sons Ray-Bud and Junior, sister Marguerite, and widow Raynelle do their best to ensure a dignified memorial, but familial squabbles quickly get in the way. Junior’s wife Suzanne (correctly) accuses him of infidelity, a resentful Ray-Bud drinks to deal with his resentment over footing the bill for a service being handled by the funeral home of his arch rival, and Raynelle seems more concerned with ensuring that Bud’s legacy as “mean and surly” is quite literally carved in stone. Dearly Departed is a side-splitting ensemble comedy that’s at once a parody of and a love letter to life in the Deep South. Directed by Corey Strauss. Produced by Phoenix Created Collective.

COST: $15 General | $10 Students/Seniors. Tickets may be purchased here.