The 2004 screwball comedy hit Moonlight and Magnolias plays Leamington Spa’s Loft Theatre this spring.  A play writen by Coventry born playwright Ron Hutchinson, and which plays homage to the golden era of Hollywood filmaking.

It’s 1939 and Hollywood is abuzz. Legendary film producer David O. Selznick is five weeks into shooting Gone With the Wind, when he realises the script is awful, and that the director doesn’t have a clue.

At the end of his tether, Selznick shuts down the production and calls Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard to Oz  to direct, and sends a car for famed script doctor Ben Hecht to rescue the screenplay.

Hired as the script re-writeman on one of the biggest film productions in Hollywood, this was to be potenetially one of Hect’s biggest pay days,

But there was only one problem. Hecht hadn’t read Margaret Mitchell’s blockbuster novel, and he had only five free days to devote to the project.

This is the starting point to Ron Hutchinson’s delightful madcap comedy, directed by Tim Wilis, that is also a very funny valentine to the golden days of Hollywood.

ABOUT RON HUTCHINSON

Coventry born Ron Hutchinson is not only an apt choice for Warwickshire’s Loft Theatre, but as a prolific screenwriter himself, he knows only too well what it is like to be holed up in a hotel room at two in the morning with a script to rewrite for the following day’s shoot.

This industry insight adds an extra dimension to a play which has already made its mark both here and in the US, where it is still performed extensively and currently among the most produced plays in America.

Hutchinson himself says says:

“You go into any small American town and there is a Texaco station, there’s the Denny’s fast food restaurant and there’s Moonlight And Magnolias playing.”

LOFT THEATRE PRODUCTION

The locally produced version of the play at the Loft Theatre in Leamington Spa from 9 April 2016 is being directed by Tim Willis who also takes on the role of David O Selznick. Sam Harris is his long-suffering secretary Miss Poppenghul, with Oli Jones as Ben Hecht, and Chris Gilbey Smith as Victor Fleming.

ABOUT LOFT THEATRE

The Loft Theatre Company has been producing live theatre in Leamington Spa since 1922. The company has earned a strong reputation nationally for the professional quality of productions. It is run almost entirely by volunteers, many of whom have theatrical or academic drama qualifications and experience, who devote their talent, time and energy to bringing very best in community-based theatre to Leamington Spa and Warwickshire and to the wider audience beyond.

Each year they produce around nine shows in the main 200 seat auditorium and a smaller number in the 50 seat Douglas Ford studio theatre. Their shows range from classical to modern, tragedy to comedy, farce and musical theatre.

The Loft Theatre itself has been at its current site in Victoria Colonnade since 1944, although the building dates from the 1960s when an earlier building was destroyed by fire.

As well as seeing shows at the Loft Theatre, the company also also invites participation of all kind. Casting for shows is held by regular auditions and a warm welcome is extended to anyone who wishes to join the company to help in other aspects of our work

WHERE IS IT ON?

Moonlight and Magnolias runs at The Loft Theatre, Victoria Colonnade, Leamington Spa from Saturday 9 April to Saturday 16 April 2016

DATES, VENUE & ALL THAT STUFF

Patrons should note that there is a 5.00pm performance on Sunday 10 April, but no performance on Monday 11 April.  All other performances will commence at 7.30pm.

Tickets can be booked online at any time via the Loft Theatre Company website (www.loft-theatre.co.uk), or by calling 0844 493 4938 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

Under 25s and NUS card holders can purchase tickets for just £5.00 for the performances on Sunday 10 April and Tuesday 12 April (subject to availability). These tickets are only available from the Box Office on the night of the performance and cannot be pre-booked.

BOOK ONLINE

You can Book Online here

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You can also find out more about Loft Theatre at their website or connect with them through their Facebook page, or follow on Twitter @LoftTheatre