CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Looking to get out of the house? Interested in a show? Want to support two members of the community? Residents will soon get the chance to do all of the above as two Cordell residents will be starring in a Red Carpet Community Theatre production.
Benjamin Dobbs and Christy Russell will be starring in RCCT’s production of “Over the River and Through the Woods” in Elk City.
The show, which will take place this weekend, is directed by Ashley Arganbright of Clinton and stars a cast of six with Dobbs and Russell playing the characters of Frank Gianelli and Aida Gianelli, grandparents to Nick Cristano (played by Benjamin Mills of Elk City).
“Over the River and Through the Woods” tells the story of Nick, an Italian-American man from New Jersey faced with the decision of taking a job and having to move across the country away from his family.
The play sees Dobbs and Russell’s characters, alongside Jim and Sharon Hull of Clinton who play Nick’s other grandparents, frantically trying to convince Nick to not take the job and stay close to his family by trying to make him fall in love with Caitlin O’Hare (played by Kat Tate of Elk City).
“It makes you want to try to understand the younger generation, cause of the generational gap. It just hits it right on the head there,” Dobbs said. “It’s 80-year-olds trying to understand what a 29-year-old life is supposed to be like in this new technology world.”
Both Dobbs and Russell have built up a background in the theatre scene with Dobbs having 14 years of experience and currently on the board of directors at Southwest Playhouse Fine Arts Center and Russell having 32 years of experience and currently on the board of directors at Red Carpet Community Theatre.
Dobbs said he joined the theatre scene on a whim after tagging along to an audition for “Oklahoma” that his aunt was attending.
“When I got there, the director asked if anyone else would like to try out. [My aunt] done the finger-pointing over the head and tricked me into auditioning. I went up there and just sang a little old song. [The director] said, ‘Perfect!’ And then I landed a lead role.”
As for Russell, she got into theatre after wanting to find something new to experience in her life and auditioning at RCCT.
“We had a lot of fun with all the different kinds of people. They’re really open, accepting groups of people in the theater. It’s just fantastic and I thought, wow, here is where my people are.”
Both Dobbs and Russell had not had a chance to participate in a theatre show since before the start of COVID but both said they are excited to start up again.
“I’m in love. I’m excited. I’m ready for the future,” Dobbs said. “We’re already looking at future shows to either audition in or direct. And Christie’s had a lot of directing herself. I’ve never done so, and I’m looking forward to getting my feet wet and being an assistant director in the near future.”
“I’m loving it. You know, you don’t realize how much you miss it. I just get so much out of it,” Russell said.
As for what they are most excited about with this show, Dobbs excitedly said he is glad to finally play a married couple together with Russell who he is engaged to, however, the pair are also excited to be a part of a show once again and experience it with the audience.
“I’ve always felt like in live theater, the audience becomes a part of the show. Because the audience’s energy feeds the actors and it just kind of goes round and round,” Russell said. If people have never experienced live theater, they just don’t understand what that feeling is like, and it’s an amazing sensation.”
RCCT describes the show as “hysterically funny and beautifully real,” and is appropriate for all ages.
“I think it’s a great way to spend an evening of entertainment. It’s good, wholesome family entertainment,” Dobbs said. “I think that anyone that would watch this particular show will walk away thinking about life experiences and what family actually means to everyone.”
The show will take place this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Red Carpet Community Theatre in Elk City. Tickets will be $14 for adults and $10 for students.
For more information, you can call the box office at 580-225-5461 or visit their website at www.rcct. org.
“I invite everyone to come enjoy the show,” Dobbs said. “Don’t be afraid to laugh out loud, clap, and participate. You’ll get a hundred percent of what you give into it.”