Humpday with Howard: Top Ten Reasons to See Unnecessary Farce

This evening the Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its third and final show, Paul Slade Smith's Unnecessary Farce. Here's a list of the top ten reasons (in no particular order) why you need to see Farce:

10. The Costumes
Costume designer Nancy Konrardy is a seasoned professional from Dubuque, Iowa, whose costumes for General Hospital earned her two Daytime Drama Emmy awards for outstanding achievement in costume design. Farce's costumes are colorful and fun and even include some surprise tartan.

9. The Set
Darin Himmerich, who is the Scenic Designer and Technical Director at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, has designed a wonderful set complete with eight doors that is reminiscent of exactly the kind of motel where some seedy dealings might go down. 

8. An Equity Actor
Farce features one of our fabulous out-of-town Actors' Equity Association members, Carolyn Popp, who plays Mrs. Meekly, the mayor's wife.

7. The Director
Directing Unnecessary Farce is St. Louis native, Alan Knoll. You may have seen Alan during the past two Rep seasons on stage as Jeeves in Jeeves Intervenes, Phillippe in Heroes, Mr. Woodhouse in Emma and Dad in Making God Laugh. He's back again this year, not as an actor, but a director.

6. Cops and Crooks
Who doesn't like a good old cop 'n crook comedy? It's pleasure to watch new police officers Billie Dwyer (played by Katherine Nora LeRoy) and Eric Sheridan (played by Joshua Waterstone) try and prove to the chief that they're great at their jobs.

5. It's a Farce!
Featuring slapstick humor, a slew of rapidly slamming doors, and mistaken identity, Farce is a farce that will have you rolling on the floor laughing!

4. Television Theme Songs
Sound designer Michael Smith's pre-show and intermission music features some excellent and catchy television theme songs, both from today and from the past. And we're giving you an opportunity to win a prize: all you have to do is name at least ten of the theme songs played before the show begins and present your list to the house manager at intermission. If you name at least ten songs, you will have the choice to win a free beverage (glass of wine, beer, or soda) at intermission, or two free tickets to another Rep show this season!

3. Cupcakes and Refreshments 
Grab a drink from Meier's Cork 'n Bottle before show, or at intermission with a delicious cupcake from Le Cupcake! 

2. UNL Alumni Actors
The cast of Unnecessary Farce features three UNL alumni, David Landis (a JD Law graduate playing Mayor Meekly), Katherine Nora LeRoy (an MFA Acting graduate playing Billie Dwyer), Lucy Myrtue (a BA Theatre Performance graduate playing Karen Brown), and Joshua Waterstone (an MFA Directing for Stage and Screen graduate playing Eric Sheridan).

1. An Evening with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre is a Wonderful Night Out
With laughter, food, and drink, a night with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre is always sure to be excellent.