The Last Night of Ballyhoo

Hilliard Arts Council is proud to present its fall production in our 2023 season: The Last Night of Ballyhoo. This Tony award winning dramatic comedy, written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Alfred Uhrey (Driving Miss Daisy), concerning the trials and tribulations of a southern jewish family in 1939 Atlanta on the eve of WWII will be presented at the Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center on Friday November 4  at 7:00 pm, Saturday November 5  at 8:00 pm, Sunday November 6 at 3:00 pm, Friday November 11 at 8:00 pm, Saturday November 12 at 8:00 pm and Sunday November 13 at 3:00 pm.  Tickets are $18 for adult tickets, $15 for seniors (60 and over) and $10 for students (high school and under).  Custom group packages can be arranged by contacting info@hilliardarts.org or calling 888 980 2787.

 Gone With the Wind is having its world premiere and Hitler is invading Poland.  But Atlanta’s elitist German Jews are much more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season.  Especially concerned is the Freitag family: bachelor Adolph; his widowed sister, Beaulah (Boo) Levy; and their also widowed sister-in-law Reba.  Boo is determined to have her dreamy, unpopular daughter, Lala, attend Ballyhoo, believing it will be Lala’s last chance to find a socially acceptable husband.   The family gets pulled apart and then mended together with plenty of comedy, romance and revelations along the way.  Events take several unexpected turns as the characters face where they come from and are forced to deal with who they really are.

Opening Night Benefit

The opening night performance on November 4 will be a truly special evening. In addition to the play performance, attendees will also be invited to an exclusive after performance reception along with the actors, creative team, and Hilliard Arts Council leadership.  Refreshments will be served and as a bonus, the Hilliard Arts Council’s 2023 theatrical season will be announced.   Help support the arts in our community  and join us for this truly special event for only $30.

Post-show Talk Back

There will be a talk back after the Sunday Nov. 6 performance moderated by director and Hilliard arts Council Artistic Director, Robin Brenneman. The panel will include the cast as well as special guest,  Rebecca Benoff, rabinic intern at Congregation Beth Tikvah who is an expert on Jewish regional culture who will be able to speak to some of the issues raised in the play.

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic in Franklin County, we recommend the same protocol as county public health officials:  masks on all visitors and participants are strongly recommended; vaccination is strongly recommended.  While not a requirement, we are trying to do our part to help limit community spread.  We will continue to comply with any local, county, or state requirements should these recommendations change.

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