Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Here’s the news from Actors Cabaret of Eugene, aka ACE, and a lot of people probably will be delighted to hear it:

A million years ago, in 2007, we did a little show called The Great American Trailer Park Musical. The show was such a success we did it again a few years later. Since then, Trailer Park has gone down in ACE lore as the show so nice we did it twice. Why the fond memories? Was it that song about road kill? The hysterical pregnancy, the spray cheese? Ah, the good old days…WELL THE TRAILER PARK IS BACK!

The plot, as explained by ACE

It’s holiday time down in Armadillo Acres (North Florida’s premier mobile-living community), and everyone’s filled with warmth and beer. But when a freak bout of amnesia strikes the trailer park Scrooge, neighborly love is put to the test. Be on hand as Betty, Lin, and Pickles jingle all the way with some new neighbors in an all-new, all-trailer-park musical! This companion to the original GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL is just as much of a cat-fightin’, sun-worshippin’, chair-throwin’ good time-—but with tinsel and Keg Nog.
 
Tinsel and Keg Nog? Yep, gonna be a good time in Armadillo Acres, got that right.

The details

This musical is based on a storyline (aka book) created by Betsy Kelso, with music and lyrics by David Nehls. The updated holiday version maintains a lot of the funniest parts of the original play, but adds some great holiday clichés with a trashy twist, plus a new Christmas song described as “very adult, but (a) very funny take on the way the holiday season has of allowing us to forget our woes, just for a moment.

NOTE: The show is rated PG-13 for language.

The Actors Cabaret production is designed and directed by Joe Zingo. The six-person cast includes Hillary Humphreys as Linoleum, Erica Jean as Darlene Seward, Cody Mendonca as Rufus Jeter, Rene Ragan as Betty, Donovan Seitzinger as Jackson Boudreaux, and Clarae Smith as Pickles.
 
The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical at Actors Cabaret of Eugene

When: 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25-26, Dec. 2, 9-10, 16-17; and 2 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 11 (doors open at 6 p.m. for evening shows and 12:30 p.m. for matinees

Where: Actors Cabaret, 996 Willamette St. (corner of 10th and Willamette), downtown Eugene

Meal plans:

  • Dinner-and-show options: pork ribs and show, $57; lasagna and show, $54; sausage manicotti and show, $54; vegetarian manicotti and show, $54
  • Brunch-and-show options: lasagna and show, $54; sausage manicotti and show, $54; vegetarian manicotti and show, $54; eggs Benedict and show, $52; quiche Lorraine and show, $52
  • Also available: Drinks and desserts

Show only: Prime reserved seat, $30; reserved seat, $27; restricted view seat, $19

Tickets: Available by telephone at 541-683-4368 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (box office is closed) or online at actorscabaret.org/tickets

Covid update: Actors Cabaret of Eugene no longer requires patrons to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Patrons are strongly encouraged to wear masks in the theater, but we want everyone to feel comfortable and confident in their masking choices. Tickets are sold to full seating capacity without spacing between parties. Policies are subject to change based on evolving guidance from Lane County, the State of Oregon, and the CDC. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home. You can switch to another performance if available for that show, donate your ticket back to ACE or gift it to a friend.