West Allis’ Jon Baas to Perform in “The Trip to Bountiful”

West Allis, Wis. resident Jon Baas will play the key role of Ludie Watts in Acacia Theatre Company’s production of “The Trip to Bountiful.”

Performances of playwright Horton Foote’s poignant classic will run May 7-16 in Concordia University Wisconsin’s Todd Wehr Auditorium, 12800 North Lake Shore Drive in Mequon, Wis.

For Carrie Watts, Bountiful, Texas is more than just her hometown. It is the place that, if she can somehow get back there, will help her regain her strength, dignity and peace of mind. Through laughter and tears, this Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winning American playwright explores the inevitable need to assert independence and reawaken the memories of yesterday.

An aging widow, Mrs. Watts is living with her son Ludie and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae in their small, three-room Houston apartment. An ongoing feud with the petty Jessie Mae makes life in the cramped quarters uncomfortable to say the least. Mrs. Watts yearns to return one final time to her roots and the rural community where she grew up, married and raised her son. She makes a last-ditch effort to escape and finally arrives in Bountiful with results that are both touching and brilliantly life-affirming. En route, she meets a lovely young woman, Thelma, to whom she pours out her heart.

“‘The Trip to Bountiful’ is rich in Southern living,” said director Elaine Wyler. “It carries a powerful statement about one woman’s inner strength and determination against all odds. It has some great comic moments as well, so there may be some tears, but there are loads of laughs, too.”

“The Trip to Bountiful” was first performed in a production for television in 1953 and opened on Broadway later that year. Foote’s adaptation of the script for the big screen in 1985 earned him an Academy Award nomination. Lillian Gish starred in the original television and stage productions and Geraldine Page took home the Oscar for her portrayal of Mrs. Watts in the film.

Foote, who died in 2009, is best known for his Oscar-winning screenplays for “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) and “Tender Mercies” (1983). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1995 for “The Young Man from Atlanta.”

Performance and Ticket Information

Performances will be given at 8 p.m. on May 7, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on May 8, 3 p.m. on May 9, 8 p.m. on May 13, 8 p.m. on May 14, 8 p.m. on May 15 and 3 p.m. on May 16.

Tickets cost $15, or $13 for senior citizens, full-time clergy and full-time students. Tickets may be purchased by calling (414) 744-5995 or visiting www.acaciatheatre.com.

Founded in 1980, Acacia Theatre Company is an independent, non-profit, interdenominational group of dramatic artists who share a common desire to integrate art and faith by presenting theatre from a Judeo-Christian worldview. Through uplifting, quality entertainment, Acacia provides occasion for thanksgiving, growth and enjoyment, and the opportunity for Christians and non-Christians to consider their lives in relation to God. More information is available at www.acaciatheatre.com.