WERS 88.9 fm - Artist Interview: The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas

"Riotous applause and foot-stomping!" Director Bill Doscher even claims audiences will be "hee-hawing" over the antics of Boston's Encore Theater Company during their upcoming rendition of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Based on the book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, the Encore Theater Company revisits the story of a Texas brothel, the Chicken Ranch, that finds trouble in a television journalist's campaign to shut it down. With colorful characters and musical numbers to match, the Encore Theater Company is fixing to give people a grand ol' time with this country-and-western tinged performance.

A big favorite among the cast members, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is as wildly entertaining as it is strikingly informative. "We're dealing with a somewhat serious subject: that whole idea of victimless crimes, if you will, and how much control the media has in determining society...but for the most part, we're there to just give people some down-home fun."

To the tune of a piano and a little bass guitar, WERS got a taste of the show with three amusing selections from it: "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place," "No Lies," and that widely-recognized "Hard Candy Christmas." Individually, the castmembers are all fine singers, but together it's vocal fireworks.

Jocelyn Hesse, who plays Jewel, is very much a part of the magic. "This is my third show with Encore, and I absolutely love the people," she says. "They're professional and creative, but they just never lose sight of having a great time." Hesse is a full-time pediatric occupational therapist, but it's obvious as to why she keeps this gig on the side.  Pondering the power of musical theater, Hesse says, "It's a way to get at [a message] out and make people think about it, but we don't hit them over the head with it...it's something to listen to, enjoy, and get swept up in."

The grand fulfillment of Encore Theater Company and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas hits stage at Umass-Boston's McCormack Theater on select dates in the final weeks of June.  Get ready to stomp your feet!

http://www.encoreboston.org/

-Robby Gardner