SET ANOTHER PLATE ON THE DINNER THEATRE TABLE FOR EDWARDS PRODUCTIONS

Edwards Productions Inc., a nonprofit traveling troupe is teaming with the catering company, Save Your Fork, to provide a menu of dinner theatre in Fort Wayne. Adding a little spice for their next production will be the Jewish interactive comedy, “Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral”.

Sylvia Schildner Grossman always said she wanted all her friends to be at her funeral. Well—-she was hit by a garbage truck on Hallandale Bench Boulevard in Florida, and now everyone is going to “Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral” to pay their respects. You can go too!

This is an audience interactive dinner production so one of Sylvia’s dysfunctional family members might be sitting next to you screaming and carrying on like a yenta, or a wacky cousin might thank you for coming and ask how you knew Sylvia. These zany characters (21 in all) are from Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. In fact, Waynedale’s very own Steve Troxel, owner of SandPoint Living Interiors plays the part of Jerry Grossman a son of Grandma Sylvia. Also debuting for her first time is Karen Davis, she works at SandPoint Interiors in Waynedale and plays the part of Dori Grossman.

This comedy takes place at the Helsenrott Jewish Mortuary (at night it turns into Club Mortuary with prizes for Oil Wrestling). The play begins with the hearse breaking down on I-69 and Sylvia is brought to the funeral service in a “hatchback”. It is not a funeral—it is interactive mayhem as the family shows up, one by one, in outlandish outfits, hilarious hats, and unbelievable behavior. You’ll sing along with the Rabbi (who is still wearing his bar mitzah jacket, just a few sizes too small). He will be officiating at his first funeral service, and is horrified when the relatives drop the casket.

Before the funeral service, a dinner will be served along with a cash bar available. Salad, Beef Brisket, Glazed Carrots, New Potatoes, Bread and Desserts will be catered by Save Your Fork. Tickets which includes the meal and the show are $20. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the box office at 260-496-9291. Doors will open at 6:30pm for cocktails with dinner at 7pm and the performance at 8pm. On Sunday, February 17th the doors will open at 1pm, with lunch at 1:30pm and the performance at 2:30pm.

This show is created by Glenn Wein and Amy Lord Blumsack, and was an off-Broadway hit. It is the longest running funeral in history, having played over 1000 performances in New York City. The show is rated PG-13, with mild adult themes.

Edwards Productions Inc. was started two years ago with the idea of educating as well as entertaining in the Fort Wayne community by way of theatre. Its originators are Brent Edward Blalock and Scott Edward Rigdon, hence the Edwards. Brent is an outgoing talented director and actor. Scott is a quiet behind the scenes set designer and costumer.