Emerald Coast Theatre Company: Bad Dates

Emerald Coast Theatre presents a Professional Production: Bad Dates starring Jennifer Steele, running Thursday, March 7th - 10th. Running Time: 90 minutes. For mature audiences. Purchase Tickets at, www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org/tickets

The performance runs Thursday, March 7 (opening night) through Sunday, March 10 and will be staged at ECTC’s performance space located at 560 Grand Boulevard (upstairs) in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located in Miramar Beach, Florida.

The story centers around restaurant manager and shoe connoisseur, Haley Walker, who is finally ready to re-enter the dating world. From the privacy of her bedroom, she relates a series of hilarious tales while preparing for, and recovering from, one dreadful date after another. A 2003 off-Broadway hit, this premier production of Theresa Rebeck’s sharp comedy will be the hottest date night in town and a triumphant night out for women of all ages

“Who hasn’t been on a bad date? Whether currently dating or even if it’s been decades since someone has been on a date, this comedy is sure to bring lots of laughs,” said ECTC producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher.

Whitney Rappana is guest director for this one-woman cast featuring Jennifer Steele as Haley.

Rappana is a director and actor working in Chicago. Before moving to Chicago, she taught acting and music lessons in Virginia Beach, Virginia, while receiving her MFA in acting with a directing concentration. Other directing credits include “No Exit,” “By the Light of Day,” “True West,” “Not Enough Rope,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Love Poem #98,” “West Side Story,” “Until I Return,” and “The Disorientation of Butterflies.”

Jennifer Steele is returning to the stage after a 10-year hiatus during which she has been served as leader of the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County. Steele is the co-founder of The Rep Theatre in Seaside, Florida, where she played various roles during her eight years with the company, including Patsy Cline in “Always, Patsy Cline,” Germaine in “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” Meg in “Crimes of the Heart,” Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Isabel in “The Fisherman and his Wife,” and Cathy Hiatt in “The Last Five Years.” Steele holds a BFA from Valdosta State University, where she studied arts and theater management, the passion for which has remained with her the past two decades, while serving as The Rep’s managing director, the executive director of the CAA, the co-producer of the 30A Songwriters Festival, and on several local, statewide, and national councils and committees as an arts advocate. She lives with her family in Point Washington.

Costume design is by ECTC associate artistic director Anna Fisher. The production is stage managed by Bridgett Bryant. Set, sound and lighting design is by Storm Hooten.

There are four performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays. Running time is 90 minutes. This production is for mature audiences.

Theater patrons are encouraged to come early (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) to browse artwork by local artists showcased in the ECTC Lobby Gallery curated by Lori Drew, founder of Lowkylzart. A portion of proceeds from each sale benefits ECTC and its education outreach and scholarship programs.

Tickets are $30 for adults; $28 for seniors (55 years old and up) students, and military. Purchase tickets online at emeraldcoastheatre.org/tickets or call (850) 684-0323.

All professional mainstage productions schedules are Thursday (opening night) through Saturday at 7:30pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm (unless noted otherwise). All ECTC productions will be staged at ECTC's space located upstairs at 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located in Miramar Beach.

The main stage Professional Productions are as follows:
The Spitfire Grill | Sept. 20th - Oct. 7th, 2018
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play | Dec. 6th - 23rd, 2018
Dancing Lessons | Jan. 17th - Feb. 3rd & Jan. 20th, 2019
The Snowy Day & Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats | Feb. 16th, 17th & 23rd, 2019
Bad Dates | March 7th - 10th, 2019
Around the World in 80 Days | March 28th - April 7th, 2019
The Wind in the Willows | May 18th & 19th, 2019

ECTC 2018-2019 season will include a musical comedy, a hilarious one-woman show, a live radio play, a romantic comedy and a adventure-filled classic play. ECTC's expanded programming includes a new Storytelling series and, by popular demand, additional evening performances of the Educational program productions. 

Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) is located at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, Florida. ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults. emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

To make a tax-deductible donation, become a member, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.