MAT brings trailer park play, lawn-chair 'gah-la' to Havre

Norbert, played by Darren Overlie, and Jeannie, played by Lena Lamphier, gush over their newborn during Tuesday evening's rehearsal of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical."

The local acting troupe is bringing its latest production to the stage this weekend, with a special event planned for its last day.

The Montana Actors' Theatre production of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso opens Friday and runs weekends through June 1, with the special event set for that last Saturday production.

The "trailer park gang" is holding a BYOLC — bring your own lawn chair — Gah-la June 1.

"(Gah-la is French for celebration)," the production's poster says.

The play, directed by Pam Veis and described by a New York Sun reviewer as "South Park" meets "Desperate Housewives," tells the story of residents of a trailer park in Florida.

MAT warns that the play contains adult language and situations and may not be suitable for younger audience members.

The play premiered in 2004 at the first New York Music Theater Festival. It began a national tour in 2008 and also has been performed in Europe.

Productions of the two-act musical have received approving reviews from publications ranging from The New York Times to Variety and from the New Yorker to The Village Voice.

The play opens at 8 p.m. Friday in the Little Theatre on the west end of Cowan Hall on the Montana State University-Northern campus. The doors and backstage lounge opening at 7:30 that night.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and Montana State University-Northern students gain free admission with a valid student identification card.

The run continues, with the doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the curtain rising at 8 p.m. for all shows, Saturday and May 23-25 and May 29-30 and June 1.

At the BYOLC Gah-la, which starts at 6 p.m. June 1 on the lawn outside of the theater, food will be provided and refreshments — Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and Boone's Farm wine, the poster says — will be available for $2 each.

Free-will donations also will be accepted at the Gah-La.