Arts Alive! podcast: Stageworks’ ‘Trailer Park’ ladies

Today on Arts Alive!, say hello to Betty, Linoleum and Pickles, the three resident muses at the Armadillo Acres trailer park in North Florida.

They are, in fact, singer/dancer/actors Susan Haldeman, Heather Krueger and Julia Rifino of the latest Stageworks Theatre production, The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. It opens tonight at the venerable playhouse in Tampa’s Channelside District.

Directed by Karla Hartley, it’s the sequel to last season’s big bona fide hit The Great American Trailer Park Musical – playwrights David Nehls and Betsy Kelso cleverly inserted the word “Christmas” to make a longer title.

But be assured, this is no mere rehash. While Betty, Lin and Pickles remain the axis upon which the story turns, there are three new characters – Rufus, Darlene and Jackie – who help them turn tacky ‘ol Armadillo Acres into a Yuletide, comedy singing and dancing wonderland.

That’s the plan, anyway.

Image: Stage Photography of Tampa.

Darlene is the park’s resident Christmas-hating Scrooge, and she tears down the girls’ beer-can decorations as quickly as they’re put up. When Darlene suffers a sudden, unexpected electrical jolt, Betty, Lin and Pickles use her subsequent bout of amnesia to convince her that it is, indeed, the most wonderful time of the year. And what could possibly go wrong?

Click on the arrow to listen to the (very funny – and musical) interview.