Ringgold Playhouse opens musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” from July 18

The cast of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” works on a number during a recent rehearsal ahead of Thursday’s opening night.

Photo by TRP

The Ringgold Playhouse opens its first-ever musical, the romantic comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” for an eight-show run over two weekends beginning this Thursday night at the historic Ringgold Depot.

TRP officials say they are thrilled to have the opportunity to finally bring a musical to the public that is now in its 11th season.

“We are incredibly excited about this show,” said TRP CEO Adam Cook. “Our director Laurie Shaw and her team have done a fantastic job on this production and we are delighted to finally share it with our audiences.”

Under Woman

Directed by Shaw and with musical direction by Benjamin Brown, the show takes a look at the happy, sad, funny and crazy sides that people experience in relationships.

“Although TRP has become a huge success in the community over the past decade, the company has been somewhat reluctant to produce a musical until now due to the size of the venue, acoustics and the need to upgrade equipment,” representatives said. “However, it has always been part of the group’s long-term plans.”

“I’ll never forget the conversation we had over chips and salsa in November when I pitched the idea to the TRP board of directors to (finally) put on a musical in the theatre,” recalls Ms Shaw. “From day one, the TRP production team supported this project and made my experience as a first-time director a dream. With 20 years of experience in musical theatres, this show was a no-brainer for this first venture.”

Ms Shaw says the show may not be familiar to the casual theatregoer, but it is a classic that many artists have enthusiastically auditioned for.

“I first heard about it in college when my voice teacher at the time gave me the sheet music for ‘I Will Be Loved Tonight’ (one of the show’s most emotional moments),” Ms. Shaw said. “He described it to me as a piece that ‘anyone who knows good theater will know.’ Over the years I’ve found that to be absolutely true, even though it’s a lesser-known title.”

Although the initial cast includes only a few actors, Ms. Shaw said she wanted to take the show to a new level as it was a first-time TRP venture.

“The play was originally written for a cast of four, but I knew I wanted a larger production,” Ms. Shaw said. “During the casting process, I prayed that the ‘just right people’ would join this endeavor, and they did. This cast is incredible. When they all share the stage telling their stories, it reminds me how rich we are in terms of talent in this field.”

The cast includes TRP veterans Renee Lierow, Levi Witt, Greg Rambin, Jennifer Barnes and Kellie Pioch, as well as newcomers Nolon Barry, Bekah Frampton, Amanda Havelin, Bria Rennick, Brittany Sawyer, Caton Taylor, Cody Robinson Steele and Haylee Meyer, who make their TRP debut.

“This is a show for anyone who has been touched by love,” Ms. Shaw said. “Whether you’re falling in love for the first time, going through a marriage, a breakup, having children or grieving a lost love, you’ll have moments where you say, ‘Oh wow – I know how that feels.'”

Performances of the show begin this Thursday evening and run through Sunday, July 28. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances on Sunday, July 21 and Sunday, July 38 both beginning at 2 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot Street.

Tickets for all performances are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or in advance online at Nothinlikeringgold.com.

The show is rated PG-13 and is intended for an adult audience only as it deals with relationships, sex and adult innuendo.

Director Laurie ShawPhoto of