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Directed by Lauren Caldwell

“… Mere Mortals looks a little like the menu in a Chinese restaurant. It offers six one-act plays written by David Ives, each of which is funny and colorful…The whole is a feast. ..Mere Mortals challenges the imagination consistently.”
–Arline Greer, Gainesville Sun More
“The show is very professionally staged…The cast, Garrett Bantom, Marcia Brown, Cameron Francis, Bryan Garey, Sara Morsey and Christine Sellers, were excellent in their many roles…and had impeccable timing…”
-- Dick Kerekes, Entertaining U

The Hipp’s weird, wacky and wild production of David Ives’ Mere Mortals: Six One-Act Comedies has been playing to rave reviews! Mere Mortals takes us on a hilarious adult fairy tale through six short plays that asks the question that underlies all questions “…who are we anyway and why are we here?”, In David Ives' comedy anything can happen: A construction worker can be the Lindbergh baby, mayflies can ponder their mortality, and a Hispanic souvenir salesperson can turn into a German doctor in the blink of an eye. In his wacky plays, Ives points out that we should make the most of our limited time on Earth.

Our first date is at the putt-putt course where mini golf becomes a sexually-charged and hilarious battle of the sexes. We travel to the stagnant little pond of mayflies, May and Horace where they flirt, dodge gators and watch TV where they are ecstatic to see themselves starring in a David Attenborough documentary on pond life. Attenborough gives them the shocking news that a mayfly's life lasts but a day. They seize the day and go on a grand mayfly adventure to beat all mayfly adventures! We eat lunch 50 stories above the ground on an I-beam, with three hard-hatted construction workers. These macho men aren't usually willing to bare their innermost secrets, but these guys tell their secrets and they are out of this world. Their revelations about inner identity inspire us to ask “how do I know who I really am…who was I in my former life?” We dive into our most vivid tourist nightmare when we visit the office of Dr. Fritz, the saw-wielding, bellowing German surgeon in some Latin land (or is she really Dr. Fritz ‘s trinket-peddling assistant?) Is she really talking to God on that voodoo doll-shaped telephone? We accompany Edgar Degas as he runs his mundane errands and confronts his un-adoring public on the streets of New York.

“[Bryan] Garey returns for a one-man tour de force. …(as Degas) he transcends his own humble identity to become one with those who have achieved fame. The theme of identity, in fact, links all these one-act plays.” –Arline Greer, Gainesville Sun

Whether you are really Elvis, Mahatma Gandhi, Bob Hope or just a mere mortal, you won’t want to miss a minute of this identity enlightening adventure. Seize the day!

A Safe Place for your Teens during Halloween

Is your teenager looking for something fun to do for the Halloween season now that they’re too old to go Trick-or-Treating? Bring them and a group of friends to see Dracula at the Hippodrome for a safe and fun night full of fright! You can drop them off and pick them up worry free, knowing they were safe and sound watching the creepy horror classic.

But don’t be fooled, this Dracula is not for the faint of heart--our twist on this classic good vs. evil tale is filled with screams, blood, and Count Dracula’s army of the undead.

For more information on how you can bring groups of High School students to see this production, or how you could plan a Halloween party in one of our five rentable spaces contact Nicole Orsua at 352-373-5968 or email groupsales@thehipp.org.

Don't Applaud, Just Throw Money

Due to the catastrophic devastation of Hurricane Katrina the Hippodrome State Theater is holding a fund relief effort to try and bring comfort to those affected by the hurricane. The cast members of the play Mere Mortals: Six One-Act Comedies, which is currently in production at the Hippodrome through September 18, were looking for a way to help ease the pain of those forever changed by hurricane Katrina. The cast decided to bring the old adage "Don’t applaud, just throw money," to life during the last week of their production.

The stars of the show do not want an applause for a job well done, but instead will be collecting monetary donations for those who suffered because of Hurricane Katrina. All proceeds will go directly to those victimized by this record breaking storm. In time all will be restored and we will continue to be Merely Mortal as the title of the play says, but the care and strength we have shown one another in this time of need will forever be immortalized.

Hippodrome State Theatre Gets a 'Seat' Lift

They're here!!!. Get ready Gainesville there's a new SEAT in town.

The team hasn’t stopped to take a break. Working around the clock, we now have new carpet in a very regal blue and green tone, and all new luxurious, plush grape purple seats ready to be occupied. You'll notice that the new seats have higher backs for increased comfort.

Many thanks to Brian Roe, Michael Eaddy and their teams for their Herculean efforts in making this happen.

We invite you to let everyone applaud YOU by contributing a $500 tax-deductible contribution to the Hippodrome State Theatre Seat Campaign. A personalized nameplate on a plush, state-of-the art seat will honor a family member, a loved one, or celebrate your personal commitment to the arts.

Call Director of Development, Emilee MacDonald at 352-373-5968 for more information about seats and benefit packages.

Left: 2 of the new seats, yet to be installed.
Center: The Mainstage gutted and de-carpeted.
Right: New carpet installed and set design beginning for Mere Mortals

Left: New seats delivered.
Center: Installation begins for new mainstage seating.
Right: Completed mainstage seating.

Photos by Michael Eaddy.

Alice Hehr in the Hippodrome Gallery

   
The Hippodrome Gallery opens it’s new season with a special remembrance exhibit of the artwork of Alice Hehr. Her work is very diverse and is composed of multiple medias, styles, and forms. The exhibit represents the incredibly wide range of her art. The Alice Hehr remembrance show will be in the Hippodrome Gallery through September 18.

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