Enjoy an evening with 'Wine, Women (?) and Song' at Sumter Little Theatre

Carmela Bryan is excited about Friday evening's special show at Sumter Little Theatre. The longtime SLT actress and director has organized "a fun night for the audience" who attend the 8 p.m. cabaret-style show titled "Wine, Women (?) and Song."

Bryan refers to herself as the show's organizer because, she said, "All the people involved have proven their showmanship."

The question mark in the show's title alludes to the fact that the special guest stars joining several local performers are three of the state's most accomplished and popular drag queens, or female impersonators. In addition to performing, Patti O'Furniture will serve as mistress of ceremonies, and Samantha Hunter and Nicole Roberts will also perform.

Bryan said this is the first time SLT has hosted performances by drag queens, although two previous drag shows sponsored by the Sumter County Cultural Commission have been presented there as part of Fall for the Arts.

"The house was full for both of those," she said. In fact, many people had to be turned away.

Local performers joining O'Furniture, Roberts and Hunter are longtime members of the SLT family, Bryan noted.

"Matt Wilt and Rob Rock will open the show with a 'different kind' of performance with Patti O'Furniture," she said.

"The music is not part of the upcoming (SLT) season, but some songs are from past shows," she continued. "A lot of it is Broadway, some pop, blues and 'something extra.'"

Linda Beck will accompany the local performers, who are Ann Floyd, Hugh China, Michael Duffy, Kendall Jones, Todd Warrick, Rob Rock, Cierra Stewart, Matt Wilt, John Michael Osteen and Colby Rearden.

"Wine, Women (?) and Song" is not part of SLT's 2019-20 season, which opens Aug. 22 with Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite." The show is "just an exciting, fun evening" that is a fundraiser for Sumter Little Theatre and a showcase for the talents that can be seen on the SLT stage.

Tickets for the show are already selling well, Bryan said, and she encourages those who wish to attend the one-night-only performance to make their reservations soon.

Tickets for "Wine, Women (?) and Song" are $20 and can be purchased online at www.sumterlittletheatre.com, by phone at (803) 775-2150 or by visiting SLT at 14 Mood Ave. in the Sumter County Cultural Center (Patriot Hall), 135 Haynsworth St.