Death of a Hot Sauce Salesman is All About Family On Stage and Off
The Hardeman County Arts Council (HCAC) is all about community. And, it is also all about family as it is one place you are bound to see family members participating together on the stage or behind the scenes working to bring you the “best of the arts” in Hardeman County. The HCAC’s dinner theatre production of Death of a Hot Sauce Salesman opened on Thursday, February 8, 2024, and it was no different when it comes to family with two siblings and four married couples that appear on the stage and are working behind the scenes to present this comedy murder mystery.
Co-director Joyce Byers, who last appeared in December 2023 on stage in the HCAC’s production of Christmas Belles, has directed several dinner theatre shows, and in most of those, her husband, Gary, has participated also. They have been married for 55 years. When asked what she enjoyed most about working with her husband on this production, Joyce laughed.
“I enjoy getting to tell him what to do,” said Joyce who continued affectionately with more. “He’s just easy to work with. That is why I like him. He knows what I like, and he tries to do it.”
Gary shared his thoughts about working with Joyce, “It is something we can do as a family, and I enjoy that.
When asked if Joyce was bossy, Gary laughed and said, “Of course!”
Vernon Wood has appeared in the last few HCAC dinner theatre productions and played the murder victim each time. His wife, Janace, is usually sitting in the audience as a theatre goer, but this time she is stepping on the stage and making her acting debut at the HCAC. Janace did not plan to be in the play, but as many learn, just an association with a cast or crew member can be enough for one to get wrangled into participating in an HCAC production.
“It has been interesting. I’ve never done this, and I really enjoy it. I think it is cute, because we have been together for 50 some years. We met in 1970,” said Janace.”
“It’s been fun. I’ve been in several [plays] and this is her first time. I’m kind of giving her a little help with her instructions,” said Vernon.
Some of their children and grandchildren always attend the shows when Vernon is in a play, and this time they will be able to see both mom and dad, and both grandparents on the stage.
Craig and Heather Harris have been married for 21 years and first appeared on the HCAC stage together in Fiddler on the Roof JR. It seemed just natural for the couple to participate again together on stage.
“It’s a pleasure to be able to do something outside of the home with Heather. We bond a certain way outside of being parents and it is just a good family time,” said Craig.
Almost like finishing his words, Heather continued, “And we’re both so busy, and this has kind of forced both of us to kind of being able to spend time together and do something fun.
Julie Bell has been non-stop active at the HCAC, and just finished directing her first production in December 2023. She is currently working behind the scenes managing the dining room for the dinner theatre. When an opportunity for her husband, Austin, occurred for him to help out at the HCAC, Julie jumped at the chance and volunteered him for the job of working tech. Their son Wyatt has also been able to tag along with mom and dad.
“Working with my husband has been super fun, because for years now I haven’t seen him in his element. We used to do weddings together and it has been about five years since we have done a wedding. So this has just been really fun to see him back in his natural element of lighting and setting,” said Julie who has been married to Austin for eight years.
Austin had a bit of a comical take on what he enjoyed about working with Julie.
“I love my wife so much. She is the greatest ever and I love the fact she got me involved in this. She is the best,” said Austin in jest, who also shared he has previous soundboard experience from his college DJ years and working weddings with Julie. “I am very familiar with working with this kind of stuff. I love the fact we are all together.”
Siblings Autumn Taylor and Ashley Boyd have practically grown up on the HCAC stage. They have appeared in productions with each other as well as their parents and grandparents at different times over the years.
“I have really enjoyed being back on stage with my little sister. Last time we did this was in Beauty and the Beast JR. back in 2019. It has always been a passion of mine to be on the stage but it is even more special to share it with my little sister,” said Ashley.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with my sister,” said Autumn.
The Death of a Hot Sauce Salesman cast includes many familiar faces, ones that make up a community at the Arts Council. The people on the stage come from the Hardeman County community and as a whole, they are family.
Play Synopsis: Prescott Knight, owner of the Hot Knights Genuine Pepper Sauce empire, discovers on the morning of the annual Knight Family Barbecue that someone is trying to kill him. A family meeting is hastily arranged, and Prescott announces he is changing his will so that the recipe for Hot Knights will pass into the right hands. Hours later, family members find Prescott dead and the recipe stolen. Prescott’s family, his lawyer, the housekeeper, and the gardener are all suspects. With the help of audience members, who have been given clue packets, Judge Titus A. Drumm slowly unravels this spicy comedy filled with zany characters, outrageous lines, and plenty of hot sauce.
Death of a Hot Sauce Salesman has two more shows on Friday, February 9, and Saturday, February 10, 2024, that are both sold out.
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