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Giving A Bleep Back For Seventh Production

Giving A Bleep

Back for its seventh year is the Park City production “Giving A Bleep”. The show parodies local politics

Annette Verlarde is the founder and co-writer of the production. She introduces the theme for this iteration of “Giving A Bleep”.

“We pulled it a little bit more local this year because the elections are so hot.” Verlarde said, “So, we are focusing on the open land issue that will be on the ballot. Treasure Mountain issue and how Park City is going to deal with that.”

The 22 cast members have been rehearsing Sundays and Wednesdays for two months and every night for the final 10 days. The show was written in part by Verlarde and the cast. She introduces the characters.

“Well we can’t leave Trump out, he will be there until he’s not there.” Verlarde continued, “This year he’s brought Sarah with him. Then we have our city council, and our mayor that all have a lot to say about the open space issue. We have local Parkites, two of which are young lovers. One is a septic tank pumper from Coalville, and the other one is a Deer Valley ingénue that has fallen in love.”

Mike Worel has been in all seven productions of Giving A Bleep. For the third year in a row he’ll parody President Trump.

“Third year in a row I’m Trump but we’re doing Trump in a little bit different way.” Worel explained, “He’s on the run, in this play, and hiding out in Utah. So it’s not going to be centered on Trump, he’s just kind of a bit player that runs though the play.”

Verlarde explains that ticketing for the event benefits local nonprofits.

“We are founded on the notion that philanthropy should be available to everyone in the community.” Verlarde said, “When you go to our website, Giving A Bleep dot com, you chose what you want to pay for your tickets and then you choose which nonprofit you would like the profits from those tickets to go to. In past years about 90% of the ticket price, has been given back to whatever nonprofit that particular ticket purchaser designated. Five dollars might be really generous for someone where $500 barely scratches the surface for others. We see it all across the spectrum so there are people that pay a dollar for their ticket and we believe that’s what they can do. Then there are those that do pay $500 for a ticket. You name your price and you name your nonprofit.”

Worel says he continues to be a part of the production in large part due to the comradery.

“You meet new people all the time.” Worel continued, “The new cast and trying to bond with them and get to know them that’s a lot of fun. The second, I like the fact that we have raised right at $100,000 for charities. So, you give something back to your community, you enjoy it yourself. Being an ex-drama major its fun for me to be able to get back on the stage one time a year. Where it’s not important and I can be silly and enjoy it.”

That’s Mike Worel and Annette Verlarde with this year’s production of Giving A Bleep. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm on October 26th and 27th and November 2nd and 3rd at the Prospector Theatre.

KPCW reporter David Boyle covers all things in the Heber Valley as well as sports and breaking news.
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