DOUG BA'ASER
(Opal)

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“Doug plays tightly wound Opal perfectly as a prim woman on the verge of a spectacular breakdown.”
- Rebecca Swain-Valdine, Orlando Sentinel

“Ba'aser performs the particularly difficult job of making Opal dowdy yet never dismissible.”
- Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly

“Doug Ba'aser is excellent as Opal, who could have been a one-joke spoof of religious people, but actually comes off as a sweet and likeable character.”
- Michael Freeman, Lakeland Ledger

MISS SAMMY
(June/Jackson)

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“Miss Sammy's Jackson/June Cleaver almost steals the show, whether it's being dressed as a post-bird-attack Tippi Hedren form The Birds or lip-syncing an ode to breakfast cereal.”
- Rebecca Swain-Valdine, Orlando Sentinel

“A mute, 60's obsessed Stepford Wife called “June” (as in Cleaver), for whom each appearance heralds a costume change into a breathtaking frock and the lip-synching of a meaningful show tune.”
- Charles Martin, East Orlando Sun

*EDITORS NOTE: Miss Sammy's costumes designed and fabricated by Marcy Singhaus.

“Ladies of Eola Heights can also be enjoyed for…the musical interludes by Miss Sammy, the actor who plays Jackson…His version of the old Barbra Streisand hit People not only comes at a very appropriate moment in the story, but also demonstrates why drag shows have been a hit since Mae West was dancing it up on Broadway with her male buddies in the 1920's."
- Michael Freeman, Lakeland Ledger

“You'll never hear People the same way again.”
- Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly

TOMMY WOOTEN
(Ruby)

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“But nobody can beat Tommy Wooten, who is just priceless as the fiery Ruby."
- Michael Freeman, Lakeland Ledger

“Tommy Wooten gives Ruby a sharp-tongued, almost giddy edge that hides a wounded side.”
- Rebecca Swain-Valdine, Orlando Sentinel

“Wooten has a way with a Southern-fried put-down that's unequaled locally.”
- Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly

MICHAEL WANZIE
(Pearl)

“Wanzie, the actor, makes a great Pearl, a kind of wise, Solomon-like referee who stands in between his antagonistic sisters.”
- Michael Freeman, Lakeland Ledger

“In Pearl, Wanzie creates a sister who has always taken care of others but who isn't afraid to resort to a little trickery to get help for herself now and then.”
- Rebecca Swain-Valdine, Orlando Sentinel

MICHAEL WANZIE
Playwright

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“In between the many, many laughs of this and his previous shows, he {Playwright Wanzie} makes many important points about horrible habits like abuse, cruelty, alcoholism, addiction and even death. Most patrons, however, will probably be too busy laughing to notice until later…Wanzie has a real knack for wrapping “heavy” issues in a helium-light wrapping that will leave you weak with laughter ... ”
- Charles Martin, East Orlando Sun

“A roller coaster ride of emotions, form rip-roaring funny to moments of dark revelations…Author Michael Wanzie gives the audience just enough time to grasp the seriousness of the situation before the actors take off on another hilarious tangent."
- Greengirl

“Michael Wanzie's latest script, Ladies of Eola Heights, is a touching, hard-hitting play that tackles serious family dramas and downright depressing social issues. So why is it in drag... And it turns out the answer is: Because it's damn hysterical…Eventually the audience looses its ability to gasp.”
- T. J. Frasier, Orlando CityBeat

“Michael Wanzie has woven a tale of personal horror and wrapped it in humor…As an audience we were alternately roaring with laughter then reflectively silent when the awful past was revealed in bits and pieces.”
- Orlando Man About Town - Tribune Media Services

“This is no over-the-top drag show, but a touching look at three middle-age women struggling to find a little happiness for themselves…When the initial gag of seeing three men dressed as women quickly wears off, you'll be amazed at how convincing all three are as middle-age, Southern gals. Getting placed in a very well written script makes for an especially rewarding show.”
- Michael Freeman, Lakeland Ledger

KENNY HOWARD
Director

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“The Play, directed by Kenny Howard, is a generous heap of wildly funny (and occasionally off-dolor) comedy, brought to life by a cast that works well together.”
- Rebecca Swain-Valdine, Orlando Sentinel

EDITORS' NOTE: For reasons unbeknownst to us at WANZIE.com, Rebecca Swain-Valdine (directly above) is the only theater critic to have even referenced Mr. Howard as the director of Ladies of Eola Heights in a review of the show. While we find this curious, we can't help but note that LADIES OF EOLA HEIGHTS was reviewed by seven theater critics, not one of whom wrote a single negative comment about the show. Ladies of Eola Heights was literally praised by every critic who reviewed it, and every critic referenced the great ensemble work of the performers and the fact that the audience quickly forgot they were watching men play women. Obviously these achievements could not have been realized without the guidance of a gifted director. We at the WANZIE.com, join the cast of Ladies of Eola Heights in recognizing the most able contributions of Make-Up artist Mike Nesheim, and the insightfully deft direction of Kenny Howard in bringing Ladies to life and to critical acclaim.