Roseanne: Live!, a drag queen-filled parody of the '90s sitcom, has begun an 8-week run at Rebel (1760 Market Street).
Velvet Rage Productions is the creative force behind this stage version of the smash-hit TV show, which starred comedian Roseanne Barr as the matriarch of a working class family. Heklina, who plays the role of Darlene, tells us that she came up with the idea of the show one day while watching a fellow performer, Lady Bear. "I just looked at Lady Bear and could see Roseanne," she says. "I thought it'd be fun to do." Lady Bear, who plays the title character of Roseanne, had the same sentiment about taking on the lead role. "Roseanne and I have a lot in common," she says. "She, too, pokes fun at the hypocrisy of everyday life." This isn't Heklina's first time converting beloved TV shows into plays. She and D'Arcy Drollinger, who plays Jackie in Roseanne: Live!, also brought Sex and the City and Designing Women to Rebel's stage earlier this year. "We do shows we're all fond of, and that we've seen before," Heklina says. D'Arcy helped to adapt two episodes from various seasons into the two-hour comedic play. Heklina says that purists of Roseanne "might pick up what episodes we combined." Rounding out the cast of Roseanne's dysfunctional family are Leigh Crow (Dan), Steven LeMay (Becky), Jordan Wheeler (DJ) and Martha Lipton (Beverly). Roseanne Live! can be seen two times every Wednesday night, at 7pm and 9pm, now through November 14th. According to Heklina, word is getting out about the play, so a lot of show times are beginning to sell out. Advanced tickets for $20 to their next performance can be purchased here, or at the door for $25.
Velvet Rage Productions is the creative force behind this stage version of the smash-hit TV show, which starred comedian Roseanne Barr as the matriarch of a working class family. Heklina, who plays the role of Darlene, tells us that she came up with the idea of the show one day while watching a fellow performer, Lady Bear. "I just looked at Lady Bear and could see Roseanne," she says. "I thought it'd be fun to do." Lady Bear, who plays the title character of Roseanne, had the same sentiment about taking on the lead role. "Roseanne and I have a lot in common," she says. "She, too, pokes fun at the hypocrisy of everyday life." This isn't Heklina's first time converting beloved TV shows into plays. She and D'Arcy Drollinger, who plays Jackie in Roseanne: Live!, also brought Sex and the City and Designing Women to Rebel's stage earlier this year. "We do shows we're all fond of, and that we've seen before," Heklina says. D'Arcy helped to adapt two episodes from various seasons into the two-hour comedic play. Heklina says that purists of Roseanne "might pick up what episodes we combined." Rounding out the cast of Roseanne's dysfunctional family are Leigh Crow (Dan), Steven LeMay (Becky), Jordan Wheeler (DJ) and Martha Lipton (Beverly). Roseanne Live! can be seen two times every Wednesday night, at 7pm and 9pm, now through November 14th. According to Heklina, word is getting out about the play, so a lot of show times are beginning to sell out. Advanced tickets for $20 to their next performance can be purchased here, or at the door for $25.
