Eunice Players’ Theater is a ‘jewel’

Introducing new generations to a pastime is one way to keep a hobby going, and Gabe Ortego with the Eunice Players’ Theater hopes that children of Eunice will ensure the future of the city’s theater.
“In July, we did a children’s theater workshop at The Art House,” Ortego said. “It worked well in the space, and it was fun. The kids got really excited about it. If you have talent, pursue it. Everyone has a talent. That’s what they told me.”
Ortego said, “The theater is a very valuable thing to have in the community, but it does have the potential to not be here. Please don’t forget about it. We are always looking for new people. The founders of the theater have passed away or moved on. We need young people to move in and take the reins, and parents need to encourage them. Bring them down to the theater to see. It’s a safe, good environment. It is a jewel of Eunice. It is.”
Ortego spoke at Wednesday’s Rotary meeting. He has directed plays since the age of 19 and has starred in and directed plays in Eunice, Lafayette and Opelousas. Ortego has been a member of the Eunice Players’ Theater since 2005.
The next children’s workshop will be Sept. 26 at the Eunice Community Art House. There will be sessions for 7 to 12 year olds and 13 to 18 year olds, and the sessions will be $25 per child. The workshop will focus on character building, costumes and other theater exercises.
While the theater grooms the next generation of theater buffs, it will also prepare for the opening of its next play 
“Boeing, Boeing.” The play, a comedy, tells the story of a bachelor who has three fiances, all of whom are air hostesses. When a new, faster Boeing plane speeds up the arrival of the man’s fiances in the town where he lives, all three of the women end up at his apartment at the same time.
The play will be directed by Ortego and Bonnie Pitre Kyzar and will star Ortego, Van Reed, Kelly Pitre, Amy M. Rider, Angelle Driggs and Bonnie P. Kyzar. The play will open Sept. 24 and will run again Sept. 26, 29 and 30. Dinner theater will be Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. and Sunday matinees will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 and 27. Season reservations are available by calling 376-6610 or 1-866-856-3653, and single and dinner tickets call are available by calling 546-0163.
“We are in rehearsals now,” Ortego said. “Everything is going great. The play is our big comedy of the year. I play the bachelor, and this is the most challenging role I have ever played.”
The theater’s next play, “The Glass Menagerie,” will open some time in November and will be the last show of this season. The theater will also host the Irving Awards ceremony Jan. 16, 2016, at the Liberty Theater.
“This community theater is 46 years old,” Ortego said. “We have 100 seats, 500 season ticket holders and we are not in debt. We are doing good. It’s a well run theater.”
“We try to give back to the city as much as possible because they give us so much. We pay $1 a year in rent and have a 99 year lease. That’s unheard of.”