Somerset’s resident producing theatre company, Flashback Theater Co. (FbTC), is closing out its season of plays with a bang: John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves running May 8-18, 2025 at Stoner Little Theater. This 1960s black comedy takes a skewed view on family, love, and the everyday insanity of modern life. Featuring a large company of artists from around the Lake Cumberland region, you’ll delight in supporting local artists when you see this zany production.

Flashback Theater Co. is the only theater in our region dedicated to compensating artists for their pursuits. Every FbTC artist, from actor, to director, to designer, is offered compensation for their work. When you purchase a ticket to see a Flashback show, you’re investing into our local arts and entertainment economy. Each year, FbTC artists and productions improve, thanks to the incredible support of our community. Now in its eleventh season, FbTC has expanded its reach beyond the Somerset city limits, reaching audiences in Russell, Adair, Casey, Lincoln, Laurel, Wayne, McCreary and beyond with quality professional theater. The House of Blue Leaves features performers hailing from Somerset, Jabez, Science Hill, and Monticello.

The House of Blue Leaves takes place in a New York City apartment over the course of a very chaotic day. Our protagonist, Artie, is fairly successful; he works as a zookeeper to support his wife Bananas and his son Ronnie. However, being fairly successful isn’t good enough for Artie. With his new girlfriend Bunny by his side, Artie’s got his sights set on making it as a songwriter in Hollywood. To get there, he’ll dump his wife in a mental hospital that has trees with blue leaves. His vision of glory dissipates when over the course of the day, his son Ronnie goes AWOL, his apartment is ambushed by singing nuns, and there’s an accidental explosion or two. For the farcically inclined, The House of Blue Leaves is a veritable comedy buffet!

The cast of The House of Blue Leaves is made up of Brian Herrmann of Somerset (Artie), Bailey Patterson of Jabez (Bananas), Martha Pratt of Monticello (Bunny), Scott Sexton of Monticello (Billy), Rylee Moore of Somerset (Corrinna), Mahayla Mounce of Somerset (Ronnie), Michele Hinton of Science Hill (Head Nun), Laura Torres of Somerset (Second Nun), Jillian Griffin of Somerset (Little Nun), Zach Vaught of Somerset (Military Police), and Tyler Fish of Somerset (White Man).

Brian Herrmann (Artie) is just beginning to hit his stride at Flashback Theater, with a handful of shows under his belt such as The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, Count Dracula, The American Parade, The 39 Steps, and Brother Wolf. He hopes you’re as excited for this season as he is!

Bailey Patterson (she/her) (Bananas) is happy to be home! Bailey received her Theatre degree from UK. She played Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (UK DoTD) and Mary in Murder on the Orient Express (Studio Players). At Flashback, she’s appeared in 12 productions, most recently, When We Get Good Again. She would like to thank her friends: “The only people for me are the mad ones” – Jack Kerouac.

Martha Pratt (Bunny) has been working with Flashback since 2018. Her credits include Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley, Pirates of Penzance, The Dollmaker, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), The Mousetrap, The Book of Will, Brother Wolf, and Count Dracula.  She’s also appeared in plays at Somerset Community College and Good Neighbors Theatre.

Scott Sexton (Billy) is the Band & Theater Director at Pulaski County HS & Northern MS. Acting credits include Barn Lot Theater: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown) FbTC:  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd), Miracle on 34th Street (Dr. Pierce), Mary: Her Story (Joachim), The Mousetrap (Major Metcalf),  All Together Now! (Ensemble), & The Dollmaker (Victor).

Rylee Moore (Corrinna) is a young upcoming actress who enjoys writing in her free time. Active in multiple community theaters for the last nine years her favorite roles include Miss Hannigan in Annie Jr. with Lake Cumberland Children’s Theater and Celia in As You Like It at Flashback Theater.

Mahayla Mounce (Ronnie)  Having proudly been a part of Flashback’s backstage crew for over a year (The 39 Steps, Brother Wolf, 10th Annual Cabaret, and Count Dracula) with a break in the summer acting in The Comedy of Errors, Mahayla is eager to play onstage once more! Mahayla is proud to be the 2024-2025 Flashback Season Artwork Artist!

Michele L. Hinton (Head Nun) is a small, independent publisher and a self-published author of several novels, children’s books, poetry, and short stories. She has performed in Somerset Community College’s production of Almost, Maine and Flashback Theater’s productions of As You Like It, Brother Wolf, and Uncle Vanya. Her short play, Forever and a Day, was included in Somerset Community Colleges short play series. She also had a cameo appearance on America’s Got Talent, Season 13.

Laura Torres (Second Nun) is excited to return to the stage at Flashback Theater.  She has previously been in Miracle on 34th Street and The Book of Will.  She is a graduate of Lindsey Wilson College and resides in Somerset with her husband and son.

Jillian Griffin (Little Nun) is a Junior at Southwestern High School where she is very involved in music and the arts, especially the high school’s band. She has worked with Flashback Theater Co. before on their productions of Miracle on 34th Street, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and When We Get Good Again. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work with them again!

Zachary Vaught (Military Police) is a new actor with Flashback with only two plays under his belt (Brother Wolf and Count Dracula). He has been allowed to enter the stage for a third time, excited to perform in another show. Born and raised in Somerset, he has little formal training in theater. He is an amateur actor who’s just happy to be here performing with Flashback as his career in theater continues to evolve.

Tyler Fish (White Man) is pleased to join the ensemble in one of FbTC’s boldest shows to date. His previous Flashback credits include Brother Wolf (Enoch/Adger) The American Parade (Phillip Brown) Miracle on 34th Street (Albert Sawyer) The Book of Will (Isaac Jaggard) and As You Like It (Orlando).

The production team includes Jenny Cleberg of Somerset (Director), Renate Dopp of Somerset (Stage Manager), Steve Cleberg of Somerset (Set and Lighting Designer), Traci Bray of Somerset (Costume Designer), Steffanie Phillipi of Somerset (Assistant Director/Propmaster), Nicole Strickler of Somerset (Assistant Stage Manager), and Travis Rogers (Assistant Stage Manager). 

Jenny Cleberg (Director)  is the current director of choirs and theater at Southwestern High School and has been for the past 10 years. The House of Blue Leaves is her first Flashback Theater directing experience. Jenny’s directing experience comes from many years of directing plays and musicals at SWHS. She was assistant director for FbTC’s Miracle on 34th Street. Jenny was seen most recently on stage in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Mrs. Reynolds). Previous Flashback performances include The Thin Place, The 39 Steps, Uncle Vanya, Sweeney Todd, and Mary: Her Story.

Renate Dopp (Stage Manager) FbTC veteran stage manager and occasional performer.  Favorite stage management highlights: When We Get Good Again, Count Dracula, Brother Wolf, 39 Steps, Sweeney Todd, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (2016 & 2021), Pirates, and R&G.  Performances include: Mary: Her Story (Elder Mary), Little Shop of Horrors (voice of Audrey II), A Nightmare on Backstreet (Teddy Crooner) and season announcement cabarets.

Steve Cleberg (Set and Lighting Design)  In 2020, Steve Cleberg retired as the director of theatre at Somerset Community College, after a career of acting in and directing over 100 plays. He has also directed more than twenty films having written screenplays for most of those projects. Additionally, Cleberg has written over twenty plays including two full-length musicals. His plays Radio Suspense Theatre: The First Episode and Radio Suspense Theatre: Fear Between Floors & Lost and Found have received over 100 productions across the United States, with additional performances in Canada, England and China. For Flashback, Steve has appeared in such productions as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Lady’s Not For Burning, and The Book of Will. He directed Uncle Vanya as a part of Flashback’s past season. He is utterly delighted to be working with his daughter, Jenny, who is directing this show.

Steffanie Phillippi (Assistant Director/Propmaster) is excited to be learning more about the artistic process of Theatre as Assistant Director and Propmaster. Her previous acting roles were Boats Against the Current (Marie), The American Parade (Barbara).  She was also set designer for The Thin Place and The Comedy of Errors. 

Nicole Strickler (Assistant Stage Manager)  is an up and coming actor with Flashback Theater, last seen in Count Dracula (Sybil). A lover of all things creative, she is excited to see the other side of a production as an Assistant Stage Manager!

TL Rogers (Assistant Stage Manager) recently moved to Somerset after retiring from his position as a US military criminal court judge. He volunteers in support of the local arts, local businesses, and local veterans causes.  He and his wife have three sons, two of which like him enough to follow him on Twitter.

Production Information

The House of Blue Leaves
By John Guare
Directed by Jenny Cleberg
May 8-18, 2025
Stoner Little Theater | 808 Monticello St. Somerset Ky 42501

Zookeeper Artie Shaughnessy has his sights set on arrogant aspirations of Hollywood stardom. On a cold October Day in 1965, the day Pope Paul Vl is visiting New York City, Artie and his girlfriend Bunny launch a plan to escape to California by disposing of Artie’s wife Bananas in a mental hospital that has trees with blue leaves. But their plans are more than derailed as the day unwinds into chaos; lost nuns take refuge in Artie’s apartment, Artie’s son Ronnie has gone AWOL, and his apartment becomes the site of a political bombing. This outrageously biting farce puts into perspective just how low some are willing to go for fame.

This production contains depictions of violence, adult situations and the use of unsettling language. There will be a simulated explosion in Act ll.

Performance Dates and Times:

Thursday, May 8th, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10th, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11th, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, May 16th, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17th, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 18th, 2:30 p.m.

Ticket Information

Tickets can be purchased online at https://fbtc.ticketleap.com/blue-leaves/, by visiting the box office in person at 209A E Mount Vernon St. during office hours, or by calling the box office at (888) 394-3282, ext. 1. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Single ticket pricing for the 11th Season of Flashback productions will be:

Adults – $23 Advance, $25 Door
Students – $12 Advance, $15 Door
Seniors – $20 Advance and Door

Season Sponsors & Supporters

Flashback Theater Co. is grateful to our 2024-25 Starlight Sponsors: Applied Behavioral Advancements, The City of Somerset, Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet, and The Shubert Foundation. Spotlight Sponsors: M&W Printing and CHI Saint Joseph London; as well as our Footlight Sponsors: David Daring Rentals, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital & Lake Cumberland Residency Programs, First & Farmers National Bank, The Weigel Family, United Cumberland Bank, T. Ronald Kidd Trust, Somerset Community College, Buffalo Wings & Rings, and Citizens National Bank.

 

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Flashback Theater Co. with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.