Northeast Texas Community College Theatre Professor Douglas Hoppock will direct his final production on the on-stage theatre in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts later this month. For his grand finale before heading off to retirement, he will lead Theatre Northeast as they perform both male and female versions of Neil Simon?s†The Odd Couple.
The Odd Couple†will be performed on April 28 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and the female version of†The Odd Couple†will be presented April 29 at 7:30 and May 1 at 2:05 p.m.
Hoppock is a founding member of the NTCC Faculty and has led the theatre department and taught speech for the last 31 years. He and his wife Sherry, who is also retiring from NTCC this year, plan to move to the Texas Hill Country where they can spend more time with family. Over the years his alumni have gone on to enjoy impressive careers in theatre and he has helped to entertain thousands of community members.
?Bit by bit the college has become like a hologram to me - a place that has fused past and present into one shinning, timeless vision?and all in the wink of an eye.† My time here has been golden.† I could not have had a more caring, talented and dedicated company of actors throughout my thirty-one years.† Every one of them hold my infinite respect and love,? Hoppock said. "They all call me ?Papa' for a reason?and for me that is the greatest testament of what we all mean to each other! †And my dear colleagues too?what a marvelous group of educators who always made me so proud to be a part of their passion.† Sherry and I have deep East Texas roots and we plan to make it ?home? often †to witness the new wonders of the college in the years to come. Out time here is an ongoing benediction!?
Simon?s Tony-Award winning best play of the 1965 Broadway season tells the hilarious story of best friends Oscar and Felix. Tossed out of his house by his wife, Felix Ungar decides the best thing to do is move in with his best pal; barely housebroken, deliberately devolved caveman, Oscar Madison.† With in a few days, slovenly sportswriter Oscar and compulsive neatnik Felix are driving one another bonkers.† The laughs are non-stop as these two mismatched buddies make a go at being roomies. Featured in the play are Distinguished Theatre Northeast Alumni Tyler Kenneth Beadle (Mount Pleasant) as Felix and Nick Derby (Mount Pleasant) as Oscar.† Other cast members are Elizabeth Griffin (Pittsburg), Cassia Rose (Winnsboro), Ben Ruland (Pittsburg), Trace Lewis (Redwater), Justin Mejia (Pittsburg), Nathan Johnson (Mount Vernon) and Hunter Williams (Winnsboro). The Production Stage Manager is Corin Carter (Gilmer) and Assistant Production Stage Manager is Jake Lain (Pittsburg).
The Odd Couple†(female version) is the 1986 adaptation of†The Odd Couple. It follows the fun-loving and messy Olive Madison and neurotic neat freak Florence Ungar, who come to live together after their respective marriages fail. Joined by their group of witty Trivial Pursuit playing friends and a pair of suave Spanish brothers, the best friends soon realize that they make the worst roommates. After only three weeks, they have driven each other crazy, disagreeing about responsibility, cleanliness, personal space and everything in between. Olive and Florence attempt to reconcile each other?s idiosyncrasies while rekindling their respective social lives, with side-splitting results. The NTCC cast includes Distinguished Theatre Northeast Alumna Kathryn Comer (Omaha) and Ariah Burkhalter (Mount Pleasant) as Florence and Olive. Other Distinguished Alumni include Cole Risner (Rockwall) Trey Garbers (Arlington) Lauren Pace (Mount Pleasant) and Marcy Logan (Omaha.)† NTCC students Brianna Stacks (Pittsburg) and Elizabeth Taraba round out the stellar cast.† Production Stage Manager is Kadin Barrett of Commerce.
?Doug Hoppock's influence on this campus has been tremendous in so many ways. He is one of those rare people who has the ability not only to teach, but to truly inspire his students. He and Sherry will both be missed, but we wish them the very best for their much-deserved retirement,? Dr. Ron Clinton, NTCC Executive Vice President of Instruction, said.
Tickets are $10 for Adults, $7 for age 17 and under and $5 for Sr. Citizens, NTCC Faculty and Staff. NTCC students are free with a current ID.† Due to limited seating, reservations are required by calling the Whatley Box Office 903-434-8181.† Both Odd Couple productions contain mature subject matter and language.
