Our plays at the Catherine Hickman Theater:
Catherine Hickman Theater
The Gulfport Community Players perform their main season plays at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater. Although it is named after the Players' founder, it is OWNED and OPERATED by the City of Gulfport. If you have questions about non-Gulfport Community Players events, you must contact the City of Gulfport.
November 14-24, 2024 - "Geezers"
Auditions September 2-3 at the Back Door Theater
Written by Tommy Lee Johnston. Directed by Stephen Bell. Geezers introduces some beautiful and wonderful old people who are enjoying their golden years in a retirement home. Jack, a pathologically shy, 27-year old man, begins a job there helping the seniors with their daily needs. But it's the "geezers" who wind up helping Jack with his needs. On his road to an epiphany, Jack learns from the old folks that he ust break out of his comfort zone to achieve anything in life,. Jack learns to crawl-then walk-, then fly - with a wise group of mentors guiding him along. Geezers is a funny, heart-warming drama about growth and wisdom, learning and loving, life and death. Geezers is a fresh, warm journey of awakening that finds each of the characters working out what roles they play throughout their lives.
Thurs-Fri-Sat @ 8 PM, Sat & Sun @ 2 PM
January 16-26, 2025 - "Four Old Broads"
Auditions October 28-29 at the Back Door Theater
Directed by Olga Kruse. Retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton desperately needs a vacation. A sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can just convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae Clayton, to stop praying and go with her. Unfortunately, things have not been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since Nurse Pat Jones began working there. The newest-resident, Imogene Fletcher, is suddenly losing her memory. Maude Jenkins is obsessed with her favorite soap opera and planning her own funeral. Sam Smith, retired Elvis impersonator, keeps trying to bed every women in the building. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat and figure out why so many residents have been moved to "the dark side." What exactly IS that mysterious pill? Hilarity ensues as they go undercover to solve the mystery. They may make it to the cruise ship after all.
Thurs-Fri-Sat @ 8 PM, Sat & Sun @ 2 PM
March 20-30, 2025 - "If The Shoe Fits"
Auditions January 20-21 at the Back Door Theater
Written by Thompson, Chiorini and Vermette. Directed by Roseanne Olszewski.. It all started when Delores, an unhappy housewife, and George, a shoe salesmann, met at Shoe Fantasy and it was love at first shoe-fitting. The only thing standing in the way was Delores' doting but half-witted husband, Marvin. So there was only one thing left to do - kill Marvin so they can run off together. The lovers come up with a crazy plan to poison Marvin over dinner. Delores invites George to dinner and introduces him to Marvin as a new friend. While Marvin checks on dessert, they slip poison into his wine. But things get out of hand when Marvin doesn't fall for the bait. What was supposed to be a simple foolproof murder turns into a hilarious fiasco when Esperanza, the eccentric Spanish-speaking maid, arrives on the worng day and she, too, falls for George. Now George and Delores have to devise a way to get rid of the lovesick Esperanza and carry out their plan to kill Marvin. Their attempts get funnier and funnier as the lovers try again and again to finish the job only to have Esperanza and Marvin foil their plans - resulting in this wacky tale of love, murder, and ...shoes!
Thurs-Fri-Sat @ 8 PM, Sat & Sun @ 2 PM
June 5-15 - The Legend of Georgia McBride
Auditions March 31-April 1 at the Back Door Theater
Written by Matthew Lopez. Directed by Ron Zietz. He's young, he's broke, his landlord's knocking at the door, and he's just found out his wfe is going to have a baby. To make matters even more desperate, Casey is fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a run-down, small-town Florida bar. When the bar owner brings in a b-level drag show to replace his act, Casey finds that he has a whole lot to learn about show business and himself! This is a delightful, genderbending farce and a funny and glorious tribute to the art of drag. It's a sweet, salty, feel-good comedy with a spirited defense of drag as a form of cultural protest.
Thurs-Fri-SAt @ 8 PM, Sat & Sun @ 2 PM
July 10-20, 2025 - Summer One Act Competition
Auditions May 26-27 at the Back Door Theater
Ten original plays chosen from hundreds of submissions. Comedies, light dramas. Audience gets to vote for their favorites.