Durango Arts Center Presents Hand to God

The Durango Arts Repertory Theatre presents "Hand to God," a Tony-nominated dark comedy written by Robert Askins and directed by Fort Lewis College Theater Professor Michael McKelvey. The play is an irreverent and edgy romp through themes of morality and human nature and promises to be an entertaining adult night out. "Hand to God" runs from March 15th through March 31st at the Durango Arts Center. You're watching the "Local NEWS Network," brought to you by Kroegers Ace Hardware and Dunkin' Donuts. I'm Connor Shreve.

"Hand to God is a new American play written by Robert Askins, and it's probably the most naughty fun you're ever going to have in a theater. So we're taking you to East Texas to an Episcopalian church that has, yes, a puppet ministry. And you may ask, "What is a puppet ministry?" It's just like it sounds. People do puppet theater to bring the name of the Lord into the community, but we have a problem, one of the puppets is possibly possessed by the devil.

"Hand to God's" all about me. Basically, I'm on a hand, and well, you know, I don't want to say I'm the devil or anything, but I'm kind of the devil. And yeah, so I basically terrorize a puppet club at a church in Texas, and the hand it belongs to, like, a high school boy. And a lot of things happen because, well, I'm not very nice all the time. You know, I do my best. But, you know, chaos ensues, blood, sex, other things. Yeah, we have a good time, pretty much, and it's all because of me.

"Hand to God" features a small cast of some familiar favorites from the local theater scene, including Oliver Kennedy, Siena Widen, Jenny Fitts Reynolds, Matt Bodo, and Connor Sheehan.

We have a stellar cast. This show requires actors who are not only good comedic actors but also good physical actors. Nothing is predictable in this show. Everything that we encounter with Jason, who is our leading man, and the puppet, our other leading man, Tyrone, just the fact that the conversations they have between one another are so unique.

McKelvey, who has directed "Hand to God" before in New Orleans through his own production company, has a passion for bringing lesser known plays and musicals that push the boundaries of what audiences might be used to seeing on stage.

I love Durango, and I love the Durango theater scene. One thing I think we don't do enough of is new works that have, like, struck gold off-Broadway or on Broadway, and this is one of those shows. This was a show that played at a very small theater off-Broadway and was discovered as a new hot American property and actually played in a Broadway house and was nominated for several Tony Awards. So that's why I wanted to bring this to Durango because I think it's this kind of theater that I think this community should see, and we should challenge people. Plus, it's just a lot of fun.

Parents will want to leave their kids at home for this one as the show contains some themes and content for mature audiences,

There's profanity, there's some violence, there's puppet sex, and there's great humor in a beautiful American play. There is no other reason to come and see the show, except to, like, lose yourself for an hour and a half in just some madcap fun and actually kind of question some bigger moral issues that are out there in the world regarding humanity and religion. But that's why you got to come to the show, so we can challenge you that way.

Our story is the best story. I mean, I don't want to give too much away, but if you like this beautiful mug, you might want to make it out.

Purchase tickets fore "Hand to God" online or at the door at Durango Arts Center. Check the website regularly for more information about upcoming shows. as well as theater and art classes for youth and adults. For more information about this and other stories, visit durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the "Local NEWS Network." I'm Connor Shreve.