The Tellico Community Playhouse will be performing” Moon Over Buffalo” premiering September 3rd and running until Sept 20th.

Directed by Tellico Village resident Bill Paxson, the play features lots of laughs and good old fashioned physical comedy typical of writer Ken Ludwig.

The play opened on Broadway in the mid-1990s, during which time several players including Carol Burnett, were nominated for Tony Awards. The play has since become an award winning staple of community theaters.


A 15-year veteran of the theater, Paxson has experience directing such productions as “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Funny Money” for the TCP. He also played the lead in a previous out of state production of “Moon Over Buffalo.”

Along with comedic flare and witty banter among the cast, the production will also feature some exciting special effects crafted by in house stage engineers, Paxson said.

Casting was critical to the performance, he said.

“I was looking for high energy performers looking to put themselves in uncomfortable positions,” Paxson said.

Chuck Hawes plays the lead role of George Hay, the head of an acting troupe. Hawes started acting in 2023. He said he was sold on the part from the beginning.

“I read the script and I loved it. I envisioned myself in the role before I auditioned,” he said.

For reasons that will become clear as the play develops, George is supposed to be intoxicated most of the time. George is also struggling with losing his wife Charlotte, played by Lori Vines.

George is somewhat content with his career as a journeyman player. Charlotte, on the other hand, aspires to higher levels of performance and fame in film or television, despite being relegated to what might seem like a lesser medium on stage.

When the opportunity arrives for legendary film director Frank Capra to visit the playhouse in search of cast members for his film “Scaramouch” both players are thrilled at the opportunity.

“Chaos ensues,” Paxson explains.

Charlotte is played by Vines, a relative newcomer to the stage. A retired teacher from Blount County, she explained that she has been on stage for many years in front of her students but she had to get used to performing in character for an adult audience.

“It’s been great working with all these talented people to help me get my feet into this world,” she said.

Vines said her character is passionate and self centered. She is also hopeful about the opportunity to be cast by Capra but still insecure.

“She feels this is her last shot to break into the big-time,” Vines said.

Peripheral to the drama being acted out by George and Charlotte is the continual presence of Charlotte’s mother Ethel, played by Debbie Mayberry, a long time Tellico Village resident who started acting high school.

“I was introduced to theater at the Barter Theater,” she said.

Ethel is rather old fashioned, almost regal in her appearance, but she manages to become the catalyst for a lot of the chaos.

“It’s the kind of part you can have fun with,” she said.

Tickets are on sale now. More information is available at https://www.tellicocommunityplayhouse.org (865) 657-3609