The party planner has become a bona fide, bon vivant archetype — from Martin Short in the Father of the Bride movies to Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner, the Type-A, often gay and completely neurotic orchestrator of festivities never ceases to fetch a knowing giggle.
Tonight, a local playwright is bringing us another party planner for the ages — with a new, reflective and musical twist.
The world premiere of Joseph Alan Johnson new one-man show Darren McCracken's Big Bad Birthday Party! will be staged 7 p.m. at The Studio@620, starring Daniel J. Harris as McCracken, a world-renowned party planner with a global-sized ego to match, who is on the verge of turning 50. Instead of bending to the wishes of friend and throwing another grand affair, he opts to escape and celebrate alone in the tropics. During his boozy birthday evening alone, McCracken finally deals honestly with himself, expressing his revelations through song.
Playwright Johnson is also known for other locally staged, contemporary comedies such as Cellmate Confessions, Misconception and Gay/Sex/Life.
See the show tonight at 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Admission is $25, $20 students and seniors; studio620.org.
