CHELSEA – The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC) announces the second production of their 34th season, “Fourteen Funerals” a Michigan Premiere comedy written by Eric Pfeffinger. Tickets are on sale now.
It’s weird when city girl Sienna gets a cryptic phone call about the untimely deaths of some distant family members in small-town Blissfield, Indiana. Weirder yet is the way they expect her to deliver eulogies for relatives she’s never met. But weirdest of all: Sienna goes there. Maybe she’s hoping for a big inheritance. Maybe she just really needs to get away from her dead-end life in Chicago. But what she never expected was the tumultuous and rewarding relationship that she develops with Millie, the peculiarly sunny employee of the Blissfield funeral home.
This production of “Fourteen Funerals” contains adult content and may not be suitable for children under the age of 13.
“Fourteen Funerals” playwright, Eric Pfeffinger, also had his play “Human Error” produced at The Purple Rose in winter 2023. A member of the Dramatists Guild and the Writers Guild of America East, Pfeffinger’s plays have been produced by the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Denver Theatre Center, the Geva Theatre Center, and more. He co-created the webseries #MotherJudger, Mommy Blogger, and Sad Dads, and has written for American Theatre magazine and National Lampoon.
Directed by Rhiannon Ragland, the cast features Shonita Joshi* (Brooklyn, NY) and Ashley Wickett* (Bloomfield Hills). Set Design by Sarah Pearline, Properties Design by Danna Segrest, Costume Design by Marley Boone, Lighting Design by Mario Raymond, Sound Design by Suzi Regan. Mary Toth* is the Stage Manager and Juliana Berry* is the Assistant Stage Manager.
*Denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
2024-2025 Season Underwriters include the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, National Endowment for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, and The Matilda R. Wilson Fund. Media sponsors are JTV and Michigan Public.
Performance Schedule
Performances of “Fourteen Funerals” at The Purple Rose run from Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, March 9, 2025. Previews, with reduced-price tickets, are available through Thursday, February 13, with talkbacks February 6 to February 9. The press opening is Friday, February 14 at 8:00pm.
New this season, Thursday evening performances will start at 7:30pm.
Also new this season, this production will have a “30s & 40s Meetup Night,” a mixer for anyone age 30-49 to make new friends with a cocktail hour at Ugly Dog Distillery (Chelsea, MI) and reserved seating for the 8:00pm performance on Saturday, February 22. For more information about this event, email caitlin@purplerosetheatre.org.
And new this production, there will be a “College Night” with $15 discounted tickets, pizza and a talkback with the actors on Friday, February 21. Students can call the Box Office at (734) 433-7673 to reserve a ticket.
Ticket Information
Performances are Wednesday – Sunday at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118. The performance calendar can be found HERE. Ticket prices start at $30 with special discounts for seniors, patrons 30 years or younger, members of the military, teachers, and groups (12+). For more information or to make reservations call (734) 433-7673 or go to www.purplerosetheatre.org.
About The Purple Rose Theatre Company
Founded in 1991 by actor, director, playwright, musician, and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company is a professional, unionized theatre and creative home for local Michigan artists to produce original American plays. At the PRTC, patrons experience an intimate encounter with live theatre without breaking the bank. Broadway quality at Midwest prices. This season, The Purple Rose is leading with smart comedy: plays that allow audiences to feel good, laugh, and just maybe get a message out of it too. The Purple Rose also provides preview talk-backs, free play readings, and ticket donations to local fundraisers. It commissions new work from established and early-career playwrights. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theatre, the PRTC operates under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association.
