Beth Henley's THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST

The Miss Firecracker Contest by Beth Henley takes place in the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott, known locally as "Miss Hot Tamale", is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The unexpected arrival of her cousin Elain, a former Miss Firecracker winner complicates matters a bit, as does the repeated threat of Elain's eccentric brother, Delmount, to sell the family homestead and decamp for New Orleans. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named Popeye and several other cheerfully nutty characters Carnelle must work to persevere.  The Miss Firecracker Contest will run June 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 & 28 at 8 p.m. with a matinee performance on June 22 at 4 p.m.