Rise Up Theatre Company’s ‘Exit the Body’ in Production

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Rise Up Theatre Company began with Courtney Conklin’s dreams.   “I have wanted to start a theatre company for years,” Conklin said.  The dream was about to come true when COVID started in 2020, at which time she put everything on hold.  The company’s first play took place in January this year, The Do Gooder Debacle by Jay Evans and the second was The Golden Age Radio Show. The third show is Exit the Body, a comedy set in New England, written by Fred Carmichael, which opens on May 7. The Mills Station Art and Culture Center has hosted all three. Conklin, founder and artistic director, as well as actor, has been acting in theatre since she was 13.  She directed The Do Gooder Debacle and is directing Exit the Body as well as taking on the role of Kate Bixley, replacing a performer who was unable to continue in the play.

“Cheryl Gleason, the curator at the MACC,” Conklin said, “has been our number one champion to help us get things done.  She has provided all the knowledge of the people who we needed to talk to in the City . . . I think it’s really important that the community knows the impact that she’s having, because we would not have a ‘home’ if it weren’t for her at this point.”  Rise Up Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and is seeking sponsors and donors.  The company is looking for a warehouse building or a pre-existing storefront to turn into a theatre.

Lori Ackerman, who lives in Folsom, plays the leading role in Exit the Body – Crane Hammond, a writer who goes on a country retreat.  “The mystery and fun evolves from my arrival,” Ackerman said. Jeffrey Powell plays Crane’s husband, Richard. Powell lives in Sacramento and has experience both as an actor and behind the scenes in films.  Dennis Cain, in his third role with Rise Up Theatre Company, is Vernon Cookley. “I’m the sheriff, the justice of the peace, dog catcher, sexton of the church, and taxi driver,” Cain said. “And I do spread manure for a living.”  Sunny Crego is real estate agent Helen O’Toole in this production.  “I’m crazy over the top and in everybody’s business all the time,” Crego said.  She also said that Conklin is amazing.  “She takes her time with every actor and helps them really find the character and find themselves in the character.”

Dan Lee plays Lyle Rogers, who is “an innocent bystander who gets caught up in all this madcap craziness,” Lee said. John Demakas as Randolph in his second role with Rise Up Theatre Company said, “I’m kind of a bad guy who’s trying to discover the location of some loot that’s been hidden.”  

Conklin described Dave Valpreda’s role, Phillip, as an “amnesia-ridden stranger,” Crystal Neher-Evans plays Jenny, a “country bumpkin housemaid,” and Lindy Malonee is Lillian, “Crane’s well-to-do best friend and troublemaker.”

The play will be at the MACC on May on 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22.  Saturday shows begin at 6 p.m. as does the Sunday, May 15 show.  Mother’s Day, May 8, also Sunday, May 22, each include two performances, starting at 2 PM. and 6 PM.  Doors open half an hour before each performance, which has two acts, each lasting approximately an hour and a quarter, with a brief intermission in between.  Admission cost is $15 for general admission, $20 if dessert is included.  On Mother’s Day, the special dessert ticket costs only $15.  In-person cash tickets may be purchased at the door or at the MACC, during regular business hours.

For online tickets go to www.riseuptheatreco.com. To volunteer with Rise Up Theatre Company, or for more information, e-mail [email protected].

“Our purpose is to bring quality theatre and art, visual arts as well, to the community of Rancho Cordova,” Conklin said.  “It takes every aspect of art to create a theatrical show, it takes acting, it takes construction, light work and painting, sound design . . . when you do music, you have instruments, and singers, and the conductor, and all of the other elements that all come together to create a beautiful piece of work.”