Laughter Takes Center Stage With WCTG’s ‘The Odd Couple’ (Female Version)

Special to the Neighborhood News 

The cast of the Wesley Chapel Theater Group’s “The Odd Couple (Female Version) includes (seated, l.-r.) Jacob Guardado, Samantha Grahn, Allison Duque, Mackenzie Elliott, Jay Davis (standing, l.-r.) Janine Quarles Adkins, Leanne Green & Kelsey Mars. (Photos provided by Wesley Chapel Theater Group)

The familiar story of mismatched roommates gets a fresh perspective the weekend of October 17-18 when the Wesley Chapel Theater Group presents Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” (Female Version), directed by David Sparano. 

The female version of Simon’s comedy follows Florence Unger and Olive Madison, two women whose personalities and approaches to everyday life could hardly be more different. When Florence, recently separated from her husband, moves in with Olive, the contrast between the meticulous Florence and the carefree Olive quickly leads to a series of hilarious situations. 

The directors of “The Odd Couple” include assistant director Aline Huttie (left), director David Sparano (right) & stage manager Angelica Chirino (not pictured).

As their friendship is tested by the realities of sharing a home, audiences are treated to Simon’s trademark combination of sharp dialogue, memorable characters, and everyday situations that can turn into anything but ordinary. 

The local production features Samantha Grahn as Olive Madison and Allison Duque as Florence Unger, with Janine Quarles Adkins as Mickey, Kelsey Mars as Sylvie, Mackenzie Elliott as Renee, and Leanne Green as Vera. Rounding out the cast are Jacob Guardado as Manolo Costazuela and Jay Davis as Manolo’s brother Jesus Costazuela. 

While “The Odd Couple” (Female Version) is filled with laughs, the story also explores the importance of friendship and the unexpected ways people can become part of one another’s lives. The result is a comedy that remains relatable decades after Simon first introduced audiences to the world of “The Odd Couple.” 

The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, a local nonprofit community theater troupe, continues its mission of bringing live performing arts to the community through productions featuring local performers and volunteers. Each production is made possible through the combined efforts of actors, directors, backstage crews and community supporters. 

The production of “The Odd Couple” (Female Version) will take the stage at the Zephyrhills Lions Club (5827 Dean Dairy Rd., Zephyrhills 33541). Performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m. 

Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors and are available online at WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org. For additional information, scan the QR code in the ad below or visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.

WCTG Presents A “One-Act (Play) Festival” 

Theater lovers: mark your calendars for an afternoon of creativity, laughter, and powerful storytelling! The Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG) is proud to present its “One-Act (Play) Festival” on Saturday & Sunday, July 12-13, 2 p.m., both days. The Festival will be a vibrant celebration of local talent that brings original one-act plays to life on stage. 

This exciting event showcases the power of community-driven art, featuring short plays that have been written and will be directed and performed entirely by local artists. From heartfelt dramas to witty comedies, each one-act play promises a unique and captivating experience, all within a single afternoon. 

The Festival performances will be held at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center (12118 Lake Blanche Dr., in nearby Odessa). The doors will open at 1:40 p.m. both days, so arrive early to grab your seat and settle in for a memorable ride through the imaginations of our hometown playwrights. 

“This festival is all about celebrating the incredible talent we have right here in our own backyard,” says WCTG Board member Samantha Grahn. “We’re giving local voices the spotlight and inviting the community to come together to laugh, feel and be inspired.” 

Whether you’re a seasoned theatergoer or new to the stage, this is the perfect opportunity to support local artists, enjoy original performances and be part of something truly special. Gather your friends, grab your tickets and get ready to be swept away by the magic of live theater! 

Featured Plays At WCTG’s ‘One-Act Festival’: 

“A Rainy Night in Hollywood,” by Tom Erb 

“ClichĂ©,” by Keith Whalen 

“Three Years,” by WCTG’s Samantha Sacasa 

“Full Frontal Transparency,” by Jenna Jane 

“The Oatmeal,” by Robert Grogan 

“Love, Lost (Rings) & What We Wore,” by Jessica Burchfield 

Tickets to WCTG’s “One-Act Festival” cost just $25 and can be purchased online at Simpletix.com/e/wctg-presents-one-act-festival-2025-tickets-218617. For more information, follow “Wesley Chapel Theater Group” on social media, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org. — Submitted to the Neighborhood News 

Here’s Another Chance To See Wesley Chapel Theater Group’s ‘Broadway Through The Decades’ 

“We Go Together” from “Grease. (Photos by Charmaine George)

A few short months ago, we told you about the Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG)’s “Broadway Through the Decades” performance at TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant in The Grove. 

That performance attracted about 150 people and nobody who attended (including yours truly) went home disappointed. 

Well, the weekend we went to press with this issue (Mar. 9-10), WCTG was at it again with another “Broadway Through the Decades: Contemporary Era” show, with the performances this time being held at the Zephyrhills Lions Club. 

The Lions Club provided dinner on Saturday night and dessert for the Sunday matinee, so WCTG secretary Samantha Grahn, who also did the publicity for the show, said that the theater group had to provide a hard number of attendees to the Lions Club a couple of days before the two performances. 

The WCTG cast from “Broadway Through the Decades: Contemporary Era.” 

“That limited us to only about 130 people total for the two shows,” Samantha says. “But, we had a lot of wonderful singers performing and the audiences both days really seemed to enjoy the performances.” 

The “Contemporary Era” performances includes many current and recent past Broadway favorites, including the entire company singing “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast,” Danielle Warren’s “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Vette Berrian & the Company on “Day By Day” from “Godspell,” the entire company on “We Go Together” from “Grease” and favorites from “Rent,” “Pippin,” “Chicago,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sweeney Todd,” “42nd Street,” “Into the Woods,” “Les Miserables,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and many more. 

“A Little Priest” from “Sweeney Todd” performed by Krystian Kopycinski & Danielle Warren. 

“We’re now three years in with this group,” Grahn said afterwards. “And every performance we do is a fund raiser so we can afford to rent theaters for our future performances. We’re also writing some grants to try to get some more money to do more shows and we’d like to have them at the (Pasco School District’s) Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) and other venues in Wesley Chapel.” She adds that the School District is looking into building a smaller “black box” theater for community performances. 

She adds that in the meantime, however, “We have a great relationship with the Zephyrhills Lions Club. They don’t charge us to rehearse there and the rent to do our shows there isn’t that expensive. We really owe them a big thank-you!” 

So, What’s Next? “Office Hours!” 

Grahn says that WCTG’s next show will be the comedy play “Office Hours,” written by Norm Foster, which also will be performed at the Zephyrhills Lions Club, this time without food service. 

There will be three performances of “Office Hours” — matinees on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, and a Saturday (Apr. 21) evening performance. Also coming up April 4 at 7pm, the next performance of “Broadway Through the Decades” at TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar. 

“We also would love to have feedback from the Wesley Chapel community regarding what shows or types of shows they would want to see,” Grahn says. 

For tickets to see “Office Hours” or the April 4 encore of “Broadway Through The Decades” at TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar and more info about the Wesley Chapel Theater Group, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org or search “WesleyChapel TheaterGroup” on Facebook.  


Cheryl Abramson performing “On My Own” from “Les Miserables. 
Jonathan Hogsett performing “If I Can’t Love Her” from “Beauty & the Beast.”

“Be Our Guest” from “Beauty & the Beast.”Â