Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s The StoryTeller Series returns with three new offerings on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. January 12 through March 2. Performances are Tuesdays, Jan. 12 & 26 and Feb. 2, 9 & 23 and March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The 2021 lineup includes Three Places at Yalta (Jan. 12 & Feb. 9), Give ‘em Hell Harry! (Jan. 16) and Katharine Hepburn (Feb. 23 & March 2).

The series begins with the world premier staging of Three Places at Yalta (Jan. 12 & Feb. 9), a one-man show written by and starring Bruce Collier. In this power-packed political piece, Collier deftly portrays World War II’s “big three” — Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Collier, a local actor, playwright and editor who hails from Ohio, was most recently seen on ECTC’s stage as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He also has appeared with ECTC in Bakersfield Mist, A Wrinkle in Time, It’s a Wonderful Life, Around the World in 80 Days, The Fantasticks, A Christmas Carol and as Churchill in his one-man show, Winston Churchill: Through the Storm. Collier has performed professionally in summer stock in Ohio, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Courtyard Playhouse in New York City, New Horizons Theatre in Michigan and The REP at Seaside. His original Restoration comedy, Tarts, was staged in New York at the Courtyard.

Alan Tuttle stars Carl Eugene Bolt’s “docudrama” play Give ‘em Hell Harry! on Jan. 26. This faithful and often humorous piece is a portrayal of the life and presidency of President Harry S. Truman. The play spans Truman’s childhood, his “political apprenticeship” as a judge in Jackson County Missouri, his years in the U.S. Senate and his momentous two terms as President of the United States.

Tuttle has been involved in theater for nearly six decades. He has appeared in several Stage Crafters productions in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, as a member of the ensemble in Sound of Music, Music Man, and Damn Yankees; as Manolo in Odd Couple (the Female Version), in Bad Seed playing Leroy, and as several favorite characters in Spamalot! He assisted the director of Lakebottom Proper, stage managed Steel Magnolias, produced Noises Off, and directed Neil Simon’s Rumors.

ECTC’s StoryTeller Series concludes with Katharine Hepburn (Feb. 23 & March 2), a one-woman show written and performed by the incomparable Shirley Simpson. Simpson embodies the wit, charm and fierce grit that is the Oscar-winning American actress Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003). Her piece delivers a humorous and touching portraying of the fiery and independent Hepburn throughout her career touching on the events and people who shaped her 96-year life.

Simpson most recently appeared as Hannah in the musical The Spitfire Grill at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Mississippi. Also at New Stage, she played Grace in Grace & Glorie, the title role of Shirley Valentine, Kendall Kingsley in Impossible Marriage, and Vada Love in The Exact Center of the Universe. At The LSU Colonnade Theatre in Baton Rouge, she again played Shirley Valentine, and directed and played the role of Elaine in Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Other stage roles in Baton Rouge include Maggie in Tribute, Fonsia Dorsey in The Gin Game, Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter, and Kate in both Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound. She starred as Laurette Taylor in an off-Broadway production based on the opening night of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Other favorite regional theatre roles were in Finishing Touches, Forty Carats, Someone Waiting, Only in America, Close Ties, and Suddenly at Home. Film credits include Everybody’s All American and Blues in the Night.

A former producer, writer, and performer in the New York Madison Avenue television market, her TV series The Vital Link was nominated for and won the ACE Award. Simpson is a member of Actor’s Equity Association and is contributing her performance fees to Sacred Heart. Simpson is performing Katharine Hepburn as a benefit for ECTC.

“Our 2021 lineup for this year’s StoryTeller Series showcases three must-not-miss powerhouse talents,” said ECTC co-founder and producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher. “delivering political theater, presidential promise and a fascinating tour de force actor portrayal.”

All series events will be staged at ECTC’s performance space located at 560 Grand Boulevard (upstairs) in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located in Miramar Beach, Florida.

Tickets are $32 per person for adults, $30 for seniors/military and $28 for students. Purchase tickets online at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

Purchase tickets online at https://www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org/on-stage or call (850) 684-0323.

ECTC’s 2020-2021 season is made possible with support from Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, St. Joe Community Foundation, Howard Hospitality, and South Walton Tourist Development Council. ECTC TYA productions are made possible with support from Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Progress Bank and Wells Vision and Laser Eye Center.

ECTC is implementing its Safety Protocol Plan to ensure our patrons can enjoy all offerings in a safe environment. Patrons can find the detailed plan on ECTC’s website.

To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Follow this link for photography for The StoryTeller Series. Follow this link to graphic art and images for the 2020-2021 season.

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ABOUT EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY Emerald Coast Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults.

EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THREE POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCES IN THE STORYTELLER SERIES