Gary Ray Stapp, playwright, author, heuer, eldridge, community theatre, publishing, theatre, playwright, kansas, high school, stage, civic organization, plays

"Since arriving with the thunderous debut Daddy's Girl, Gary Ray Stapp has become a Community Theatre favorite." -- AACT Spotlight, January/February 2010

Spotlight Production

Great Bend Community Theater

Great Bend, KS

Daddy's Girl

April 25-28, 2019

Gary Ray Stapp, playwright

(5 m, 6 w, 3 boys, 3 girls, doubling possible)

Leona, Love Thy Neighbor, Too

Champion marigold horticulturist, neighborhood snoop, and generally nasty human being Leona Crump is back! Nine years earlier she was tricked into selling her home and nearly ousted from her neighborhood as the result of an elaborate charade instigated by her friends and foes. But now, finally, her old house is back on the market and Leona is determined to move back home. Unfortunately, the real estate agent has been instructed to never sell the house back to Leona. Reluctantly, Leona partners with her estranged sister Francine (who has an agenda of her own) and the two of them pounce on the opportunity of a decade. But just as Leona begins to enjoy the fruits of her victory, Albert, her ex-husband, shows up and with the help of neighbors Judy and Paul and their six children, they turn Leona's world inside out. Determined to reign again as queen of the cul-de-sac, Leona brazenly plots to choose replacement neighbors that will fit her idea of utopia. That is, until a reformed mafia family shows up wanting to buy Leona's house. Suspecting yet another charade and conspiracy, Leona goes off the deep end leaving everyone to wonder: Is she really the neighborhood witch? Or just slightly, but hilariously, misunderstood?

"I haven't laughed so much in years! Thanks to Kerry Green, Director, and all the players for a most entertaining and hilarious evening of laughs."

-- Darrell Franson, audience member, Rebels Bluff Troupe, Mt. Vernon, MO

"Leona..." broke all box office records as the centerpiece of our 25th anniversary season. From the time we announced we would produce "Leona", about nine months before opening night, our audience began to reminisce about "Love Thy Neighbor" and the characters they remembered and loved. The cast found the script endearing and our audiences laughed from the opening scene until curtain call. We have come to know Gary and his plays as can't-miss choices for our audiences. Leona is a hit! Should she ever return in a third installment, she'll find there is always a home on the Chamber Players stage for her and the entire cul-de-sac of neighbors."

-- Tom Emerson, Jr. , Business Manager for the Board of Directors, The Chamber Players Community Theatre, Garnett, KS

Add Text Here...

A CRITIQUE of MY WORK by BOB and MARY JO GEIGER

    “If you want to experience really enjoyable theater, plan to attend any of the plays written by Gary Ray Stapp. Audiences of any age, neophyte or veteran, sophisticated or plebian, discriminating or eclectic, critical or all-embracing, will find artistically satisfying results with Gary’s plays.
     His plots are intricate and defy transparency until the denouement presents the solution to the viewer. You may think you have the motives lined up, but then you find you have another think coming when one of your theories crashes. He keeps the story line moving at such an accelerated pace that the humor comes so fast one must listen very closely not to miss many of the gag lines. Some of his humor is so subtle that even the most erudite student of drama may miss the punctuation. Hilarious dialogue keeps the audience producing belly laugh after belly laugh throughout the development of two or more intrigues in each production. Stump the audience is his game.
     Gary skillfully delineates each character to complement the whole, and thereby maintains the web that draws the audience into the action and releases them only as the curtain nearly begins to fall. His characters are full-bodied, genuine, surprising, and memorable. One can see oneself often in the situations that unfold on stage, and anticipate the actions and reactions of the characters, only to be totally ambushed by what actually develops. Each of his characters plays an integral part in the movement of the plot, and keeps the audience in awe as then feint here and there to add another turn, another nuance to the unpredictable movement toward the unanticipated solution of the various conflicts.
      Gary’s stage business is direct, purposeful, and communicative, and his sets contribute visual elements essential to the interaction of his characters without the delivery of the plot having to depend entirely on them. All in all, Gary’s plays are well written, carefully crafted, challenging, humorous, and good theater.”
— Bob & Mary Jo Geiger, Chanute, Kansas.

*Bob and Mary Jo have been faithful supporters of The Chamber Players Community Theatre where they have enjoyed the presentations of my plays. Their generous compliments are not only in response to my writing, but are also in reaction to the talent of the Chamber Players’ actors who have brought my words to the stage. Bob and Mary Jo have a long history with the Chanute Community Theatre, having been directors of numerous plays and musicals. Their years of involvement and support of CCT prompted the theatre group to create an award in their honor. The Geiger Award is presented annually to a member of the CCT organization.   Thank you, Bob and Mary Jo, and thanks to all of you who have taken the time to express your appreciation of my work. With humble and sincere gratitude, Gary.