Discover the world of Sister Dottie S. Dixon
In the words of Sister Dottie S. Dixon, "Landsamercy!" The fictional, and sometimes no-so-fictional, character is returning to the stage.
"The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon — Second Helpings" will open the season for Pygmalion Theater Company.
"The first Dottie was the most successful show we've ever done, ever," said artistic director Fran Pruyn. "It made this year's season possible."
Meet Sister Dixon, a Mormon mom who loves her church and culture. "She very much loves being a Mormon," Pruyn said, "but she also has a gay son she loves, as well."
The character — a Mormon wife (to Don, for 37 years) and mother active in her church, living in Spanish Fork — is based on creator and star Charles Lynn Frost's own mother.
For the second go-round, Frost and co-creator Troy Williams have tightened the script. "They added some explanation for non-Mormon people," Pruyn said, "and tried to make it less of an inside joke."
She also said the new version takes in to consideration current events, "things that happened over the summer, and there is a new video element."
Dottie has a show on KRCL and went into the first production with a built-in audience. Even though Dottie is played by Frost, "it's never meant to be Dame Edna," Pruyn said. "Charles is a legit actor playing a legit role, and he's wonderful."
"What surprised us was how the audience changed over the course of the run," she said. "In the beginning we had a big LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) following. Then we saw gay people bring their families, and they were moved. Out of nowhere, our audience became older women," she said. "We'd have large groups of middle-aged women relating to Dottie, and it was incredibly sweet."
Dottie's universal appeal makes sense to Pruyn. "The show is a gentle approach to the issue," she said. "Nobody wanted a heavy-handed satire of the Mormon church — that's not who Dottie is. She's a woman who loves her church and loves her gay son. But she'd never thumb her nose at her culture."
Beyond that, anyone who has lived in Utah "knows a Dottie," Pruyn said. "Rural vernacular, cultural idiosyncrasies, a big heart and a big mouth. But there is something about her warmth and ability to love that draws you."
With her own Web site (sisterdottie.com), Twitter and Facebook page (2,700 friends-strong) "there isn't a day that Dottie doesn't hear, 'I wish my mom were like you.' "
"The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon — Second Helpings," Pygmalion Theatre Company, Oct. 2-25. Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
Recent comments
Dottie takes what often is an abstraction in many people's minds...
Anonymous | Sept. 28, 2009 at 10:39 a.m.
Sister Dottie is a brilliant symbol of what makes Utah such a...
I love Sister Dottie | Sept. 27, 2009 at 11:53 a.m.
- Jazz missing 4 to injuries 12:55 a.m.
- Pitta doesn't win award 12:47 a.m.
- Jazz manage a magical win 12:43 a.m.
- Speed skating tuneup Friday 12:41 a.m.
- BYU football: NCAA awards 12:30 a.m.
- Magic unable to continue road act 12:26 a.m.
- Fans should worry about lousy teams 12:24 a.m.
- U.S.-born Hispanics see gains 12:23 a.m.
- Editorial: Extremism spike alarming 12:23 a.m.
- No need for more stimulus 12:22 a.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Defense witness goes on offensive
- BCS = power conference monopoly
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Unga might enter NFL draft
- 5 officers lose their certification
- Y.'s Emery bruised, but rarely beaten
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Letters: Global warming a lie
256 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
193 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
165 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
150 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
124 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
123 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
If all three of the Utahns still competing on "So You Think You Can...
I haven't yet played "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," and honestly I...
I too agree that Booz and the team are NOT just going through the motions....
The springs have a long history of being clothing optional, and they provide...
He "needs more outside shooting to beat LA". He needs to design a real...
NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award: LaVell Edwards, Brigham Young,...
Why did the Jazz play so bad against LA and really well for a 1/2 against...
We Coug fans will be forever grateful for your three or four years of bearing...
When was the last time Utah even got to the dance three times in a row; let...
His speech was quite good, I agree with what Gingrich said. However, for...
I believe that a large part of the deterioration of the rivalry is a result...
Good win Jazz!!! Now give Fesenko some Red Bulls and lets see how well the...



