Closing Night Wrap for 'Risque' at James McCabe Theater

The fifth installment in the "Risque" run had its closing night performance Sept. 22 at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico. There, director Teala Longoria, also known as "Missy Knight," bid a farewell to her latest cast of venue performers.

"A journey of so many trails developed in this random variety show that was born in 2006, all of them exciting and pushing the envelope in several ways," Longoria said, in the program notes for her latest show, Risque: The Fifth Rendezvous.

Longoria said at the onset she had expected to do a series of five reviews, "and here we are."

"Once [a] part of it, you're always family to us," she said.

Indeed, this year's program features cast shots of each of the previous four shows:

• Risque Broadway (2006)
• Risque Broadway II (2007)
• Risque A Trois (2008)
• Risque 4Bidden Broadway (2010)

As the name suggests, "Risque" is an opportunity for community theater actors to perform musical theater pieces that are not meant for wholesome family entertainment. Sometimes the pieces run as they were written (for example, this year's "Keep It Gay" from The Producers). Other times, some liberties are taken with the lyrics (as in, "Hard Knock Life" from Annie.)

With this year's "inspiration," Longoria noted, "we decided to do a special twist, and highlight the lovely sexual revolution with a tour through time," with an "awkward and slightly naughty time travel machine."

The show ran in September at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico, home venue for The Village Players. Next up for the theater troupe is a holiday piece that is very family friendly: Miracle on 34th Street.